Week 21

Tuesday was moving day! Our desk arrangement is set up a little different and the first graders are in new seats.

The first grade writers have been making their opinion writing stronger by talking directly to their reader, asking questions, stating their opinion, providing reasons and including a conclusion. A great way to support this writing and structure at home is to encourage them to write an opinion piece if they are asking for a particular toy, or food or movie!

On Wednesday, Mrs. McGrady was in Room 112 while I was reading with students. The district has adopted a new reading assessment tool and I was able to take the day to use it and learn more about each reader!

At home activity to support reading and writing: Make a nonsense book!

Materials: 

• Ten or more index cards
• A small notebook
• Pencils, crayons, colored pencils, or markers

1. Divide the cards into two sets. On each of the cards in the first set, have your first grader write a sentence subject like Dad, Justin, The cat, and so on. On each card in the other set, write a predicate like has a bath, is tired, has a bib, is in bed, and so on. Write all the subjects in one color, and all the predicates in a different color. This will make the cards easier to use.
2. Now let the fun begin! Allow your child to pick a subject card and a predicate card. Then have them join the two cards to form a sentence, for example: The hat has a bib or The cat is in bed. Your child can read the sentence aloud, or you can read the sentence for him.
3. If you’ve got an emerging writer on your hands, have them practice their printing by writing the sentence at the bottom of one page of the notebook. Now break out those markers and crayons! Let your child illustrate the sentence. Repeat this process several times until you have at least a half a dozen pages. Now read it aloud. You’ve made a nonsense book!

Reminders: 

2/5 -- Report cards go home

2/7 -- Art Literacy @ 8:30 -- If you are able to volunteer let me know!