A. W.
Cox Elementary School
|
A. W.
Cox Elementary School |
|
|
Teacher's Home Page: Teacher's Email Address:
|
First Grade News Spring 2011
March comes in like a lion . . . and goes out like a lion?
First grade has certainly been a memorable and historic time in 2011! We were all witness to history making weather and a record number of snow days! We could certainly put our measuring skills to good use! When we are parents we will definitely have many stories to tell our children.
With the help of our Literacy Coach, Mrs. Annine Crystal, we are learning to understand what the author’s meaning is when a text is written. The intended learning is focused on a theme or lesson. We frame questions asking about the author’s intent. The questioning or queries are intended to understand ideas rather than retrieve information. The method is more process oriented rather than product driven. Queries are asked during a reading and are often very open-ended. We are concerned with the GIST of the text and the children are always expected to give a reason for their ideas. We expect the children to connect within and outside of the text. There is no traditional right and wrong answer as long as evidence is given and ideas can be substantiated. The children are being encouraged to listen to others and build on their ideas using “accountable talk” such as, “I agree with ______because,” and “I’d like to add or piggyback on what ______ said . . .” Another feature of this shared reading is that very few pictures are shown during a reading. There is a much stronger reliance on listening comprehension rather than looking to the pictures for details and meaning. We want students to create their own visualization of the story in their heads based upon the specifically chosen words of the author and not rely on images created by an illustrator. (The pictures can be shown after the text is read and for other purposes.) The children have opportunities to discuss meanings and feelings and grapple with meaning during a shared reading. The teacher purposefully plans for stopping points to glean meaning and understanding. The collective ideas are shared in the group. All the children at A.W. Cox are continuing to learn Sight Words. Being able to automatically read these words, many of which are not phonetic, helps with fluency and thus, comprehension of a text. Decoding is but one part of literacy. Reading for meaning is our goal. Being able to respond to a text and to carry on a conversation about a text is very important. We are also working on written response in all areas of the curriculum. As the children are able to read all the sight words expected of their grade level, their names will be placed on the Sight Word Hall of Fame outside the Music Room. This incentive helps many children strive to learn more and more. It's a tangible way for them to see the rewards of their effort.
In Social Studies, we also learned about our ancestors and their countries of origin. In researching our heritage, we have a better understanding of maps and geography. We are learning about countries, continents and oceans. We have a stronger understanding of cultures and customs and the reasons for many of our traditions. As a culminating activity, we created International Dolls, flags and celebrated with an International Tasting Party. Some of us even dressed in traditional dress from the countries of our ancestors. We appreciate that although we may come from different parts of the world, we share much that is the same. Understanding others is one of the most valuable tools we can possess. In Math, we are continuing our Everyday Math Series which supports our math curriculum. First Graders have begun the second Math Journal. We are beginning to practice addition math facts. (Start with 1-5, and then move on to 6-10.) Through practice, and reinforcement at home, children will have a quick and instant recall of the math facts, a necessary skill. This website also has a wealth of information: http://www.theschoolbell.com/ . Though we are continually scaffolding mathematical knowledge, new concepts being introduced are: developing fact power, geometry and attributes, mental arithmetic, money, fractions and place value. Since this is a spiraling curriculum, we always have continuous review of all concepts throughout the year. This year we will also have a place to display names of those children who have mastered their math facts. These lists are on the side of the Music Room closer to the Art Room and Gym. Knowing math facts builds a child's fluency which helps with problem-solving, algebraic concepts and overall math confidence. Our goal is for children to have number sense, know different methods or strategies to solve a problem, and to have rote, automatic knowledge. This is necessary so solving a problem is not so labor intensive.We don't want the child to get too tired to follow a problem through to completion.
In Science, we will study “Air and Weather.” Concepts explored will be: that air takes up space and can be compressed, it exerts pressure on other objects, and it changes over time, month by month, season by season. We will become familiar with instruments used by meteorologists to monitor air and weather conditions. We will record data using pictographs and bar graphs.
Our Science expert, Mr. Tony Piscitelli, is actively engaging us with studies of the moon and the frog live cycle. We are learning about how the appearance of the moon changes over a month’s time and these changes are called the phases of the moon. We will be recording these changes in our very own “Moon Journal.” Watching the nighttime sky, will truly enable us to feel like astronomers.
Our trip to the Vernal Pool in West Woods was a success! This nature walk helped us see the habitat of the wood frog and help us understand how important it is to return our frogs to their home after they go through their metamorphosis. The egg masses are now in our classrooms where we can witness this truly miraculous wonder of nature! We are journaling their progress and recording data.
* Continue to use these web sites as supports and enrichment for your child. http://media.emgames.com/emgames/demosite/demolevel1.html All About Money http://www.kidsbank.com/index_2.asp Starfall
abcya - educational games for children Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Home.html
Funbrain
Discovery Kids
Time for Kids http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/teachers/ns/0,27955,090508,00.html
Scholastic http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/index.jsp
Brain Pop and Brain Pop, Jr.
~ brainpop http://www.guilford.k12.ct.us/~cox/
Lexia – Continue home use
Brainquest Second Grade Web Quests http://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/schools/elem/odes/webquests-Second%20Grade.htm Tumblebooks – The children are familiar with these from the library and our classrooms. These are directions from our Cox School Web Site: Select the Library Media Center icon on the left hand side of the page. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and look for the 'dancing' Tumblebook link. On the page that opens when you click on the link, log in with the following information: Username: awcox Password: books Our First Grade Team is so proud of the First Graders' accomplishments! The children are making tremendous progress in becoming great learners and communicators. Thanks also to the First Grade parents, they are truly our strong support system! First Grade Teachers
|
