March 31st-April 3

Hello Everyone!
    Last week was another productive and fun-filled week in first grade! This week will also be an exciting time as we will introduce our new Unit of Inquiry titled "Heroes". We will be studying the cultural influences of some of our American Heroes such as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Lewis and Clark and many more.

Here's a look into other parts of the curriculum this week:

Reading:

Compare and Contrasting two separate texts.

Spelling: 

/oo/ as in boot and /oo/ as in foot.

ex: look, took, pool, tool, stool

Red Words: only little work

Grammar:

Identifying Synonyms and Antonyms.

Social Studies:

Introducing the American Heroes Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson and inquiring into how they have impacted our culture through their discoveries.

Math:

Identifying the value of coins and making exchanges.

Important Updates and Reminders:

CONGRATULATIONS to our newest Star Student, Max Williams! Max is curious about the world around him and loves learning new things! We are proud of our new Star Student and look forward to learning more about what makes him so special this week. Way to go, Max!

March 24-28

Greetings Team Peake!
    It's hard to believe that we have completed three fourths of the school year together. I guess time flies when you are having fun! I am so proud of our children for the progress that they have made in first grade and look forward to helping them to achieve their goals during the next nine weeks. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting with some of you at your Spring Conference and look forward to meeting with the rest of you in the near future. The next two months will be dedicated to making sure your child reaches his or her highest potential! Please encourage your child to do his or her best during the last nine weeks as we still have a lot to learn.

                  Here's a look into the curriculum this upcoming week:

Spelling:

/igh/ ex: night, bright, sight

Red Words: new, over, come

Reading:

Analyzing and discussing JGB Story "King of the Frogs."

Making Inferences using text clues.

Grammar:

Using number words as adjectives.

Writing:

Editing, revising and publishing a writing piece about our world travels.

Math: 

Reviewing 2D and 3D shapes, telling time and interpreting graphs.

Social Studies

Studying the geography and culture of France.

Important Updates and Reminders:

• I will not be at school on March 25th as I will be participating in my last day of Common Core Mathematics Training. Please make sure to make any transportation changes with the Front Office as I will be away.
• Our new Book Fair Purchase day and time is March 25th from 12:45-1:15. 
• Our class will be visiting the Atlanta Symphony on Wednesday March 26th. Please pack a sack lunch for your child and make sure he or she wears a Sarah Smith tshirt.

Thank you so much for your continued support!

Mrs. Peake 

March 17-21

Hello All! 

  

I hope you are enjoying the rest of your weekend! Once again, we had a busy and fun-filled week in first grade last week. The children were very excited about filling up the Big Bucket of Fuzzies for the second time and chose to have an ice-cream party to celebrate! We also had a fiesta on Friday as we reached an end to our study of Mexico. 

 

We have had a great time studying the different two dimensional and three dimensional shapes in math. It has been exciting to see the children so engaged in hands on learning as we begin to understand the basics of Geometry. This past week we mostly studied the 2D plane shapes and will continue to explore with 3D shapes this upcoming week. Please encourage your child to look for these shapes at home and wherever else you may be traveling.

Many of you have signed up for Spring Conferences which are beginning this week on March 18th. Thank you! Please make sure that if you have not signed up for your conference that you do so before March 24th. The children have worked hard to share their portfolios with you and are each looking forward to sharing their progress. I will also be available for any questions that you may have and look forward to us continuing to work as a team to create goals for your child. If you have not signed up for your slot, please click on the link below and find a time that is convenient for you.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E44ADA728A02-spring

The Spring Book Fair is coming soon! We will "preview" the books this upcoming Thursday, March 20th from 8:15-8:45. Please discuss with your child a limit of books you would allow them to purchase on the purchase date so that they can create their Wish Lists. 

Our Purchase Day is exactly a week later from the Preview Day and is scheduled for the same time: March 27th from 8:15-8:45. Please feel free to join us in the Media Center or send money in an enclosed envelope with your child.

Here's what to look forward to in the curriculum this week:

Spelling: 

/ou/ and /ow/ 

ex: ouch, cow, now, plow, loud

Red Words: find, long

Grammar: 

Identifying and using adjectives to make our writing more descriptive.

Reading:

Cause and Effect

Math: 

Identifying the attributes of 3D Shapes ex: spheres, cylinders, rectangular prisms, pyramids, cones and cubes. Identifying symmetry in shapes.

Writing: 

Writing a paragraph about what it would be like to go on an African safari.

Social Studies/Sciences:

Exploring the culture of Tanzania, Africa.

Important Announcements/Reminders:

• March 20th- Spring Book Fair Preview
• March 21st- Atlanta History Center Field Trip If your child is bringing his or her lunch, please make sure that it is in a disposable sack.
•  March 24th- Deadline to sign up for Spring Conferences. Please email me if you are unable to find a time that suits your schedule and we will find a time that works.
• March 27th- Spring Book Fair Purchase Day from 8:15-8:45 in the Media Center. 

Congratulations to our new Star Student, Marie Rojanets! We are thankful to have Marie as a part of our classroom community! Her friends think that she is always kind to others and they look forward to learning more about her this upcoming week. Congratulations Marie!

 

March 3-7

Hello Everyone!
   Last week was a busy week in first grade as we were catching up from our snow days! Now that we are officially caught up, we still have a lot of learning to do. March will be an exciting week for your child. Coming up are our Spring Portfolio Parties, which will take place of the traditional parent teacher conferences that we have had thus far. I am confident that you will enjoy these conferences, as you will get to hear about your child’s progress straight from your child! I will also be available for any additional questions that you may have. The purpose of these conferences are for you and your child to discuss his or her progress in first grade and to set goals for the remainder of the year. These conferences will take place beginning March 18^{th and} ending April 4^th. Please be on the lookout for a Signup Genius in the near future where you will be able to sign up for a day and time that is convenient for you.

  Also, the Spring Book Fair is coming up at the end of the month. Please be on the lookout for information on times and dates for this as well J

  As we continue our new unit “My Country, My World”, we will be traveling across the world and learning about various different cultures. We are so fortunate to have many different cultures and heritages represented in our classroom and we look forward to celebrating those in the weeks to come. Please contact me if you would like to visit our classroom to share about your family’s unique culture J

Here’s a look into this week’s curriculum:

Spelling:

(ar) ex: star, park, car, March

Red Words: people, water, by

Grammar:

Identifying and using contractions

Reading:

Fiction vs. Non Fiction

Identifying Problem and Solution

Wrting:

Writing a persuasive paragraph about why our school is the best!

Math:

Unit 6 Review and Unit Test

Thanks for your support!

Mrs. Peake