So far our writer's workshop is off to a great start! We have been examining how other authors and student authors write to create our own books. The students have been learning about schema and making lists of things they have schema about. Then, they are making webs of facts about those things. Eventually, they will be writing their own informational books to teach others what they know a lot about. They have been learning the differences between authors' purposes, too. They know that to entertain means the book was written for them to laugh and enjoy. They also learned that to inform means to teach someone something. The books we are writing right now are informational. I am excited to read their books so I can learn more about them!
In math this week, we worked on time to the half hour and filling in frames and arrows. We also learned how to find the rules to frames and arrows problems when they weren't given. Next week we are going to pre-assess unit 4 and finish our number pattern unit.
This week we also did a lesson on proper ways to use an iPad at school. We will be sharing 14 iPads with the rest of first grade, so I wanted to make sure the students understood these are learning tools, not toys. We made a list of how to take care of them and use them correctly and took some pictures of the students demonstrating these rules. I am so excited to begin working with the iPads and introducing the students to some cool apps to extend their learning.
This coming week, I am going to teach the students how to do word sorts and some other word study activities. After Thanksgiving, your students will start getting spelling words that are just right for them. They will be working on spelling patterns with other students who also need work on those patterns. There will be many different word study groups because all of the students will be getting differentiated lessons based on what they need. I am excited to start introducing them to their words. We will be doing a practice week this coming week. The words they will be using are not necessarily at their just right level, I just want to make sure they understand how to do the program first. If you have any questions once we get started, let me know, but you will start seeing the word patterns your child is working on after we get back from Thanksgiving.
Here are some things to ask your child about:
-What are the two authors' purposes we've discussed so far?
-What are some of the things you put on your schema list?
-How do we properly use an iPad at school?
Thank you to everyone who ordered books from Scholastic! They arrived on Friday, I just haven't had a chance to sort them and give them to your children yet. They will be coming home this week.
Reminders:
-Don't forget to sign up for conferences! I am looking forward to seeing everyone!
-After Thanksgiving I will be looking for volunteers to help during our math block and possibly during word study on Mondays. I am still discussing this with the other teachers and will let you know as soon as I have things organized.
-Let me know if you would like to be a mystery reader!
-We have a field trip coming up the morning of December 14 to the Raupp Museum.
In math this week, we worked on time to the half hour and filling in frames and arrows. We also learned how to find the rules to frames and arrows problems when they weren't given. Next week we are going to pre-assess unit 4 and finish our number pattern unit.
This week we also did a lesson on proper ways to use an iPad at school. We will be sharing 14 iPads with the rest of first grade, so I wanted to make sure the students understood these are learning tools, not toys. We made a list of how to take care of them and use them correctly and took some pictures of the students demonstrating these rules. I am so excited to begin working with the iPads and introducing the students to some cool apps to extend their learning.
This coming week, I am going to teach the students how to do word sorts and some other word study activities. After Thanksgiving, your students will start getting spelling words that are just right for them. They will be working on spelling patterns with other students who also need work on those patterns. There will be many different word study groups because all of the students will be getting differentiated lessons based on what they need. I am excited to start introducing them to their words. We will be doing a practice week this coming week. The words they will be using are not necessarily at their just right level, I just want to make sure they understand how to do the program first. If you have any questions once we get started, let me know, but you will start seeing the word patterns your child is working on after we get back from Thanksgiving.
Here are some things to ask your child about:
-What are the two authors' purposes we've discussed so far?
-What are some of the things you put on your schema list?
-How do we properly use an iPad at school?
Thank you to everyone who ordered books from Scholastic! They arrived on Friday, I just haven't had a chance to sort them and give them to your children yet. They will be coming home this week.
Reminders:
-Don't forget to sign up for conferences! I am looking forward to seeing everyone!
-After Thanksgiving I will be looking for volunteers to help during our math block and possibly during word study on Mondays. I am still discussing this with the other teachers and will let you know as soon as I have things organized.
-Let me know if you would like to be a mystery reader!
-We have a field trip coming up the morning of December 14 to the Raupp Museum.