November Newsletter

It is very hard to believe that we are entering the

month of November already.  Our first grade

friends have been super busy learning.

Just a reminder (if you have not signed up already)

we have parent teacher conferences coming up. 

The link to sign up is

https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Center_Drive_School

As we enter the new month we will also be starting

our theme 3 reading unit.  In this unit our reading

strategies are phonics and decoding words, evaluating

as we read, predicting/inferring, and questioning. 

For comprehension we focus on main idea and details.

This leads into summarizing what we have read.

We work on reading fluency daily, and have seen

much improvement. For grammar we are focusing

on what is a sentence, and the naming part of the

sentence or the who, and the action part of the sentence.

We begin Spelling words and tests in this unit.

Be on the lookout for a spelling list to come home.

The first graders will also bring home a Spelling

Contract each week. They will be responsible for

choosing 5 different activities to help them practice

the words on their spelling list. The children are

very excited to start having spelling tests…….just like the big kids!

We are beginning Topic 4 in Math…..Subtraction facts

to 20.  In this topic the students are introduced to

several key strategies for solving subtraction facts. 

These strategies include counting to subtract, making

10 to subtract, and using addition to subtract.

Please continue to practice those basic addition

and subtraction facts:)

  

Ask your child what a small moment story means

to them. The finishing touches (editing and revisions)

are being made to their favorite small moment story

as these blossoming writers are becoming published

authors.  Information writing is coming up next.

The students will be writing to teach about topics

that they are “experts” about. 

In Science we will explore sound.  The key learning

is that sound is caused by vibrations.   For Social

Studies we will discuss and read about the pilgrims

and how life was then.  We will also compare it to life now.  

**As the weather begins to cool down please dress

appropriately for recess.**

IMPORTANT DATES

Book Fair October  October 28th to November 8th

Parent Teacher Conferences  November 7th Noon Dismissal

Parent Teacher Conferences November 8th  No School

Veteran’s Day November 11th No School

Thanksgiving Break November 27th to 29th

On October 31st we will have PJ day.  We are not able

to wear costumes, so please do not come to school

with your Halloween costume on….save it for that night:)

If you would like to send in a treat to share with the

class you may do so. There are 17 students in our

room. Please do not feel you have to send in anything

for this day. We will have a normal day of learning with

a little bit of fun in the afternoon.  

Thank you

Picture forms are going home today. 😊
Picture day is on Tuesday, October 22nd.

We had some visitors today. The first graders have some news to share.....

"They taught us about stop drop and roll and if there
 is a fire we do not hide we get out.  We learned to stay
low.  We also have  to check smoke detector batteries
 every 6 months.  We know that we need to check door
handles to see if they are hot or cold.  If the door feels hot
 we need to find another way out.  It was fun!"

Students will be bringing home "Bag of Books" today. 
Each bag has the student's name on it, some books
inside, and a letter explaining this program.  Please
 take the time to read and reread these books throughout
 the week.  Send the bag and books back by Monday,
so your student can get some new books for the following week.

OCTOBER IN GRADE ONE

Dates to remember

*October 11th full day teacher inservice

*October 14th Columbus Day

*October 22nd Picture Day

  READING

We will be continuing to review consonant sounds

and short vowel sounds.  Through reading texts

we will be comparing and contrasting, and working

with cause and effect.  Our reading genres will be

fantasy, realism and realistic fiction. A main focus

will be on story structure and elements.  Reviewing

and working on high frequency words will be done.

Students will continue to read just right books daily.

WRITING

We are still working on small moments.  We are working

on ways to bring our stories to life, make our characters

talk, move, feel, and think.  We are working on telling

our stories in steps. After we complete our narrative

unit, each student will publish their favorite small moment story.

MATH

We are currently working on adding and subtracting

within ten.  One of the goals in first grade is to have

them become fluent with these facts.  So, any fact practice

at home would be really helpful. When we move into topic

3 we will be using strategies to add to 20.  

SCIENCE

Our second unit is Communication.  We will discuss how

people can communicate with people who are nearby and

far away.  Our discussions will be centered around how we

communicate with others. The students will practice communicating

using light and Morse Code.  They will also create a

telephone using cups and string. They will need to

build, test, and explain their creation. It is always

amazing to see how many “phones” do work!

OTHER

Please continue to check communication folders daily.  

It is getting cooler, so please send a light jacket or

sweatshirt for recess time.

The year has started wonderfully and the first

graders are awesome!