Mrs. VanderVere’s Class’s Topics To Share
*Reading
- Scholastic News/Weekly Reader, Autumn Books, Tree/Leaf Books, Apple Books, Manners Books, School Books, and Poetry
- Guided Reading Assessments (continued)
*Author Study
- Kevin Henkes (continued) www.kevinhenkes.com
*Writing
- September Narrative Writing: “First Grade”
- Word Sorts Writing and Handwriting Practice
- Daily News Writing
*Math
- Place Value, Tens and Ones, Number Order, Teens, Number Grid Patterns, Even/Odd Numbers, Graphing, Problem Solving, and Review
- Math Fixer: 8,4,12 (7,4,11 8,8,16 9,5,14 3,3,6 5,2,7)
*Science/Social Studies
- United States Map Skills: Top 5 U.S. Apple States and Using Compass Rose
- Illinois/U.S.Map Skills: States that Border Illinois and Directions
- Scientific Tools for Making Observations: “Observe That Slime!”
*Special Event:
- Apple Science Exploration: On Wednesday afternoon we had the wonderful opportunity to be “apple scientists” with help from Mrs. Grost, our school librarian. We observed, touched, smelled, and tasted five different kinds of apples, including Jazz, Jonamac, Lemonade, Macintosh, and Sweetie apples. We compared and contrasted our findings. Then we used our data to create a neat chart and bar graph, using the Promethean Board and Activote handheld voting devices. The three most popular apples with equal number of votes in our class were the Lemonade, Macintosh, and Sweetie apples. YUM!
*Reminders:
- September Map and Poetry Book: On Wednesday your child brought home his/her red September Map and Poetry Book in his/her blue Home Folder to share with your family. We use this book throughout the month to practice calendar math activities, graph the weather, discuss map skills, history, geography, and read some seasonal, thematic poetry. In each poem, we look for high frequency words/Word Wall Words, spelling patterns, punctuation, compound words, contractions, and possible rhyming. We practice reading these poems fluently with good rhythm and appropriate expression. Each month we will work in a new Map and Poetry book with different poems that reflect what is happening during the month. Enjoy sharing this book together!
- Daily Reading Homework: Enjoy listening to your child read out loud from his/her reading homework book at his/her independent reading level each day to practice reinforcing his/her reading strategies and skills. Please ask your child questions about the book and discuss what your child is reading to help strengthen his/her reading comprehension skills.
- Daily News Writing Journal: Please remember to check, read, discuss, and initial your child’s completed Daily News Journal entry each day.
*Upcoming Events:
- Wear BLUE/National Bullying Prevention Month: Please encourage your child to wear blue next Monday, October 5th to show that we stand together as a school against bullying. We will be discussing respectfulness, thoughtfulness, and making good choices. - District Workshop: The first grade teachers will be attending a half day District 112 First Grade Common Core Math Curriculum Workshop next Thursday, October 8th during the morning. Please remind your child to do his/her best and help the substitute teacher by being respectful, responsible, and safe. Thank you for your continued help and support!
- School Picture Day: Students will be having their school photographs taken next Thursday, October 8th in the afternoon. Informational notes/forms were already sent home two weeks ago.
- Library Books: Library books need to be returned by next Friday, October 9th.
- Early Release: Students will be dismissed at 1:00 next Friday, October 9th. (Healthy fruit or vegetable snacks and lunches will still be eaten at school.)
- No School/Columbus Day: We do not have school on Monday, October 12th on Columbus Day.
- No School/Teacher Institute Day: Students do not have school on Tuesday, October 13th for Teacher Institute Day.
- Indian Trail Fall Coat and Boot Drive: Families are encouraged to donate new and gently-used, clean, warm coats and boots to help support our local families in need from Wednesday, October 14th through Wednesday, October 28th. Donations will be collected near our front office. Please contact Mrs. Harwood by email with any questions at [email protected]. Thank you for your help and support!
- Ice Cream Day: Students will have the opportunity to purchase an ice cream/frozen treat on Wednesday, October 21st during lunch for $2.00. Students who are already signed up and have paid for ice cream will have their names on the PTO's ice cream list.
- Scholastic News/Weekly Reader, Autumn Books, Tree/Leaf Books, Apple Books, Manners Books, School Books, and Poetry
- Guided Reading Assessments (continued)
*Author Study
- Kevin Henkes (continued) www.kevinhenkes.com
*Writing
- September Narrative Writing: “First Grade”
- Word Sorts Writing and Handwriting Practice
- Daily News Writing
*Math
- Place Value, Tens and Ones, Number Order, Teens, Number Grid Patterns, Even/Odd Numbers, Graphing, Problem Solving, and Review
- Math Fixer: 8,4,12 (7,4,11 8,8,16 9,5,14 3,3,6 5,2,7)
*Science/Social Studies
- United States Map Skills: Top 5 U.S. Apple States and Using Compass Rose
- Illinois/U.S.Map Skills: States that Border Illinois and Directions
- Scientific Tools for Making Observations: “Observe That Slime!”
*Special Event:
- Apple Science Exploration: On Wednesday afternoon we had the wonderful opportunity to be “apple scientists” with help from Mrs. Grost, our school librarian. We observed, touched, smelled, and tasted five different kinds of apples, including Jazz, Jonamac, Lemonade, Macintosh, and Sweetie apples. We compared and contrasted our findings. Then we used our data to create a neat chart and bar graph, using the Promethean Board and Activote handheld voting devices. The three most popular apples with equal number of votes in our class were the Lemonade, Macintosh, and Sweetie apples. YUM!
*Reminders:
- September Map and Poetry Book: On Wednesday your child brought home his/her red September Map and Poetry Book in his/her blue Home Folder to share with your family. We use this book throughout the month to practice calendar math activities, graph the weather, discuss map skills, history, geography, and read some seasonal, thematic poetry. In each poem, we look for high frequency words/Word Wall Words, spelling patterns, punctuation, compound words, contractions, and possible rhyming. We practice reading these poems fluently with good rhythm and appropriate expression. Each month we will work in a new Map and Poetry book with different poems that reflect what is happening during the month. Enjoy sharing this book together!
- Daily Reading Homework: Enjoy listening to your child read out loud from his/her reading homework book at his/her independent reading level each day to practice reinforcing his/her reading strategies and skills. Please ask your child questions about the book and discuss what your child is reading to help strengthen his/her reading comprehension skills.
- Daily News Writing Journal: Please remember to check, read, discuss, and initial your child’s completed Daily News Journal entry each day.
*Upcoming Events:
- Wear BLUE/National Bullying Prevention Month: Please encourage your child to wear blue next Monday, October 5th to show that we stand together as a school against bullying. We will be discussing respectfulness, thoughtfulness, and making good choices. - District Workshop: The first grade teachers will be attending a half day District 112 First Grade Common Core Math Curriculum Workshop next Thursday, October 8th during the morning. Please remind your child to do his/her best and help the substitute teacher by being respectful, responsible, and safe. Thank you for your continued help and support!
- School Picture Day: Students will be having their school photographs taken next Thursday, October 8th in the afternoon. Informational notes/forms were already sent home two weeks ago.
- Library Books: Library books need to be returned by next Friday, October 9th.
- Early Release: Students will be dismissed at 1:00 next Friday, October 9th. (Healthy fruit or vegetable snacks and lunches will still be eaten at school.)
- No School/Columbus Day: We do not have school on Monday, October 12th on Columbus Day.
- No School/Teacher Institute Day: Students do not have school on Tuesday, October 13th for Teacher Institute Day.
- Indian Trail Fall Coat and Boot Drive: Families are encouraged to donate new and gently-used, clean, warm coats and boots to help support our local families in need from Wednesday, October 14th through Wednesday, October 28th. Donations will be collected near our front office. Please contact Mrs. Harwood by email with any questions at [email protected]. Thank you for your help and support!
- Ice Cream Day: Students will have the opportunity to purchase an ice cream/frozen treat on Wednesday, October 21st during lunch for $2.00. Students who are already signed up and have paid for ice cream will have their names on the PTO's ice cream list.