Dear Parents,

Wow, what a year! To better state that- what an AWESOME year! We have covered a lot of material and participated in many fun and exciting projects. We have developed the skills needed for second grade! We’ve built strong friendships along the way too.  

Each of your children has brought such joy and happiness to our classroom. I was so fortunate to have such a wonderful group of children this past year. My friends and family often laugh at me when I refer to your children as “my kids”. They are like my own children. They all have touched my life and this school year in very positive and rewarding ways. I hope as the years go by that they keep in touch. After all…we will be neighbors next year! 

It has been my pleasure getting to know not only your child, but you as well. Having parental support and open lines of communication is an essential part of any successful school year. Thank you for all you have done to make our year so fulfilling and memorable.  

As your child moves from first to second grade, there are some very important things you can do to help them prepare over the summer.  Engage in meaningful conversations with your child everyday. Take some time (if only a few minutes a day) to really listen to what they have to say.  Read to and listen to your child read. Ask questions, make predictions, and text to self connections as you read. Practice those addition and subtraction facts as a way to have your child hit the ground running in second grade math. Help your child develop a sense of working and solving problems independently. Talk about ways and start practicing getting and staying organized. Encourage your child to write often! Writing stories, letters, journal entries, etc are great ways to get thoughts organized and put onto paper. These little things will lead to big successes next year. 

Again, thank you for a wonderful year. Have a fantastic summer and see you in the fall!

Best Wishes,

Miss Becker

Language Arts

This month, in reading, we will be looking at the different sounds that the letter y can make at the end of a word.  The first graders will also study words endings such as es and ies, the prefixes un- and re-, as well as the suffixes ful, ly, and y. We will be evaluating authors’ craft and style as well as noting details, and comparing and contrasting characters in stories.

In writing we are beginning a new unit on Poetry.  The first graders will discover words and images of their own lives.  The will learn to paint pictures with words and travel into the heart of the reader.  Everyone has poetry inside them.  I hope that each of the 1^st grade poets will notice the impact of poetic language vs. the ordinary words we use each day.  We will reach down within ourselves and explore the feelings and emotions that make us all unique.  Some of the poetry styles we will create are, Poets’ Journals, List Poems, Repeating Poems, Six Room Poems, and Take Shape Poems. Poetry is something that has always been a creative escape for me and I can not wait to share it with our class!

Math

The first grade mathematicians will be practicing their skills in addition and subtraction this month.  We will study topics such as doubles, doubles plus 1, adding and subtracting with the number 10, using tables to solve problems, fact families, and solving multi-step problem. If your child has flash cards at home, please feel free to have them bring them in, as they will be able to use them through out the day during those times when they might have a few minutes of free time after an assignment!

Science

We have started an exciting unit on Ocean Life and the Tides!  Our focus will be on investigating Long Island Sound.  It is a body of water that most people wouldn’t think twice about, but there is an amazing amount of life to explore in this small area!  We will explore animals and their habitat, waves, and tides, as well as the preservation of LIS.  We will be paring up with the 7^thgrade scientists to conduct field research at Southport Beach on May 19^th.

Social Studies

This month, in Social Studies, our unit will focus on economics.  The first graders will explore the concept of goods and services, as well as the jobs that contribute to the production of goods and services. They will trace the sequence in a manufacturing process.  They will also explore ways people work to meet their needs and wants as well as ways technology has changed the ways people work.  In addition, they will explore the concept of buyers and sellers, saving, budgeting, and trade with other nations.

In reading we will focus on the skills of finding a topic sentence, drawing conclusions, and sequencing events.  We will also notice how base words can be changed by adding -s, -ed, and -ing.  We will review all long vowel sounds in words as we prepare to learn about tricky vowel pairs.  The first grade writers will be taken away to the land of make-believe!  They will develop story plans to help in the writing process.  Their story plans will focus on character development, setting, creating a problem, and a resolution.  They will then turn their plans into magical fairytales!

The first grade mathematicians will be exploring Measurement and Probability this month. They will find that the length of an object can be described by comparing it to a defined unit.  We will learn about units of measurement including, centimeters, inches, feet, and yards. as well as measure the perimeter of certain shapes.  The first graders will also study capacity in terms of cups, pints, liters, quarts, and pounds.  They will test temperature using Fahrenheit thermometers.

Our scientists will be studying the Rainforest in science this month.  We will explore animals, vegetation, the layers of the rainforest strata, as well as what our rainforests give us and how we can protect this important part of our earth.  We will be participating in a field experience at Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk where we will learn about how animals protect themselves in the rainforest.  Be sure to check out our classroom, as it will soon transform into our very own rainforest!

In social studies we will be focusing on history.  The first graders will explore the idea that people and places change over time.  They will trace family history, community history, and our country’s history-from the Native Americans and Columbus’s voyage to the Pilgrims as early settlers.  In addition, the first graders will explore ways we celebrate historical events, the lives of some historical figures, and ways technology has changed our lives.

Language Arts

The first grade has made leaps and bounds in Language Arts!  This month in reading we are working on recognizing and reading sounds such as long o, e, and u. Also we are on the look out for words that end with ft, lk, and nt. Vowels do not always stand alone.  Some of them have best friends like ea, ai, ee, and ay. We are becoming more familiar with reading and understanding the meaning of contractions.  When we read as a class, and in our guided reading groups, we are comparing and contrasting details in our stories, making predictions and inferences, asking partners questions, and summarizing using our own words.  We are becoming strong writers as well!  The first graders are making sure to write in complete sentences and vary sentence type throughout the persuasive letters we are working on this month.  We are learning that as writers lengthen their stories, paragraphs are born!

Math

What time is it?  How much does this cost?  These are questions that the first graders will be answering this month in Math.  We will be learning how to tell and write time to the hour and half hour using analog and digital clocks.  The first grade mathematicians will estimate lengths of time using clocks and calendars as well have how time elapses during the day.  Money is an important part of everyday life.  We will apply the skills we will learn to be able to count sets of coins, recognize pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars, purchase items with correct change, and build and deconstruct given amounts of money.

Science

3…2…1 BLAST OFF!! There’s so much to see and learn about outside of our cozy little state of CT.  In February we are traveling to outer space! We will discuss our home planet, Earth, and the layers (core, mantel, crust).  Then we will rocket off to the moon where we will discuss the different phases of our mysterious moon.  Our tour continues as we explore the special characteristics that makes each planet unique!

Social Studies

All About People is the focus of social studies this month.  The first graders will discuss how everyone in a group has a different role.  We will describe how people in groups depend on each other and problem solve in different ways.  We will also explore the basic needs of people and the difference between wants and needs.  The people around us have many unique cultures and traditions.  We will be investigating how people celebrate their cultures and traditions in our families and around the world.

This month in reading we will be developing ideas about the characters in the stories that we read.We will describe how characters change throughout a story. We will learn to recognize different traits that characters have. The first graders will use evidence from their text to support their ideas about the characters. We will also compare and contrast characters within different books. We will continue to review short vowel sounds and practice initial and final consonant clusters as well as adding –s to make plural words.

In writing we will begin learning about writing friendly letters. We will learn about all parts of a friendly letter including the proper placement of the date, greeting, body, and closing. The first grade writers will include interesting details that help to answer questions that the reader may have. They will make sure to use complete sentences, vary sentence type, and use proper punctuation.

The first grade mathematicians will be developing concepts for numbers to 100 by counting sets of 2s, 5s, and 10s. They will look at numbers and compare them to groups of ten with some left over. For instance, 16 is 10 and 6 more. They will search for patterns and identify ordinal numbers through twentieth.

Science Rocks!! Our science unit this month will explore rocks and minerals. The first grade scientist will recognize that rocks and minerals are used every day by people. For example: in objects such as metal kitchen appliances, chalk, concrete, and sidewalks. We wear rocks in our jewelry. Minerals are in most of our foods. Rocks form the basis of our earth! We will investigate the characteristics of the 3 rock families including igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

This month we will continue our unit on “The Land Around Us”. The first graders will explore the concept of neighborhood and the people who live in a community, as well as the physical characteristics of Earth, such as land forms and bodies of water. Students will practice how to use a map and globe to find places on Earth. In addition, the first graders will explore some of Earth’s resources, how people depend on them, and how we can help save them.

In reading we will be concentrating on Vocabulary and Comprehension Building during the month of December. The first graders will monitor reading by self-correcting and re-reading. They will retell story elements such as the beginning middle and end, and share their thoughts and comments about the text.They will also make predictions, and make text to text connections. The first graders will determine the meaning of unfamiliar words through picture and context clues. We will review short vowel sounds and high frequency sight words and begin to look at initial consonant clusters.

Our writers will continue their study of non-fiction writing as they create new “How To” Stories. We will polish up our ability to sequence clear directions through teaching a skill. The writers will use their creative skills to write with partner and self-edit.

Our first grade mathematicians will be focusing on identifying and naming plane and solid figures and recognizing them in the environment. They will count the number of vertices on a flat surface and compare them to geometric solids. Also, they will sort plane shapes according to their properties. They will reform slides, flips, and turns on an object and identify the resulting position. While investigating fractions, the first graders will determine whether a shape has been divided into equal or unequal parts. They will recognize halves, thirds, and fourths.

Is it a solid, liquid, or gas? This month the first grade scientists will discover the differences in properties of matter. They will classify solid objects based on size, shape and color and recognize that everything around us is matter. They will learn that objects can be made up of parts too small to see without a microscope. The first grade scientists will explore the idea that matter may sink, float, mix or dissolve in a liquid and observe the effects of heating or cooling different kinds of matter. We will introduce tools that are used to measure matter such as a balance scale, test tubes, and beakers.

“The Land Around Us” focuses on the Earth. The first graders will explore the concept of neighborhood and the people who live in a community, as well as the physical characteristics of Earth, such as land forms and bodies of water. They will practice how to use a map and globe to find places on Earth. In addition, the first graders will explore some of Earth’s resources, how people depend on them, and how we can help save them.

During November the first graders will focus on reading with fluency. They will search for patterns in text that help make a prediction. They will work on improving comprehension skills by retelling stories, noting important details in the beginning, middle, and ending. They will practice asking and answering questions pertaining to who, what, where, when, and why? They will also connect books to their lives as they make text to self connections. Phonics skills will focus on short o, short u, and consonant blends, as well as a review of sight words.

In writing the first graders move on to another form of non-fiction writing. The 1st grade writers will begin creating “How To” stories. They will need to be able to choose topics, outline steps in a procedure, and recognize missing information. The writers will need to choose a title as well as design a cover for their story.

In Math this month the first grade mathematicians will be using mental math strategies. They will come to understand the commutative property, which allows them to switch addends in a problem and still arrive at the same answer. The first graders will also be detectives as they search through word problems to decide what information is important and what information is not needed. They will practice their doubles facts as well as doubles plus 1. The first grade mathematicians will include drawings to help show their work.

The first grade scientists will focus on changes in weather, animals, and people throughout each of the four seasons. They will look at precipitation levels, change in temperature, migration, and hibernation. They will also study the changes in the land such as how leaves change colors, why they fall, and the process of how buds grow in the spring.

The first graders will explore rules and laws, voting, our local, state, and national leaders, and American symbols. In addition they will discover that they have both rights and responsibilities as citizens and ways in which  they can be good citizens.

In reading, the first graders will continue the important skill of noting details in stories.  They will explore the differences between fantasy and realism.  The first graders will use strategies to summarize, compare and contrast stories, as well as ask questions about stories. We will also work on spelling words with short vowel sounds.   In writing the first grade writers will continue to develop true moments from their lives into small moment stories.  They will focus on conventions such as capitalizing names, proper spacing, and word order, as well as varying noun and adjective choice.

In our unit “Understanding Addition and Subtraction” the 1st grade mathematicians will explore the meaning of addition of subtraction through the use of joining and separating stories (word problems).  They will look at the horizontal and vertical forms for addition and subtraction and recognize that both forms represent the same situation.  They will use vocabulary such as add, plus, sum, subtract, minus, difference.

The 1st grade scientists will investigate “Health and Safety” during October.  They will learn about the food groups that make up the food pyramid.  They will discuss and design projects that are centered on healthy food choices.  They will identify fruits and veggies they like and try to expand the variety of foods they eat.  They will discover the importance of staying active along with eating healthy.  Towards the end of the month they will explore different ways to keep their healthy bodies safe such as following biking laws, emergency situations, and being aware of strangers.

The unit “Good Citizens” tells the story of our country’s government.  The first graders will explore rules and laws, voting, our local, state, and national leaders, and American symbols.  In addition they will discover that they have both rights and responsibilities as citizens and ways they can be good citizens.

Language Arts

It’s the start of a new year and exciting things to come in Language Arts.  After a super summer vacation we will be reviewing consonant and vowel sounds as well as blending those important word families like -at, -an, -it, and -ing.  While we read new and exciting books together and independently, we will be sequencing events, noting details, and summarizing.  Our writing will focus on turning small moments in time into a true narrative.  These stories may pertain to school, home, family, friends, and pets, just to name a few.  The first grade writers will work on writing independently as well as shared writing with the whole class.

Math

In Math we will revisit ways to make numbers 6-10 and recognize that some numbers can be divided into equal groups.  We will search for numbers that are 1 or 2 more than a certain number as well as 1 or 2 less than a number.  Along with ordering numbers, the first grade mathematicians will investigate and identify pattern units, translate patterns, and use data from a picture to talk about the patterns that may be present.

Science

As we get to know each other we will be getting to know more about ourselves too.  In our first science unit, “Ourselves“, the first grade scientists will find that each of us is special and different from one another.  They will learn that we also have some properties in common such as that we have hands, feet, eyes, etc.  We will examine what makes these properties unique to each person such as fingerprints, foot arches, strands of hair, and much more.  We will also investigate our skin and how each layer acts as protection for our bodies.

Social Studies

Starting a new year is a great time to talk about the important ideas that make up a school community.  In our first social studies unit, “Schools“, students will describe their role as a students and member of a class.  They will explain the different roles that they play in school and at home.  They will investigate and understand the importance of having rules in school that provide safety, establish order, and manage conflict.  The first graders will look beyond our classroom and find out what other faculty and staff do at our school.  We will also compare our school to schools around the world, as well as from long ago.

Dear Parents,

Wow, what a year! To better state that- what an AWESOME year! We have covered a lot of material and participated in many fun and exciting projects. We have developed the skills needed for second grade! We’ve built strong friendships along the way too.

Each of your children has brought such joy and happiness to our classroom. I was so fortunate to have such a wonderful group of children this past year. My friends and family often laugh at me when I refer to your children as “my kids”. They are like my own children. They all have touched my life and this school year in very positive and rewarding ways. I hope as the years go by that they keep in touch. After all…we will be neighbors next year!

It has been my pleasure getting to know not only your child, but you as well. Having parental support and open lines of communication is an essential part of any successful school year. Thank you for all you have done to make our year so fulfilling and memorable.

As your child moves from first to second grade, there are some very important things you can do to help them prepare over the summer.  Engage in meaningful conversations with your child every day. Take some time (if only a few minutes a day) to really listen to what they have to say.  Read to and listen to your child read. Ask questions, make predictions, and relate stories to your lives as you read. Practice those addition and subtraction facts as a way to have your child hit the ground running in second grade math. Help your child develop a sense of working and solving problems independently. Talk about ways to get and stay organized and practice them. Encourage your child to write often! Writing stories, letters, journal entries, etc. are great ways to get thoughts organized and put onto paper. These little things will lead to big successes next year.

Again, thank you for a wonderful year. Have a fantastic summer and see you in the fall!

Best Wishes,

Miss Becker

mbecker@unquowa.org