Mrs. Owen's First Grade Happenings

"Baby", the parrot kept us in stitches!

More pictures at the end of the blog!

This week at a glance:

Language Arts/Spelling: In spelling, we are focusing on words with short vowel /o/. We will continue reviewing the naming and telling parts of sentences and practice identifying nouns which are found in the naming parts of sentences. When reading and writing, we work on story structure by answering the questions “who, what, where, and when”. You can help your child recognize story structure by asking questions when they read or write such as “who is the story about”, “where are they”, “what is happening”. We will also be using graphic organizers to help us recognize the story structure and summarize the beginning, middle, and end of the story.

Don’t forget to use SpellingCity.com as extra fun practice with spelling this week!

I will be introducing robust vocabulary this week. The purpose of our robust vocabulary is to introduce the children to a stronger vocabulary for use when speaking, and ultimately writing. We will not focus on the spelling of these words, but rather the meaning to enrich their spoken vocabulary. This week’s robust vocabulary words are: horrible, invigorated, presented, aid, persistent, sweltering

Please don't forget that the word card ring should be worked on (reading and spelling) daily at home and returned to school on Thursday. This week's words: hold, soon, so, home, get

Handwriting: If your child has not brought in a small sock to use during handwriting lessons, please send one in this week.

Writer's Workshop: As writers, we like to write about what we love. We are learning that writers have choices such as writing stories, making lists, and writing letters. We have been doing all of these! This week we will be choosing a piece of writing to “fancy up” for publishing and sharing with our classmates!

Math: This week we will focus on counting combinations of pennies and nickels, and working with both addition and subtraction number models (sentences).

Science/Social Studies: Last week, Ramsey Taylor, a zoologist with the Miami Zoo visited and brought Baby the parrot and Stripes the boa constrictor. We learned so much about each of the animals and were thoroughly entertained as well by Baby! We also began learning about our skeleton last week during our study of the human body. Do you know what the biggest bone in our skeleton is? How about the strongest bone? On Friday, Dr. Burke brought a skeleton and an assortment of bones. As he talked with our first graders, he was amazed at what they already had learned in just one week and he taught us so many more things about our amazing skeletons!

Things to remember:

Please be sure to send in an apple with your child by Wednesday. We will be using them during a special apple project this week!

International Peace Day will be celebrated tomorrow beginning with a special Town Meeting gathering in the morning.

Spirit Day will be this Friday, September 24. The children may wear Charger spirit wear to school instead of uniforms.

Conference Day is September 30. There will be no school for students.

Homework should be done in pencil only. That way if there is a mistake made, it can be corrected easily. Ask your child what Mrs. Owen says about mistakes!

Please help your child learn responsibility for returning the word ring to school every Thursday. We are having difficulty getting them all back on time! Also, please be sure to have your child practice spelling the words as well as reading them.

Library books need to be returned by Thursday!

Dress Code: Please remind your child that the dress code at Shorecrest requires that their “shirts are tucked in” and that “belts in a neutral color must be worn with all items that have belt loops.”

Volunteers this Week:

* Tuesday - Art – Zheng Chris Chen (12:05)
* Thursday - Library Check-out – Ailsa Hudson and Liz Jack (2:05)
* Friday - Math Game – Leigh Harting (9:00)
* Friday - Parent Reader – Mindy Artze (2:20)

I wish everyone a peaceful week…
Susan