Room 7
September 14, 2007
Friday’s Message:
Library
Our library day is Friday. First graders can check out two books. The books are due a week later, the same day as homework. I’m encouraging students to check out one they can read (with some help) and one that can be read aloud.
Classroom Donations and Assistance
Many families have been contributing to our classroom supply of tissue, markers, film, hand wipes, and ziploc bags. I have enough now to get us through to the end of 2007. After winter break we’ll probably need more. Parents are also coming in and offering to help prep materials. I appreciate your help. Thank you!
Back to School Night
Your child brought home a flyer yesterday informing you about next Wednesday’s
“Back to School” night. The 1st grade presentation begins at 6:30. After explaining the curriculum and classroom routines, there will be many more opportunities for you to volunteer in the classroom. I also encourage parents to do an activity/presentation/project with the class. Think about what you would like to do with the class.
READING
Read and record in your Reading Log. The Reading Log booklet is for you to record the names of the books you might read aloud and/or together. Hopefully you are reading with your child every night; it might be handy to keep the Reading Log close to where you read.
The Reading Log needs to be turned in with your child’s homework. It usually is returned the same day, with the “new” Friday’s Message/Homework inserted in it.
WRITING
We went to the library today. Have your child use the book repot form to illustrate and write about one of the books s/he checked out.
MATH
This week students worked in pairs playing “spill the beans” game. They put
5 beans in a paper cup, and poured them out. Then they recorded their “toss” by coloring the corresponding number of beans. They recorded different “toss” combinations.
As they tossed the combinations of 5, they also wrote the addition number sentence that accompanied each toss. Each student had a different color pencil. They took turns writing the symbols for each number sentence. Numeral formation was also enforced.
The following day they played the “hand game” with their partner. They start with 5 beans. One students puts some beans in one hand and the remaining in the other hand. (They did it with their hands behind their back.) Then they show their partner what is in one hand; s/he has to figure out how many beans are in the closed hand.
Play the 5 bean hand game with your child. Then have him/her play “spill the beans” with 6 beans.
*Record the tosses on the paper provided. Remember each recorded toss must be a different combination of the colored beans.
*Then have your child write the number of red/white beans with two different colored pencils. Use a red pencil/writing tool for the red beans; the other color doesn’t matter.
If your child easily can do the hand game with 6 beans, do the same activity with a larger number. Use smaller beans or another manipulative.
SHAPE HUNT
This week I read a “Hello math” reader titled Goldie Locks and the Three Squares by Grace Maccarone. After reading several versions of the 3 Bears, this was a great lead into activities with shapes. Besides the basic four shapes, circle, square, rectangle, and circle, the book also introduced the pentagon. Students are also using the hexagon in two skill group activities.
Shapes are all around. Have your child find things that are the four basic shapes: rectangle, square, triangle, and circle. Find 5 examples of each shape. Have your child draw a picture and write the name of the objuect.
Have your child include the name of the shape.
Your child is welcome to find more objects that have the basic shapes and/or can also find a hexagon or pentagon if s/he would like. Please label the pictures.
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