Friday Newsletter

        This week’s reading activities were centered around Eric Carle's stories.  Ms. Thorstenson kicked off our author study with an Eric Carle book talk.  Her book talk got us very excited to read Eric Carle stories!  We began the unit reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  We used the story to discuss and review beginning, middle, and end.  Eric Carle wrote another story called The Tiny Seed.  We enjoyed learning about the parts of a flower, and we completed a nonfiction book and art project to go along.  As we studied the parts of a flower, we discussed roots, stems, leaves, and flower petals.  We know why each part is an essential part of the entire plant.  We also read The Very Grouchy Ladybug.  Next week we’ll read even more of Eric Carle's stories!
        This week in phonics we reviewed the -ed ending.  The children know when to add it to words, but they do not always notice when it sounds differently.  When you add an ed to the end of a word, sometimes the ed sounds like a t, while other times it sounds like ed or d.  The children sorted words based on the sound of ed at the end.  Knowing this rule will help them be better spellers.  We also learned about contractions.  Most of the children have encountered contractions in reading and writing and are familiar with the concept, but they are still learning how contractions work.  They can read many contractions, so we used those to explore the principle further.  The children learned that to make a contraction, you put two words together and leave out a letter(s).  You write an apostrophe where the letter(s) are left out.  Knowing how contractions are constructed will help the children understand what these words mean when they read them and spell them when they write them.
        We completed math unit nine this week.  We reviewed fraction concepts and used region models to compare fractions.  I introduced the idea that fractional parts of a whole have many names (equivalent fractions).  The children enjoyed making their own fraction creature project, too.  Finally, I assessed your child’s progress on the material covered in unit nine.  Next week we start our last math unit of the year!

1.    I look forward to seeing you at our Author’s Tea        on Friday, May 30 at 10:15 in the Todd Hall            Library!  Please do not bring small children.
2.    I hope to see you at our end-of-the-year picnic        at Prosel Park on May 29!!! :)  We plan to                celebrate a great year in first grade!!!!  More            information will be sent home soon.
3.    Our class will participate in the district                        walk-a-thon on Monday afternoon.  Wear                comfortable (green) clothes and shoes!