Happy New Year first grade families! We hope you all had a safe and enjoyable break with your families. Let’s have a strong start to the new year. Please keep your child at home if they are sick, vomiting or have diarrhea. 

Important Dates & Reminders

• NO School, Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - January 15th, 2023 
• Early Dismissal for End of Quarter - January 25th, 2023
• NO School, Teacher Workday - January 26th, 2023

Language Arts

What are we learning?

• Poetry Unit: This month we will be learning about reading and connecting with poetry. Students will begin to understand what the poet’s meaning is through the author's message and poem style.
• Writing: Students will also have the opportunity to practice writing a variety of poem styles.

Home/School Connection

Questions to ask your student: 

1. Choose a favorite song.
   1.  What rhyming words do you hear? 
   2.  What is the message of the song?
   3. How does the music match the message of the poem/lyrics?

Math

What are we learning?

• Comparing numbers to 110, using words such as “greater than” and “less than”. 
• Put groups of objects in order from least to greatest, and greatest to least. 
• Counting by 5’s to 110 and counting by 2’s to 110. 

Home/School Connection

Questions to ask your student:

• When you see numbers out in the store, on the road, etc., ask your child “Which number is greater?” and “Which number is less?”. 
• Can you count by 5’s to ___? Can you count by 2’s to ____?

Science

What are we learning?

• Demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices. 
• Investigate and understand that objects can move in different ways. 
• Investigate and understand that animals, including humans, have basic   life needs that allow them to survive. 
• Investigate and understand that there are weather and seasonal changes.

Home/School Connection

Questions to ask your student:

• How can habitats change over time?
• How can we describe seasonal changes and the effects on plants and animals (including humans)? 
• Encourage your student to observe the trees on the way to and from home. 
• Go to the playground and have your student point out where the pushes, pulls, and circular motions are.
• Take a nature walk to observe motion in nature.
• Read books on various local animals (squirrels, foxes, etc.) and discuss what changes those animals make for the winter weather.

Social Studies

What are we learning?

• Virginia’s Native Americans: Students will be able to explain there were Eastern Woodland Indians already living in Virginia before the English arrived. 
• Jamestown: Students will be able to explain the significance of the Jamestown colony and how the perspectives of influential people affected Virginia history.

Home/School Connection

Questions to ask your student:

• Who were some important people who started the Jamestown colony? Christopher Newport and John Smith. 
• Who were some important people who were already thriving in Virginia before the English made their colony? Powhatan and Pocahontas.

Specials 

What are we learning? &  Home/School Connections:

• Library: We are building our vocabulary and STEAM skills through interactive read-alouds of picture books and connected STEAM challenges. Contact Ms. Wixtrom on Talking Points or email with any questions or anything you’d like me to know! I want to help your child thrive in their reading journey!
• PE: Thank you to all families for being strong co-teachers with us. Regarding pacing, we completed our “Gymnastics Unit” and “Routines Review” with all grade levels. Now, all students will move into their “Basketball Unit.” Learners will better understand the anatomy of a basketball court, and how to dribble with hands, bounce pass, chest pass, and shoot the basketball. Towards the end of the unit, we hope to teach different “playground games” such as “H.O.R.S.E.” and “Knock-Out.” As always, Mr. Bergin ([email protected]) and Ms. Brod ([email protected]) are here for any questions or concerns.
• Music: 
  • Ms. Shaw’s 1st graders are working on Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf,”  identifying instrument families and instruments, and storytelling, creating their Peter and the Wolf storybooks.
  • In Mr. Sawasky’s music class, All grades are learning a frame drumming composition called, “Jennifer Bobby Bobby.” We are also learning about Martin Luther King Jr. and the song, “Hymn to Freedom” by Oscar Peterson. K – 2^nd grade will be exploring rhythms through frame drumming and melody with xylophones.
• Art: 
  • In the Forestdale art program, the primary goal is to create an environment in which every student feels confident, safe, and supported by Ms. Barrett and by the other students. The goal is that each student will reach a level of technical mastery and self-confidence that allows them to take risks with their own artwork and create work they value.
  • In January, all students will be wrapping up their COLLAGE units and doing planning drawings for the upcoming CLAY units! 
  •  1st graders created collages of Food Monsters! They learned techniques for cutting, arranging, and gluing photos of food to create an imaginary Food Monster!
  • All students’ collages are fantastic! They would look great in a frame, hanging on the wall – or at least on the refrigerator!
  • Thank you to all families for returning the Interview Forms for each Art unit! Students in grades 1st - 6th continue to use their Art Planning and Reflection Books, increasing their literacy skill practice during art classes!
  • As always, Ms. Barrett ([email protected]) is here for any questions or concerns regarding the art program.

AAP Corner 

What are we learning?

Students will be engaging with Jacob’s Ladder advanced comprehension lessons.  This AAP lesson asks students to discuss big ideas about a text with their peers. 

Students are working on analogies in the Critical and Creative Thinking lessons. Ms. Spengler will read the book, Q is for Duck and students will make their analogies for an animal. An example from a student was “f is for cheetahs because they are fast”.

Home/School Connection

Questions to ask your student:

• Ask them to come up with different alphabet puzzles. It can be a game while driving in the car. An example is “Why is ‘s’ for cookies?” then your child can guess why. (because they are sweet)

ESOL

During the month of January, all ESOL students will begin preparing for our annual assessment of their English language proficiency. The state of Virginia administers the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs assessment from January 16-March 15. This assessment monitors students' progress in learning academic English in the areas of reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Families can find translated information about this assessment at this link: https://wida.wisc.edu/resources/what-access-ells 

Students in grades 1-6 can practice at home for the assessment through this link: https://wbte.drcedirect.com/WIDA/portals/wida/assessment_selection?adminId=596372

Other Notes & Reminders:

Please send your child to school with a warm jacket daily. If your child needs one, please reach out to your child’s teacher. Please practice tying shoes and zipping jackets up at home with your child. Thank you!