Hello first grade families and happy Fall! We are enjoying the cooler weather and seeing the leaves change colors. 

Important Dates & Reminders

• Monday, November 6th is NO SCHOOL.
• Tuesday, November 7th is NO SCHOOL. 
• Friday, November 10th is our Veteran’s Day Assembly.
• Wednesday, November 15th is our Thanksgiving Luncheon at School.
• There is NO SCHOOL from Wednesday, November 22 - Friday, November 24 for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Language Arts

What are we learning?

• We are reading non-fiction texts and doing research writing. 

Home/School Connection

Questions to ask your student:

•  What does “non-fiction” mean? What makes non-fiction books different from fiction books?
• What are you writing about in school?

Math

What are we learning?

• We are learning about shapes, and describing physical attributes, along with sorting and classifying.

Home/School Connection

Questions to ask your student:

• How can you sort shapes?
• How many sides and angles does a ____ have? 
• What shapes have right angles? 
• Can you find something at home that is a square, rectangle, circle, or triangle?

Science

What are we learning?

• We will be studying science in December.

Social Studies

What are we learning?

• We will be learning about government and laws. Geography, Jamestown Settlement and Economics. 

Home/School Connection

Questions to ask your student:

• What state do we live in? What country do we live in?
• What do you know about Virginia history?
• Why do we have have rules and laws? 

Specials:

What are we learning? &  Home/School Connections:

• Library: 1st graders will continue to build their vocabulary through humor read-alouds, and participate in connected STEAM challenges and technology projects with Wixie.
• PE: The first quarter is almost to a close! Thank you to all families for being strong co-teachers with us. Regarding pacing, we have completed our “Rules/Routines” and “Throwing/Catching” units with all grade levels. Now, all students will move into their “Fitness Unit.” Learners will better understand how their bodies work, the components of fitness, and different ways to track activity/stay active. As always, Mr. Bergin ([email protected]) and Ms. Brod ([email protected]) are here for any questions or concerns.
• Music: 
  • -Ms. Shaw’s 1^st graders: Falling Leaves song on xylophones-ask your student to sing it for you!
  • Mr. Sawasky: All grades will be celebrating Native American Heritage Month in November by exploring some of our history as a nation and its original people and culture.
  •  Grades K-2 will be learning about melody and how patterns of notes that go up and down can create a catchy tune.
• 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 that they value.
  • In November all students will be wrapping up their PAINTING units and doing planning drawings for the upcoming COLLAGE units! 
  • 1^st graders created paintings of bicycles. They learned about cool and warm colors and overlapping.
  • All students’ paintings are delightful. 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 Parent Interview Forms for each Art unit! Students in grades 1^st - 6^th 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 (Note: Spengler will support teams with this)

What are we learning?

• First graders are learning about making mindmaps. With Ms. Spengler, we read I am Enough by Grace Byers and made mindmaps about themselves.

Home/School Connection

Questions to ask your student:

• Can you make a mindmap about fall? What are the important ideas about fall to include?

ESOL- English for Speakers of Other Languages

During the month of November, we are highlighting the language of inquiring. Here are some questions you can ask your students to help them practice how to inquire.

• What are you wondering about?
• What questions do you have about that?
• I wonder why __________?
• Who __________?
• What __________?
• When __________?
• Where __________?
• Why __________?
• How __________?

Looking for books to read at home with your students? Unite for Literacy has free audio books with many language options to choose from! You can access them at https://www.uniteforliteracy.com/.

Other Notes & Reminders 

 

Please remember to send your child to school with a coat, as the weather is getting colder.