Math
This last trimester of math can be summed up in two words: problem solving!! Students are solving many story problems and are learning the difference between addition and subtraction. Students are also learning that addition and subtraction work together. They are beginning to understand if I know 2+3=5, then I also know 5-2=3.
Students are also learning problem solving strategies. We have made an anchor chart of various things we can do to solve problems (see below),
Students continue to find efficient ways to count. Making groups of 10 is one efficient way of counting. See the collections below and the recording sheets that go with them. You will see how students are recording their thinking.
Through problem solving and counting, students are truly developing an understanding of how numbers work together. In essence, they are developing a strong sense of numbers.
Here are a few things you can do at home to help support what we are learning at school:
have students solve simple story problems (adding and subtracting)
review addition and subtraction facts under 5 (2+3=5, 2+1=3, 5-1=4...)
count by 1's, 5's, 10's to 100 and count by 2's to 20
find the missing number (2+ ____ =5, 3- ____ = 2, 2+____=4, etc.)
This last trimester of math can be summed up in two words: problem solving!! Students are solving many story problems and are learning the difference between addition and subtraction. Students are also learning that addition and subtraction work together. They are beginning to understand if I know 2+3=5, then I also know 5-2=3.
Students are also learning problem solving strategies. We have made an anchor chart of various things we can do to solve problems (see below),
Students continue to find efficient ways to count. Making groups of 10 is one efficient way of counting. See the collections below and the recording sheets that go with them. You will see how students are recording their thinking.
Through problem solving and counting, students are truly developing an understanding of how numbers work together. In essence, they are developing a strong sense of numbers.
Here are a few things you can do at home to help support what we are learning at school:
have students solve simple story problems (adding and subtracting)
review addition and subtraction facts under 5 (2+3=5, 2+1=3, 5-1=4...)
count by 1's, 5's, 10's to 100 and count by 2's to 20
find the missing number (2+ ____ =5, 3- ____ = 2, 2+____=4, etc.)
We have learned so much in the last few months, and I am excited to share with you what we are learning currently. See the various subjects below to see what we are working on from now until the end of the year:
Reading
Students have been learning more and accuracy strategies to help them read words correctly. So far, we have learned to:
find the first part and look through the whole word
cross-check ("Does it look right? Does is sound right?")
flip the vowel sound (try different vowel sounds to make it correct)
skip the word and come back
Students have also learned the importance or retelling a story. They are becoming more familiar with story element vocabulary (characters, setting, plot, problem, and solution). I feel like my students have grown a lot in the area of comprehension since the start of the year.
Another aspect of reading that we have really focused on has been vowel sounds. Students have been learning the short vowel sounds. Each week, we have focused on a different vowel. I would say that most of my students are able to read most simple CVC words (consonant, vowel, consonant words such as hat, hen, pot, etc.).
My students have learned fluency strategies such as go back and reread to make your reading sound like talking. A few of my students are learning expand vocabulary strategies. They have learned the importance of figuring out the meaning of unknown words.
Writing
My students have become authors!!! I'm sure many of you can tell after reading through their books from 2nd trimester that they have become such wonderful writers. The personal narratives they have written lately have been phenomenal. I would argue that many of their books have been better than many of my first grade students' books in the past. We have focused a lot on these stories having a solid beginning, middle, and end. To help tell our stories, students have learned the importance of using sequence words: first, then, next, last, etc. They have also learned the importance of adding extra details in their stories to help the reader picture exactly what happened. I am excited to have my students share one of their personal narratives with you at conferences.
In addition to writing personal narratives, students are learning about opinion writing. Students have learned the difference between a fact and an opinion. They have also learned why sharing opinions is so effective. Ultimately, the goal of sharing opinions with others is to try to convince other people to believe what we believe. Students will write several opinion pieces through this trimester. One will be displayed in the hallway during conferences. Be sure to read them when you come!
Reading
Students have been learning more and accuracy strategies to help them read words correctly. So far, we have learned to:
find the first part and look through the whole word
cross-check ("Does it look right? Does is sound right?")
flip the vowel sound (try different vowel sounds to make it correct)
skip the word and come back
Students have also learned the importance or retelling a story. They are becoming more familiar with story element vocabulary (characters, setting, plot, problem, and solution). I feel like my students have grown a lot in the area of comprehension since the start of the year.
Another aspect of reading that we have really focused on has been vowel sounds. Students have been learning the short vowel sounds. Each week, we have focused on a different vowel. I would say that most of my students are able to read most simple CVC words (consonant, vowel, consonant words such as hat, hen, pot, etc.).
My students have learned fluency strategies such as go back and reread to make your reading sound like talking. A few of my students are learning expand vocabulary strategies. They have learned the importance of figuring out the meaning of unknown words.
Writing
My students have become authors!!! I'm sure many of you can tell after reading through their books from 2nd trimester that they have become such wonderful writers. The personal narratives they have written lately have been phenomenal. I would argue that many of their books have been better than many of my first grade students' books in the past. We have focused a lot on these stories having a solid beginning, middle, and end. To help tell our stories, students have learned the importance of using sequence words: first, then, next, last, etc. They have also learned the importance of adding extra details in their stories to help the reader picture exactly what happened. I am excited to have my students share one of their personal narratives with you at conferences.
In addition to writing personal narratives, students are learning about opinion writing. Students have learned the difference between a fact and an opinion. They have also learned why sharing opinions is so effective. Ultimately, the goal of sharing opinions with others is to try to convince other people to believe what we believe. Students will write several opinion pieces through this trimester. One will be displayed in the hallway during conferences. Be sure to read them when you come!
Science
We have been learning all about weather this trimester in science. Students have learned about rain, clouds, temperature, and different kinds of weather. We have done a few experiments that involved making a cloud and testing out the wind with a balloon.
For our last experiment, we put some water into a freezer to see what would happen. As students predicted, the water froze. We talked about why that happened. Students learned that when the temperature is below 32 degrees, water freezes. They realized that when it rains and the temperature drops below freezing, the rain turns to snow or ice. Next week, we are going to see if other liquids will also freeze. We're going to attempt to make popsicles using some fun liquids. The three liquids that were voted on were: Dr. Pepper, Lemon Lime Kool-Aid, and Hawaiian Punch. Some students think only some of the liquids will freeze. Several think that all of the liquids will freeze. We will find out on Monday what happens!
Students are also learning from our Flat Stanley project that different types of weather are more prominent in certain areas of the country and world. Students have learned that in some parts of the country, it is warm all year long. In other parts of the country, it is rainy for a lot of the year. We have also learned that some parts of the country (like Iowa) experience all 4 seasons. We are beginning to understand that weather effects the things we wear and the things we do. For example, when it rains for several days in a row, indoor recess is inevitable. We found there are still lots of fun things to do inside when it rains! See the pictures below. My students sure know how to make the most of different situations!
We have been learning all about weather this trimester in science. Students have learned about rain, clouds, temperature, and different kinds of weather. We have done a few experiments that involved making a cloud and testing out the wind with a balloon.
For our last experiment, we put some water into a freezer to see what would happen. As students predicted, the water froze. We talked about why that happened. Students learned that when the temperature is below 32 degrees, water freezes. They realized that when it rains and the temperature drops below freezing, the rain turns to snow or ice. Next week, we are going to see if other liquids will also freeze. We're going to attempt to make popsicles using some fun liquids. The three liquids that were voted on were: Dr. Pepper, Lemon Lime Kool-Aid, and Hawaiian Punch. Some students think only some of the liquids will freeze. Several think that all of the liquids will freeze. We will find out on Monday what happens!
Students are also learning from our Flat Stanley project that different types of weather are more prominent in certain areas of the country and world. Students have learned that in some parts of the country, it is warm all year long. In other parts of the country, it is rainy for a lot of the year. We have also learned that some parts of the country (like Iowa) experience all 4 seasons. We are beginning to understand that weather effects the things we wear and the things we do. For example, when it rains for several days in a row, indoor recess is inevitable. We found there are still lots of fun things to do inside when it rains! See the pictures below. My students sure know how to make the most of different situations!
Social Studies
We have continued to learn how people are different. We have also learned how we grow and change over time. When we get our duck eggs, we will see firsthand how all living things grow and change. We will watch the embryos grow and eventually form ducklings. It will be such a great experience for students. We should receive our duck eggs in about a week.
For Mother's Day, we are going to work on a special book that will focus on how we have changed over time. Baby pictures will be needed for this special project. Watch for more information to come home soon regarding the baby pictures.
We have continued to learn how people are different. We have also learned how we grow and change over time. When we get our duck eggs, we will see firsthand how all living things grow and change. We will watch the embryos grow and eventually form ducklings. It will be such a great experience for students. We should receive our duck eggs in about a week.
For Mother's Day, we are going to work on a special book that will focus on how we have changed over time. Baby pictures will be needed for this special project. Watch for more information to come home soon regarding the baby pictures.