Week of December 6th and 13th

The next two weeks, we have several days that will be dedicated to celebrating Christmas' around the world and Kwanzaa.  We will be discussing traditions, celebrations & symbols.  On the days we have guided reading, I will be reviewing some of the skills we have learned over the last semester.  Our focus will be a mixture of Writing and Building Words.

Week Review:  Levels D and E will review their understanding of the endings of words.  We will build/write words with the -ed or -ing ending.  We will search for words in our stories that have blends (2 consonants blending together).  Level F will review how to break/chunk words into smaller parts, searching for little words they may already know.  We will further that exercise by building/writing those new words.  Level G will be reviewing all of the rules that we have discussed through out their time: blends, vowel rules (silent e, two vowels coming together, chunking unknown words).  This will help us prepare for our new focus, fluency.  Levels H and higher will review our strategies when coming to new vocabulary, continue with predictions and continue finding answers to questions by looking back in our book to support our answer. 

Book/Author Suggestion:  Only a few of the fabulous books to celebrate this holiday season:
                 The Legend of the Poinsettia* by Tomie dePaola is a wonderful story retold by the endearing author and illustrator, Tomie dePaola.  It is a Mexican legend of how the poinsettia came to be.  A little girl unselfishly gives a gift to the Christ Child and is filled with the true meaning of Christmas. 

                 My First Kwanzaa Book* by Deborah M. Newton Chocolate is a simple book that your child is sure to help you read.  A great way to share the traditions and celebrations of Kwanzaa with your child. 

* indicates if it can be found in the Sappington Library. 

Parent Tip:  Consider going to your local library or digging through your personal home library and collect holiday books.  You can stick with the holiday that your family celebrates, or pick a new one to learn about this year.  Books are always great for cuddling up (perhaps with some cocoa by the fire?) or reading before bed, but this holiday, it might be fun to make it a countdown for Christmas, or a celebration of each day of Kwanzaa or Hanukkah.  Instead of purchasing gifts or a partridge in a pear tree, trying creating your own "12 Days of Christmas".  When celebrating Hanukkah, the candle is lit each evening after the sun goes down, perhaps you could start the day with a picture book celebrating Hanukkah.  Books are a great way to get minds thinking and questions asked.  If you check them out from your library, it is also a great way to celebrate the season without the extra cost! 

Week of November 29th

Week Review:  In reading groups this week, we will focus on our writing skills.  Level D will be writing sentences looking for words that have the beginning blends such as "sw" or "sl" or creating lists of words that have that beginning blend.  Level E, when writing words in our sentences, they will be accountable for the beginning sound and ending sounds.  They need to focus their attention on listening to the medial sounds by STRETCHING out the words slowly.  Levels F & G will be writing sentences that include new words that we broke into chunks at the beginning of the story.  We will talk about how breaking a word into chunks helps us READ it and WRITE it.  Levels H will be answering questions about their books, but they will also find facts/details in the story that support their answer.  Level I and above will be working on writing out our predictions to a story.  We have worked on predicting before we read, but we will also stop and predict through out the story. 


Book/Author Suggestion: First grade is learning about and celebrating Hanukkah this week, which begins on Wednesday.  Here is a story that will fill your child's heads with a better understanding of Hanukkah and their hearts with the spirit of the season.  

• The Trees of the Dancing Goats* by Patricia Polacco.  I am a Patricia Polacco fan :)  Her stories are heart-warming stories from her past that leave you with a desire for a stronger family and to answer the call for someone in need.  This story is no exception.  During the winter season, her town is hit with a scarlet-fever epidemic.  While her family celebrates Hanukkah, they take time to bring a little spirit and miracle into the lives of their neighbors.  No matter which holiday your family celebrates, love and cheer can be shared by all. 

* indicates if it can be found in the Sappington Library. 


Parent Tip: Happy Hanukkah!  I do not celebrate Hanukkah, but I am fascinated with the holiday and the celebrations of others.  Take some time with your child to explore this holiday.  Try visiting websites, reading books, watching videos, playing traditional games, or cooking traditional food.  Any of these activities, expands your child's knowledge of the world and of the differences in the world around them.  I found a website with some Hanukkah activites for kids.  It includes the story of why they celebrate Hanukkah, games, songs, activites, recipies and more.

Week of November 22nd

Happy Thanksgiving!  

I can't believe we have made it to this point in the year already!  It sure is going fast.  This is such a short week, we will continue with our instructional focus from last week.  We may also be interrupted with some Thanksgiving celebration.  Don't forget to take time to read to your first grader, or have them read to you during this time off of school.  Enjoy!

Book/Author Suggestion:  In the spirit of thanks:
                 One is a Feast for a Mouse* by Jeffrey Ebbeler is a new FAVORITE of mine!  It is such a precious Thanksgiving story of a mouse that spots a pea left over from the Thanksgiving feast.  While everyone naps, he sneaks down to the table to get it and more...until Cat sees him!  A great story of being thankful for what we have, no more. 
                 Let's Celebrate Thanksgiving* by Peter and Connie Roop is not a book you will probably read from cover to cover in one sitting, but it is filled with lots of things that your first grader will find enjoyable.  This story is filled with history (In a question/answer format) of Thanksgiving and those that were apart of the first one.  It also connects some of the event of the past with current situations that your first grader can relate to.  There are jokes through out the entire book and even a Turkey craft for you Thanksgiving Day table.  It is a level

* indicates if it can be found in the Sappington Library. 

Parent Tip: This year, your 1st grader should be able to write what they are thankful for.  Together as a family, you could create a paper chain made of construction paper links.  On each of the links, have the family write down what they are thankful for.  

Another activity would be to write each member of the family's name at the top of a piece of paper.  Each person having their own paper.  Then each member of the family writes down why they are thankful for the "named" person.  Eventually, you have a paper filled with reasons why people are thankful for you.  A great writing exercise and a fabulous confidence booster for any 1st grader!!!

Week of November 15th

Week Review:  In reading groups this week, we will focus on building words.  Level C will be focusing on changing the beginning letter or sound to create a new word. Our endings will have the short and long "o" sound (hop, mop, top, stop, OR bone, zone, tone, stone, phone). Levels D and E will continue to practice building words with the "cr" and "sn" blends.  Level F will be practicing breaking/chunking up words into parts and looking for little words that we already know (sh/out).  Level G will be building words in a pattern or sequence as found in Patricia Cunningham's book Making Words, 1st Grade.  Levels H and higher will continue to practice the strategies to use when learning new vocabulary in our books, but we will also be working on predicting the next set of events in our stories.  Predictions are guesses about the way things will happen in the future, using the reader's experience and the information they have acquired from the book.



Book/Author Suggestion:  Early Release/Buddy Day/ Character Day is this Wednesday. 
                 The Crayon Box That Talked by Shane DeRolf is a poem that can be found at www.scoutingweb.com/scoutingweb/SubPages/ColorsDivers.htm  It is wonderful story of how individual crayons do not like one another, but when used to create a picture, they realize that by working together the result is beautiful.  A wonderful starting point to discuss PEACE (our character word of the month) and friendship with their 5th grade buddies. 
                 Only One Neighborhood  by Marc Harshman has a wonderful message that will ring true for First Graders.  This story explores a neighborhood that only has one of several different types of buildings, but within each there are several different things.  Despite all of the differences, there is one common wish among us all: PEACE.  

* indicates if it can be found in the Sappington Library. 

Parent Tip:  When learning to read, children need to develop strategies for reading.  The more they correctly learn and the more they practice, the faster reading will come for them.  In our daily lessons, we are introducing, practicing, or mastering these Guided Reading Strategies.  The Guided Reading Strategies Star, designed by A. Ross, presents a visual reminder to the students of the strategies they have learned. 

1. Get your mouth ready.  (Students shape their mouth and begin making the first sound that they see.  If the word is "star", they will get their mouth ready by creating the "s" or "st" sound.) 
2. Look for chunks.  (Students try to find sight words, or familiar words within the new word.  The word "stand" might be new for them, but they can find "and".  
3. Check the picture.  (Students use the pictures A LOT at the beginning levels, but as they get higher, they forget that the pictures are there to help aid them in what is happening in the story.)
4. Does the word look like another word you know?  (Again, students should be familiar with the sight words and this knowledge will help them discover new words.  They know and read the word "look", so when they see the word "cook" they should be able to make the connection with a word they already know.)
5. Try again!  (Sometimes, simply slowing down and taking another look at the word will help the student draw from their knowledge of the previous strategies.) 

Week of November 8th

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTES!!!!!!!  It is a relief and a thrill to know that we will be able to keep some of the same wonderful programs that help guide your child in receiving a fabulous Lindbergh education!

Week Review:  In reading groups this week, we will focus on our writing skills.  Level B will be using sight words to create a story using repetitive language.  We will be using our guided reading books as examples.  Level C will be writing sentences that include a new/unknown word that we found in our story for the day.  Level D will be writing sentences looking for words that have the beginning blend "sn" and "cr".  Level E, when writing words in our sentences, they will be accountable for the beginning sound and ending sounds.  They need to focus their attention on listening to the medial sounds by STRETCHING out the words slowly.  Levels F will be writing sentences that include words that follow the spelling pattern: a silent e at the end of the word makes the vowel say its name.  ex: came  Level G will be writing sentences using the new vocabulary that they were introduced to in their book.  While writing out the new words, we will listen to chunks of the word at a time.  Levels H and above will be answering questions about their books, but they will also find facts/details in the story that support their answer. 


Book/Author Suggestion:  This week we take time to celebrate our Veterans.  We thank them and their families for their sacrifice and service. 

• The Veterans Day Visitor by Peter Catalanotto in this story,  Emily's Pop-Pop is shocked when he hears that Emily and Vincetta Louise don't know what a veteran is. With Veterans Day coming up, he volunteers to talk to their class about the holiday and the people it honors. But Emily is worried. Pop-Pop sometimes falls asleep at the strangest times. What if he falls asleep in front of the whole class? Everyone would laugh! Vinni and Emily come up with a plan. With so much to learn, they have to make sure that no one sleeps through this Veterans Day!
  Terms of use Enriched Content Provided by Syndetics

 
* indicates if it can be found in the Sappington Library. 


Parent Tip: Despite what your child has planned in their classroom for Veterans Day, I hope that you will take time to have your own celebration for the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces.  Please visit http://www.military.com/veterans-day/celebrate-veterans-day.htm for 10 ideas on how to celebrate Veterans Day.  One of the ideas that I liked, was creating a time line.  It is important to take the time to mark out important events in America's history, or wars that America has fought in.  Many of our adults struggle with knowing our nation's history.  This holiday is a great opportunity to look at our history and recognize the many sacrifices that our U.S. Veterans have made in order to keep our country free.  Knowing the history, can help our children truly understand and appreciate our Veterans. 

Week of November 1st

• Please get out and vote on Tuesday, November 2nd!  
• This is a shortened week, so my plan is to continue instruction from last week.

Week Review:  In reading groups this week, we will continue to focus on building words.  Just a reminder that: Level B will continue to focus on practicing sight words.  Level C will be focusing on changing the beginning letter or sound to create a new word. Our endings will have the short and long "a" sound (sat, cat, rat, hat, bat, OR make, take, bake, rake). Levels D and E will focus on adding the -ed ending to words (looked, cried, baked) and make them aware of the "unusual" rules (change the y to i and then add -ed OR drop the silent e and then add -ed).  Level F will be practicing breaking/chunking up words into parts and looking for little words that we already know (sh/out).  Level G will be building words in a pattern or sequence as found in Patricia Cunningham's book Making Words, 1st Grade.  Levels H and higher will be introducing new vocabulary through our books.  We will be discussing the unknown words in our story. (the pronunciation, the meaning)

Book/Author Suggestion:  Students had the opportunity last week to vote in an age-appropriate election.  Parents have the opportunity to vote on   Prop L, this Tuesday, November 2nd.  It is a wonderful opportunity to discuss our right to be heard and make changes to better our community.  Try checking out:
                 Voting in Elections* by Terri DeGezelle.  It is a nonfiction book with a Reading Level of 3.7. This book describes how people vote and elect government leaders and examines the history of voting in America, who can vote, and how the votes are counted.  It is a great place to start discussions with your child.
                  Duck for President* by Doreen Cronin.  This is the author of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type She brings humor to the electoral process through her fictional story.  Students will laugh and get an idea of how important a few votes can be! 
* indicates if it can be found in the Sappington Library. 

Parent Tip:  As Election Day approaches, we may be overwhelmed with the TV commercials and countless ads in our mailbox, but I encourage you to remember that it is an awesome responsibility to be able to vote.  Try to share the importance of voting with your child by taking time to read up on the facts that you will be voting on this Tuesday.  The South County Times included a sample ballot in their paper today.  It includes the candidates and the language that will be used on your local ballot.  I think it is important to share with our students that even as adults, we can have trouble with the language of something and how we use the resources we have to help educate ourselves.  If you are interested, take some time to stop by the website that your child visited and exercised their right to vote: www.kidsvotingmissouri.org

Week of October 25th

Looking forward to seeing some of the parents at conferences this week!  Please bring any questions you have.  I hope to help shed some light :) 


Week Review:  In reading groups this week, we will focus on building words.  Level B will continue to focus on practicing sight words.  Level C will be focusing on changing the beginning letter or sound to create a new word. Our endings will have the short and long "a" sound (sat, cat, rat, hat, bat, OR make, take, bake, rake). Levels D and E will focus on adding the -ed ending to words (looked, cried, baked) and make them aware of the "unusual" rules (change the y to i and then add -ed OR drop the silent e and then add -ed).  Level F will be practicing breaking/chunking up words into parts and looking for little words that we already know (sh/out).  Level G will be building words in a pattern or sequence as found in Patricia Cunningham's book Making Words, 1st Grade.  Levels H and higher will be introducing new vocabulary through our books.  We will be discussing the unknown words in our story. (the pronunciation, the meaning)

Book/Author Suggestion:  Students will be going to Powell Hall this week and celebrating at our Fall/Halloween party.
                 The Carnival of the Animals by Jack Prelutsky can be found in the St. Louis County Library.  They describe this book-and-CD set as "a great way to introduce children to classical music. America's first Children's Poet Laureate has written all-new verses to accompany the composer Camille Saint-Saens's "The Carnival of the Animals."  This is the music that the first graders will be hearing when they visit Powell Hall.
                 J is for Jack-O'-Lantern: A Halloween Alphabet* by Denise Brennan-Nelson.  This story is adorable!  I encourage you not to avoid "alphabet" or "counting" books, because you think your child has conquered A-Z or counting 1-10.  Some of these books have rich, new vocabulary.  This book is an example of that.  There are words or concepts that you can explain when sitting down and reading this book together.  For example, witches brew, or snazzy, dangle, or kooky, crooked grin and disguise. Have fun and enjoy the beautiful illustrations by Donald Wu.

* indicates if it can be found in the Sappington Library. 

Parent Tip:  As the weather continues to get colder and we spend less time outdoors, keep an eye out for fun, educational ways to spend time together as a family.  Pick a night (Wacky Wednesdays, for example) that the TV stays off and family games are a must.  Try visiting www.itsamadlibsworld.com where there are over 250 Mad Libs to fill out with your family.  If you aren't familiar with Mad Libs, they are a "funny, often ridiculous story created when you fill in the blanks with the part of speech that is requested."  Most likely you will have to help them with some examples of a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.  but giving them a few examples (the wackier, the better) will help expand their own vocabulary.  The end result is a funny story that most first graders want to hear over and over again! 

Week of October 18th

Week Review:  In reading groups this week, we will focus on our writing skills.  Levels A and B will be using sight words to create a story using repetitive language.  We will be using our books for an example, but we will continue the story by adding our own sentences.  For example, "We will go (up/down)."  Level C will be writing sentences that include an new/unknown word that we found in our story for the day.  Levels D and E will be writing sentences that include the -ed ending.  We will discuss dropping the silent e at the end of words such as "baked" or changing the "y" to "i" such as cried.  Levels F and G will be writing sentences using the new vocabulary that they were introduced to in their new book.  While writing out the new words, we will listen to chunks of the word at a time.  Levels H and above will be focusing on writing sentences that answer a question about the story we just read.  They will try to restate the question in the beginning of their writing.  Q:"Why are Kenny and Amber still hungry at the end of the story?"  A:"They are still hungry because Gilbert ate all of their food."


Book/Author Suggestion:  This week is another fun-filled week in October.  We have a firefighter visit this week AND we will be celebrating Missouri Day and Columbus Day.  Soooooo...I have THREE suggestions this week ;)

• A Day with Firefighters by Jan Kottke * is a book that gives a simplified version of a day in the life of a firefighter.  It is a 1.2 reading level and should be the perfect level for your first grader.  You may need to help them with some of the more challenging words, but encourage them to read it to you :) 
• Christopher Columbus by Lola M. Schaefer * is a biography of Christopher Columbus without giving too many details and your first grader begins to lose interest.  The reading level for this book is 2.1 (a little higher), but the content is appropriate for Kindergarten through Third Grade. 
• Missouri by Patricia K. Kummer, the Capstone Press Geography Department, is my final choice.  The reading level is actually a 4.0 which is too high for many of our first graders, but the Fun Facts, Famous Missourians, The Missouri Timeline and pictures all make it easy to use and worth the time to talk about with your child.  Many of the pictures are of places that you have traveled with them.  So take the time to peruse through and maybe it will inspire your family to take a field trip!

* indicates if it can be found in the Sappington Library. 


Parent Tip:  Now is a good time to check with your child to make sure they can recognize or read important safety signs.  Do they know how to read the word "exit" or "stop"?  As they grow in their ability to read at school, encourage them to take on responsibility with their safety.  Read the street sign and practice writing the name of the street that you live on.  If they are riding their bike, can they read the "stop" sign, or "warning" signs in your area, "construction" signs when you are stuck in traffic?  My last suggestion is to create and write a plan in case of an emergency.  If there is a fire, what is the family plan?  What do they do? Where do they go?  By writing out these plans, you are practicing their skills, but also helping them to remember what to do in an emergency.  It's always good to practice.  

Thanks!

Thanks for joining my blog!

Week of October 11th

Week Review:  In reading groups this week, we will focus on building words.  Levels A and B will focus on practicing sight words.  Level C will be focusing on changing the beginning letter or sound to create a new word. Our endings will have the short and long "e" sound (me, we, be, she  OR bell, tell, sell, well, shell) .  Levels D and E will focus on adding the -ing ending to known words (looking, playing, jumping).  Level F will be practicing breaking/chunking up words into parts and looking for little words that we already know (sh/out).  Level G will be building words in a pattern or sequence as found in Patricia Cunningham's book Making Words, 1st Grade.  Levels H and higher will be introducing new vocabulary through our books.  We will be discussing the unknown words in our story. (the pronunciation, the meaning)


Book/Author Suggestion:  This Friday is the day we celebrate Curious George.  It would be great to familiarize your child with the authors, Margaret and H.A. Rey.  Some titles that I would recommend are Curious George Learns the Alphabet*, Curious George at the Fire Station*, and Curious George Goes to a Costume Party*.  These books also correlate with another theme within October for first grade (alphabet, fire safety and Halloween). 

* indicates if it can be found in the Sappington Library. 

Parent Tip:  There are lots of wonderful websites when helping your child learn to read, but who has the time to go through all of them?  When looking for a refresher on ways to help your child, or fun activities to try at home, I have found the PBS website very helpful.  Visit their Reading & Language section to get some great ideas on how to help your "First Grader Read and Write".  They have activities and games that you AND your 1st grader will find fun.  They also have a Curious George section on their PBS kids site.  Don't forget to make reading fun!!

Week of October 4th

Week Review:  In reading groups this week, we will focus on writing skills.  Levels A and B will be using sight words to create a story using repetitive language.  For example, "Here is the ____."  For each page, we will have a new picture to finish each sentence.  Level C will be writing sentences with familiar sight words, but focusing on the beginning sound of a new/unknown word that we will pull from new book for the day.  Levels D and E will be writing sentences with -ing endings.  "We are reading a book.  OR  The boy is walking with his mom."  Levels F and G will be writing sentences using the new vocabulary that they were introduced to in their new book.  Levels H and above will be focusing on writing sentences that answer a question about the story we just read.  They will try to restate the question in the beginning of their writing.  "Q:Why did Bella begin to worry?  A:Bella began to worry because she was lost."


Book/Author Suggestion:  This week, our students will be going on a field trip to Powder Valley.  Finding books that compliment the things they will see on their trip would be great. A book that is at a good reading level and can be found in our library is Animals in the Fall by Gail Saunders-Smith *

                                          We will also be celebrating our custodians this week.  They are friendly, helpful and keep our building clean and safe.  Check out  The Custodian From the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler * for a good laugh or The A+ Custodian by Louis Borden  to start a heartfelt conversation with your kids about the jobs that custodians do and the ways we can show our gratitude. 


* indicates if it can be found in the Sappington Library. 

Parent Tip:  Organizing your own library of books and magazines can help your child be more successful in reading.  Here is a great way to store your books that is inexpensive and a great way to help our planet.  In the August 2009 Family Fun magazine they suggested recycling cereal boxes into magazine holders.  They cut the top of the box and then folded the sides inward and secured them with packing tape.  You can wrap the boxes in construction paper, or spray paint them a solid color of aestetic reasons, but not necessary.  Then sort your books according to their level, or holiday theme, etc.  For a more visual, step-by-step approach, visit this website  www.allfreecrafts.com/recycling-crafts/magazine-holder.shtml

Week of September 27th

Week Review:  In reading groups this week, we will focus on building words.  For Levels A and B, our focus will be practicing the sight words.  Level C will be focusing on changing the beginning letter or sound to create a new word.(sad, bad, mad, glad)  Levels D and E will focus on blends and changing the ending of words to create new words (blue, black, blow, bland, etc)  Levels F and higher will be introducing new vocabulary through our books.  We will be discussing the unknown words in our story. (the pronunciation, the meaning)


Book/Author Suggestion:  I have two suggestions this week.  Try to find something with the word "autumn".
               I Know It's Autumn by Eileen Spinelli  is a cute account from a child's point-of-view.  It talks about the signs around us that show that Autumn is here.  It is also a rhyming book, which is a great time to stop and talk about what rhyming means and which words rhyme.
              Why Do Leaves Change Color * by Betsy Maestro explains how leaves change colors in autumn
and then fall from the tree as it prepares for winter.  It is a nonfiction story that gives your child more exposure to the scientific reasons for the Autumn colors. 
* indicates if it can be found in the Sappington Library. 

Parent Tip:  Being able to relate new vocabulary to events in your child's life, will help their understanding of the word.  If your child has not been introduced to the word "Autumn", discuss it and why they think the synonym "Fall" is used more frequently.  Then expand by introducing words that are related to Autumn: season, brisk, blustery, bare branches, harvest, gourd, etc.