First Grade

First Grade Reading Street

Unit 3

A Place to Play

Concept Question of the Week:

How do Places Change?

Please note the new assignments and fun activities on Reading Street.  Students should make some time to complete a few of the activities and reading material during vacation.

Have a fabulous vacation!



Around the World!

Second Grade

Social Studies

We are leaving for South America!  We will be learning about the culture and customs of a few important countries located on the continent of South America.  Although we will be finishing our piniatas soon.....we must depart from North America to experience other phenomenal places!

Math

We begin our unit on multiplication today!

ELA

Still working on adding rich adjectives to our writing to make our writing even more powerful!

Writing

Adopt-a-Pet is our latest writing assignment.  We are learning about persuasive writing. This writing assignment is a graded project that students are spending a lot of time on in Writer's Workshop.

Open Circle

We discussed "how to be a good friend" in Open Circle.  We did a lot of role-playing on Thursday and students discussed the importance of being a good friend.



Concept Question of the Week....

How are insect communities like our community?

Students are learning about ants and bees this week.  How are they just like us? How are they different?  Please make sure students log on to Reading Street for greater reinforcement of this week's concepts.

First Grade

Welcome Jordan! We are so excited that you are now part of our first grade family!

First Grade

Dear First Grade Parents,


We wrapped up our concept question last week, "How do animal communities work together to survive?" Students have been learning a great deal about animal and people communities. We compared and contrasted non-fiction and fiction genres this week.  Students read an informational text this week during guided reading about Dinosaurs. This week we explore how animal communities are important to our community.  How do we help one other?  Students have also learned about nouns and proper nouns, contractions, and how to identify the author's purpose. Please don't forget to reinforce students' learning by logging onto Reading Street! Students have been working diligently during Writer's Workshop.  It is amazing how their writing has improved physically as well as creatively!  I am so proud of our first graders! They recently completed a writing piece about community helpers.  They also shared their Hanukkah poems during Author's Chair!

I hope everyone is having a very peaceful Hanukkah!

Sincerely,
Jill Davis :)

First Grade

First Grade

Students enjoyed reading their Hanukkah poems during Author's Chair!



Dear Second Grade Parents,

Students have been working diligently during Writer's Workshop.  They recently completed their Hanukkah poem and it is now hanging up in the classroom.  During Guided Reading students are working on understanding the literary elements in a story.  I will be assigning a creative book report project soon.  It is very important for students to complete their Guided Reading homework nightly.  This has become a concern for some students.  Remember, it is not part of my homework packet. 

Thank you,
Jill Davis :)

Photosynthesis

Second Grade Science

Students act out the process of photosynthesis!

Social Studies

We are presently making Pinatas while visiting Mexico! 



Mexico

Second Grade

Students have been learning about Mexico's culture. This week we will continue working on our Pinatas.  Students are enjoying this project. We will be heading to a different country on a different continent in two weeks!  Stay tuned!

Read-a-Thon

It is amazing to witness the second grade and their love for reading!  Students are doing a fabulous job selecting books on their level and enjoying the literature that they have selected.  Our first reading sticker chart is almost covered with stickers. They are on their way to a Read-a-Thon!!!!

Creative Writing

Students are improving every day in their writing.  This week we will learn about adjectives and how they can bring "color" to our writing.  Students are working diligently as they try to complete the entire process of writing.  It is amazing to see the improvements since the beginning of the year!

JCDS Rock Jar

Students in the second grade have had recent success in filling up their rock jar with rocks. Students can earn rocks by showing respect to others, helping others, improving in their grades, or having an overall great day!We have almost achieved our first goal.  Once we accomplish this we will be able to choose a fun activity to do together as a class community!

Reading Projects

Students will be assigned fun and creative book report projects this year.  Although students are in various guided reading groups, I will be assigning book reports to my second graders.  They will be presented during our ELA time and I will be grading them. I will be working with the other guided reading teachers to help support our students in the best way possible. 

Thanks!!!!

First Grade Parents

Dear First Grade Parents,

Students will be getting a new homework folder tomorrow! They are bright red.....difficult to miss!  I also wanted to inform you that there will be no homework next week.  However, I will be updating the Reading Street "Things to Do" section for the students.

Take care!

Homework Packet and Spelling Test

Homework Packets Due Thursday!

Spelling Test Thursday!

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences

I look forward to meeting with you all on either Monday, Thursday, or next Tuesday!   Remember,  if you have not signed up for conferences as of yet, please call Eileen ASAP.

 Happy Birthday Jodd!

First Grade Rocks at JCDS!

Reading Street

Dear First Grade Parents,

I want to share a few helpful hints in regards to Reading Street.  I gather that some parents are having difficulty. I am here to help!

Go to:

• https://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com
• then log in using your child's personal user name and password
• click onto the icon located in the upper right hand side of the page labeled "Things to Do"
• click onto one of the listed activities or e-reads

Students may also explore further by attempting to navigate other activities on the page. However, it is important for students to work on activities and assignments that are part of our current unit.  Just this week we began our second anthology, Communities. Please make sure your child is focusing on the "Things to Do" that will be updated every week. For example, this week we are learning about family communities.

It is also important to know that this is NOT required nightly.  This is just a fabulous way to reinforce phonics skills and to build students' oral fluency.  The kids LOVE this program and are also able to work on some of these assignments during our literacy work station time and computer class.

If you have any questions or would like me to model how to use this program I would be happy to do so. Let me know how it is working for you.  I really appreciate the feedback.  Thanks again.

Mrs. Davis

Poetry Bag

Poetry Bag

Every second grade student will have the opportunity to take home our Poetry Bag.  Inside this bag are treasured poems of all genres.   In addition, students will be completing a fun activity.  Each student will have the bag for one week.  Annabelle took the bag home last Wednesday and will return it this Wednesday for another student to enjoy.  Have fun!  Please remember to read the instructions inside the journal before you begin this project.  Thank you!

Reading Street News

First Grade Parents:

I know this first full week with passwords you have been navigating Reading Street's home connection page.  I just wanted to let you know that I just began (last night) adding on fun activities and decodable readers to the site.  There should be a list of things to do on the site.  I will be suggesting things every week.  This will go along with our unit! Please let me know if it is simple to navigate and how it is going.  Remember, this is a fun and engaging way for your child to reinforce many skills taught in school.  Have fun! 

LWS continued

Reading Tent

Guided Reading and Literacy Work Stations

Writing Station

Guided Reading

Big Book Work Station

Reading Street Computer Station

Around the World

Second Grade Parents,

Today we went on a virtual field trip.  When you get the opportunity, as your child about Yellow Stone, Yosemite National Park, The Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, and The Statue of Liberty.  What "wow" moment did they have visiting these places this week???????

Second Grade Homework

Homework

It is extremely important for students to understand that homework is to be done throughout the whole week.  To help students with this independent task I put the day that some of the homework should be completed at the top of the paper.

Spelling Words

Students should be studying their spelling words throughout the week.  Writing the words on index cards, the computer, or on a whiteboard are all ways to encourage your child to study.

Math Facts

It is important for students to have their addition and subtraction facts memorized. You can purchase fact cards at Staples, Building 19, Job Lot, or any other store to help with this process.  Students should be practicing their math facts at least three times a week.  There are also wonderful games online if you are interested.  This will help them for further math application.

Guided Reading

Guided Reading officially began in second grade this week.  It is going great!  Students are enjoying their groups and new teacher!

Garden Unit

Garden Unit

Students are learning about the life cycle of a plant.  Mrs. Woods is teaching us all about the beauty of our JCDS Community Garden.  Today we enjoyed picking tomatoes, kale, rasberries, and various herbs.  The flowers were also a gorgeous sight.

First Grade Parents

Please see link for information on the proper pencil grip. I think this would be helpful for you all to  reinforce the proper way your child should hold a pencil when writing.

http://www.pencilgrip.com/wdiagram.phtml

Second Grade

Singapore Math

Math Series

First and second grade classrooms have adopted the Singapore Approach to mathematics.  For more information please see link:

http://www.greatsource.com/singaporemath/

Reading Street

Reading Street

First Grade

Learn more about our phenomenal new language arts series Reading Street! I will be explaining more about it during Open School Night on October 6th!  Or you could go to the website http://www.mypearsontraining.com/products/readingstreet/2011/tutorials.asp

Second Grade

Great job choosing books for SSR!  Students already have earned stickers for their chart!

First Grade Rock Jar!

First grade students have almost reached their goal.  A few more rocks and students will have the opportunity to choose a fun activity to celebrate a fabulous job respecting classroom rules, showing kindness and generosity, and working diligently on their academics!

Homework

Homework was given today and is due on Wednesday the 22nd. However, our spelling test will be next week on the same words introduced today.  This is a result of the two short weeks ahead of us :)

Reading Stickers

Specialty Schedule

Schedules were sent out today! Make sure your child wears sneakers for gym! :)

First Grade Rock Jar!

The first grade rock jar has almost reached our goal point. First graders well behaved classroom behavior and good deeds have earned them many rocks! Way to go first grade!

Second Grade Spelling Test Tomorrow!

Make sure you are prepared for first spelling test!

Reading Incentive Stickers

Second Grade

SSR is a very encouraged activity! Self-selected reading, shared, choral, or buddy reading are all brilliant ways to earn reading stickers for your child's reading chart. Our goal is to fill our reading chart and earn a fun-filled day of reading and fun! It is called a Read-a-Thon! All parents have to do is sign off on a piece a paper the name of the book and that your child did read it. Let's celebrate literacy!!!!

Hopes and Dreams

Hopes and Dreams

Parents: Please turn in your homework! Please fill out the Hopes and Dreams worksheet I passed out last week. Thank you!

Second Grade Homework Begins This Week!

Second grade homework packets will be sent home every Monday and returned on Friday. There will be times that students will have to monitor their homework throughout the week in order to have the proper reinforcement.

Second Grade Spelling Tests

Every Thursday second grade students will be tested on their weekly words that are introduced and studied throughout the week.

First Grade Homework

First Grade Homework!

Students will be handed their new homework folder on Monday September 13th. Students will be expected to complete their packet throughout the week and return it on Friday. Every Friday there will be a spelling test! Homework is a very important part of learning. It reinforces what the children are learning in the classroom.