Math Test Results

Of the 25 students taking the Math Test, 20 students passed with an adjusted score of 11 or better. Three students achieved a perfect score score.

One Hundred Fifty-Second Day of School

In Writing today, we made sure the opening of our narratives had the important parts of setting and character while the middle actions had transitions.

In Math, in addition to reading and making charts for data, we have been discussing measuring time and extending our discussion of place value to better understand very large numbers. We used the book What is a Million by Kellogg as a foundation.

In Science, we are observing germination and plant structure and needs (tested). We also have compared the structure of plants in several different biomes.

At Home Activity

The 1st grade will be hosting the Citizen of the Month Assembly at the end of May. One child from the 1st grade classes will be chosen to read an essay they have written on the subject of sportsmanship. All students wishing to be considered for reading a speech to the student body at the end of the May need to submit an essay to their teacher by Friday, May 19th. A winning essay/student will be chosen by the 1st grade teachers. Parents of that child will be notified so they can make plans to be at the assembly. This is good public speaking experience and an excellent opportunity for video memories.

One Hundred Fifty-Second Day of School

Reminder: reading logs due tomorrow.

For the Spring Dance, first graders should wear red and/or white and/or blue in any combination with the option of wearing a superhero style cape as well.

Math Test Results

Of the 25 students taking the Math Test, 22 passed with an adjusted score of 10 or better. One student achieved a perfect score.

One Hundred Fiftieth Day of School

In Writing today, we have been working on our final unit, fictional narratives. We have brainstormed and planned the  beginning middle and end of our stories.

In Science and Engineering, we worked on our final engineering project using what we know of air propulsion to design and construct a prototype, in teams, a gondola to carry a payload down a zipline.

There will likely be a Math Test tomorrow.

Math Test Results

Of the 25 students taking the test, 22 passed with a score of 14 or better. One student achieved a perfect score.

Math Test Results

Of the 25 students taking the Math Test 24 students passed with adjusted score of 10 or better. One child earned a perfect score.

One Hundred Forty-First Day of School

In Science and Engineering today, we experimented with kinetic air propulsion as a precursor to a future Engineering project.

In Writing we generated a list of characters for fictional narratives.

One Hundred Thirty-Sixth Day of School

In Science today, we constructed pressurized systems to observe the interaction between air and water.

One Hundred Thirty-Fifth Day of School

In Health today, we discussed pollution and human's impact on Earth.

Reminder: Reading Logs are due on Friday.

Math Test Results

Of 25 students taking the Math Test, 22 passed with an adjusted score of 14 or better. Two students achieved a perfect score.

One Hundred-Thirtieth Day of School

Today in Science, we explored the power of air in a closed system. We were able to observe air push, pull, and make sound (tested).

Math Test

Out of 25 students taking the Math Test, 21 students passed with an adjusted score of 14 or better. One child earned a perfect score.

One Hundred Sixty-First Day of School

In Health today, we discussed the dangers of tobacco use.

One Hundred Fifty-Ninth Day of School

In Writing today, we revised (blue pen) our work by adding narrative statements (mini narratives) to one of our supporting reasons for our opinion.

In Math, we took our middle of the year Math Assessment.

There is no written homework for tonight.

One Hundred Twentieth Day of School

Today we learned the first stanza of a simple vowel poem which we will memorize and say in front of the class.

One Hundred Nineteenth Day of School

In Writing today, we started the revision process (blue pens) by adding arguements counter to our opinion.

One Hundred Eighteenth Day of School

In Writing today, we closed our opinions with a restatement of the opinion (the opening statement) "For these reasons,..."

Math Test Results

Of the 23 students taking the test, 21 students passed with an adjusted score of 6 or better. One student achieved a perfect score. The modal average was a score of 8.

One Hundred Seventeenth Day

In Writing today, we drafted our reasons for our second opinion using transitions from our transition word bank.

At-Home Project: Social Science

For Social Science we have been working on neighborhood maps. At this point in the year it is suggested that parents direct students to a mapping program (Google Maps) on the Internet and locate their home's satellite photograph. Magnify the view to 100ft/inch. Size to show their block and a portion of surrounding blocks. Have your child make a simple map (a sample is available in the classroom) with legend (key) under your direction but in their hand. On your child's map, buildings could be shown as simple rectangles. Print a view of the satellite picture (preferably w/o address and real estate information, which can be blackened out if necessary) and attach to the hand-drawn map and send with your child to class. This assignment is optional and due before April 8th.

One Hundred-Fifteeth Day of School

In Writing today, we again made a quick sketch of our reasons in support of our opinion.

In Social Science, we began our last mapping project before our final interdisciplinary project.

One Hundred-Fourteenth Day of School

Today in Writing, we drafted our reasons for our opinion. Many students had difficulty incorporating transitions into the draft. So we will begin the process once again and attempt to build a new arguement while the process is still fresh.

Reminder: Reading Logs are due Thursday.

One Hundred-Thirteenth Day of School

In Writing today, we quick-sketched our reasons for our opinion.

We will likely have a Math Test on Wednesday.

One Hundred-Tenth Day of School

In Writing, we have brainstormed a list of things we care about, about which we could express an opinion. Next, we chose one topic on which to focus and orally stated an opinion. Then, we wrote our opinion. This opinion will become the opening for our piece. Next we state reasons for holding our opinion. Our next step will be to quick-sketch these reasons.

In Science, we explored the concept of pushing against air by constructing simple parachutes.

Consumer Reports Article

An article to skim in case you hadn't already seen from Consumer Reports on the safety of certain brands of fruit juices.

One Hundred-Eighth Day of School

In Science today, we observed air's interaction with a variety of materials while experimenting with it's capabilities.

Math Test Results

Of the 22 students taking the Chapter 4 Math Test, 20 passed with an adjusted score of 12 or better. One student achieved a perfect score.

One Hundred-Sixth Day of School

All students should have with them a conference appointment slip, field trip permission slip, and health clearance form. Please fill out each form completely and return to school soon. The nurse needs to clear each child and lunch information needs to be sent to the cafeteria. incomplete trip forms will be returned home marked for completion.

One Hundred-Fifth Day of School

A new student joined our class today, so our class count is now at 23.

In Social Science today, we reviewed for our test on Friday.

The practice test packet for the Math test is due tomorrow.

One Hundred-Fourth Day of School

In P.E., we have been working on balance and coordination. Today we worked on teamwork and cooperation.

In Social Science, we are continuing our map study by learning about relative direction and creating a map our own classroom. We will likely have our globe test on Friday. We will locate Los Angeles, name the continents, and oceans.

We will likely have a Math test tomorrow or Wednesday.

One Hundred-Second Day of School

In Reading, we have been analyzing non-fiction texts everyday focusing on identifying the main idea (tested) and the text structure (tested). Today we compared fiction and non-fiction texts (tested) on the same topic. Only a few students are able to distinguish between the 2 genres with confidence.

In Reading and Writing we are identifying and writing opening/introductions and closings/conclusions (tested). These are difficult skills for first graders to master.

In Social Studies, we learned the necessary elements of a map (tested) and took our turn creating a simple map complete with the necessary elements. A quality map will be identified by having a title, author, creation date, key/legend, and eventually we will add compass rose.

Math Test Results

All students passed the Math Test above an adjusted score of 12 points or higher. Seven students achieved a perfect score.

Ninety-Fourth Day of School

In Science today, we began our discussion of water interaction with heat to make weather. Later in the week we will have knowledge of the 3 main elements of weather (tested) along with an additional weather influencing element. Don't forget to ask a Room 11 student you know.

In Social Science, we continued with our continent and ocean study guide. These will be sent home in a few days.

In Writing, we are preparing for the next assessment which will likely occur tomorrow.

Our next Math test will likely be Thursday.

Ninety-Third Day of School

In Reading and Writing the past few days, we have been constructing and deconstructing non-fictional work and comparing the processes involved in both.

In Social Science, we have begun working on our world map study guide which will be brought home at the end of the week.

In Music, we examined music notation and disscussed nomenclature as we sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee." We discussed the meaning of the song's lyrics and it's use as a patriotic anthem.

Note: The 100th day of school will be upon us shortly. We plan to have our birthday-style celebration on that day.

Ninety-Second Day of School

In Writing today, we took some time to add typical non-fiction text features to our article.

In Engineering, we once again employed the engineering process to complete a project. In teams, we used a variety of objects to create "puff mobiles" to open our Science unit on weather, where we will explore properties of air and water and watch how these 2 weather elements interact.

In Reading, we explored an article on Martin Luther King Jr. and what it means to be a hero in our practice to articulate the main idea.

Ninety-First Day of School

In Writing today, we revised our informational pieces.

We coninued our Visual Arts lesson of line and practiced several more types of lines while viewing works emphasizing line.

Ninetieth Day of School

We have made it throught the mid-point of the school year. (a special thank you to all of the parents who supported teachers in the past week)

So far in our reteach of informational writing, we have chosen a topic, collected information, planned and written a chapter each for 2 subtopics, used transitions between ideas, and written openings and closings.

In Visual Arts today, we learned that there were 7 main elements. We looked at works emphasizing line and began to practice our 2 types of lines.

In Social Science, we have been learning about our relative place in the Universe. We found our way from our house through neighborhood, city, county, state, country, continent, planet, solar system, and galaxy, learning the names of each. We then located our position on a map of the galaxy. We learned (or recalled) that our planet has 7 continents which we will need to be able to name and locate on a map along with the location of Los Angeles.

Eighty-Second Day of School

Both in Reading and Writing, we have been working on non-fiction selections. In Reading, we have emphasized the skill of finding the main idea. Your child should practice stating the main idea of a non-fiction selection. This is a necessary skill for moving up in TRC reading levels. A main idea should be stated in a complete sentence:

• The main idea of the article/selection/book is that people celebrate New Year's Eve in many ways.

You will notice that the main idea of the selection we read today in class is simply stated in the second sentence of the the article.

There is no homework tonight if your child completed their research for their writing piece.

Eighty-First Day of School

For homework, please help your child with their research for their new informational piece. Everyone should have a question or 2 to answer using a digital or print source with an adult's guidance.

Unsatisfactory notices will go home this week for students at risk of earning marks of a 2 or lower on the coming progress report in the areas of Reading, Writing, or Math.