| October Newsletter |
Dear Parents, October 1, 2002 The second week of October is very important to us because it is the last full week of the first quarter. Many students have been working hard at home and it shows. Please take at least 15 to 20 minutes nightly to work with your child if they are struggling in the areas of reading, writing, and/or math. As we continue this year it will get a little more challenging and harder for some of the students. I need your assistance at home to practice what we have been learning at school. You would be amazed how much it helps when we all work together to ensure the success of your child in first grade. Math Minutes with Mrs. Miller: This month in Math, we will be learning about place value to 100. This is usually one of the most difficult concepts for first graders to master. Please help your child throughout this month in understanding these concepts. In Ch. 6, the students will be able to: 1. Read and write numbers and number words (10 through 100). 2. Count by 10`s. 3. Identify and describe number patterns (on a hundred chart). 4. Order numbers. 5. Count on and back on a number line. 6. Write numbers just after, just before, and between. 7. Compare 2-digit numbers. 8. Count by 5`s. 9. Count by 2`s. 10. Identify and count equal groups. 11. Find how many in each group (sharing). 12. Find the number of groups (separating). 13. Solve problems by using guess and test. 14. Solve problems by using logical reasoning. "Pumpkins, Spiders, Skeletons, Oh, My!" This month in Science, we will be learning about pumpkins, spiders, fire safety and drug awareness. We will discuss how pumpkins come to be and how spiders are arachnids. We will also be discussing what to do if there is a fire at home or at school. A fire truck will be coming to our school for us to visit. We will begin a program called "Too Good for Drugs!", which is a program designed for first graders. It encompasses how to set goals, how to make good choices, how to recognize the harmful affects of household cleaners, alcohol, smoking, and unknown substances. It teaches children the importance of knowing what is right and how to handle certain situations. A letter will be going home when we begin this program. Land Ho! In Social Studies, we will be reading the story In 1492 to learn about Christopher Columbus. We will be making a timeline of his life during the week of October 14th. Extra! Extra! Read All About It! In Language Arts, we have started Unit 2 called Problem Patrol. The stories in this unit deal with problems and their solutions. We will be incorporating phonics and grammar skills within our stories. Many of the students did very well on our first unit test. I am very proud of them. Attached you will find the word list from this unit. Your child will be tested on some of these words by the end of this month. Please begin practicing these words now with your child. You can also find these words on our web site. Look under Student Resources and click on Story Words. Please continue to read to and listen to your child every night and record it in their daily reading log. This is part of their grade in homework as well as in reading. It needs to be in your child's M.O.O.S.E. Notebook. Some Reading Ideas: 1. Assign different days to different family members to listen to your child read a book. 2. Read food labels in your kitchen pantry or refrigerator. 3. Read billboard signs while driving in the car. 4. Take your child to the public library to choose books to read. Check them first to see if your child is able to read the books before checking them out. |