Tiger Class News 

May 17, 2013

Hello Families!

     First Graders completed the district Math assessment this week. They were patient and well prepared as they accomplished the entire 13-page test in only 3 days! I was impressed with their confidence and enthusiasm…they seemed to enjoy showing all that they have learned. The next step is to test some students for acceleration, probably in June. The testing benchmark is high (around 98 or 99%). Students who qualify are tested for mastery of 2nd grade math. You will be notified if your child qualifies for acceleration to 3rd grade math.

     Although the test is over, we still have a number of math units to study. The students are busy making 3D shapes and fortresses with all kinds of materials. This week, they were mesmerized by our unique triangle fort—still under construction. Today, edible 3D shapes were hard to resist. I sent them home for your permission to eat.  We continue to practice telling time on analog clocks. First grade students are required to read every hour and half hour. Half hours are often misread so please reinforce our learning by practicing as much as possible at home, in the car or anywhere your child spots a clock. I will advance this learning with quarter-hour and 5-minute interval practice in class.

      We are learning that writers use craft to make their writing better for readers. We are using craft in our stories by adding feelings. In Vera Williams’ A Chair for My Mother students empathize with the characters who lost their home in a fire. Sadness, worry, hopefulness, patience, love and more are evident throughout the story. In The Old Woman Who Named Things we come to know the characters well as we share the sadness, loneliness, happiness and love of the old woman and her brown dog. Students are encouraged to invite readers to “share the moment” by filling their stories with feelings.

     Our Face Time experience was fantastic! The students practiced presenting with a partner and projecting their voices to be heard by an audience, as well as showing respectful audience behavior while others shared. They were truly amazed to be able to see and interact with Mrs. Hui’s class at Brunswick Acres. Thank you Kane family for lending us the Harry book, we are working our way through the stories that BA recommended.

Check out these sites for reading and math practice!

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/math.htm#earlymath

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/

http://www.brainpopjr.com/  (greenbrookschool/gators—works until 5:00) 

Ask about…

·       In the story The Old Woman Who Named Things, why did the woman name her things? What name did she give to the brown dog? Why did she pick that name?

·       Writers choose words to describe exactly how they feel. What are some other words that mean happy?

·       What was your favorite part of presenting Stay on Face Time?

·       If you have recess at 12:30 and lunch one hour later, what time will it be?

·       A ten stick is a rectangular prism. What shape is a ones cube?

·       Solve: If you have 50 marshmallows and I give you 5 more, how many more marshmallows will you need to make 100?

Have a fabulous weekend!

Mrs. Magid

Success is a choice!