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Mrs. Ferguson's First Grade
Melanie Ferguson
MILLBRIDGE ELEMENTARY
Contact Melanie Ferguson

Page Last Updated Nov 11, 2009
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 Welcome to First Grade!

 Mrs. Ferguson
Mrs. Teter 

Plant a seed... Read

November News


      



                  

          
Time is certainly flying as we have recently completed our first quarter and begun the second quarter of first grade.  Our busy classroom will become even busier as we learn new second quarter skills and approach the holiday season.  It is an exciting time in our classroom! 

   
  
                  Parent Night
We had a wonderful turn out at out recent Parent Night!  Thank you, Parents, for taking time to learn more about first grade.  We hope that you feel more informed and better prepared to help your child be a successful first grader!!
                              

                        
      
                      Author Visit
How exciting it was to have author Lester Laminack conduct a writing lesson with us! Mr. Laminack helped us with writing our "small moments"  stories.  We feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity!

                        
          
 Halloween
Halloween was celebrated in our classroom with a Halloween party on Wednesday, October 28.  Students enjoyed the fun center activities and delicious party food.  Thanks to all parents that provided food and treats for our party... and a very special "Thank you" to Mrs. Bancroft for planning and organizing this event! 

           
 Thank you!
Thank you for providing games for our Fall Festival Game Basket.  We had a great selection of games!  We appreciate your help!!


    
                         
                              
 Upcoming Events...
   


                     
                             
          
Celebrating in our Classroom
We have been learning about how the Pilgrims 
and Indians celebrated the First Thanksgiving.  
As a culminating activity, we will reenact the First Thanksgiving with our own Thanksgiving Feast on Friday, November 19.  Students will gather as Pilgrims and Indians and give thanks for their many gifts.  Students will enjoy some of the same foods that were served at the first Thanksgiving. 
   


      
  


                           Dates to Remember:

November 2 - November Scholastic  Book Orders due!
November 6 - Fall Festival
        November 10 - 1st Quarter A.R. Reward
        November 11 - Veteran's Day - School Holiday
November 17 - Manners Lunch - Dress your best!   November 19 - THanksgiving Feast  
November 24 - Early Release Day for students
November 25 - 27 - THanksgiving Holidays  
November 30 - Students return to school

            More dates to come later...

            
    
  

       

Homework
First Graders have weekly homework  that consist of short daily assignments with spelling words or math.  Homework for the week is sent home on Friday and all assignments are due the following Friday. Please help your child prepare for his / her spelling test on Thursday. 
      
Monday - Write words 3 times each.
Tuesday - Write a sentence with 6 of your      spelling words.
Wednesday - Take a practice test.
    - Study words test tomorrow. Thursday -  Spelling test today!
    - Complete Math activity.
Friday - All homework due today.



    

    Take-Home Reading Program

Students have recently begun  taking home books in their Take-home reading folders for daily at home reading practice. This is a  a very important component of our reading program. Please listen to your child read and assist as needed.  Upon returning to school, students with reread books and conference with a teacher, assistant, or parent volunteer.   Students that successfully read their books (missing no more than 3 words), and exhibiting an understanding of text, will be assigned a new book for the next night.  Students that struggle with words and comprehension,  will have the book sent back home for more work. 


          

Library Books / A. R.
Now that 2nd quarter has begun, students are checking out library books on individual reading levels to read and take A.R. quizzes on.  Parents, we need your help with this. Students are asked to read books 3 times. Even though books are on students' reading levels, they may have need assistance with words in context.  Please assist your child as needed and ask questions about text to help him/her better prepare for the quiz.  We also need you to fill out your child's A.R. slip that lets us know that your child is ready to test on his/her book.   
      Keep Reading!!

                   
    

     Math

We have been working on math concepts that include:
        Subtraction strategies: 
    counting back
    counting back with the numberline,  
            comparing to subtract
            parts and whole
            adding to subtract
            fact families
        Plane and Solid Shapes   
Tallies
Recognizing number words - zero  
     to fifty 
Addition
Word problems / problem solving  
 

  
                         
 Writer's Workshop

Writing is an important part of our daily activities in first grade.  Students are learning to become independent writers by using skills and strategies that are taught and modeled in our daily mini lessons. Currently, we are working on writing sequenced, "small moment"stories.  Student stories should have a beginning, middle, and ending with multiple details to support story idea.  
                 

      
    
   Curriculum Focus Areas for                       Second  Quarter:  
  
   Reading:
  • First 50 High frequency words - Students should be able to read, write and spell all 50 words by the end of the quarter.
  • Blending letter sounds 
  • Word families 
  • Changing the beginning, middle, and ending letters to make new words
  • Long vowels
  • Consonant blends 
  • R - controlled vowels 
  • Using reading strategies 
  • Comprehension  
  
   Writing 
  • Writing "small moments" stories
  • Building and expanding sentences
  • Sequenced stories with beginning, middle, and ending
  • Details about story idea
  • Using varied sentence patterns and lengths
  • Using capitalization and punctuation
  • Writing mutli-sentence stories focused on a small moment 
  • Sketching to plan our stories
  • Correctly spelling high frequency words and stretching out sounds in unknown words to spell 

  Math:
  • Recognizing number words zero to fifty
  • Ordering and comparing numbers to 50 
  • Single digit addition
  • Single digit subtraction
  • Problem solving
  • Collecting, organizing, describing, and displaying data using tallies, tables, and graphs
  • Creating and extending patterns
  • Sorting and classifying objects by two attributes 
  • Plane and solid shapes
  • Estimation 
   Science:
  • Living and non - living
  • Plants, needs and characteristics 
  • Turkeys
  • Fall 
   Social Studies:
  • Thanksgiving 
  • Making a choice by voting - Election Day
  • Veteran's Day 
  • Families 


                
              Additional Information..

                        
                                    
      
   Reading

Reading is a complex skill that involves many individual skills. We have daily reading instruction that includes phonemic awareness, phonics, compreheision, and a variety of reading strategies.  Students are provided reading opportunities in whole group shared reading, small group guided reading, individual reading to teacher or volunteer, and independent reading. First graders also need daily reading practice at home and are expected to read both reader and a library book ( A.R.) book. This at home reading is crucial for reading growth.  Parents can further assist students by asking the following questions about your child's reading content:
  • Who are the characters?
  • What is the setting?
  • What happene in the begining?
  • What was the problem in the story?
  • How ws the probelm solved?
  • In what other way could the problem have been solved?
  • How did the story end?
  • Can you think of a different way in which the story could have ended?
  • Start at the beginning and retell the story in sequence

 
A.R.

.R. (Accelerated Reading) is a supplemental reading program
that allows students to read books on individual reading levels 
and take comprehension quizzes. Individual goals are set
for each student and progress towards goals is tracked as
they take A.R. quizzes. Special rewards and incentives are
planned quarterly for students meeting 50, 100, and 150%
of their goals. A.R. is a wonderful reading program that
promotes reading growth and interest in reading.
 

Spelling / Homework

First graders have weekly homework assignments requiring
a short spelling activity each night. Our spelling words 
include high frequency words as well as words with similar 
spelling patterns. These phonically based spelling patterns
help students to spell not only the assigned spelling words,
but additional words with the same pattern.

Homework is usually sent home on Friday and all homework
is due the following Friday. Daily assignments generally 
follows a predictable format like that listed below:
  • Monday - Write words 3 times each.
  • Tuesday - Write sentences with 6 different spelling words.
  • Wednesday - Write all words in ABC order. Study words. Take practice test.
  • Thursday - Spelling test will be given. Complete attached math activity.
  • Friday - All homework is due.
Student should study words nightly and are responsible for 
reading take- home readers and library books.


                                                       
                                      Writing

Writing takes place daily during our Writers' Workshop block. Students have learned to write "Five Finger" stories that include  story beginnings,  detailed, sequenced events and story endings while using proper punctuation and capitalization. Students will additionally produce a variety of other varied written products including poetry, letters. journal entries, etc.  

                         
                          Math
 
First graders learn many math concepts  and a variety of strategies to enable them to solve mathematical problems. 
Math manipulatives, games, and other "hand-on" activities help students to better relate to and understand math concepts. 

                             
              Science / Social Studies
 
Science and social studies are both taught in isolation, as well as integrated throughout core curriculum to provide students with meaningful activities to help them to better understand the world in which they live.  Hands-on activities, experiments, observations, the use of technology, and the inclusion of guest speakers are used  to help present and teach these concepts.   
              
    
            Thank you for all of your
              help and support!

      Mrs. Ferguson and Mrs.Teter

                     


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