First Grade Weekly News:

Please check back at the beginning of each week for an update on the exciting things the first graders will be learning!

Week of May 14, 2012

Important Announcements:

  • First of all, thank you to all the first grade parents who helped out during Staff Appreciation Week and bought or made any gifts for the first grade teachers.
  • I ( Mr. Aiken) especially enjoyed getting the generous gift certificate to the Big Burrito Family of Restaurants from Mrs. Sinnot's class. I  also truly loved the t-shirt from Mrs. Hoak's class. I've already worn it twice since receiving it. Thank you first grade parents!!
  • The spring concert for Kindergarten, First Grade, and Sixth Grade is from 6:00-8:00 P.M., on Monday, May 14, 2012 in the auditorium at ECS.
  • Tuesday, May 15 ,2012 there is no school. Also parent-teacher conferences will take place throughout that day in the school. Make sure you schedule a time with your child's teacher for your conference.

Please make sure that your child has appropriate clothing and footwear for their hikes. We do take hikes in rainy weather so make sure your child has access to appropriate shoes and jackets.

Language Arts:

In Language Arts this week, the students will review the different being verbs such as am, is, and are. They will practice using these different being verbs in sentences. In phonics, they will review the spellling patterns for the /ou/ sound that are spelled with "ou" and "ow".

Also, the students will review high frequency words, and will listen to a story, and discuss story elements such as setting, characters, and plot. Additionally, they will recognize story elements while listening to a story, and continue to develop their fluency while reading. They will have a language arts weekly assessment on Friday.

In writer's workshop the students will continue to build on a lot of the skills that they have been practing over the past three or four weeks. The three main skills that the students will be working on are choosing a favorite idea and developing it. Writers will revisit and improve their work. Finally, writers prepare their writing to share with others.

Math:

This week the students will complete Chapter 7 at the beginning of this weerk. They are completing lesson 7.7 which entails exploring symmetrical shapes and by creating their own symmetrical shapes. Also, in the middle of the week the students will review, reinforce, and assess associated with counting money. In math centers, they will continue to review addition/subtraction skills, input/output rules, compass, and money skills. 

We are continuing the exploration of Unit 4 in more depth. Unit 4 is titled: Cocoons, Clouds, and Cultivation. The essential question is " Why are cycles important to us". This week, the main questions that the students will be addressing is "Why is agriculture important to us? They will define agriculture through discovery. They will watch a "brain pop" video on George Washington Carver, and will listen to a book on farming. Also, the students will create their own "farm" and illustrate crop rotation. Discuss the importance of crop rotation. Later in the week, the students will go on a hike and observe the different types of clouds they see. Then, they will draw the different cloud shapes and what they look like to us. They will listen to the classic story "It looks like spilled milk".  Finally, they will try to answer the question " What are the different kinds of weather?" They will use a graphic organizer to explore the similarities and differences between the different types of weather.

Environmental Studies: 

Enviro this week: This week, First Graders took Unit Four’s quiz (look for it in their study packets at the end of the unit!).  We also named the parts of a flower, learned a fun song, and identified flower parts in a natural setting!

Enviro next week:  Next week, First Graders can look forward to learning about pollination!

Do at home!  Take a nice spring walk!  Check out several different types of flowers.  Ask your child to show you the petal, sepal, pistil and stamen in each flower.  Notice how each flower is different from the next!

 

 

 

 

Listed below are some books and websites that can be used at home to enhance student learning:

http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ahrpa/opa/kids/special/kidtwink.html                                                                                   

http://www.inventored.org/k-12/                       

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/indexa.shtml

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Phone calls:
The phone number at the Environmental Charter School is (412) 247-7970.  Extensions are 107 (Sinnott), 115 (Hoak), and 120 (Mars).

E-mails:
Jennifer.Mars@imagineschools.com, Margaret.Sinnott@imagineschools.com, Heather.Hoak@imagineschools.com, and ed.aiken@imagineschools.com

 

ECS Homework Policy:

Homework Assignments:
Students participate in relevant and meaningful homework assignments that spiral content learned in class. This means that students should repeatedly practice familiar concepts in new and different ways. Homework is not to be counted toward students’ grades for that subject area. The purpose of homework assignments is to practice learned skills. 

 

 

 

 

 

Grade

Time Spent on Homework

1

10 minutes per day + nightly reading

2

20 minutes per day + nightly reading

3

30 minutes per day + nightly reading

4

40 minutes per day + nightly reading

5

50 minutes per day + nightly reading

6

60 minutes per day*

7

60 minutes per day*

8

60 minutes per day*



























* nightly minutes exclude project work

Homework Policy Rationale:

According to the National Education Association, students should be participating in meaningful, individualized assignments that reflect students’ interests and acquired skills (National Education Association, 2002). Research shows that homework is most effective when concepts are repeated throughout several assignments (McPherson, 2005). After reviewing current research, the NEA claims that “at the elementary level, homework can help students develop study skills and habits and can keep families informed about their child’s learning” (National Education Association, 2002).

According to Harris Cooper, leader in educational research and director of Duke’s Program in Education, students should participate in the “ten minute rule.” First grade students should spend 10 minutes per day, and teachers should increase the amount of homework by 10 minutes each year. Cooper claims that current research is consistent with this recommendation (Office of News and Communication Duke University, 2006). According to Cooper, homework is an important part of learning. However, “too much homework can be counter-productive for students at all levels” (Office of News and Communication Duke University, 2006). 

Works Cited

McPherson, F. (2005). Homework-Is It Worth It? Retrieved from www.memory-key.com.

National Education Association. (2002). Research Spotlight on Homework. Retrieved April 2010, from National Education Association: www.nea.org/tools/16938.htm

Office of News and Communication Duke University. (2006, March 7). Duke Study: Homework Helps Students Succeed in School, As Long as There Isn't Too Much. Retrieved April 2010, from Office of News and Communication Duke University: news.duke.edu/2006/03/homework._print.htm