Sunday, December 23, 2012

Trick Word Activity

For the most recent list of Trick Words, see the Updated Trick Word post.  To practice these words, use the presentation there.  You may also want to try this fun activity.  Make a list of the words your child doesn't know as s/he reads through the presentation.  Write each one of those words on a separate piece of paper.  Crumple up each word and put it in an empty bin.  For each unknown word, write one known word on a separate piece of paper.  Crumple up each one of these words and add it to the bin.  There should be one known word for each unknown word.  So, if your child doesn't know 5 of the trick words, there should be 10 words in the bin:  5 known and 5 unknown.  Empty the words from the bin.  Have him/her toss a crumpled paper into the bin.  If the paper gets in the bin, have him/her read the word within 3 seconds.  If the word is read correctly, the paper should be in a keep pile.  If the word is read incorrectly or not within 3 seconds, then it should be crumpled again and added back into the toss pile.  If your child can read all the words, then play the game the same way, but ask your child to spell the words.  Have fun!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Sandy Hook Elementary - AMENDED ADDRESS

I am not going to discuss the event that is prompting me to post this.  However, I came across this, and felt the need to share it in case anyone wanted to participate from their own homes as a family.  PLEASE DO NOT SEND THESE TO SCHOOL.  The students have varying knowledge of the event and I want to preserve each family's decision on how to deal with the situation.  I am copying and pasting this from a Facebook post.  I am hoping it is valid.
A building has been designated to house the students from Sandy Hook Elementary School. They are in the process of transporting desks, chairs, supplies and so forth to this location.
Tonight the president of the Newtown PTA and others met discussing what we can do to make these children feel comforted upon their return to school.
Please join us in "The Snowflake Project".

We are asking your students to make and decorate a snowflake. We will hang them in the hallways at the stark, new building where the Sandy Hook students will be returning. PLEASE NO WORDS! We want just a cheerful, happy (glitter and sparkle) environment for the students entering the new building.
Please pass on to any teachers you think may want to participate.
When you send your snowflakes, please include a note to tell us where they are from (your school, class, town, etc) to display along with your snowflakes. 
SEND TO THIS ADDRESS
CT PTSA
60 Connolly Parkway
Bldg 12, Suite 103
Hamden, CT  06514

 Thank you so very much!"

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Education City Results

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!!  You are in first place for this month's challenge!  Keep working hard so we can stay on top! 

Thursday, December 13, 2012

HOMEWORK 12-13-12

Sorry this is late getting up.  With Miss Shannon out, there was no time to get to this during the day.

Tonight, play Counting by Ten to 100.

COMMENT BOX:  Bill  has 30 boxes.  Stan has 50 boxes.  How many boxes in all?  Explain

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

HOMEWORK 12-12-12

We have been learning about the suffixes -ed, -s, -ing.  When reading, one "word attack" strategy we use is to identify these suffixes and cover them up to find the baseword.  Usually, once the students look at the baseword, they can read the word quickly.

Tonight, go to Education City.  Select Language Arts and play Hu-La-La Words With Inflectional Endings.  There are many Hu-La-La games, so please make sure you play the one where they have to identify the word with the correct suffix.

After that, on Education City, go to Math and play Catch a Kuko:  Order Numbers to 99.

COMMENT BOX:  Put these numbers in order from smallest to largest.

75, 32, 23, 65, 57, 56

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Updated Trick Word List 12-11-12

This week we added three new trick words: so, there, put. You can use this presentation to practice trick words like we do in class. Students should be able to read each word correctly within 3 seconds. Repeated exposure helps students learn the words and read more fluently.

Monday, December 10, 2012

HOMEWORK 12-10-12

Do XtraMath

NO COMMENT BOX

Remember you can do Education City activities to help first grade in the monthy competition.

Thursday, December 06, 2012

HOMEWORK 12-6-12

Tonight you will practice with characters, setting, and plot in a story.  You will play games on Education City to do this.  First play Rabbit Seeks a Snack.  The story will be read to you, but after it is read, please read the page yourself.

COMMENT BOX:  Make a text-to-self connection between you and the story Rabbit Seeks a Snack.  Remember that a text-to-self connection is a personal event from your life that you think of when you read a story.  Remember to include your first name.

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

HOMEWORK 12-5-12

By the end of the year students must be fluent with addition and subtraction facts to 10.  To be fluent, students must know the answer rather than having to use their fingers, objects, or counting on/back.  One great way to practice is to use XtraMath.  Not only does it provide excellent practice, but it also collects information about the facts mastered and those that still need to be learned.

For homework tonight, complete a session of XtraMath

You may choose to play games on Education City, too.  Wouldn't it be great if first grade won the monthly challenge for December?

COMMENT BOX:  nothing required

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

HOMEWORK 12-4-12

For tonight's homework, go to Education City and play the following games in Language Arts:

Home Run (capitals and question marks)

Wilderness Park (roots and inflections) - students may need you to use the word 'baseword' instead of 'rootword'.  Our phonics program uses the term 'baseword'. 

COMMENT BOX:  Add -s, -ing, or -ed to the word 'sing'.  Write a sentence using the word you made.

You may want to play other games, too.  You may also use XtraMath at home, too.

Monday, December 03, 2012

HOMEWORK 12-3-12

Telling time to the half hour is proving to be difficult for the students.  Please practice by playing Clock Shoot.  Play both Level 1 and Level 2.

After that, do a Language Arts activity on Education City.  In the COMMENT BOX, tell what game you played.  Please make sure it is not an activity that you have already gotten 100% on.