There will be NO blue folders going home this week with student work. I will send them home next Friday, with next week's work.
I have added a Book Recommendations page to the site. You can find it on the left panel. These are books that I've read that have helped me work with the students in my classroom not academically, but as individual people. I wanted to share them with you!
Ms. Hermus
Monday, November 21, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Weekly Update November 18th
We have had another action-packed week in First Grade!!! We continue to work on our long vowel sounds in reading, and this week we focused on the long i sound using the "sneaky e" that we learned last week! Along with the long i, we worked on ch and wh words. We also wrote descriptive paragraphs. We each wrote about one other friend in the classroom, first making a web of information, then writing a paragraph with the information!
We have been working on subtraction in math and expanded our knowledge of "related facts." Now we not only know that 2+3=5 and 3+2=5, but 5-3=2, and 5-2=3! We will soon be putting this together to learn about entire fact families! We are also practicing deciding whether a problem requires adding or subtracting!
We just finished our unit on Australia, and our books will come home tonight. We played a game called Down, Down, Down, in which we have to try to catch a ball, and if we don't catch it, we have to put a different body part on the ground until we are on our bottoms. We also made bullroarers, which are an Australian instrument (although they aren't made with spoons in real life) and we tried ANZAC cookies.
In religion we have been talking about the new mass parts, and we have been reading a few books. One was "If I Only Had a Green Nose". This one is about being happy with yourself, without trying to fit in to the newest fad. God made us the way we are because that's how he WANTED us. We shouldn't try to change how we look just because others are doing so.
We took our animal test in science, and we have been studying habitats. We are having a great time making dioramas of habitats! They are looking fantastic, and I am very excited to display them!
Ms. Hermus
We have been working on subtraction in math and expanded our knowledge of "related facts." Now we not only know that 2+3=5 and 3+2=5, but 5-3=2, and 5-2=3! We will soon be putting this together to learn about entire fact families! We are also practicing deciding whether a problem requires adding or subtracting!
We just finished our unit on Australia, and our books will come home tonight. We played a game called Down, Down, Down, in which we have to try to catch a ball, and if we don't catch it, we have to put a different body part on the ground until we are on our bottoms. We also made bullroarers, which are an Australian instrument (although they aren't made with spoons in real life) and we tried ANZAC cookies.
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| Here we are playing "Sheep Dog Trials." The balloons were sheep, and we had to "herd" them into their "pens" on the other side and back to their teammates. They could only use their cardboard paddle to move the ballroom! They did a great job! |
In religion we have been talking about the new mass parts, and we have been reading a few books. One was "If I Only Had a Green Nose". This one is about being happy with yourself, without trying to fit in to the newest fad. God made us the way we are because that's how he WANTED us. We shouldn't try to change how we look just because others are doing so.
We took our animal test in science, and we have been studying habitats. We are having a great time making dioramas of habitats! They are looking fantastic, and I am very excited to display them!
Ms. Hermus
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Weekly Update
As you can see, I am still figuring out when is the best place to post, so keep watch and I will do the Weekly Update sometime during the week. I'm sure I will find the right time soon!
We have been working on our long a sound in literacy. We learned about the "sneaky e" that makes our vowels say their name. Grace's name is a perfect example of this! The sneaky, silent e changes the a from a short a sound to a long a sound.
We have started our first subtraction unit in math. They are doing a wonderful job! I will continue to send home the addition flashcards for the next few weeks, then start sending home subtraction flashcards. They are doing a great job of keeping the addition and subtraction separate. They have even been asking to practice flashcards! I like to do them when we get in line, or when one or two students are ready to start before the others. If you'd like, make a game of them at home. Do a few before having dinner, or before going outside to play. Also, a game could be timing your student against themself. Time how long it takes them to get all the cards right, and keep timing and keeping track of that time, and watch the number go lower and lower! The students love to see their progress that way.
We have been studying Australia in social studies. We learned that it is in the Southern Hemisphere, so not only is it night there when it is day here because they are on the opposite side of the world, but it is summer there when it is winter here! They also see different stars than we do.
We have been talking about the Order of Mass in religion class. We discovered that there are many, many things that happen in one mass, and it is exciting to go to mass and see what we can catch!
We are almost done with our animal unit in science. Remember to send in your shoe boxes by Wednesday! We need them for a project soon in science class!
Have a wonderful three-day weekend,
Ta! (Aussie for goodbye)
Ms. Hermus
We have been working on our long a sound in literacy. We learned about the "sneaky e" that makes our vowels say their name. Grace's name is a perfect example of this! The sneaky, silent e changes the a from a short a sound to a long a sound.
We have started our first subtraction unit in math. They are doing a wonderful job! I will continue to send home the addition flashcards for the next few weeks, then start sending home subtraction flashcards. They are doing a great job of keeping the addition and subtraction separate. They have even been asking to practice flashcards! I like to do them when we get in line, or when one or two students are ready to start before the others. If you'd like, make a game of them at home. Do a few before having dinner, or before going outside to play. Also, a game could be timing your student against themself. Time how long it takes them to get all the cards right, and keep timing and keeping track of that time, and watch the number go lower and lower! The students love to see their progress that way.
We have been studying Australia in social studies. We learned that it is in the Southern Hemisphere, so not only is it night there when it is day here because they are on the opposite side of the world, but it is summer there when it is winter here! They also see different stars than we do.
We have been talking about the Order of Mass in religion class. We discovered that there are many, many things that happen in one mass, and it is exciting to go to mass and see what we can catch!
We are almost done with our animal unit in science. Remember to send in your shoe boxes by Wednesday! We need them for a project soon in science class!
Have a wonderful three-day weekend,
Ta! (Aussie for goodbye)
Ms. Hermus
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Shoeboxes Needed!
Please send a shoebox to school with your student by Wednesday November 16th. We will be starting a class project late that week that requires a shoebox for each student.
Thank you!
Ms. Hermus
Thank you!
Ms. Hermus
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Weekly Update
Last week was a short week, so we did some Halloween projects as well as our usual work. In Literacy we wrote Halloween stories, and practiced using some editing symbols and re-writing so we have a "good copy."
In math we are continuing to work on our math facts. We will be finishing up our first unit on adding next week and starting our first unit on subtracting. Next week flashcards with +3 and +4 facts will be coming home in addition to the cards that are already in your students' bags. These should be practiced in addition to the ones they are already practicing.
Last week we enjoyed some fun Halloween activities in Social Studies that went with our Egypt unit! We made mummies by using paper mache and dolls. We also learned that a version of Mancala is called "Wari" and is an Egyptian game. We played it using some colorful glass stones and egg cartons. We didn't get a chance to play very long, so we will be playing again next week! Check out some pictures below of our paper mache adventures!
In religion we finished up our unit on Spookley the Square Pumpkin and talking about how everyone has stronger and weaker gifts, and how we work together to fill in each others' weaknesses. We also started talking about the Order of Mass. We made a big list of everything we see happening during the Mass and next week we will be putting them in order and reading some books to go along with what we're learning! We will also be starting to use the small book that was sent home at the beginning of the year. I will send an email letting parents know which pages need to be read at home next week.
Science class has been a zoo! We continue to learn about animals. It is really fun to take a break once in a while and practice moving like animals!
Last week in Spanish we figured out some Halloween words together. Next week we will be using some of those words again as we learn some words for fall and harvest time. We will also be learning some of the many Spanish games I have!
Make sure to take a look at the "Upcoming Events" section. I will be updating that as often as my weekly update.
Ms. Hermus
In math we are continuing to work on our math facts. We will be finishing up our first unit on adding next week and starting our first unit on subtracting. Next week flashcards with +3 and +4 facts will be coming home in addition to the cards that are already in your students' bags. These should be practiced in addition to the ones they are already practicing.
Last week we enjoyed some fun Halloween activities in Social Studies that went with our Egypt unit! We made mummies by using paper mache and dolls. We also learned that a version of Mancala is called "Wari" and is an Egyptian game. We played it using some colorful glass stones and egg cartons. We didn't get a chance to play very long, so we will be playing again next week! Check out some pictures below of our paper mache adventures!
In religion we finished up our unit on Spookley the Square Pumpkin and talking about how everyone has stronger and weaker gifts, and how we work together to fill in each others' weaknesses. We also started talking about the Order of Mass. We made a big list of everything we see happening during the Mass and next week we will be putting them in order and reading some books to go along with what we're learning! We will also be starting to use the small book that was sent home at the beginning of the year. I will send an email letting parents know which pages need to be read at home next week.
Science class has been a zoo! We continue to learn about animals. It is really fun to take a break once in a while and practice moving like animals!
Last week in Spanish we figured out some Halloween words together. Next week we will be using some of those words again as we learn some words for fall and harvest time. We will also be learning some of the many Spanish games I have!
Make sure to take a look at the "Upcoming Events" section. I will be updating that as often as my weekly update.
Ms. Hermus
Monday, October 24, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Please Subscribe!
This blog will soon replace our bi-weekly newsletter. I will be updating the blog itself each week, and I will continue to update features such as "Upcoming Events." One great feature is the ability to subscribe to the blog. Even if you do not have a blog yourself, you can subscribe to this blog by typing in your email in the box underneath the words "Click here to receive alerts by email!" This way, each time I update the blog you will receive and email, and you do not need to check the blog daily. What an easy way to stay informed!
Ms. Hermus
Ms. Hermus
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
New Site, New Start!
I have decided to follow Mrs. Look at start my blog on blogspot.com. According to her recommendation, it is easier to use, and I agree! I will be working to get this website set up and will hopefully be able to transfer what I have from the other site to this site. There is no need to look at the old site anymore, and I will be closing it by the end of October.
Thank you,
Ms. Hermus
Thank you,
Ms. Hermus
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