A Note from Ms. Oglesby

Hello Everyone!

Wow! I can't believe it is the third week of school! It has been wonderful getting to know your children and I am ecstatic to be assigned to such a great group. I wanted to reach out to you all and give an update on what is happening in class with the student teacher! Mrs. Koenig and I began splitting subjects this week, and I am starting with morning meeting and word study. We have been getting to know one another more in depth in our morning meetings. We talk about our favorite things, what we want to be when we grow up, and more! We will continue to build our community during this time and really practice our Panther Pride. In word study, we dove head first into vowels and will be continuing learning about all the vowels for the next few weeks. I plan on sending updates throughout the semester to keep you all updated with our class! Thank you all for allowing me to get to know your wonderful kids! 

Sincerely,

Ms. Oglesby 

Math - Unit 1 - Addition and Subtraction

Our first math unit this year will be on addition and subtraction. This is the first of two units on addition and subtraction. The first focuses on basics that we will use to build on and later in the school year our second unit on addition and subtraction will deal with larger numbers.

Our first unit will guide students in how to solve addition and subtraction problems that model real-life situations. Each type of situation demonstrates how real-life problems can be modeled with math.

Students are working towards fluency with addition and subtraction within 10. Having automaticity  with facts will make students more efficient problem-solvers. We will also study various strategies to solve math problems. Strategies include counting on and counting back, using doubles and near doubles, adding with 5, adding ten, adding in any order, and thinking addition to subtract. Key strategies are taught and practiced for solving addition and subtraction facts to 20.

Workbooks: Last year we adopted a new math resource. It includes a lengthy 2-volume workbook set. You will see pages coming home from time to time. We do not complete all the pages for each lesson. From time to time I may send a page home for additional practice of a skill. When we finish volume 1, it will be sent home and you may either use it for additional practice or toss it. ;)

Word Work - Vowels

We always start the first few weeks of school by introducing the vowels and doing practice with the short vowel sounds. Each week we will focus on a letter. This week has been short A. Next week will be E, and so on. Knowing the vowel sounds is key in reading and writing and the short sounds provide important foundational components for our literacy work this year!

We practice the vowel sounds through writing, reading, songs, partner work, and independent practice. Ms. Oglesby has begun teaching our word work lessons and will continue to create daily lessons for our vowel work.

After we get through the vowels we will begin working on grade-level spelling patterns and the accountable words!

Essential Questions

We have a set of essential questions which go along with all of our curriculum units of study. These questions get the students thinking about the concepts and are great discussion starters both at school and home. I will share the essential questions for each unit with you. I encourage you to ask your students these questions at home. They're great conversation starters! Many times if you ask a first grader what they learned at school, they will say "nothing" or "I can't remember". These questions will spark their memory of their learning from school! Here is the first set of EQ's:

Writing:

-What habits help me build stamina?

-How do I write tricky words?

-How do I stretch out a personal narrative?

Math:

- How does knowing many strategies help me to be a better problem solver?

- How can the relationship between addition and subtraction help me to solve problems?

- How can I communicate my math thinking?

- How does knowing many strategies help me to be a better problem solver?

- How can the relationship between addition and subtraction help me to solve problems?

- How can I communicate my math thinking?

Reading:

- What habits help me as a reader?

- What do I do when words are tricky?

- How do reading partners work together?

- What makes an effective community?

Social Studies:

- How can I help make my community a better place to be?

- How do my school and community influence each other?

- What are my rights and responsibilities in my community?

Reminders - Dates

August 28 - Fall Picture Day (9-11 am)
August 31 - K-5 Curriculum Night for Parents (6:30-8 pm)
September 4 - No School (Labor Day)
September 6 - 2-Hour Late Start Day (11:05 am)
September 12 - Room Parent Mtg & 5th gr Celebration Mtg (6:15 pm)
September 12 - PTO Meeting (7-8 pm)
September 12 - 5th gr Celebration Mtg (8 pm)

Fun Eclipse Song

We sang this Monday and the kiddos really enjoyed it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6AakZ2gwzs

Library Check Out

Library check-out will be on D days for our class. All books will be returned EVERY Tuesday. :)