Newsletter 1-8-16

Mueller Moments

1st Grade * Bauer Elementary * Mrs. Holly Mueller * hmueller@hpseagles.net

January 8, 2016

It was a great week back in 1st grade! We enjoyed reconnecting with each other after a long break. This week we reviewed routines and started several new units. Details are below!

Be sure to have your child wear warm snow gear and boots daily. Also, please check to make sure all gear is labeled with names! Thank you!

• Coming up:
• Star Student: Liam Kleinsmith
• Monday, January 11 - PE Day
• Thursday, January 14 - PE Day
• February 8-9 - Winter Break, No school

• Reading: We had a great start to our new unit: Nonfiction. We learned how books are organized at the library and organized our own library as we sorted fiction and nonfiction texts. We then further divided our nonfictions texts by subject area. One student told me, "This is the best day of reading ever!" They really enjoyed this task. We focused on text features of nonfiction texts as we wrapped up our week. Point out to your children at home all of the different nonfiction texts that are at your house!

• We also logged in to Raz Kids for the first time in the computer lab. This is a fantastic reading website that your child can complete at home. They will have the chance to listen to a book, then read the book, and finally take a short quiz on the book. And all books are at your child’s independent level! Head to www.kidsa-z.com - enter hmueller1. It is a great resource for growing readers. 

• Writing: We began our new writing unit this week, writing How to stories. We had a lot of fun exploring these types of books, looking at text features, brainstorming topics, and writing a how to together. This is another are where you can point out how to books and texts around your home (recipe books, game directions, etc.).

• Math: We continued working on place value concepts this week as we explored adding numbers that have a teen total, as well as adding doubles, and doubles plus and minus one and two. 

• Social Studies: We started a history unit this week where we are learning about the past and timelines as we study important historical figures. Most of our focus this week was on Martin Luther King Jr. I love the conversations that spark as we discuss his life and legacy. 

• Data Notebooks are coming home today. Be sure to check out new writing assessments from the last unit. You will see the post assessment on top, and the pre assessment below.  

For your children,

~ Holly R. Mueller