We are working on folktales in class this week and next week. We have been learning that folktales are stories that have been passed down orally for a very long time. Ask your children what that means: they know that the word orally means to tell the stories out loud. The students also know that folktales usually have animal characters, and repeating parts in the story. They also know that folktales are fiction, but they teach us important lessons. We have been reading different versions of the same folktale so we could compare and contrast them.
Today's folktale was Chicken Little, retold by Stephen Kellogg. It would be great if families could support their student's learning by borrowing folktale books from the library, or using your library card to read folktale stories on Tumblebooks. Some popular folktales include: Cinderella, The Three Little Pigs, The Fox's Foray (which we've read in class), Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
During math, we have been playing a game called "Salute!" It is just like "Head's up!", except using number cards. The children could easily teach you how to play using just the numbers from a regular deck of cards. We have also been working on subtraction strategies that include counting back, as well as counting up. This is a hard concept for 1st grade, so practicing at home would be a great idea. One of our math journal problems today was:
"Ji plays 7 games with Sandy. He also plays with Caleb. Ji plays 15 games in all. How many games does Ji play with Caleb?"
To use a counting up strategy, students would begin at 7 and count their "hops" on a number line or number grid until reaching 15. They could also use a number sentence such as: 7+____=15.
As a positive incentive for the students, in addition to earning pom poms to buy prizes on Fridays, I have been sending "Whale of a day" notes home with all children who clip (and remain) above green for the day. This is just a fun way to recognize the students for showing the Willett Way.
Today's folktale was Chicken Little, retold by Stephen Kellogg. It would be great if families could support their student's learning by borrowing folktale books from the library, or using your library card to read folktale stories on Tumblebooks. Some popular folktales include: Cinderella, The Three Little Pigs, The Fox's Foray (which we've read in class), Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
During math, we have been playing a game called "Salute!" It is just like "Head's up!", except using number cards. The children could easily teach you how to play using just the numbers from a regular deck of cards. We have also been working on subtraction strategies that include counting back, as well as counting up. This is a hard concept for 1st grade, so practicing at home would be a great idea. One of our math journal problems today was:
"Ji plays 7 games with Sandy. He also plays with Caleb. Ji plays 15 games in all. How many games does Ji play with Caleb?"
To use a counting up strategy, students would begin at 7 and count their "hops" on a number line or number grid until reaching 15. They could also use a number sentence such as: 7+____=15.
As a positive incentive for the students, in addition to earning pom poms to buy prizes on Fridays, I have been sending "Whale of a day" notes home with all children who clip (and remain) above green for the day. This is just a fun way to recognize the students for showing the Willett Way.
I am posting a flyer advertising an event during April vacation that might be exciting for the children to attend if you are able to make the trip to Boston as a family.
Have you checked out Gonoodle.com? This is the website we often use for our "movement breaks" during the school day. Here is a picture of some of our Gonoodle fun from today.