PS 230

1^st Grade G&T Newsletter From Ms. Gorman - May 2019

Writing Workshop:  We are continuing to make our realistic fiction series better with each book we write.  The children are focusing on adding details about the setting and what the characters look like so that the reader can visualize things in the story.  They are including descriptions of what the characters are doing and thinking, along with dialogue that tells the reader about the characters. In addition, we are adding dramatic tension to the stories we write using ellipses and words like: suddenly, but then, or until.  This incorporates excitement that can be used effectively right before the problem or sometimes the solution.

Reading Workshop:   We are examining a range of realistic fiction books as mentor texts for our series writing.  The children are looking to see what makes the characters, problems, and solutions realistic and relatable.  Plus, our read alouds are exposing the class to great examples of how to use rich vocabulary and great descriptions to bring the stories to life for the reader. It is also important for the children to remember to listen to themselves as they read, to monitor for understanding and make connections to the characters in fiction books and new information in nonfiction books.

Math Workshop:   Our current unit of study is place value.  We are investigating how to organize large numbers in groups so they are easy to count and we can check to make sure we have the right amount.  The children can group items in 100s, 50s, 25s, and 10s and then we will discuss the pros and cons of using different groupings.  Next each table will group by 10s and 5s and compare the groups to see the relationship between the two.  Finally, we will transfer our understanding of the tens structure to our work with place value.  Soon the children will be able to identify the place value in 3 and 4 digit numbers.  Please encourage your child to practice reading and writing 3 and 4 digit numbers as you come across them during your day.

Science:  The class is planting tomato, string bean, and marigold seeds and then monitoring their growth.  Each child is responsible for nurturing and watering his/her plants.  Please ask your child about how his/her seeds are doing.

Social Studies:  Community & Mapping

Science:  Students will continue the study of variables and investigate friction.

Art:  Students will investigate color, including pairing complementary colors.  Students will begin clay & landscape projects.

Music & Movement:  Students will be dancing the Mexican Hat dance and making Maracas.

Gym:  First graders are working on Baseball skills, which will be followed by skills for Tennis.

1st Grade G &T Newsletter - May 2019

1st Grade G&T Newsletter - April 2019

1st Grade G&T Newsletter - March 2019

1st Grade G&T Newsletter - February 2019

1st Grade G&T Newsletter - January 2019

1st Grade G&T Newsletter - December 2018

1st Grade G&T Newsletter - November 2018

Ms. Orefice's Class News - May 2019

Reading Workshop:

     Readers will be working in groups to explore a book series in book clubs!  Students will examine character traits and actions over the course of multiple books in a single series.  They will work on sharing their own ideas about books and characters to others in their book club.

Helpful Tips for Parents:

     We recommend 35 minutes of reading every night.

• Ask your child about the character traits characters in their books exhibit. Is this character kind? Grumpy? Helpful? Organized? Responsible?
• Make sure your child provides evidence for their thoughts. They should be able to point to the part of the story that makes them think that. Toad is a grumpy character because on page 9 he…

Writing Workshop:

     In writing we will be working on two different types of writing.  Students will learn how to think about their books critically to form opinions about what they read in our opinion writing unit.  They will learn how to develop arguments with claims and examples in their writing.

     Simultaneously, we will be researching famous New Yorkers for our end of year oral presentations.  After students complete their research, we will be crafting biography books to help prepare us for the presentations!  Stay Tuned for the date of our presentations in mid-June.

Helpful Tips for Parents:

• Have your children brainstorm topics that they know a great deal of information about.
• Notice how authors write non- fiction text features in the books that they read.

Math Workshop:

     In math, students will be exploring even and odd numbers to make conjectures about how relate to each other.  From there, the class will be moving into our pre-multiplication unit.  Students will be using array models to develop multiplication knowledge.

Helpful Tips for Parents:

• Students should continue practicing addition and subtraction using numbers within 1000.
• Students can begin practicing multiplication facts at home to fluency in facts.

Social Studies:

     Second grade will continue to focus on the physical, human, and cultural characteristics of New York over time.

Music:

     This month we will learn about the different instrument families.  In vocal music we will sing songs from the musical theater genre.

Science: 

     In Science, second graders are learning about motion.  Students will observe and compare variables that influence motion.  Students will also discover different ways to produce rotational motion.  Second graders will investigate how the amount and position of mass affects how the object rotates.  During our investigations, students will determine that the motion of an object can be changed by a force- pushing or pulling. 

Art:

     Students will be making sculptures and studying the portrait art of Marisol, a South American woman sculptor.  They will answer the question in their sculpture "who lives with you?" 

Gym:

Volleyball Unit!  We will learn and perform the skills of bumping, passing & spiking during team match play.  It's a high energy and fun cooperative activity!

 2nd Grade G & T News - May 2019

2nd Grade G & T News - April 2019

2nd Grade G & T News - March 2019

2nd Grade G & T News - February 2019 

2nd Grade G & T News -January 2019

 2nd Grade G & T News - December 2018

 2nd Grade G & T News - November 2018

 2nd Grade G & T News - October 2018