Similes Are as Fun as a Ferris Wheel!

We've been learning about similes! These are the examples we came up with as a class:

Then we wrote our very own class simile book! Here are some of the pages:

100th Day of School

This Friday, February 24^th, we will be celebrating the 100^th day of school! We are planning a fun day when the children will experience 100 through many different activities.

To help us see the different ways 100 can look, we are asking that each child bring 100 like items in an unbreakable container or ziplock bag with their name on it. Some ideas are popcorn kernels, macaroni, rice, paper clips, beans, cereal, buttons, sequins, etc.

We will also be making 100^th Day Trail Mix to enjoy as a snack. Each child will count out 10 pieces of 10 different snacks to mix together and make 100. To help with this project, we have assigned a snack for each child to bring. Please bring in your snack by Wednesday so I can make sure we will have enough. If for any reason you are unable to provide this snack, please let me know as soon as possible so I can make other arrangements.

We would love to have a parent volunteer to help with our activities from 9:30-10:45 A.M. If you can help please me know by Tuesday. Thank you for your support!

Practicing Addition Online

Some students asked if I could post links to places where they can practice their addition facts online. ABSOLUTELY! Here are some great choices for practicing to become an addition superhero:

One minute test:
http://www.softschools.com/math/games/mad_minute_math/
Flash card practice:
http://www.factmonster.com/math/flashcards.html
Practice two ways:
http://henryanker.com/Math/Computation/Addition/Addition_1_Digit_C.swf
Help with counting up:
http://www.softschools.com/math/addition/counting_up_method_addition/

If you saw this post and you use one of these sites to practice this weekend, come to school on Tuesday and tell me, "Addition is as easy as pie" to win a prize!

Addition Superheroes

The first graders in 404 are training to become Addition Superheroes! After testing the students on their number facts with mClass in January, I put a paper doll for each student up on our door. They started out at the bottom of the door, and when they can answer 8 oral addition problems correctly in 1 minute they move up to "Superhero Academy". When they can answer 12 problems, they get a superhero costume and move up to the sky. When they really know their facts and can answer 16 problems, they fly higher than the sun up where the teacher superhero flies!

So far this week two students have moved up. Help your child practice math facts at home every day so he or she can move up on our hero door!

Loads of Learning!

We have finished learning about the different states of matter in science. As one last project, we melted crayons with a hair dryer to see how fast they changed from solid to liquid and back to solid. Here is a picture of the cool poster we made!

Over the next month, we will be learning about the solar system. A short research project will be sent home soon for students to complete over a weekend. Stay tuned!

Here are our current learning objectives:

Report Cards

Report cards are going home today. Please look carefully at the first page, which shows your child's score on the Fountas & Pinnell reading assessment, the DIBELS reading tests, and the mCLASS math tests. These scores measure your child's current abilities in reading and math, rather than their effort on classwork and assignments. If your child has any yellow or red dots, he or she should be doing extra practice in those areas at home. I have included the DIBELS parent suggestions page for any students who were on yellow or red. Please use these ideas to practice at home.

Please sign the report card and return it to school. I will send it home again for you to keep once I have checked off that I saw your signature. If you would like to meet with me to discuss your child's progress, please contact me and I would be happy to set up an appointment.

Have a great weekend!