The Rooney Review January 13th, 2017

ELA/Reading: This week we read stories about community helpers. The anthology ​ story Who Works Here, follows a boy and his mother throughout the ​ ​ town as they greet the various community helpers who work there. Other stories this week included Here in my neighborhood, Look at my ​ ​ ​ neighborhood, and Mom the Mayor. ​ ​

Writing: First graders chose a story to get ready to publish. Working with a checklist, each first grader looked at the requirements to publish a story, and checked to see if they followed the requirements. At this point, we are looking for a chapter book on 5 pages with 3 or more sentences per page. First graders must also have appropriate capitalization and , and all word wall words must be spelled correctly. Additionally, they are looking to have a good “intro” to their story as well as an ending. Pictures should have details and labels. This is a tall order for first grade, but these are writing techniques that they have been working with since Kindergarten.

Phonics: This week’s bossy “e” words were with /i/. First graders helped to create words that rhyme with _ice, _ime, _ile, _ike, _ite, and _ife. They also played with the “magic e” wand to change short /i/ words into long /i/ words. For example, rid becomes ride, hid becomes hide. Sight wordsout, thiswork, week people, included who, live. and We ​​ ​ ​ wh, ch , phreviewed and . ​ ​ ​ ​

Math: Ask your first grader what flat are called ( shapes!). Ask them to describe a square by # of straight lines and # of corners. These mathematicians have LOVED the shift in geometry, and we are moving right along in the content. This week we introduced 3d or . These shapes are described by # of flat surfaces and # of vertices. Using manipulatives, first graders could take apart geometric shapes to see exactly how many flat surfaces were in each . We discussed similarities among the shapes, and found various ways to sort geometric shapes (rolling, not rolling, 2 or less flat surfaces, more than 2 flat surfaces).

We have started doing “gumball math” in an effort to keep math-facts fresh. 2-3 times a week, first graders take a timed (3 minute) test on addition and/or subtraction facts. When they complete 50 facts in 3 minutes, they get a gumball sticker. Each first grader is challenging himself/herself to successfully complete as many math pages as he/she can. Additionally (pun intended!), we are using XTRA math in class 2 days a week to keep those math facts fresh while we are studying geometry.

Sing-A-Long Our sing-a-long songs this week included some ​ movement songs: “dance any way you want to”, “5 little snowmen”, as well as some favorites: “there’s a dog at school”, “raindrops and gumdrops”, “won’t you be my friend”, and “rattlin’ bog” .

EI/Stem: This week Harry (a mini dinosaur) needed a perch made for him that would allow him to see all goings on in the classroom. Using clothespins, paperclips, tinfoil, 2 index cards, 2 pipe cleaners, 10 paperclips, ruler and tape, first graders brainstormed how to safely create a perch for Harry. In addition to the creating, first graders also needed to work together, and all members of the group needed to be an active participant in all parts of the activity. Everyone created a successful perch on Wednesday, and revisited the same challenge on Friday to try to improve on their designs.

Big Friends: We did more geometry challenges with big friends this week. ​ Partners walked around the classroom looking for spheres, cylinders, cubes, rectangular prisms, cones and other prisms (hexagonal, triangular). The next activity was to cut out and assemble a 3d/geometric shape.

Other News: ✐ Our 90th day of school will be our ½ way day (½ way through first grade.) It is currently scheduled for Monday, January 23rd, and we are asking first graders to think of dressing in ½ on that day (½ pjs, ½ clothes, ½ crazy hair, ½ regular). You have plenty of time, and do not need to buy anything to participate! Be creative :)

Have a nice long weekend! -Mrs. Rooney :)