​First Grade News ​  

Issue 35 May 25, 2018 
Reading   

This week in reading, first  Writer’s Workshop 

graders continued to smooth out  First graders continued introducing 
their voices and show big  their characters in the first book of 
feelings. We also practiced  their series. Many students added 
identifying the moral of our  realistic details to their stories, 
stories during read alouds,  including who their character is, 
independent reading, and  where he/she lives, and things 
partner reading time. First  he/she likes. First graders also 
graders had fun making comparisons and grouping books  worked on developing their 
by lessons learned.  dialogue, using more interesting words, like “yelled,” 
  “cried,” and “exclaimed,” instead of “said.”  

Fundations   

First graders wrapped up Unit 12 of  Science 

Fundations this week! We will not begin  All first grade butterflies have been 
any new units for the rest of the year.  released! Students had so much 
Instead, we will focus on reviewing learned  fun seeing their butterflies find a 
concepts and practicing trick words. First  home in the OLC. First graders 
graders will be tested on all of the trick  enjoyed adding a lot of information 
words they have learned since the beginning of the year.  and details to their observation 
The information collected from this test will be passed onto  books to show how much they have learned about 
your child’s second grade teacher. Next week, a complete  butterflies! 
list of trick words will be sent home - please practice these   
words with your child so they feel prepared and ready for 
their test. We know they will do a great job!  Media Books 
  It’s hard to believe the end of the year is fast 

Math  approaching! Please email Mrs. Smith at 

karen_smith@needham.k12.ma.us​ if you 
would like your child to sign out books for the 
summer or have any questions or lost books 
to report. Thanks so much! 
 

 
This week in math, we began developing strategies to  ​Save the Date   
compare large and small numbers. First graders used >, <, 
May 28th​: NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day) 
and = symbols to compare collections of objects, numbers, 
May 31st​: Hospital visits Mr. Daitch’s class  
base ten blocks, and number sentences. We learned that 
June 4th​: Author Visit- Brian Lies 
sometimes you can see (just by looking and not counting!) 
June 11th​: Mrs. Teehan’s class visits the Hospital 
groups that are bigger. First graders also practiced 
June 12th​: First Grade Celebration (1:15-2:15pm) 
comparing numbers by starting in the largest place value 
June 13th​: First Grade Author Celebrations for Families 
spots (i.e. 345 is larger than 325 because they have the 
June 14th​: School Flag Day Celebration 
same hundreds (300), but 3​4​5 has more tens than 3​2​5 
June 18th​: Last Day of School (Early Release) 
(40>20)).