Old Mother Hubbard's Hungry Family

This week first graders practiced the play Old Mother Hubbard's Hungry Family. Each student was assigned a role of either Old Mother Hubbard, Father Hubbard, the Cat, the Dog, or the Narrator. The final performance was on Friday. Each group did an excellent job reading smoothly and with lots of expression! 

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Phonics: Last week our focus was on final blends such as, -nk, -ng, -nt, and –nd. These blends can be found in the words trunk, ring, ant, and sand. We practiced sounding out and spelling words with the final blend. This week we will learn about the final consonant blends such as, -mp, lt, -lp, and -ft. These blends can be found in the words raft, lamp, belt, and gulp.

Reading: Our focus in reading has been on visualizing while reading and analyzing characters. We have practiced identifying traits of main characters in fiction books. We learned about characters from both the words and the picture. We ended the week with a reader’s theater performance of Old Mother Hubbard’s Hungry Family. I was very impressed with each student’s expression and fluency when reading their part!

Writing: We are all about journals during writer’s workshop. Students have written about events that have happened in the past and in the future. Our main focus has been on using a capital letter at the beginning of the sentence and using punctuation at the end of the sentence.

Math: In math our main focus was on the number patterns, telling time, and counting coins. Students learned how to tell time to the half hour. Ask your child what the super- secret number is “hiding” behind the 6.

We also learned about frames and arrow routines. As you have seen on your student’s home links the frame and arrow routine is where students need to find the pattern in a series of numbers and then be able to continue that pattern. We learned how to find the number pattern and also find the rule. Students were also introduced to the dime and we practiced counting dimes with nickels and pennies.

ipods: In our Daily 5 stations we have started using the ipods during word work. Students are able to explore different word building apps. Ask your child about their favorite word work app.

Media: This week at the computer lab we practiced inserting clip art using Microsoft Word. Students could pick any real picture of their favorite animal and then wrote sentences to go with their picture. 

Reader's Theater

On Tuesday first grade was able to watch some community volunteers put on a reader's theater. The play was about a group of friends gathering for a Thanksgiving meal. The story was very funny; the animals invited turkey to join them for dinner. Ask your child about what happened to Turkey at the end of the performance!

Veteran's Day

On Monday we celebrated Veteran's Day with a school assembly. Mr. Williams and Dr. Funk spoke about what a veteran is and why Veteran's Day is important. Students sang the National Anthem and songs thanking veterans for keeping us safe. The assembly ended with a power point of pictures from family members of students at Sibley Elementary that are veterans. What a great way to honor and celebrate Veteran's Day!

Critters and Company

On Wednesday we had an assembly with all of Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade to see Critters and Company. Students were able to see various animals and learn important lessons about kindness, diversity, and using gentle words. Ask your child what their favorite animal was and what that animal’s lesson was about. A note was sent home on Wednesday about the various animals and what they taught us. 

Reader's Theater

This week first graders practiced and performed the play Old MacDonald's Noisy Farm. Each student was assigned a role of either Old MacDonald, Mrs. MacDonald, the Narrator, or Animals. Groups practiced the part throughout the week. The final performance was on Friday. Each group did a great job reading with expression and enthusiasm!