Thank you!
Rugby - Dress Up Day at UST
Hello UST Parents,
Next week Friday, Sept. 20th is the beginning of the Rugby World Cup being hosted by Japan! I am sure you have all seen the flags on the lamp posts down most streets advertising this huge worldwide event...the 3rd biggest event in the world I believe. To mark this particularly momentous day in Japan, we will be making next Friday (20th Sept) an optional dress-up day. Your child(ren) may dress up in the colors of any country that is participating in the RWC to show some support.
If you would like to know more about the RWC please visit https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/
Thank you!
- Mr. Brett
Reading
Readers Build Good Reading Habits
* 3 Ways to Read
* Preview a book
* Reading Stamina
During Reading this week students reviewed two ways we can read: read the words, read the pictures. After, our class practiced how to pick a familiar book and retell it to a reading partner.
3 Ways to Read
- Read the Words
- Read the Pictures.
- Retell the Story
We also practice how to preview and prepare to read a new book, then focused on building our reading stamina. Reading stamina is staying focused on your reading for a long period of time without getting too tired or giving up. We learned that readers are like runners. At first runners can't run for a long time and have to stop and rest, but if they practicing running a little longer each day, they will build more stamina. Our goal in Grade 1 is to be able to read for 20 minutes without stopping.
Writing
Kinds of Sentences
End Marks
During Writing this week we focused on different kinds of sentences. Students learned about telling sentences, asking sentences, and exclamatory sentences. We also practiced end marks (. ! ?).
Telling Sentence
A telling sentence is a sentence that tells about someone or something. Every telling sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a period.
Example: I had to sharpen my pencil.
Question Sentence
An asking sentence is a sentence that asks a question. Every asking sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a question mark.
Example: What time do we go to lunch?
Exclamatory Sentence
An exclamatory sentence is a sentence that shows a strong feeling. Every exclamatory sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with an exclamation point.
Example: I passed the math test!
Math
Number Bonds
This week we learned about number bonds. Students practiced making number trains with connecting cubes (whole), then breaking their number trains into two parts. We also used two different colors of connecting cubes to create different combinations of parts that make the same whole. After this activity, I asked the students to create number bonds with three parts. They did a great job working in small groups and were excited to try this challenge!
Example:
Three ways to make 5
0 are yellow / 5 are green
0 and 5 make 5.
1 is yellow / 4 are green
1 and 4 make 5.
2 are yellow / 3 are green
2 and 3 make 5.
We also played a game called called What's Hiding? During this game one student started with a certain amount of connecting cubes (whole), then hid some of the cubes in a cup (part). Their partner could only see the cubes outside of the cup (part). Using what they knew, they had to figure out how many cubes their partner had hidden in the cup.
Example:
Whole - 10 (starting amount)
Part - 5 (outside of the cup)
Part - ? (in the cup)
Next week we will relate number bonds to addition and write equations to match the number bonds we are representing with connecting cubes.
Social Studies
Why Is It Important to Learn from Each Other?
This week we focused on the question, "Why is it important to learn from each other?" and discussed how people are similar and different. We also compared and contrasted classmates' interests and talents.
Students played a game to learn how classmates are similar and different than them. They walked around the classroom and asked each other questions, such as, "Do you like to dance? Do you like sports?" Afterwards, I asked the class, "Who answered a question the same as you? How are you the same? Who answered a question differently from you? How are you different? Can you still be friends?" We sang the song We Are Special and talked about how each student in our class is special! We learned about things that make each of us special and the different things we can do well.
Spelling
Short e, Short u, Short o
When we practiced our weekly words this week students were encouraged to use words they know to help them read and spell other words. I introduced students to the -et and -ot word families to practice.
Example:
“If I can read and spell wet, I can read and spell net, jet, met, etc.”
I also taught the students how to play the spelling game Sparkle. We will play this game at the end of every week to practice and review our spelling words before the test.
We learned a new song to help us learn and practice vowels.
Have a wonderful weekend!
- Ms. Allison