Captions and Table of Contents

Recently, first graders learned about two more nonfiction features: captions and table of contents.  They are getting very adept at finding examples of newly learned features in various nonfiction texts.  

Math Week of 1/5/15

Last week we finished up with Unit 3 in math.  Along with having an assessment, first graders also did some other activities.  Early in the week they started writing numbers on a counting strip, going as high as they could.  Some of them are still working on these when they have time!  They also played a game called Missing Numbers where they had to figure out which numbers were "missing" from a number chart.  They made predictions and then explained their thought process.  

First graders also examined and compared  a number line and a number chart.  We cut up a number line in chunks of 10 numbers and arranged them into a chart format.  We were amazed at all of the patterns we discovered!!

Grade One Potluck Dinner

1st Grade Potluck

Hi families,

R.E.S. is holding a first grade potluck dinner on Wednesday,  January 14, 2015 from 5:30-6:30 in the RES cafeteria.  We hope to see you all there!

 Use the link below to signup for an item and to RSVP so we know how many families will be joining us. 

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0848acae2aa20-first

Labels

Today first graders learned about the nonfiction feature, labels.  They all found examples of labels in a book and then recorded one example for their own records. 

Writing

First graders got right back into the nonfiction writing this week.  They worked with their writing partner and helped each other determine how to make their pieces even stronger by adding more details, or taking out unnecessary or unrelated information.  This is a hard skill to learn!  

Nonfiction Features

Today we began learning about nonfiction text features and how they help readers better access the text and thus learn more.  We began with photographs.  Students learned that photographs are helpful to readers as they show what something looks like in real life.  After learning about the importance of photographs, first graders chose a nonfiction book to look through and examine its photos.  They then filled out a sheet documenting all of this new information.  At the end of this study, students will have a booklet to bring home which will contain information about many different nonfiction text features.  Hopefully they will try out some of these features in their own nonfiction writing!