1st Grade Family Monday Nov 21st
Hi everyone, hope to see you on Family Monday + November Inquiries!
There is SO much happening, and I wish I can share with you all in much more detail, but I’m in the midst of finishing up report cards. I hope that you will continue to talk about all the learning that’s happening at school and extend it into your homes.
Today, in folders, I sent home new spelling words that your child needs to practice at home based on the spelling quiz results. We have been re-assessing spelling, and I’m noticing progress! Try to encourage your child to look for patterns in words and sounds, and help him/her with words that need to be internalized. Please sign the spelling quiz and send it back so I can keep it in my records. Many thanks!
Here are our current inquiries (what we’re working on) in the month of November (going into December):
Reading: How do books work?
Now that we discovered who we are as readers and learned about our reading identities in Sept/Oct, now we segue into immersing ourselves in our next unit of study: How do books work?
Readers notice, and when they notice — something happens inside our brain! We’re currently exploring what happens when readers notice…what is the thought or idea that generates in my brain, and how can I name the thinking I do when I’m reading in books, so that I can transfer it into other texts —-> Metacognitive Reading. (If you’re able to do complex thinking in simple texts, then you can transfer that complex thinking and step it up into more complex texts).
After our read aloud of MY LUCKY DAY (which students encouraged Sevgi to read at the Barnes and Noble event on Sunday) students made a huge discovery: books can have lots of PATTERNS in them! Students noticed patterns in the characters’ behaviors (what they say and do), in the pictures and the words. In order to notice all these patterns, as a reader you need to pay attention, read very closely and slowly (synthesize) grasp and hold on to all the parts of a book to think back and make meaning of the patterns.
We love rich, purposeful read aloud books that are open for interpretation and that leave you with unknown suspense. Encourage your child look for patterns when he/she reads independently at home. too.