Coming Up

Tomorrow is Family Math Night at Simonds, 6:30pm - 7:30pm.  It will be a fun way to practice math skills.  Games are always motivating and this is all about math games.

 Field Trip

 

We know we have a place on the sidebar to the right for upcoming events but we feel our first grade field trip deserves its' own post.

On June 9th we will be going to the Polar Caves.  We will be in need of chaperones.  If you would like to chaperone you must be fingerprinted and a background check must be completed through the district, prior to the field trip.  This can take a few weeks.  Let us know if you would like to chaperone and/or if you need assistance with the fingerprinting process.  There is no cost for students but the cost for chaperones is $11.50.

We will leave as close to 8:45am as possible, and return around 2:30pm.  We will spend the day touring caves and learning about common rocks and minerals found in New Hampshire.  Please dress your child in appropriate outdoor gear (sneakers, or hiking shoes - no sandals).  If you would like your child to have sunscreen or bug spray on please apply it at home.  No need to send in extra money as we will not be visiting the gift shop.

Click here for a link to Polar Caves, for more information.

Concert Tonight

April 16th at 6:30pm

Tonight is our Spring Concert.  The concert starts at 6:30pm.  Please have your child arrive around 6:15 pm for the concert.  Children will wait in classrooms before and after the show.  The basket raffles will take place tonight.  Thanks for all your help with our classroom baskets.  We look forward to seeing you!

 

In Social Studies we have been comparing and contrasting:

                                                  

                                        Town - State - Country - Continent - Planet

                                                                                                                                               

                                                                   

          This a tough concept to grasp for first graders.  

This project helped a lot but there is more work to do before this is mastered.

Did your child come home talking about JGB?  JGB stands for Junior Great Books.  JGB is a book discussion group.  JGB teaches critical thinking and skill designed to increase comprehension.

More information on JGB here.

The first story we used in JGB was written by Chris Van Allsburg (excellent author for critical thinking) called, "The Sweetest Fig."

"The Sweetest Fig" is about a man named Monsieur Bibot who is unkind to his dog.  Monsieur Bibot is given some magic figs.  When the magic in the figs is discovered Mr. Bibot's life changes.  We hope he learned his lesson.

We have used this story to make predictions, inferences, unveil character traits, and think critically.  

Here are the rules of JGB:

Report cards will go home tomorrow.  It's hard to believe it but this week began the first week of the fourth quarter.  It's amazing how quickly time flies.

 

Talent Show 

We know you know how talented our first graders are but next week they get to put it on display.  Next Wednesday, April 16th is the Simonds School Talent Show.  

Many of our first graders will be part of the show.  The talent that will be on display will come from Kindergarteners to Fifth Graders.  It's going to be a rockin' show!

There will be two opportunities to see the show.

April 16th at 1:15pm

or 

                      April 16th at 6:30pm

                     (Participants are asked to arrive by 6:15pm)

Bully X Project and First Grade Update

About a month ago all of the students at Simonds took part in a VERY cool project.  The project is called "Legacy X Anti-Bullying Project."  It's a project designed by Justin Spencer of "Recycled Percussion" to assist in the efforts to bring Bullying to an end.  We can all understand the value of such a goal.

Students around the world (and of course at Simonds) wrote or drew pictures, on red paper, with anti-bullying messages.  These papers were glued down together in the form of a giant "X."  Each line of the X was a football field long.  There were over 250,000 anti-bullying messages.  The message was put out for all the world to see in the desert in Las Vegas.  We were so lucky to be able to part of this event.

Click on the link to see more about this amazing project.

Bully X Video

This week in Writing we focused a lot on Word Choice.  We started our writing this week with a mentor text, "Grandpa's Teeth" by Rod Clement.  Rod Clement showed us how to "hook" the reader with a strong story starter.

We learned how starting a writing piece with a sound, a question, or an exclamation can really make the reader want more.  In First Grade, we work really hard on learning to LOVE writing.  We have definitely accomplished that - so now we are trying to look at our writing through the reader's perspective.

Another aspect of Word Choice we learned about this week is synonyms (still pronounced "Cinnamon" by many first graders - gotta love it!).  We looked at Spicy Synonyms and trying to choose words that may be more interesting than others to say the same thing.  For instance, instead of using the word "like" using the word enjoy or adore.  It really helps to spice up writing.  

In math, we are continuing to work on adding and subtracting double-digit equations with and without regrouping.  We have learned by using base-ten pieces, through pictures, and vertically written equations.  Above is how we have approached regrouping in subtraction.  This is tricky stuff but we are getting there!  First graders are always up for a challenge.  Let your child impress you with his/her math skills by having him/her show you what we've been working on. 

Here's a website for your child to practice his/her new skills.  Your child may need scrap paper when he/she works on this site.

 Regrouping Practice