First grade is excited to be launching, "Fact Power!". "Fact Power" is the name the first grade has given to the dedicated time that we will be spending each week working on our fact fluency skills. Fact fluency is a vital component to the future success of any student, not only in the areas of more advanced mathematics, but in everyday life as well.
As we build up our fact power, we will be learning certain addition strategies by heart, and will become experts at knowing, not only what the sum of two numbers is, but why the sum is what it is. Our facts are just like our trick words. We know them in our brains and in our hearts. We can immediately identify them and understand their purpose in context. These addition strategies will be taught sequentially, with each student spending their independent as well as small-group time working on the strategy that meets them where they are! Math games and activities will be provided to support each strategy and our strategies will also be applied to word problems. Progress with these facts will be measured by periodic math "check-ins" (short, untimed quizzes) and frequent verbal practice. Be on the lookout for +1 and +2 flashcards coming home in homework packets this week! When you quiz your students, make sure you are asking them why 7+1=8, not just what the sum of 7+1 is. This deeper thought about numbers and frequent practice will help to refine number sense and automaticity which is invaluable!
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I hope all last week your student was telling you about the light and sound science lessons they participated in during our November science rotations! Instead of rotating for one day, we spread our lessons out over the whole week, with classes traveling together to work with each first grade teacher. This is such a fun way to get to know new students and to give our students a fresh change of pace and environment.
Our science lessons on the topics of light and sound culminated in our successful trip to the Dover Children's Museum! The Children's Museum was a gem that I didn't even know New Hampshire had, so I am grateful to have shared that experience with your children! We had some wonderful chaperones accompany us and their assistance assured that we had a fun, smooth day! At the museum, in addition to experiencing exhibits about sound and light, your student participated in a special lesson on sound taught by museum staff where they got to get hands-on with ways sound travels! As the next holiday steadily approaches, team 210 is back to our more routine day. This week, we will be working on all the ways to make 10, starting our "Writing Reviews" unit in writing, and will dive into deeper discussions in our book groups during literacy. Just a reminder, we have guidance this week, not library! Thanks so much for all you do and please enjoy the photos below! *I will try to add more as chaperones send them to me! |
AuthorMusings of a Grade 1 teacher. Outlet for exciting "goings-on" in the classroom. Archives
May 2018
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