Sunday, January 4th, 2015

Happy New Year!

So, Mr. Blue calls this time “Winter Work”:). Winter is a really good learning (and teaching) time.  We will settle into our winter learning together with a focus on maps-ALL kinds of maps!  Maps of our classroom, our school, and neighborhood.  Maps of our day, the year (a calendar), story maps, number maps, and more. Knowing where you are and where you are going is both important AND exciting.  A sense of place/space is integral to learning and begins with an understanding of where we are and a curiosity about all of the places we will be going on our learning journey.

We will begin with a wonderful children’s book, My Map Book, by Sara Fanelli.

Students will examine their places in the world around them through detailed and engaging maps that are drawn from a child's perspective. We will look at  maps such as Map of My Day and Map of My Family and others that will engage students in geography and autobiography.  We will work on 3-D map representations of our school as well as autobiographical writing pieces.

We will continue our work with the math concepts of addition and subtraction using models. Math Triangle Practice Cards will come home later this week.  Please practice regularly as your “firstie” begins to visualize and internalize what these math facts look like. We are beginning exploration of what numbers actually represent - tens/ones - and how those numbers find their way into real-life situations. We will create and look at calendars (a map of the year) and find ways to celebrate important dates and times.

And, we will be outside whenever the weather allows. So, please make sure your "firstie" has snow pants, a coat, snow boots, a hat, and mittens every day.

I am so looking forward to the New Year with these wonderful first graders!