1st Grade Observers

Things are changing in our caterpillar tank!! Two of our caterpillars have climbed to the top of the tank and made their J! We pulled out our science journals and made another observation. We can't wait to see what changes await tomorrow. 

RES Library Needs Volunteers

The RES library is looking for volunteers during kindergarten library classes. Library volunteers help our scholars find books and other materials, read aloud with scholars, and check books in and out. Volunteers also set up book displays, reshelve materials, and process many of our new books. Please contact librarian Beth Redford atbeth.redford@cesuvt.org or 434-2461 if you are interested. Thank you very much!

Heads or Tails

Today students used pennies to figure out multiple equations of a sum in the game Heads or Tails. Students knew the total number of pennies they started with, then they gave their cup a spill and counted the heads and tails.  Students filled out a data table examining different combinations of the total number of pennies!  It was great to see students solving so many problems! 

Next time you use coins at the store, let your child get a good look at them. Share how much each coin is worth and let them watch you count your change! You'll be amazed how quickly they learn the coin names and how much each is worth! 

Word Games

Our first graders are really starting to become amazing word builders!  Learners have been constructing consonant, vowel, consonant worlds. We call them CVC words. You will be amazed at how many words our students can build, 100's!  We decided to put our word building skills to good use and have some fun!  We played many word games.  Ask your child about, POP, SPLASH, Web of Words, or Spot the Word.  

Listen to Reading

This week during our first grade literacy block our learners have been practicing Read to Self and the Work on Writing portions of our literacy block.  They have been doing so well that we are introducing a new element, Listen to Reading.  During this section of our literacy block, students get a chane to use the listening station or one of our TAG readers.  Listening to stories is critical piece to help students gain fluency as emergent readers.  Plus, it's really fun! Ask your child what they did today during Listen to Reading.

They're Here!

Finally, after many days of waiting our caterpillars arrived special delivery on the UPS truck!  We have 8 caterpillars that are about as big as a paintbrush brissel!  

Here is a close up of one of our little hungry caterpillars. 

Friday Letters!

Our first Friday Letters are coming home today!  These notebooks are a great way to hear about what is happening at school! They are also a great way to see your child progress as a writer throughout the year.  Even if you cannot make sense of the sentence your child has written, ask them to read you what it says!  They can share things they enjoyed about our week at school. 

Please take a minute to write back to your child in the journal and return it by the next Friday! The kids love getting your messages!

Thank you for your support! 

Writers Have Ideas

In Writer's Workshop we are learning how to take the small moments that happen in our lives and turn them into stories!! We learned that writers have ideas, something the we did or something that happened to us! We are learning to celebrate those moments by making them into stories! 

We read an amazing story called Ralph Tells a Story! In the book Ralph struggles with what to write about!! Ask yor child how Ralph gets over his problem! Our class used some of his ideas in our writing too!

Fantastic Fundations!

Today our first graders practiced ABC order during Fundations. We use Fundations as our phonics program in grades K-2. After working to sort the alphabet on our magnet boards, students practiced lining up in ABC order. Ask your child who is ahead or behind them in our ABC order line up!

Read to Self

This week our first graders have been working on independent reading skills during the Read to Self portion of our Literacy Block.  Every few days we will introducing a new section.  Students learned that the best way to become a better reader is to practice.  Read to Self is our time to really dig in and practice our reading strategies.  Currently, students are working to build their reading stamina! We are up to 8 focused minutes!  Amazing!

 Here are our guidelines for indepence during Read to Self!

Here are a few pictures of our learners getting started with Read to Self.  

Four Winds Volunteers

Four Winds Nature Education Program At Richmond Elementary Seeks Volunteers

Four Winds is a fabulous curriculum that is offered in many schools throughout Vermont, including grades 1-4 at Richmond Elementary School.  If you love nature and inquisitive minds, then this is a great way to share your passion and curiosity with local schoolchildren. No special knowledge is necessary, and you don't have to be a parent of a child at the school to participate -- you don't have to be a parent at all!

Click on the link below to get more information and to sign up!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0c48a9ac2ba13-4winds

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Stage 2 Is All About Caterpillars

Earlier this week our first graders started learning about the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. We explored the first stage, the egg. Today our learners had the chance to create a model of the second stage, the caterpillar! We learned that the monarch caterpillar will molt 5 times before going into a chrysalis! 

Mystery Bags

Today in first grade students explored mystery bags filled with items to count.  We are working on organization, representation, and counting strategies.  Learners loved counting their mystery items.  

Collect 20!

Today or first grade mathematicians played a game called Collect 20! Partners worked together to roll  dice and add on to their total. The goal was to work together to Collct 20 items.  Counting is a great way to help support a strong adding and subtracting foundation.  Try having your child count things around your home like pasta pieces, stones, or even Legos!