Sight Word Song

Have fun learning how to read and spell your sight words!  This song is in your "I Can Read Notebook" you can sing and read along.  Being able to read the first 220 Dolch Sight Words is a requirement by the end of this school year.  Have fun!

Spring Sing

First Graders will be singing as we take a walk down memory lane!

Who: Parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends are invited to attend!

When: May 29, 2013 at 9:15 to 10:15

Where: Ponderosa's gym

Why: To celebrate the end of a wonderful year!

How:  Bring a penny with you so you can make a wish for your 1st Grader!

TRIP TO THE ZOO!

A wonderful day was had by all!  Thank you to the 35 chaperones who were able to join us on this trip and took such good care of all of our PANDAS!

Mother's Day Songs

Happy Mother's Day!

You are all very special and great role models to your awesome children!

Don't ever forget how important you are!  

YOU ROCK AWESOME!

District HAVE TO KNOW SPELLING WORDS!

This is a list of words that all first graders have to know how to spell!  All first graders in the Thompson School District need to know how to spell these 30 words!  Remember we always go above and beyond~so we even expect more but this is the base line!

1. he  
2. was
3.  for
4.  on 
5. are
6.  as
7.  with
8.  his
9.  they 
10. that
11.  at
12.  be
13.  this
14.  have
15.  from
16.  one
17.  had 
18. by 
19. see 
20. but
21.  no
22. what
23. all
24. were
25. we 
26. when
27. your
28. can
29. said
30. the
31. of
32. and
33. a
34. to
35. in 
36. is
37. you
38. I
39. it
40. an

SNOW DAY- NO SCHOOL APRIL 18, 2013

Hello:

This is Dr. Stan Scheer, Superintendent of Schools for the Thompson School District.  I am calling you this evening to let you know that due to inclement weather, district schools and offices will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, April 18th.

A decision to close schools is always a process that myself and district staff take very seriously.  In this case, we determined that the currently forecasted winds and potential low temperatures could endanger the safety and well-being of our students in the morning.

I thank you for your continued partnership.  Have a good day.

Dr. Stan Scheer
Superintendent of Schools
Thompson School District

Songs for Seven Lakes Memory Center Field Trip!

Practice singing these songs so that you will be ready to sing at Seven Lakes Memory Care!  The audience will probably even sing along with us!  Kindness in our hearts!

The Pledge of Allegiance

God Bless the USA

We are aware that there are a few misspelled words in this video!  

shining is spelled "shinging"

where is spelled "were"

Random Acts of Kindness

Put a Little Love in Your Heart!

Heal the World

Put Your Happy Face On

God Bless America

 

Notable Leader-Dr. Jim

Dr. James Davidson-Radiologist at University Hospital in Denver

Dr. James Davidson visits Ponderosa

Click on the above orange link to view Dr. Jim's visit with the Ponderosa First Graders!

Dani Cramer from Mrs. Saya's classroom just happens to be lucky enough to call Dr. Jim "Dad"!  

Enjoy once again viewing our amazing first graders at work with their inferring and questioning skills at work!  Sit back, relax, and grab a cup of coffee as you view this 50 minute presentation!  

Loveland's Notable Mayor-Cecil Gutierrez

Mayor Cecil Gutierrez

Loveland's Mayor Cecil Gutierrez

Get to know Loveland's Mayor.  Click on the orange link above to listen to our 40 minute Town Hall Meeting! The First Graders started the meeting with           I see.... I think.... Therefore..... inferences after looking at the above picture with no prior information.  Listen to the amazing questions that Mayor Cecil was asked to answer by the First Graders!  What wonderful question writers Ponderosa's First Graders have become!

Mayor Cecil-You ROCK AWESOME!!!!  Thank you for the city pins that you gave to each of our First Grade Pandas!  

Mr.C. Thompson R2J's Classified Staff Member of the year!

Here's to you Mr. C.

Pat, pat, clap, clap, clap, you ROCK~ awesome!

Christian Sanchez and Leroy Cline (Mr.C.)

I see 2 very happy smiles!

I think these 2 must love each other very much!

Therefore, Christian along with all of his First Grade friends and First Grade teachers at Ponderosa Elementary School   

nominated Mr. C. "Helper of the Year!"

Congratulations Mr. C. 

You will forever be number one in all of our HEARTS!

You are Ponderosa's Notable Leader!!!

YOU'RE #1

Dr. Scheer-Local Notable Leader!

"A local notable leader visited a school near you!"

Yes, Thompson R2J School District's Superintendent visited Ponderosa Elementary School today!

Dr. Stan Scheer

Click on the following orange link to view Dr. Scheer's visit to Ponderosa's First Grade Classrooms!

Dr. Scheer's First Grade Town Hall Meeting

Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson

      We read the book Show Way written by JacquelineWoodson and illustrated by Hudson Talbott to build on our background schema about slavery as we continue to learn about Harriet Tubman.  We read the book as a read aloud without sharing the pictures as we read.  The children were encouraged to visualize as the teachers took turns reading the book.  As we read, each time we stopped reading, the children did a "Stop and Jot".  The children first drew a picture of what they imagined was happening in the book.  Next, the children wrote down what they were thinking about in this section of the book.  After that, each child wrote a question he/she was still having about the book.  To end the read aloud the children were shown the picture of the picture of the underground railroad secret quilt that was used to helps slaves find their way to freedom and asked what the quilt represented in the story.

       After the lesson we reviewed how to make an inference using our three step method:

                   I see...

                   I think...

                   Therefore...

You would be amazed with the deep thinking that first graders are capable of using this process.  Try using this method with your child at home also.

    

     Learning Target:

                 
        I can make an inference using:

                                       I see...

                                       I think...

                                      Therefore...

                                            and  complete my thinking.

         I can stop and draw a picture that I am visualizing as I listen to a story.

         I can ask two clarifying questions about what I am reading.

Here are some other books you might want to read and share with your child.

                                   

 We are always so excited to hear about how families are getting involved in our classroom learning!  Enjoy learning along with us about history and notable leaders.


If I could have convinced more slaves that they were slaves, I could have freed thousands more. 
~Harriet Tubman~

Ruby Bridges

As we have been learning about notable people, this week we have been learning about a girl names Ruby Bridges who at the age of six was an integral piece to ending segregation.  Ruby went to the William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana.   Ruby was the first black child to attend an all white school in the South.

Learning Target:
     I can tell three facts I have learned about Ruby Bridges.
     I can write a sentence using an important vocabulary word that is        
              relevant to Ruby Bridges.  (segregation, integration,
              purpose, brave, confident, compassion, and spirit)
      I can sing the song Ruby's Shoes that is above from youtube as I
              follow along with the words in my I CAN READ 
              NOTEBOOK.  

To continue to learn more about Ruby Bridges you can visit the Ruby Bridges Foundation online at:
rubybridges.com

 I now know that experience comes to us for a purpose, and if we follow the guidance of the spirit within us, we will probably find that purpose is a good one!

                                                                                             ~Ruby Bridges~

Be looking for a sheet with detailed homework directions that will be coming home sometime in the near future about our Notable Person Homework!  Don't do anything yet until you have the detail directions in your hand!

New Zealand~Guest Speakers!

Beth, one of Ponderosa's community helpers and her husband, Dave, came to teach all of the first graders about New Zealand today!  Thank you Beth and Dave for donating your time and talents and sharing your knowledge and expertise with the Ponderosa First Graders!

The children came up with 2 Learning Targets for the day.

Learning Target:  I can state 3 facts about New Zealand.

                           I can tell the 2 landmasses of New Zealand.  

New Zealand Flag

New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.  The country geographically comprises of two main landmasses-that of the North and South Islands-and numerous smaller islands.

The silver fern flag is any flag design that incorporates a silver fern, and is usually a white-silver fern on a black background.  The silver fern motif is associated with New Zealand, and a silver fern flag may be used as an unofficial flag of New Zealand.  The silver fern itself is a quasi-national emblem, being used for various official symbols, including the coat of arms of New Zealand and the New Zealand one dollar coin.  A number of New Zealand sports teams, such as the Cricket team, the Silver Ferns, and the All Blacks use similar silver fern flags as a part of their official merchandise.    

Those who venture into the mountain to go hiking in New Zealand will know about the Kea Parrot!  Their raucous cries of "keeaa" often give away the presence of these highly social and inquisitive birds.  If one leaves their shoes out overnight-shoelaces may be missing from your shoes in the morning.  These birds are known to humans as having mischievous behavior.

The Haka is a traditional ancestral war dance or challenge from the Maori people of New Zealand.  It is a posture dance performed by a group with vigorous movements and stomping of the feet with rhythmic chanting.  The New Zealand rugby team named the All Blacks who practice performing the Haka before their matches which has made this dance widely know around the world.  The hope of the dance is that it will frighten the opponent!  

Random Acts of Kindness

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

~Aesop

Baby Ryan got out of the hospital February 26, 2013.

This last week  Ponderosa First Graders ventured outside of performing Random Acts of Kindness at Ponderosa and reached as far away as Denver, Colorado .  Your amazing children made cards for Ryan Eng (Mrs. Bonawitz's new great nephew born with gastroschisis.  Gastroschisis is a birth defect in which an infant's intestines stick out of the body through a defect on one side of the umbilical cord) and other children who are in the NICU at Children's Hospital in Denver.  The first graders were  passionate about constructing cards and composing messages that would help children and families to feel cared for during their difficult days at the hospital.  Compassion is a leadership quality your children are building on daily!  You Ponderosa parents are raising such kind-hearted children!     

Here is a message sent by Jenn Eng after she heard of Ponderosa's  Random Act of Kindness:

I want to say hello to the 1st graders at Ponderosa Elementary School in Loveland!  I heard that you have been following Ryan's story and made cards for Ryan and the other babies in the NICU today.   Thank you for your kindness-it will really brighten the day for so many of the families with babies in the NICU.  You guys rock!
  
Here is her message after having the cards in her hands to read:

My mom left a stack of cards last night that the 1st graders at Ponderosa made for both Ryan and the rest of the kids in the NICU.  I was utterly astounded by how many cards there were and I sat and read every single one of them today!  The kids had such heartfelt sentiments "I hope you feel better"  "Smile all the while"  "You're awesome" and "You ROCK"!  They drew pictures of flowers and smiley faces of hospitals and panda bears (their mascot!)  I was so delighted!  I gave the general cards to our nurse Mary and asked her to make sure they got distributed to all of the babies in the NICU-there are 53 of them!  There were enough cards that she may even send some of them downstairs to the PICU!  What a beautiful ray of sunshine those cards will be for those kids and their families!  Thank you 1st graders!
   

Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness.  Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.    ~Scott Adams~

Common Core Standards

Fact Families

Fact Family  

Web definitions A fact family is a group of numbers that are related to each other.  The numbers can be combined to create 4 number of equations. These would be the equations that can be made when using the above triangle. 9 + 3 = 12     When adding the answer is called the sum. 3 + 9 = 12 12 - 3 = 9      When subtracting the answer is called the difference. 12 - 9 = 3 When working on fact family triangles  the largest number is always at the top of the triangle.  The two smaller numbers can be in either of the lower corners.  The triangle helps children to visualize the possible equations that can be created using these 3 related numbers.   Consider this word problem: Susan had 9 pencils. Her grandmother gave her more pencils for her collection. Susan now has 12 pencils. How many pencils did Susan’s grandmother give her? If a student has an understanding of fact family concept, he/she could rebuild the family. You know that Susan started out with 9 pencils and ended up with 12 pencils. Thus, you know two of the family members. They are 9 and 12. In math language that translates, 9 pencils + ____ more pencils = 12 pencils or 9 + ? = 12 9 + ? = 12 ? + 9 = 12 12 - 9 = ? 12 - ? = 9 Learning Target:            I can use a fact family triangle with 3 related numbers                      and write 2 addition and subtraction equations.            I can use my fact families to help solve story problems.

Presidents Song

In today's I CAN READ NOTEBOOK are the words that go along with the above song from YouTube!  Your child loves to sing this song!  Have him/her sing along while reading the words!  What a great way to learn new vocabulary words, read new words, and spell new words! 

Learning Target:
     I can tell three facts about Abraham Lincoln.
     I can tell three facts about George Washington.
     I can state 3 notable leader qualities about Abraham Lincoln and 
        cite my evidence from the text.
     I can state 3 notable leader qualities about George Washington 
        and cite my evidence from the text.
      

Even Numbers/Odd Numbers

Even Numbers

We learned about even and odd numbers this week!  Have your child share these great songs from YouTube with you!

Odd Numbers

Have your child show you all of the odd and even numbers on the following hundreds chart!  Have your child explain to you how to tell if a number is odd or even.  

        Learning Target:  I can show my parents which numbers on

                           the 100's Chart are odd and which ones are even.

Compound Words

Parent Tip:

Have your child sing the Compound Word Boogie from YouTube for extra practice with compound words.  Your child should be able to use compound words in a "perfect" sentence. (A perfect sentence starts with a capital letter, ends with proper punctuation, and has all of the rest of the letters lowercase unless a capital is necessary)  A perfect sentence is a Common Core Standard.    In class we picked 3 compound words and created sentences using all 3 compound words.  Have your child continue practicing this skill at home.

Retelling A Story

Retelling a story is a very important skill in First Grade.  The above video is from YouTube.  It is a young girl retelling the story of The Three Little Pigs.  We challenged the Ponderosa Pandas to be able to retell a story with all of the important story elements just like she did! The kids are very excited and ready to take on the challenge!  Start having your child retell stories at home too!  At the end of each Guided Reading Level DRA II test that your child takes at school, he/she is expected to retell the story that  he/she just read aloud.  If your child is reading a year above grade level-he/she is even expected to write the retell of a story.  So building writing STAMINA is of utmost importance! 

Research indicates that retelling a story increases the quantity and the quality of what is comprehended after the reading of a story.

In retelling a story your child should be able to retell the story from the beginning of the story with the book closed.  A retell should  include:

characters' names

setting

sequence of events from beginning, middle, and ending

details

vocabulary

dialogue

expression

problem in the story 

solution/how the problem is solved

any personal connections

 and be understandable and make sense

  

Contractions

"Two words crash together

a letter (or letters) float away!

An apostrophe comes in to save the day!"

Contractions are very common in Level 12 DRA reading level books and level G Guided Reading books. (First Grade level reading-right now in the school year!) Contractions will be read often in reading in all of the reading levels after these!  It is very important for children to be able to read contractions.  Children also need to be able to know the two words that "crashed" together to make the new word!  Reading and writing contractions at this point are grade level expectations! You ROCK! 

Adjectives

Adjectives describe a noun.  The adjective usually comes before the noun.  As we are expanding our First Grade writing skills we are working on adding adjectives to what we write to  add sparkle, shine, pizzazz,  and excitement!  Adjectives help us to visualize what we are writing by making a clear picture in our heads.  Have your child practice adding adjectives to his/her writing at home! Enjoy these adjective songs from YouTube!  YouTube is a great way to reinforce skills!  None of the songs on our blog have been written by us-ALL ARE FROM YOUTUBE!  

Martin Luther King Day! No School on Monday January 21, 2013

Place Value!

Learning about PLACE VALUE is an important skill at this time in first grade.  Enjoy the songs that help our children learn about PLACE VALUE!

If writing and recognizing numbers in the teens is still a hard skill for your first graders, this is a great video to help your child out!  

Parts of Speech! Nouns and Verbs

We have had a fun time learning about NOUNS!  Listen to the following song off of YouTube that we listen to as we we are learning about NOUNS!

  

A VERB is a word it's an action word, if you can do it, then you do it, if you do it, it's a VERB!

Why do we believe Raz-kids is such an awesome tool for your children?  

Students improve their reading skills by: Listening to books read for modeling fluency Listening to books with pronunciation and vocabulary support  Reading to practice their own fluency Recording their reading Checking comprehension with quizzes and running records Your child is exposed to many books at exactly the correct reading level.  We are so excited to see so many of the children using Raz-kids consistently.  Remember "The more you read the better you get"                  We are excited to see all of you on Tuesday!   Can't believe vacation is over so quickly!

Number Sense

     
     This is a fun math number sense game to play at home.  Your child should be able to count starting at any given number between 0-100.   The numbers in the teens are the some of the more difficult ones for first graders to figure out.  You can play this on a white board, a chalk board, or a piece of paper.  Remember always keep learning fun.    

                                                    5,____, 7  

                                 3, 4,  ____

                                 ____, 3, 4

                                 8, 9, _____
                                 10, _____, 12
                                  13, 14, _____
                                  _____, 18, 19
                                  _____, 16, 17
                                  18, _____, 20
                                   _____, 10, 11
                                   21,_____, 23
                                  _____, 31, 32
                                  44, 45,_____ 
     Make up your own. Thank you as always for you continued  practice on first grade skills at home.  Remember the more you practice the better you get.
     Continue also having your child practice counting fluently to 100 even though we count higher.  Fluency is VERY important in first grade.  The more you child counts fluently, the easier and more fluent addition and subtraction facts become.  Recognizing numbers fluently from 0-100 continues to help with our understanding of place value.  Show your child the following numbers and have him/her as quickly as possible state the given number:
5     17     1     4     18     14     12     15     2     4     6     10     12     11     1     13     19     3     20     5     1     9     5     16     13     10

For fun when you are watching the Broncos or any of the other sports teams, have your child say the numbers on the jerseys as quickly as possible.  
Learning doesn't have to be 

"just paper pencil"  
Learning can be found in everything that you do with your child!

Remember "fluency" is the key.  The quicker a child knows the answer without having to stop and think, the sooner your child becomes proficient at more difficult skills.  Fluency is  an important building block for developing number sense!  Xtramath is also a great way for your child to work on addition fluency!  The skills Xtramath helps your children become more and more fluent with basic facts and also continues to be a stepping stone for  for all first grade math skills involving addition and subtraction!  
     Thanks for your continued support!      

Segmentation Practice/Nonsense Words Practice

     Here is a skill your child needs to be  proficient at when working on reading and spelling.  This skill is called segmentation.  Have your child practice this game and show you how we work on segmenting words at school.  
     Tell your child the word and have your child break down the sounds he/she hears in the word.  Your child will make the "sounds heard" not spell the word.  We use our hands in class to show the movement of the word and the sounds that we hear as we segment the word.  Practicing this skill will help your child become a better speller also, because beginning spellers focus on the sounds heard.  This is a great skill to practice before your child comes back to school after the Christmas Vacation.  It's easy to play in the car when you are driving or while your child is helping you make dinner in the evening. Have fun!  
1. at /a/ /t/         2. in /i/ /n/ 
3. see /s/ /E/       4. go /g/ /O/ 
5. odd /o/ /d/      6. cow /c/ /ow/ 
7. am /a/ /m/      8. itch /i/ /ch/ 
9. ham /h/ /a/ /m/    10. jet /j/ /e/ /t/
11. big /b/ /i/ /g/       12. rod /r/ /o/ /d/                                              13. puff /p/ /u/ /f/     14. sky /s/ /k/ /I/                                             15. rake /r/ /A/ /k/    16.  sack /s/ /a/ /k/                                           17. key /k/ /E/           18. free /f/ /r/ /E/                                             19. like /l/ /I/ /k/       20. joke /j/ /O/ /k/

    

 First graders should also be able to read "nonsense words" to show their understanding of phonics.
Have your child practice sounding out the following  nonsense words to see how well your child is applying the learned phonics skills.  Have your child sound at the words and if possible read the nonsense word as a complete word.  We often times in the classroom call these Dr. Seuss words.
lib          fiz          jav          len          loj
jav         paj         sif           zet          bek
len         pok         cos         tuk          suj
loj          zet          ib           mo          bon
mitr        weml     nif          vor          qim


     Make up your own "nonsense words" and have your child figure them out!  Being able to read nonsense words helps a child become a better reading.