Website Wednesdays-Almost Summer Edition

There are still 11 days left of 1st grade. Keep up the academic focus with the following sites:

ELA: Try Word Carnival to build vocabulary and understanding of definitions. Practice punctuation with Punctuate the Sentences.

Math: For easier money skills, try Spending Spree. For practice of the more difficult skill of making change, try Change Maker. Also, for facts practice, Test the Toad.

IB Unit: Whizzball is a really fun building game! You could also try Invention Suspension where you look for parts for inventions.

Website Wednesdays

Just a few websites since we're testing this week...

ELA: Build comprehension by reading sentences and finding highlighted objects in Adventure Scrapbook.

Chinese: Practice Chinese pictograms with Sagwa.

IB, "Invention, Innovation and Discovery": Build a roller coaster or learn about different inventions at Inventions for Kids.

Website Wednesdays

This week's websites for academic development...

Math: We're working on fractions this week, so practice fractions by playing Who Wants Pizza? (and continuing to click on "Next Activity" after each page) or Fraction Frenzy.

ELA: A variety of skills-Practice rhyming with Rhyme Time, solve riddles in WordWorld or try the Super Reader's Challenge (I recommend the Reading portion.)

IB Unit, "Invention, Innovation & Discovery": Try building an invention at the New Inventions Factory or choose Invention Trivia.

And no testing practice websites!!! Thanks for all your focus on preparing for the CRCT.

1st Grade Reminders

A few notes for the coming weeks...

• Friday, May 1st is Dress Down Day. Please send $1 with your child if you have not yet paid for the year in full.
• Also on Friday, signed Family Contracts for the 2009-2010 school year are due.
• Next week we will be ITBS testing and will need help in each classroom. Please contact your child's teacher if you are able to help in the mornings from 8:00-10:30.
• For those involved in the Reading Challenge, all papers and documents are due to Mrs. Kraften by Friday, May 15th. Please send in your full packet at one time as individual papers may be lost.

Website Wednesdays

Just a quick version since we are testing...

Earth Day: Explore Scholastic's Earth Day activities at Act Green and Virtual Forest.

Math: Play Guess That Number or Can You Fill It In.

Website Wednesdays

Math: Mark patterns on the number grid with Number Grid Splat! To build addition and subtraction skills, try an on-level game, Test the Toad, or have an adult help you for Go Figure.

Language Arts: Work on ending sounds and blending words during Word Builder. Practice reading comprehension and test-taking with Solar System Quizzes. Lastly, build subject/predicate skills with Sink or Swim (read the directions first to find which keys to use).

IB Unit, "Discovery, Invention & Innovation": Try some of the great critical thinking games in Invention at Play or read about important inventions in History of Inventions.

CRCT Proctors Needed

Next week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we will be taking the CRCT. Each class would like to have one extra set of eyes and hands to monitor the students. Proctors will be needed from 8 am until about 11 am each day. The volunteers will go to a class to proctor in which they have no relatives. Please contact your teacher if you are willing to help!

Tutoring

Tutoring will conclude with the final session on Wednesday, April 15, 2009! There will be no tutoring on Thursday, April 16, 2009. Thanks for awesome participation!

Website Wednesdays-Spring Break Edition

ELA-This website has some great Reading and Writing activities. I especially recommend the "Write a Letter" game and the "Phonemic Processing" games. You can also make interesting sentences with The Silly Sentence Maker or build fast identification skills with Funny Photos.

Math-We're finishing up Unit 8 (Mental Arithmetic, Money and Fractions) and moving onto Unit 9 (Place Value and Fractions) this week. A few games to try: Place Value Puzzler, Magic Lamp Place Value, Fractions Tutorial & Quiz, and Fraction Models.

IB Unit, Trade-Check out a lot of economic games at MinyanLand. You can also start learning about inventions for our next unit at Inventive Kids. (I live the My Inventive Room website.)

Website Wednesdays

ELA: We now have access to online books for reading. Though the books are a bit more difficult; they can be used to discuss characters, main ideas, problem and resolution. The password for the site is MLEXOR. Also, we're still focusing on adjectives, nouns and verbs. Click on the adjectives in this game.

Math: We'll be working on fractions all week. Choose an easier fractions game or more difficult one. Also, this game, Cookies for Grampy, will help with using different fractions.

IB Unit, Trade: We'll be designing class money this week, so let your child make his own. We'll also be looking at money from different countries. Check out money online here.

Test Preparation: Please continue to use mytestbook.com or the OAS website.

Spelling List March 16-27

These words will be tested on Friday, March 27.

Antonymns and Adjectives

1. light
2. dark
3. straight
4. curvy
5. huge
6. tiny
7. rough
8. smooth
9. polite
10. rude
11. principled
12. loan
13. scarcity

Website Wednesday's

ELA: Practice correcting sentences with Punctuation Paintball. Read about antonyms with Dr. Seuss.

Math: Practice beginning coin combinations or more difficult coin combinations. Learn more about symmetry (also an art skill this month).

IB Unit, Trade: Run an Ice Cream Stand! When you pass the first level, keep moving on to the other levels or choose another game on the left of the ice cream stand page (I like the Big Change game).

CRCT Prep: If your child's teacher hasn't already sent the link, sign up for mytestbook.com to try taking more practice tests.

Website Wednesdays

ELA: Look for nouns and verbs while playing Rocket Word. Practice finding antonyms or opposites at the Opposite Train Game.

Math: Spending Spree builds on coin addition skills. Practice making 3 digit numbers with base-10 blocks here.

IB Unit: Get lots of information, vote in polls and play games at the Mint. Practice owning your own business at the Lemonade Stand game.

CRCT Practice: Keep up the skills practice! An alternate website suggested by a parent for test practice is Beestar. Check out the free sample quizzes.

Important Dates

Here are some upcoming important dates:

• Tuesday, March 10- PTA General Assembly Meeting 6:30
• Friday, March 13-End of 3rd Quarter
• Tuesday, March 17th-Noon Dismissal
• Friday, March 20-Report Cards distributed
• Monday, March 23- Conference Day-no school for students

Website Wednesdays

This week's suggestions for academic learning:

Math: Find lots of puzzle games that match some of the shapes activities this week. This math dictionary may be helpful to expand your child's math vocabulary (or figure out what the homework means).

ELA: Word carnival allows students to practice spelling and become familiar with word definitions. (I recommend starting with level 1.) In Sneaky E, students can spot the word with the silent e.

IB Unit, Trade: The Trading Game teaches kids about making fair trades for items. This Mad Money game is a bit complex and 1st graders may need an adult's assistance but it can teach about making wise spending and saving choices.

CRCT Parent Workshop

Below is a link to the CRCT parent workshop slides.

If you have further questions, feel free to email me at kate.elkins@imagineschools.com

CRCT workshop slides

Website Wednesdays

Problem solving: Download the free version of Crayon Physics to help your child with problem solving and critical thinking. This is our new favorite game because your drawings act like they would in real life.

Math: We're testing on Unit 6 this week so reviewing Addition and Subtraction Math Skills may help. As we start Unit 7, we'll be sorting blocks by attributes. Have your child practice sorting attribute blocks with this game.

ELA: We've been working on correct sentence punctuation, so this game will help. Also, try working with our new spelling words at KidsSpell.com. Our custom list is preset if you click here.

IB Unit, Trade: Learn a bit about spending and saving by reading The Adventures of Penny. Then, take Penny's Quiz (great for reading comprehension and CRCT practice too!)

Website Wednesdays

This week's websites for great academic experiences...

Math-Math Car Races (choose either easy addition or easy subtraction)
Clock Practice (please say a time and have your child make it on the clock)

ELA-Parts of Speech (Choose any of the topics listed under Primary Grades)
Story Comprehension (Don't register, click "Maybe Later")

Weather Unit- Water Cycle review
Weather Maker

Also, our trip to the High Museum in next week. Learn more about the Terra Cotta Soldiers.

Saturday School for Scholars and Leaders

Georgia State and the Georgia Department of Education invite exceptional children to join them for Saturday School! Saturday is not your usual day for school, and the participants in Saturday School program are not usual students. Their wide variety of enrichment classes are designed to challenge participants, K-8th grade. All classes are held on the Georgia State downtown main campus under the supervision of the Georgia Department of Early Childhood Education. The diverse curriculum is structured to offer educational opportunities emphasizing leadership, scholarship, and cultural awareness.

To learn more, click on this link: Saturday School. Please note the application requirements before enrolling your child.

Website Wednesdays

In the future, these will be posted exclusively on the first grade blog at www.IWIAfirstgrade.blogspot.com

Reading and Writing: Sentence skills at http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/clubhouse/index_pre.html


Math: Build with pattern blocks http://arcytech.org/java/patterns/patterns_j.shtml
Working with coins http://www.usmint.gov/kids/games/dollarDive/
Addition practice at http://www.learningplanet.com/sam/sm/index.asp


Spelling: Practice with -r controlled vowels at http://www.starfall.com/n/sorting/r-controlled/play.htm?f or at http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/phonics/grade2_3/r_vowels/r_vowels.htm

Weather Unit: Water cycle http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/droplet.html


And don't forget...CRCT preparation at www.georgiaoas.org

This Week's Website Wednesdays

Math
Fact families
Addition and subtraction (I recommend starting on level 2)

Writing
Antonyms
Synonyms

Reading
Sounding out words (there are several levels to this game)
Sequence of events (your child may need help to read the passages)


Weather unit
Types of weather (not a game, but demonstrates weather terminology)
Meteorology

Also, don't forget to continue working on CRCT practice tests

Upcoming Events in First Grade

-Friday, January 30th-Dress Down Day
-Saturday, January 31st-Chinese New Year celebration at IWIA campus from 1:00-4:00
-Sunday, February 1st-Chinese New Year performance at Chinatown at 11:25
-Thursday, February 5th-Trip to Center for Puppetry Arts from 9:30-1:30
-Tuesday, February 10th- Men Do Read-National African American Read-In
-Thursday, February 19th-Field trip to The High Museum