Below are full explanations of our current math unit and our current reading comprehension strategy. Have a wonderful, warm weekend! :)
Math
The first graders have begun a unit that focuses on measurement and geometry. We began the unit by learning to tell and write time in hours and half-hours on an analog and digital clock.
Later in the unit, children will work with both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional shapres. They will learn to distinguish defining and non-definining attributes of shapes. For example, rectangles have four sides and four square corners. A square is a special kind of rectangle with all sides the same length. The shapes below are different sizes, colors, and orientations, but they are all rectangles.
Later in this unit, they will learn to compose shapes to create new shapes.
Children will also learn to partition circles and rectangles into two and four equal shares. They describe the shares using the words halves, fourths, and quarters.
Children generalize that partitioning a shape into more equal shares creates smaller shares: one fourth of the circle above is smaller than one half of the circle.
Another concept in this unit is length measurement. Children order three objects by length.
Reading
Our reading comprehension strategy of the month is known as Questioning. Questioning helps a reader clarify ideas and deepen understanding of the books they're reading. If you ask questions as you read, you are awake and thinking. Diving in with question--even those that are unanswerable--enriches the reading experiences. In their quest to make sense of their word, first graders bombard those around them with questions; Why are there clouds? Do fish sleep? Why is the sky blue? Frequently, parents have no idea how to answer these endless questions. In desperation they might change the subject of come up with a feeble dodge to get off the hook. In fact, those questions show a child's brilliance. As a parent, you want to encourage your child to ask the real questions, those questions that really puzzle them, even if you can't answer them!
There's no doubt about it: kids love to generate their own questions! Questioning makes reading fun. But to know how to question, your child needs to hear YOUR questions first. This is not about asking your child questions. Instead, it's about modeling what it means to be curious by sharing the questions YOU have while you read. Don't rush the answers right away. Pose several questions and then let your child take a turn asking questions that come to his/her mind. You're showing your child how to be an active player in the world of reading!
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!
~Mrs. Vos
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