FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER
TECHNOLOGY ISSUES
I apologize for the lapse in newsletter updates for January and February. Our tech department is in the process of switching all computers over to new servers. This has left me without continuous, dependable computer access since the first week in January. I am very hopeful that all the bugs will be worked out soon and I can make regular updates once again.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY
Although February is fast coming to an end, here is a brief summary of the skills we've been practicing. Naturally we are hitting the basic facts hard. Memorization is key! I shared a flashcard technique at conferences that makes flashcards much less frustrating. If you would like to know about this technique, called Incremental Rehearsal, stop by anytime. It takes just a minute to share. First graders have used ten frames to help learn the facts that equal ten. They have also been learning about related facts, for example if 3 + 2 = 5, then 5 - 3 = 2 (fact families). We have spent a little time working with problems with 3 addends like 3 + 2 + 1 = ?. Students have learned that these numbers can be added in any order. Classes are also learning about tens and ones (place value). This is an important skill for developing number sense. We have spent time counting groups of tens with leftovers and identifying which number is the tens number, which is the ones number, and showing the numbers on ten frames or with base ten blocks.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Thanks to everyone who stopped by during Parent-Teacher Conferences. I always enjoy the opportunity to visit about two of my favorite subjects; math and your child! Stop in anytime! Congratulations once again to our Estimation Jar Winners: Grade 1 Parent Winner: Amanda Clark, Grade 1 Student Winner: Macy Kraft, Grade 2 Parent Winner: Margie Martinez, and Grade 2 Student Winner: Sevanah Couser! The number of conversation hearts in each jar were: Parent Jar - 252, Student Jar - 89. Thanks to all who participated!
I apologize for the lapse in newsletter updates for January and February. Our tech department is in the process of switching all computers over to new servers. This has left me without continuous, dependable computer access since the first week in January. I am very hopeful that all the bugs will be worked out soon and I can make regular updates once again.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY
Although February is fast coming to an end, here is a brief summary of the skills we've been practicing. Naturally we are hitting the basic facts hard. Memorization is key! I shared a flashcard technique at conferences that makes flashcards much less frustrating. If you would like to know about this technique, called Incremental Rehearsal, stop by anytime. It takes just a minute to share. First graders have used ten frames to help learn the facts that equal ten. They have also been learning about related facts, for example if 3 + 2 = 5, then 5 - 3 = 2 (fact families). We have spent a little time working with problems with 3 addends like 3 + 2 + 1 = ?. Students have learned that these numbers can be added in any order. Classes are also learning about tens and ones (place value). This is an important skill for developing number sense. We have spent time counting groups of tens with leftovers and identifying which number is the tens number, which is the ones number, and showing the numbers on ten frames or with base ten blocks.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Thanks to everyone who stopped by during Parent-Teacher Conferences. I always enjoy the opportunity to visit about two of my favorite subjects; math and your child! Stop in anytime! Congratulations once again to our Estimation Jar Winners: Grade 1 Parent Winner: Amanda Clark, Grade 1 Student Winner: Macy Kraft, Grade 2 Parent Winner: Margie Martinez, and Grade 2 Student Winner: Sevanah Couser! The number of conversation hearts in each jar were: Parent Jar - 252, Student Jar - 89. Thanks to all who participated!