Amazing Authors

This week in 1st Grade, we launched our Author Expert Study. Each student selected a favorite author whose books they enjoy reading or whom they want to learn more about. Some of the authors that students chose include Cynthia Rylant, Ezra Jack Keats, Mercer Mayer, Mo Willems, Jane Yolen, Oliver Jeffers, and Eric Carle. Throughout the course of the next few weeks, students will have the opportunity to delve deeply into their author’s life and body of work. They will analyze themes, techniques, and characters. They will look closely at the author’s illustrations and the mediums each author uses and they will create their own art in their author’s style. They will write their own stories using one of their author’s books as a mentor or inspiration text. In the words of a 1st Grade scholar, “We are all very excited to read our favorite authors’ books. It inspires our spirits!”

Talking Numbers

TCS teachers meet for weekly faculty meetings. This collaborative culture allows us the space to share ideas, discuss challenges, support each other, and ultimately enhance and improve our teaching to more effectively meet students’ needs. This week’s meeting was focused on Math, specifically how we can help students build their number sense. We discussed the concept of Number Talks, a tool that TCS teachers use in their classrooms regularly. Number Talks are quick interesting Math problems that can be introduced in Morning Meeting, before a Math lesson, or even at transition times. They get all students involved, help them strengthen fluency, intuition, and mental math strategies, think flexibly, and improve their ability to explain their solutions. Number talks also allow teachers a valuable window into their students’ thinking and allow students to learn from their peers by seeing multiple ways to solve a single problem.

A Whale of a Tale

In Vocabulary this week we are reading Ibis: A True Whale Story by John Himmelman. 1st Grade students were particularly interested in learning more about this exciting account of the first successful rescue of a net-entangled whale, so we will be doing some research related to humpback whale rescue and conservation efforts. It also fits in well with our Pass It On Poetry charity (Earthwatch) and Earth Day focus around protecting our species.

Important Dates:

Friday, May 10th-half day (11:30am dismissal) and Pass It On, 5-6pm at the Scottish Rite

Sunday, May 19th-End of the Year Celebration TCS Outing to the Riverdogs Baseball Game

Friday, May 24th-1st Grade Author Expert Presentation at 8:15am in the TCS Library

Monday, May 27th-TCS Closed for Memorial Day

Thursday, May 30th-TCS Graduation (11:30 dismissal)

Friday, May 31st-Field Day/last day of school (11:30 dismissal)