Welcome to the "Fabulous First Grade" webpage! Visit us frequently to keep updated on exciting things taking place in Mishawaka Catholic School's first grade classes. You may check here to view weekly homework assignments and learn about interesting things taking place in our classrooms. Have fun exploring and feel free to contact me if you have any questions! Mrs. Jennifer Farrell
 
Please click on the links located on the right hand side of this screen. There are fun computer games which will help reinforce classroom learning!

 

 Check the Photo Album for exciting pictures of classroom events! 

 

Visit the Photo Album to see pictures of Mayor Wood's visit and the Worm Habitat project! 

 

First Grade Homework

5-20-13

Monday: Math 9.5

Read book in baggie!

Tuesday: Math 9.6

Read book in baggie!

Wednesday: Math 9.7

Read book in baggie!

Thursday: Math 9.8

Read book in baggie!

Friday: Have a relaxing weekend!

The first graders will continue to explore fractions this week. They will practice naming fractional pieces of a whole object. Along with this, they will learn how to divide collections of teddy bear counters into fractional parts. The class will review how each part needs to be equal. The students will review for the Unit 8 test on Wednesday and complete this assessment on Thursday.

The 2012-2013 class of first graders is a wonderful and caring group! The fifteen children in Mrs. Farrell's class never hesitate to help a friend in need. They are always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needs help picking up spilled crayons or to someone who can't find a pencil to complete an assignment. I look forward to many great experiences of learning and growth with this spectacular group of children!

The first graders should be very proud. They are all becoming excellent readers. Great job with the attention to nightly reading at home! The students will now focus on paying close attention to the plot of the stories they read. They will be asked many questions to check how well they understand what they have read. When listening to your child read at home, stop throughout the story and ask him or her to summarize what has been happening. You may also choose to ask basic questions about the story’s plot.

The first grade will continue to use a wonderful new reading program. This is called The Daily Five. The students now have special bags in which they keep several books they have chosen at their own reading level. These books will be used when the students read to their selves and read with a buddy. The students will be allowed to choose where they would like to read during these times. To make this more comfortable, each first grader may bring in a towel to lie on the floor. The students may also bring a small stuffed animal to which they may share their reading with.

The students will continue to discuss Jesus’ beautiful forgiving grace. They will discuss ways that they can be like Jesus and forgive others. Along with this, the first graders will read stories from the Bible telling of times Jesus prayed. The students will take turns acting these stories out on the carpet. Next, in their Religion books, the class will complete activities telling of each child’s favorite type of prayer.

This year the students at Mishawaka Catholic will be focusing on the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Each month one specific Fruit will be discussed. When the Faith Families get together for our monthly gathering, activities involving this fruit will be done.  The Fruit for May is Gentleness.

Our class of young scientists are very excited to continue our current project! The first grade oligochaeteologists (worm scientists) created worm habitats last Monday. Empty two liter bottles were used to do this. The students will study worm anatomy, food chains involving worms, and the natural habitat of worms. Each child received three earthworms to add to their habitats. These creatures will be observed and cared for daily. Predictions and observations will be made and documented in their Science Portfolios.

 

The first graders have been learning about the basic structure of the United State’s government. We were very honored recently to have a special guest visit in our class. Mayor Wood, the mayor of Mishawaka, came in and spoke to both first grades about the position he holds. He shared a wonderful Power Point presentation with the students highlighting many of his responsibilities.  The first graders were amazed to learn how many times emergency vehicles are called each year in Mishawaka! The first graders then asked some very good questions of the mayor. Thank you once again to Mayor Wood!

The first graders should be very proud! They have completed the entire First Grade level of Saxon Phonics. There will be no new Spelling words for the rest of the year. Please do encourage your first grader to use the rules that have been learned this year to continue to spell well!

The students will continue to explore paragraphs this week. They will learn that many paragraphs have five sentences. The first sentence introduces the reader to the topic. The next three sentences are “body” sentences, which tell three interesting things about the topic. The last sentence is the conclusion sentence. This states the first sentence in a new way. The first graders will practice writing paragraphs at school. Watch for these detailed pieces of writing soon!

Mishawaka Catholic School
Jennifer Farrell