Hello families. We have a lot of information to cover in this weeks blog. Some things I only have limited information about for now but I will share what I know and update as more information comes along. Let's start with what we are learning about for now...

Math:  This week we began working on data interpretation. We are learning on how to write and read tally marks as well as how to create various graphs and read and interpret the data from them to answer various types of questions about the graphs. We will continue this into next week.

ELA:  We began our 6th unit in our Nat Geo curriculum, which is all about weather. We will tie this into our upcoming science unit. This week we worked on the spelling sound ie/igh and next week we will work on oa/ow. 

Social Studies: Last week the students learned all about the bald eagle. This week we spent time learning new facts about the Statue of Liberty, and tomorrow we will wrap up our unit on American symbols with  learning about the Liberty Bell.

Science:  Next week we will begin our unit on the weather. We will track the weather for the month of March and learn about different weather tools. 

Return to School:  On Tuesday night's Governing Board meeting a return to school was decided by the board. This means that on March 22nd our first graders may return to in person instruction. If you prefer your child stay in remote learning for the remainder of the year, this option is available to you as well. At Marshall there are still factors to take into consideration before we know what exactly this will look like for either option. We have been meeting as a team with Principal Reasor to discuss what this may look like in first grade at Marshall. We are in a unique situation at our grade level, one of the reasons being is that two of us have an accommodation to teach remotely for the rest of the year. I am one of the two, which means I will not be returning to the building, but I will be in the classroom everyday. This means that for those who choose to return to in person learning, I will be zooming into the room to lead the day's learning. I will have who the district is calling a sub-aide, but who I will be calling my co-teacher in the room to help me focus and teach the in person kiddos. These details are also being worked on, and I am excited about the possibilities that this will bring. What we are hoping to accomplish is that the other teacher with an accommodation will then remain the FRL teacher, and all our first graders who opt to remain in remote learning will finish the fourth quarter with her. This is an unique situation to just our grade level, with a lot of pros. The biggest pro being educational equity. The remote kiddos will remain with a teacher that will be able to focus solely on a schedule and a day that fits their needs, and the in person kiddos will have the same advantages. As the person who will be zooming in with a co-teacher or two I have lots of ideas already playing through my head that will benefit the learning of the kiddos in our classroom. Now, keep in mind this is just the plan depending on how numbers work out. We still need you in order to make this work! If you have not made a decision if your child will be returning to in person or stay in remote learning we need you to please let us know now!! Feel free to email me at ashaw@fusd1.org or to call the front office at 773-4044 and let them know your back to school plans today. Once we have heard from every family a firm decision we can finalize what first grade will look like on the 22nd. I hope this information will help you with this decision. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. 

Material Distribution:  We do need to do a material pick up for March. I am probably even sending home the remainder of March materials, but even that is subject to change. Materials will be ready for pick up on Sunday morning (February 28th). If I get them out earlier I will let you know. 

Report Cards and Parent/Teacher Conferences: Spring Conferences have traditionally always been optional. This year will be no different, Your child's report card will be ready for viewing by Friday of next week (March 5th).  If you are choosing to remain in remote learning and wish to have a conference please reach out to me via email and we will set up a conference for the week of March 8th-12th. If you are going to be returning to the classroom and would like a conference you can reach out and we will set up a conference for the first week of April. I believe we will probably have a bit more to talk about if we wait until the week after we return than if we do so before. If you do not feel we need a conference, that is fine as well. As I mentioned, spring conferences have always been optional.  We will do what works for you.

Book Fair:  Traditionally we always hold our ever popular book fair during conference week. The book fair will take place this year as well, but as with everything else, it will look a little different. Here is a link explaining how the book fair works and here is a link to our Marshall School Scholastic Website. When you go to the website there is an active link to online shopping, and if you spend $25 dollars on book only purchases you get free shipping. Happy reading!

I know this was a ton of information. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out. Happy Friday! -Ms. Shaw

Valentines Week Post

 Happy Valentines Week. February is short and jam packed. Here is all of what we are trying to pack in....

Math:  We wrapped up addition and subtraction - for now. This week we have began our unit on measurement and data, where we will remain for the month of February. This week we worked on indirect comparison in length measurement. Next week we will work on standard length units, which basically means we will learn to measure things in centimeters using our centimeter cubes. 

ELA:  Last week we read Jan Brett's "Goldilocks and the 3 Bears" and her other book "The 3 Snowbears." We compared and contrasted the two stories with a Venn diagram, sequenced the order of events using the terms First, Then, Next, Last, and the students took a comprehension test on the 3 Snowbears. 

Social Studies:  February is full of social studies. We began this month learning about Groundhogs day, how did it begin and what is it? This week we began learning about American Symbols. This week we learned about the American Flag. The students learned not only what the stars and stripes stand for, they also learned a few interesting facts about the flag and some rules associated with the flag. Next week we will learn about the Statue of Liberty. This month is also Black History month. Starting next week we will learn about what Black History Month is and each week we will learn about and celebrate an important figure of the Black community. 

Valentines Day:  Valentines day is looking a little different this year. Although we cannot exchange traditional Valentines I have attached a Google Slides Valentine Exchange. You will find your child's name on one of the slides in the presentation. If you wish you may add a small picture of your child (just of them alone, no need for a family picture this time) to their slide. Then, with your help your child may go in and type in a short but sweet Valentine greeting to each of their classmates. You are not required to participate, but I ask if your child send a valentine message to one classmate that they send one to all. I have also made slides for some special adults in our lives, such as Ms. V, the specials teachers, and Principal Reasor. I will read some of their messages to them on Friday and probably throughout the week during closing circle next week. Of course, we will spend Friday doing some fun Valentine activities. Please make sure while you are in a child's slide you do not delete it, or someone else's comment to them. Thank you- and Happy Valentine's Day!

 https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CmKzGjg_Bvf5Z-Q5SzGYa0ioqGPI_tDXSzYmafHHf90/edit#slide=id.gb90bf9dcc4_1_17

Lexia:  Please remember, Lexia is a 30-40 minute requirement each week your child must be working independently on this App for at least 30-40 minutes weekly. I have built in time for them to do so on Monday's, Wednesday's, Thursday's, and most Friday's. Their log in is the initial of their first name along with their last name (ex: ashaw) and their password is abc1. Please make sure they are taking the time to do this every week. 

Passwords:  Yes, I know these passwords have been a lot to keep track of. In our next distribution I plan on including a page with two squares that will have all your apps and your child's log in information on them. One can be taped to the iPad, one can hang on the fridge, parents can share, however you see best used for your family. Look for that to come.

Happy Valentines to all. I truly have loved getting to know the kiddos this year. Their little personalities are so unique and this class is so happy and bring me joy. I love them to pieces, and glad that they are the ones I have spent this crazy year with! 💕-Ms. Shaw

Last Week of January 2021 Updates

 Happy last week of January. So excited we are seeing some snow. What does that mean for school. Read below for that info. First, let's start with what is on the agenda for learning.

Math:  We will begin working on word problems this week, as well as revisiting the equal sign and working on making number sentences true.

ELA:  This week we will be working on our guided research project. We will be learning about hedgehogs (this was the animal from both "The Hat" and "The Mitten" stories we have featured all month). After we research hedgehogs together we will learn how to identify important information from a text and use that information to write a rough draft and then a final draft. Our spelling rule for the week is words with y.

Snow:  I am loving the snow we have had all weekend, and I hear we have more headed our week Monday and Tuesday. What does this mean for school? Quite honestly, I'm not 100% sure. We were originally told because all students have iPad access school would not be closed due to weather this year, although late starts were still a possibility. Then there was talk about internet working, and teachers and students still needing to make it into buildings and safe learning centers. Nothing was really ever mentioned, but we did receive an email mentioning school closures and delays due to weather. Which leads me to believe that, just like a normal school year, school closures due to inclement weather could now be a thing still. Soooo, although I am not clear I would strongly suggest listening to the radio or tuning into Facebook the next two days to keep updated on any possible closures or delays.

Nevermind, just recieved an email saying school is closed for tomorrow due to the forecasted storm event. Guess that answers that question. Please check the radio or Facebook in regards to what will happen on Tuesday.

Material Distribution:  We will be having another distribution this Friday. I think having the material out in front of the school for you to pick up at your convenience worked well last time, so we will do the same this time around. I will place the bags in a bin outside the school on Friday morning by 7 am. Please pick up anytime between 7 am and 6pm, when I will pick up any leftover bags and place them in the office. Any bags not picked up by 6 pm Friday will be left in the office and you will need to call them prior to pick up to make arrangements with them for when you can swing by and get your child's bag. Please, make sure to grab the bag with your child's name on it. I will be putting out materials to carry us through the rest of the semester (which is up to spring break). I thought about only doing through the end of the month, but then end of semester/spring break is only two weeks after that. To me it makes more sense, and at that time we will do a materials pick up before break if needed. 

Material Organization:  Please make sure when your child has their new materials they know where they are at. If your child is at home please make sure they are in an accessible but safe place so that they may be readily available when they need them for lessons. If your child is traveling to a safe learning center or any place outside of the home for their school day please make sure they take all their school supplies they have been given back and forth with them. They could need any supply on any given day, depending on the lesson. Obviously, the new packets of material being sent out during the new distribution will be what they need for that month. They will also need their handwriting books, wipe-off boards and markers are used practically daily, the spiral notebooks and science notebooks are used when needed. The scissors, gluesticks, and math manipulatives need to be handy. If your child travels for school it is best just to have these stay in their backpack on a daily basis, along with the math, morning work, spelling, and whatever other packets get sent out. A backpack may also be a good idea for those who stay home, just as a place for all the supplies to be in one spot. The hardest thing is when they tell me they do not have something they need for a lesson and I know every child has it. I feel helpless that I cannot reach through the screen and help them rummage through their learning spaces to find what they need to help their learning be more successful. They end up sad and stressed out when they miss out because they do not have everything they need for the day. Lost and missing items are a regular occurrence in first grade, in the building I would help them find it or have extra copies already made. I cannot do this remotely. So I need your help by helping them keep their materials in a consistent safe and organized spot. Thank you.

I hope you all found time to get outside and enjoy some fresh air and just have some fun playing in the snow. I hope your kiddos helped you shovel! Stay warm, and I will see you tomorrow - possibly. -Ms. Shaw

MLK 4 Day Week Updates

 Happy week 21! I hope you all found some time to recharge over this three day weekend. More importantly, I hope you all found some time to remember Dr. King and have some meaningful conversations about his impact on our society and why we have a day off to celebrate and remember him. We discussed these things in class on Friday, and our conversations and understanding were amazing. Here is what we will be doing this week in class:

Math:  We will be wrapping up subtracting from teen numbers this week, with an end of unit assessment on Thursday if we stay on track.

ELA:  We will finish our unit on The Hat and The Mitten story comparison and take that into a writing/research type project on Hedgehogs. Our spelling sound for the week is soft c and soft g.

RTI:  RTI will begin again this week. RTI groups are changing a little. I have attached the new RTI groups here, as well as in our Google Classroom. Please make sure to click on your child's new RTI teachers name to go to their RTI teachers ZOOM room to attend. Aria, Sofia, and Cypress will be attending RTI with me, although it is not listed. Anyone else who is not on the list does not need to be in an RTI group at this time. If you have questions about this, please feel free to email me. Those not in RTI will still meet with me for groups and 1:1 during their scheduled times throughout the week, as will everyone else. I am also attaching that updated form.

Mrs. Hanno - Christian, Guner

Mr. Kasch - Victoria, Cohen

Mrs. Burgoon - Riley

Mrs. Stamer - Marcus, Isaac, Dakota

Mrs. Anderson - Rayland, Violet, O’Ryan

Ms. Voorhees - Vaerick

Ms. Waltner - Damiana, Jake, Jocelyn

Mrs. Hartsock - Nino

Shaw - Cypress, Aria, Sofia

Thursday:  I will be cancelling my Thursday afternoon 1:1's this week. I have an appointment and will be out for the afternoon as soon as I send everyone off to lunch. There will be a sub for the closing circle. Just wanted to give you all a heads up.

Show and Tell:  There will be no show and tell this week being that it is a four day week. 

As always, I feel I am forgetting to put something in this blog that I should be communicating. If I remember I will let you know. If you have questions please feel free to reach out.  -Ms. Shaw

End of 2nd Quarter Updates

 Happy end of second quarter. This means report cards are complete, more information below. First, here is what we will be working on this week...

Math:  Lots of subtracting 7, 8, and 9 from teen numbers this week.

ELA:  We will be reading Jan Brett's "The Mitten" and comparing it to her book "The Hat." We will also be looking at story elements like character and setting. The spelling rule for the week is long u words. 

Social Studies:  This week we will learn about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his life and the important role he played in the civil rights movement.

Report Cards:  Report cards are finished and available for your viewing through parent vue. After you take a look at your child's standards report, if you have any question please feel free to email. 

RTI:  There will be no RTI this week. RTI will resume next Tuesday when we return from break. Your child may have a new group once we finish looking at data and reforming groups. I will notify you of any changes in the next blog. Also, due to the needs of some students, I might also be changing some 1:1 sight word times. I am hoping to keep this at a minimal, and I will let you know by next week if this impacts your child's time or not. 

Show and Tell:  This weeks show and tell theme is something you made or created. Can't wait to see!

Remember, next weekend is a three day weekend. No school on Monday, Jaunuary 18th in honor of Martin Luther King. Hope you all enjoyed this weekend, and are rested and healthy.  - Ms. Shaw

January 2021 New Year Post.

 Welcome back, and welcome 2021. We are now entering our 19th week of FRL, and although it seems like the more things change the more they stay the same, I must say it feels good just saying goodbye to 2020 and hello to a new year. I hope you all enjoyed your well deserved winter break and are ready to jump right back into the learning, because we are hitting the ground running. Here is what we have in store this week:

Math:   We will be subtracting 9 from 10 and from teen numbers this week. Half the week we will be using our subtraction knowledge to solve word problems.  

ELA:  This week we will begin our Hat and Mitten compare and contrast unit with reading "The Hat" by Jan Brett. We will identify problem and solution, as well as do some sequencing. We will also take a look at verbs this week. In spelling we will be working on long O words. 

RTI:  As of now it is my understanding that there is no RTI next week. We will be meeting as a team to look at our data and make any necessary changes. I will notify you if your child's RTI group changes at that time, and then RTI will resume the following week. 

Show and Tell:  Show and Tell will start back up this week. Our theme will be free choice. I have a feeling the kiddos will be excited to get to choose an item of their choice to show and tell about this week. Our show and tell schedule is below:

Monday: Aria, Christian, Cohen, Cypress, and Dakota
Tuesday: Damiana, Guner, Isaac, Jake, Jocelyn
Wednesday: Juniper, Marcus, Nino, O'Ryan, Paloma
Thursday: Rayland, Reese, Riley, Sofia, 
Friday: Vaerick, Victoria, Violet, and any Make-Ups

Thank you to all the Christmas wishes I received from everyone, some over zoom. This group really is just the sweetest and your thoughtfulness and kindness was so very much appreciated this year. 

2020 was certainly a year that brought us all much reflection. So many big, historic events that we are still living and still feeling the impacts of right now. The school year is only half way over, and we are still not face to face. However, I know we are still learning and growing and navigating and surviving. We will still enter 2021 with the same grace we showed at the beginning of this school year because we still have children learning in the middle of a pandemic that has yet to let up. Let our focus remain on this, and helping our babies navigate this time. I am still here for your needs as well. Whatever it may be, feel free to reach out. Yes, I said we are hitting the ground running, but the priority is still on people. Remember this from week 3 together...

It still holds true as we return from our break. I am here for you, reach out anytime. In the meantime, can't wait to see my kiddos tomorrow! They have been missed. 💜-Ms. Shaw

Double End of December 2020

 Happy Holidays, and welcome to the end of our December. This weeks blog will review last week (to make up for our lack of a blog) and tell you what is coming up for our week before break.

Math:  Last week we spent a lot of time adding by making a ten when one addend is 9. This looks something like this. 

               and   

                              9+1=10

                     10+2=12, so 9+3=12

We are working hard at making sure the students learn how to draw to solve, which makes it so much easier. We ended the week doing the same for solving when one addend is 8, which we will continue this week, as well for 7. We will wrap up this unit on Thursday with an assessment and we will begin Module 2 Topic B when we return from break, which is subtraction word problems. If for any reason we extend any of the lessons, I will skip the end of unit assessment this time around so that we may still begin on a new topic when we return from break. 

ELA:  Last Week our spelling sound was long a (a_e). This week we will have long i words (i_e). 

Social Studies:  Last week was our second week of our holiday studies where we learned about Christmas. The kids felt more confident about their knowledge about this holiday, however they learned that what they mostly knew fell under what we call traditions, and not necessarily about the background we are exploring with these holidays (who celebrates, how, why, when). They did a great job thinking deep about what they wanted to learn beyond the traditions, such as "how did Christmas get it's name" and "how did Christmas set started as a holiday?" We also had fun ending the week "making gingerbread houses." Not real houses this year, we had some peel and stick craft houses. This has always been a Friday Christmas week tradition, and I was feeling so bummed that we couldn't have our traditional craft morning this year. I was happy to find a gingerbread house alternative, and happy that this kids had a fun activity to enjoy. I was impressed with their creativity. Next week we will learn all about Hanukkah. I absolutely love learning about this holiday!

Zearn:  Zearn is a new math app that aligns with our Eureka math curriculum perfectly. Please make sure that you have Zearn on your child's iPad. If it is not there already, go to the self service app and install it from there. I want to begin Zearn so that they have an alternative to Dreambox, which I know they may be getting a little tired of. I will be starting the students on module one lesson one next week just so they can get used to the program and how it works. Shortly after we return from break I will reassign them all to module 2 to help us practice some of these bigger concepts we are diving into lately. The login for Zearn will be Their first name followed by abc123 (ex: Andreaabc123) and the password is abc123. Isaac and Riley, I will contact you separately with your log in information. 

RTI:  Due to testing there will not be RTI for the following groups next week: Hanno, Kasch, Anderson, and Shaw. All other RTI groups will continue to meet as scheduled.

December to Remember:  Here is a picture of the last five days of our December to Remember:

Winter Break:  After our 12:25 release on Friday your students (and you!) will officially be on winter break for the next two weeks. School will be closed from December 20th -January 3rd. We will resume on in Flexible Remote Learning on Monday, January 4th. 

One more week, I'm so proud that at the end of the week we will have made it through 18 weeks in FRL together. Who would have ever thought this would be our year together? So crazy, and yet we have made it happen. Nice job. - Ms. Shaw