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Hello my name is Laura Fowell,
This is my 8th year at Athlos Leadership Academy.  I am very excited to be teaching 1st grade this year.  I am looking forward to getting to know the students and families and helping each student gain knowledge and a love for learning.  I have a B.S. degree from North Central University in Children's Ministries.  I have worked as an educator for more then 25 years. 
 
I was born and raised in SW Wisconsin.  I currently live in Columbia Heights. I have a wonderful adopted Kenyan family that I spend lots of time with. In my free time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading, and many outdoor activities.
 
I can't wait for an amazing year!
763-777-8942 ext:8811
 
 
 

Classes

Posts

March 9-13

Look at the Week: March 9-13 2026

Hello First Grade Families!
 
Here is a look at the week:
 

Take Home Folders: Your First Grader's red take home folder is to be sent between home and school in your First Grader's backpack. You will find our Homework for the week along with a list with the week’s spelling words to practice at home.

Homework: Your student’s Homework Packet will be sent home on Monday. Your child may work on Homework each night of the week, and then return the Homework Packet to school on Friday. Please read with your First Grader for twenty minutes, work on sight words, and work on spelling words every night. Work on Raz Kids and IXL.

 
Language Arts: We are beginning work on Unit 8, titled Observing the Sky and explores why the sun, moon, and stars capture our imagination. Over three weeks, students will focus on R-controlled vowels (ar, or, ur), and identifying key details about sky objects, featuring topics like daytime/nighttime, the moon, and stars.
  • Essential Question: Why do the sun and the moon capture our imagination?
  • Theme: Observing the Sky (Science connection).
  • Phonics Focus (R-Controlled Vowels):
    • Week 1: "Bossy R" /ar/ (e.g., car, star, part).
    • Week 2: "Bossy R" /or/ (e.g., corn, more, roar).
    • Week 3: "Bossy R" /ur/ (e.g., turn, bird, shirt).
  • Vocabulary: Words include observe, explore, sky, planet, light, shadow.
  • Key Concepts: Identifying sky objects (sun, stars, moon) and understanding daily/seasonal change
Spelling: We will be learning about boosy r "ar" word spellings.This week’s spelling words are: chair, bear, guitar, stair, wear, radar, care, artist, scare, and garden.  The spelling test will be on Friday.
 
Writing: We will write informative/ explanatory narratives and creative texts about observing the sky.
 
Science: Observing the sky, our Solar System
 
Math: We will Begin Unit 8 in our Everyday Math Curriculum, titled  
Meanings of Subtraction / Subtraction Word Problems. This unit builds fluency in subtraction, using tools like part-part-whole mats and number lines to represent equations, with a strong focus on modeling and solving word problems.
Key Skills:
  • Word Problem Strategies: Representing and solving "take from" and "take apart" problems
  • Subtraction Fluency: Subtracting within 20, specifically focusing on subtraction strategies and solving for missing numbers.
  • Modeling: Using drawings, math tools, and equations to represent story problems.
 
Upcoming Events:
  • March 9: Trimester 3 begins
  • March 23-27: Spring Break (no school)

Reminders:

  • Send weather appropriate clothing with your child daily as we will go outside for recess daily. 
  • Make sure your child has shoes for fitness.
  • Please make sure your child is reading, working on sight words, and working on spelling words every night.
  • Communicate with the front office about any end of the day transportation changes by 2:00 pm.
  • Please make sure you are checking your child’s red take home folder nightly. Students should bring their homework folder to school daily.
  • Student login information for RazKids and IXL was sent home. Please help your child login to each site and work for a few minutes each night. These sites will be used as needed if we have to stay home for weather, or other reasons.

Please don't hesitate to reach out any time.

Thank you,

Laura Fowell

First Grade Teacher
Contact info:
[email protected] 
763-777-8942 ext:8811

March 2-6

Hello first grade families!

Here is a look at our week.

Language Arts: This week we will complete unit seven in our Benchmark curriculum. We will dive into "Past, Present, and Future" to explore the essential question: Why is the past important? Throughout this unit, students will examine how technology, schools, and daily life have changed over time while learning about influential historical figures. We will focus on reading skills like using timelines to understand sequences. By connecting historical events to their own lives, students will gain a better understanding of how the past shapes our world today.

We will be taking a reading comprehension assessment on Friday.

Writing: We will write complete sentences about our past, present, and future.

Spelling: This week we will be learning about “Vowel" teams long i sound. This week’s spelling words are: ice, idea, bright, night, try, why, dime, climb, inside, & find. Spelling test will be given Friday.

Social Studies: This week we will complete our unit called Past, present, and future. This week we will learn about Time and Chronology. 

Math: This week we will complete our unit seven Everyday Math Curriculum. We will be taking our unit assessment this week.

We will have Math homework nightly.

Nightly student homework:

· spelling words

· math/functional phonics activity worksheet

· practice sight words

· read for twenty minutes

· Read on Razkids

· Work on IXL

Up Coming Events:

· March 9th Tri 3 begins

· March 23rd-27th Spring Break (no school)

The partnership in your child’s education is very valuable please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time!

Laura Fowell

[email protected] 

763-777-8942 ext:8811

Feb 23-27

Hello first grade families!

Here is a look at our week.

Language Arts: This week we will continue unit seven in our Benchmark curriculum. We will dive into "Past, Present, and Future" to explore the essential question: Why is the past important? Throughout this unit, students will examine how technology, schools, and daily life have changed over time while learning about influential historical figures. We will focus on reading skills like using timelines to understand sequences. By connecting historical events to their own lives, students will gain a better understanding of how the past shapes our world today.

We will be taking a reading comprehension assessment on Thursday.

Writing: We will write complete sentences about our past, present, and future.

Spelling: This week we will be learning about “E” Vowel teams. This week’s spelling words are; eagle, eager, even, equal, field, thief, sweep, sweet, money, & happy. Spelling test will be given Friday.

Social Studies: This week we will continue a unit called Past, present, and future. This week we will learn about Time and Chronology: Students will create a timeline that identifies at least three events from their own life.

Math: This week we will continue our unit seven Everyday Math Curriculum. In this unit, your student will move beyond basic counting to develop "fact power"—the ability to recall math facts quickly and accurately. You will see Home Links involving "What's My Rule?" tables and shape hunts around the house. A great way to support them at home is to ask them to identify 3D shapes in the pantry (like a soup can being a cylinder) or to practice "partners of 10" (like 7 and 3) to help with their subtraction speed.

We will have Math homework nightly.

Nightly student homework:

· spelling words

· math/functional phonics activity worksheet

· practice sight words

· read for twenty minutes

· Read on Razkids

· Work on IXL

Up Coming Events:

· Feb. 27th World Fair (during school hours)

· Feb. 27th Retro Day (free dress day for all students)

· March 9th Tri 3 begins

· March 23rd-27th Spring Break (no school)

The partnership in your child’s education is very valuable please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time!

Laura Fowell

[email protected] 

763-777-8942 ext:8811

Feb 9-13 Valentine's Week!

Hello first grade families!

Reminder: If you have not scheduled your students conference, please do so ASAP!!

Here is a look at our week.

Language Arts: This week we will complete unit six in our Benchmark curriculum. Unit 6 of the 1st Grade Benchmark curriculum is titled "Stories Have a Message." The unit primarily focuses on exploring tales and lessons to understand how characters' actions lead to consequences.

We will be taking a reading comprehension assessment on Thursday.

Writing: We will write opinion paragraphs.

Spelling: This week we will be reviewing long vowel “A” words. This week’s spelling words are; day, stay, play, mail, paint, wait, gray, chain, tray, & paid.  BONUS word is say.   Spelling test will be given Thursday.

Social Studies: This week we will begin a unit called Past, present, and future. This week we will learn about Time and Chronology: Students will create a timeline that identifies at least three events from their own life.

Math: This week we will complete unit six in our Everyday math curriculum. We will take the unit six assessment this week on Thursday.

We will have Math homework nightly.

Nightly student homework:

· spelling words

· math/functional phonics worksheet

· practice sight words

· read for twenty minutes

· Read on Razkids/ IXL practice

.  Weekly packet

Up Coming Events:

· Feb. 9th-13th free Dress Days for all Students

· Feb. 11th and 12th Parent Teacher Conferences (after school)

· Thursday, Feb. 12th Friendship Party

· No school Feb. 16th Presidents Day

Reminder: If you have not scheduled your students conference, please do so ASAP!!

On Thursday 2/12 we will be having a friendship party. Your student may bring items to share with the class. We have 24 students in our class and 2 teachers.  Please only address the from on Valentine cards!  This will help with passing out to other students.

The partnership in your child’s education is very valuable please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time!

Laura Fowell

[email protected] 

763-777-8942 ext:8811

Feb 2-6

Hello first grade families!

Here is a look at our week.

Language Arts: This week we will continue unit six in our Benchmark curriculum. Unit 6 of the 1st Grade Benchmark curriculum is titled "Stories Have a Message." The unit primarily focuses on exploring tales and lessons to understand how characters' actions lead to consequences.

We will be taking a reading comprehension assessment on Thursday.

Writing: We will learn to write opinion paragraphs.

Spelling: This week we will be reviewing long vowel U&E/silent e words. This week spelling words are; these, theme, compete, rule, cute, huge, dude, rude, June & cube. BONUS word is Pete!  Spelling test will be given Friday.

Science: Groundhog unit

Math: This week we will continue unit six in our Everyday math curriculum. Unit 6 of the 1st Grade Everyday Mathematics curriculum is titled "Addition Fact Strategies." It primarily focuses on helping students develop mental strategies for addition and understanding how to solve more complex number problems.

We will have Math homework nightly.

Nightly student homework:

· spelling words

· math/Functional Phonics worksheet

· practice sight words

· read for twenty minutes

· Read on Razkids/IXL practice

 

Up Coming Events:

· I love to read month Feb. 2-5th Parent Readers-We still have open slots, email me to sign up!!

. FRIDAY, Feb 6th is the LAST DAY TO BUY CARDS/SUCKERS!!!!

· Feb. 11th and 12th Parent Teacher Conferences (3:30-6:30P) PLEASE SIGN UP ASAP!!

. Thursday Feb 12th we will be celebrating Valentines day.  Your child my bring a valentine to give to classmates.  If you choose to do this, please only have them write their name as from.  This will make it much easier to pass out.  Also, if you choose to include a treat, it must be store bought and all treats will be sent home that day.  We have 24 students in our class and 2 teachers.

· No school Feb. 16th Presidents Day

The partnership in your child’s education is very valuable please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time!

Laura Fowell

[email protected] 

763-777-8942 ext:8811

Jan 26-30

Hello first grade families!

Here is a look at our week.

Language Arts: This week we will begin unit 6 in our Benchmark curriculum. Unit 6  is titled "Stories Have a Message." The unit primarily focuses on exploring tales and lessons to understand how characters' actions lead to consequences.

We will be taking a reading comprehension assessment on Friday.

Writing: We will learn to write opinion paragraphs.

Spelling: This week we will be reviewing long vowel i/silent e words. This week spelling words are; five, hide, nice, smiles, time, hike, ripe, tribe, slide, & bride. Spelling test will be given Friday.

Science: Groundhog unit

Math: This week we will begin unit 6 in our Everyday math curriculum. Unit 6  is titled "Addition Fact Strategies." It primarily focuses on helping students develop mental strategies for addition and understanding how to solve more complex number problems.

We will have Math/functional phonics homework nightly.

Nightly student homework:

· practice sight words and spelling words

· math/functional phonics worksheet

· Weekly packet

· read for twenty minutes

· Read on Razkids/ IXL practice

Up Coming Events:

· Jan. 30th Dress Like a Twin-Free Dress Day

· I love to read mouth Feb. 2-5th Parent readers

. Friday, Feb 6th- LAST DAY TO BUY VALENTINE CARD/SUCKER

· Feb. 11th and 12th Parent Teacher Conferences (after school)

. Friday, Feb 13th - Valentine Card/Sucker handout

· No school Feb. 16th

Reminder: Schedule Parent Teacher Conference.

The partnership in your child’s education is very valuable please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time!

Laura Fowell

[email protected] 
763-777-8942 ext:8811

Jan 20-23

Hello first grade families!

Here is a look at our week.

Language Arts: This week we will complete unit five in our Benchmark curriculum. Benchmark Unit five is titled "Technology at Work". The unit explores how technology and tools are used to solve problems and assist people in their daily jobs.

We will be taking a reading comprehension assessment on Thursday.

Writing: We will write complete sentences using homophones.

Spelling: This week we will be reviewing long vowel o/silent e words. This week spelling words are soft c and g sounds; gem, gentle, giant, giraffe, age, page, huge, edge, bridge, &, dodge.  BONUS word is face

Science: We will continue to learn about simple machines and how they make our lives easier.

Functional Phonics: Functional phonics is a systematic approach to teaching reading that focuses on the relationship between letters and sounds to build decoding and spelling skills. It involves explicit instruction, where children are taught the correlations between letters (graphemes) and sounds (phonemes) in a logical, sequential order, starting with simple concepts and moving to more complex ones. Parents can support functional phonics by encouraging phonemic awareness (hearing individual sounds in words), practicing letter-sound correspondence, blending sounds to read words, and making reading a fun, daily activities. Students will have a functional phonics homework activity nightly.

Math: This week we will complete unit five in our Everyday math curriculum. Unit 5 is titled "Place Value and Comparisons". The unit shifts focus from basic counting to understanding how numbers are structured and how they relate to one another.  We will have our pretest on Wed and test on Thursday.

We will have Math homework nightly.

Fast Bridge: We will be taking our math winter fast bridge testing this week. This is the assessments we take to monitor student growth in Minnesota.

Nightly student homework:

· spelling words

· math/functional phonics worksheet

· practice sight words

· read for twenty minutes

· Weekly packet

· Read on Razkids and Work on IXL practice.  I have sent home logins for both of these learning programs.  If you are not able to login, please let me know!

Reminders:

· Student login information for Razkids and IXL was sent home last week. Please help your child login to each sight and work on them for a few minutes each night. These sites will be used as needed if we have to stay home for weather or other reasons we may not be able to come to school.

· Send weather appropriate clothing with your child daily, we will go outside for recess daily.

· Please make sure you are checking your child’s red take home folder nightly. Please take out student work nightly and remember to help your student complete and return their math homework daily. Students should bring their homework folder to school daily.

Up Coming Events:

· Feb. 11th and 12th Parent Teacher Conferences (after school)

· Valentines Fundraiser-ends Feb. 6th

Details:

· All sales are CASH ONLY

· Cost: $1.00 per card + sucker

· Students purchase from their homeroom teacher

Everyone is asked to bring exact change. You can try to make change for someone if you have it, but if not, they will need to bring change the following day to make their purchase

· Sales end Friday, February 6th

· Cards will be delivered on Friday, February 13th

The partnership in your child’s education is very valuable please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time!

Laura Fowell

[email protected] 
763-777-8942 ext:8811

Jan 12-16

Hello first grade families!

Here is a look at our week.

Language Arts: This week we will continue unit five in our Benchmark curriculum. Benchmark Unit five is titled "Technology at Work". The unit explores how technology and tools are used to solve problems and assist people in their daily jobs.

We will be taking a reading comprehension assessment on Thursday.

Writing: We will write complete sentences using homophones.

Spelling: This week we will be reviewing long vowel o/silent e words. This week spelling words are; broke, close, home, hope, stone, nose, joke, rope, poke, & bone.  BONUS word is woke

Science: We will learn about simple machines and make a pulley system.

Functional Phonics: Functional phonics is a systematic approach to teaching reading that focuses on the relationship between letters and sounds to build decoding and spelling skills. It involves explicit instruction, where children are taught the correlations between letters (graphemes) and sounds (phonemes) in a logical, sequential order, starting with simple concepts and moving to more complex ones. Parents can support functional phonics by encouraging phonemic awareness (hearing individual sounds in words), practicing letter-sound correspondence, blending sounds to read words, and making reading a fun, daily activities. Students will have a functional phonics homework activity nightly.

Math: This week we will continue unit five in our Everyday math curriculum. Unit 5 is primarily titled "Place Value and Comparisons". The unit shifts focus from basic counting to understanding how numbers are structured and how they relate to one another.

We will have Math homework nightly.

Fast Bridge: We will be taking our winter fast bridge testing this week. This is the assessments we take to monitor student growth in Minnesota.

Nightly student homework:

· spelling words

· math/functional phonics worksheet

· practice sight words

· read for twenty minutes

·Weekly packet

 

Reminders:

· Send weather appropriate clothing with your child daily, we will go outside for recess daily.

· Please make sure you are checking your child’s red take home folder nightly. Please take out student work nightly and remember to help your student complete and return their math homework daily. Students should bring their homework folder to school daily.

Up Coming Events:

· No School Monday, Jan. 19th-MLK

Jan 30th- Twin day-dress as a twin with a friend

· Valentines Fundraiser

Details:

· All sales are CASH ONLY

· Cost: $1.00 per card + sucker

· Students purchase from their homeroom teacher

o Everyone is asked to bring exact change. You can try to make change for someone if you have it, but if not, they will need to bring change the following day to make their purchase

· Sales end Friday, February 6th

· Cards/suckers will be delivered on Friday, February 13th

The partnership in your child’s education is very valuable please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time!

Contact info:
[email protected] 
763-777-8942 ext:8811

Jan 5-9

Look at the Week in First Grade 1-5-26

 

Hello first grade families! Happy New Year-2026!!

Here is a look at our week.

Language Arts: This week we will begin unit five in our Benchmark curriculum.  Benchmark Unit five is titled "Technology at Work". The unit explores how technology and tools are used to solve problems and assist people in their daily jobs.

We will be taking a reading comprehension assessment on Thursday.

Writing: We will write complete sentences using adjectives.

Spelling: This week we will be reviewing long vowel a/silent e words. This week spelling words are; came, date, lake, lake, make, name, page, save, shade, &, take. * BONUS WORD** is bake!

Functional Phonics: Functional phonics is a systematic approach to teaching reading that focuses on the relationship between letters and sounds to build decoding and spelling skills. It involves explicit instruction, where children are taught the correlations between letters (graphemes) and sounds (phonemes) in a logical, sequential order, starting with simple concepts and moving to more complex ones. Parents can support functional phonics by encouraging phonemic awareness (hearing individual sounds in words), practicing letter-sound correspondence, blending sounds to read words, and making reading a fun, daily activities. Students will have a functional phonics homework activity nightly.

Math: This week we will begin unit five in our Everyday math curriculum. Unit 5 is primarily titled "Place Value and Comparisons". The unit shifts focus from basic counting to understanding how numbers are structured and how they relate to one another.

We will have Math homework nightly.

Nightly student homework:

  • spelling words
  • math activity worksheet
  • practice sight words
  • read for twenty minutes
  • functional phonics activities

Reminders:

  • Send weather appropriate clothing with your child daily, we will go outside for recess daily.
  • Please make sure you are checking your child’s red take home folder nightly. Please take out student work nightly and remember to help your student complete and return their math homework daily. Students should bring their homework folder to school daily.

The partnership in your child’s education is very valuable please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time!

Laura Fowell
First Grade Teacher
Contact info:
[email protected] 
763-777-8942 ext:8811

Dec 15-19

Look at the Week December 15-19 2

Hello First Grade Families!
 
Here is a look at our week:
 
Take Home Folders: This red Folder is to be sent between home and school in your First Grader's backpack. This week, you will find our Homework for the week along with a list with the week’s spelling words to practice at home.  We will also have a math/functional phonics page each day.
 

Homework: Your student’s Homework Packet will be sent home every Monday. Your child may work on Homework each night of the week, and then return the Homework Packet on Friday. Please read with your First Grader for twenty minutes, work on sight words, and work on spelling words, every night.

Language Arts: We will finish Unit Four in our Benchmark Curriculum. Unit Four is about different perspectives and points of view: Stories Have a Narrator.  We will begin a writing unit and learn how to write a narrative paragraph, and work on finding the main idea, and retelling the stories we read.  We will take our Unit 4 ELA quiz on Thursday this week! 

Functional Phonics: Functional phonics is a systematic approach to teaching reading that focuses on the relationship between letters and sounds to build decoding and spelling skills. It involves explicit instruction, where children are taught the correlations between letters (graphemes) and sounds (phonemes) in a logical, sequential order, starting with simple concepts and moving to more complex ones. Parents can support functional phonics by encouraging phonemic awareness (hearing individual sounds in words), practicing letter-sound correspondence, blending sounds to read words, and making reading a fun, daily activity. 

This week's spelling words will feature three letter blends blends. The spelling words are: three, strong, splash, threw, square, scrap, throat, sprain, street, & split.  The bonus word this week is "scrub".  The spelling test will be given on Friday.

Math: We will finish with Unit Four in our Everyday Math Curriculum.  Everyday Math Unit 4, titled "Measurement and Basic Facts", focuses on measurement, place value, and number relationships, as well as addition with 20 using various strategies and facts. Students will learn to solve addition problems by counting on, using doubles and near doubles, making 10, applying properties of operations (like the commutative property), and adding three numbers. The unit also covers finding unknown numbers in addition equations.  We will be taking our math test on Wed this week!!

Upcoming Events: 
  • Tuesday, December 16th ALA fundraiser at Canes in BP 4-9P
  • December 18: Winter Parade (during school hrs)
  • December 19: Pajama Day: Free Dress Day
  • December 22- January 2: Winter Break- No School
Reminders:
  • Send weather appropriate clothing with your child daily as we will go outside for recess daily.
  • Make sure your child has shoes for fitness. We go to fitness on Monday, Tuesday.
  • Please make sure your child is reading, working on sight words, and working on spelling words every night.
  • Communicate with the front office about any end of the day transportation changes by 2:00 pm.
  • Please make sure you are checking your child’s red take home folder nightly. Students should bring their homework folder to school daily.

The partnership in your child’s education is very valuable... please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time.

Thank you,

Laura Fowell
First Grade Teacher
Contact info:
[email protected] 
763-777-8942 ext:8811

Dec 8th-12th

Hello first grade families! Here is a look at our 15th week of school!

Language Arts: This week we will continue unit four in our Benchmark curriculum. In unit four we will be learning about the writers perspectives and point of view, often titled "Stories Have a Narrator". The unit builds on the concept of stories by introducing the idea of a narrator and exploring how different viewpoints can change a story. Key components include phonics, word analysis, high-frequency words, reading comprehension, and writing, with activities like a pen pal project to help students understand different perspectives.

We will be taking a reading comprehension assessment on Thursday this week.

Writing: This week we will learn how to write paragraphs. We will be writing narrative paragraphs.

Spelling: This week we will be working on ch, tch, and wh sounds. This week spelling words are; child, children, check, lunch, reach, white, while, whisper, sandwich. Spelling test will be on Friday this week. 

Functional Phonics: Functional phonics is a systematic approach to teaching reading that focuses on the relationship between letters and sounds to build decoding and spelling skills. It involves explicit instruction, where children are taught the correlations between letters (graphemes) and sounds (phonemes) in a logical, sequential order, starting with simple concepts and moving to more complex ones. Parents can support functional phonics by encouraging phonemic awareness (hearing individual sounds in words), practicing letter-sound correspondence, blending sounds to read words, and making reading a fun, daily activities. Students will have a functional phonics homework activity nightly.

Math: This week we will continue unit Four in our Everyday math curriculum. Unit 4 for first-grade Everyday Math focuses on measurement, data, and addition skills. Students learn to measure with nonstandard units, compare lengths, and create and interpret bar graphs. The unit also covers addition strategies like using doubles facts, pairs that make 10, and adding three numbers. Additionally, it includes using a number grid to find 10 more or 10 less than a given number.

We will have Math homework nightly.

Nightly student homework:

· spelling words

· math/functional phonics activity worksheet

· practice sight words

· read for twenty minutes

· Weekly Packet

Up Coming Events:

· Dec. 18th Winter Parade

· Dec. 19th Pajama Day-Free Dress Day

· Dec.22nd-Jan. 2nd Winter Break-No School

Reminders:

· Send weather appropriate clothing with your child daily, we will go outside for recess daily.

· Please make sure you are checking your child’s red take home folder nightly. Please take out student work nightly and remember to help your student complete and return their math homework daily. Students should bring their homework folder to school daily.

The partnership in your child’s education is very valuable please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time!

Laura Fowell

First Grade Teacher

Contact info:

[email protected] 

763-777-8942 ext:8811

December 1-5

Hello first grade families! Here is a look at our 14th week of school!

 

Language Arts: This week we will begin unit four in our Benchmark curriculum. In unit four we will be learning about the writers perspectives and point of view, often titled "Stories Have a Narrator". The unit builds on the concept of stories by introducing the idea of a narrator and exploring how different viewpoints can change a story. Key components include phonics, word analysis, high-frequency words, reading comprehension, and writing, with activities like a pen pal project to help students understand different perspectives.

We will be taking a reading comprehension assessment on Wedneday this week

.

Writing: This week we will learn how to write paragraphs. We will begin writing narrative paragraphs.

 

Spelling: This week we will be working on th, sh and ng sounds. This week spelling words are; fish, wish, dish, then, this, that, king, wings, moth, could. Spelling test will be on Wednesday this week. 

 

Functional Phonics: Functional phonics is a systematic approach to teaching reading that focuses on the relationship between letters and sounds to build decoding and spelling skills. It involves explicit instruction, where children are taught the correlations between letters (graphemes) and sounds (phonemes) in a logical, sequential order, starting with simple concepts and moving to more complex ones. Parents can support functional phonics by encouraging phonemic awareness (hearing individual sounds in words), practicing letter-sound correspondence, blending sounds to read words, and making reading a fun, daily activities. Students will have a functional phonics homework activity nightly.

 

Math: This week we will begin unit Four in our Everyday math curriculum. Unit 4 for first-grade Everyday Math focuses on measurement, data, and addition skills. Students learn to measure with nonstandard units, compare lengths, and create and interpret bar graphs. The unit also covers addition strategies like using doubles facts, pairs that make 10, and adding three numbers. Additionally, it includes using a number grid to find 10 more or 10 less than a given number.

We will have Math homework nightly.

 

Nightly student homework:

· spelling words

· math/functional phonics activity worksheet

· practice sight words

· read for twenty minutes

· Weekly Packet

 

Up Coming Events:

· Dec. 18th Winter Parade

· Dec. 19th Pajama Day-Free Dress Day

· Dec.22nd-Jan. 2nd Winter Break-No School

Reminders:

· Send weather appropriate clothing with your child daily, we will go outside for recess daily.

· Please make sure you are checking your child’s red take home folder nightly. Please take out student work nightly and remember to help your student complete and return their math homework daily. Students should bring their homework folder to school daily.

The partnership in your child’s education is very valuable please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time!

Laura Fowell

First Grade Teacher

 

Contact info:

[email protected] 

763-777-8942 ext:8811

November 10-14

Hello first grade families! Here is a look at our 11th week of school!

Language Arts: This week we will complete unit three in our Benchmark curriculum. Unit Three is about being a good community member. We will review punctuation, capital letters, and writing complete sentences.

This week spelling will be working on final consent blends. This week’s spelling words will be: and, hand, mend, help, fast, must, end, ring, sing, &, thing. Spelling test will be given on Friday.

Functional Phonics: Functional phonics is a systematic approach to teaching reading that focuses on the relationship between letters and sounds to build decoding and spelling skills. It involves explicit instruction, where children are taught the correlations between letters (graphemes) and sounds (phonemes) in a logical, sequential order, starting with simple concepts and moving to more complex ones. Parents can support functional phonics by encouraging phonemic awareness (hearing individual sounds in words), practicing letter-sound correspondence, blending sounds to read words, and making reading a fun, daily activities. Students will have a functional phonics homework activity nightly.  Please work with your child with this homework piece!

Math: This week we will continue unit three in our Everyday math curriculum. Everyday Math Unit 3, titled "Number Stories," focuses on solving word problems and includes concepts like using parts and total diagrams, counting on a number line, and working with unknowns. Key topics also involve number grid patterns, using frames and arrows diagrams, and skip counting with 2’s, 5’s and 10’s. We will have Math homework nightly.

Social Studies: This week we will continue a social studies lesson on voting and elections. We will vote for a class president and learn the election process.

Science: This week we will continue to focus on the impact humans have on the earth.

Nightly student homework:

· spelling words

. Weekly packet

· math/functional phonics activity

· practice sight words

· read for twenty

 

Up Coming Events:

· Trimester two begins Nov. 24th

· Fall break Nov. 26th-28th

 

Reminders:

· Send weather appropriate clothing with your child daily, we will go outside for recess daily.

· Please make sure you are checking your child’s red take home folder nightly. Please take out student work nightly and remember to help your student complete and return their math homework daily. Students should bring their homework folder to school daily.

The partnership in your child’s education is very valuable please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time!

Laura Fowell

1st grade teacher

Contact info:
[email protected]  
763-777-8942 ext:8811

 

 

November 3-7

Hello first grade families! Here is a look at our 10th week of school!
Language Arts: This week we will continue unit three in our Benchmark curriculum. Unit Three is about being a good community member. We will review punctuation, capital letters, and writing complete sentences.
This week spelling will be working on ‘S’ blends. This week’s spelling words are; scan, scout, sleep, slow, smile, smart, snow, sport, spot, &, star. Spelling test will be given on Friday.
Functional Phonics: Functional phonics is a systematic approach to teaching reading that focuses on the relationship between letters and sounds to build decoding and spelling skills. It involves explicit instruction, where children are taught the correlations between letters (graphemes) and sounds (phonemes) in a logical, sequential order, starting with simple concepts and moving to more complex ones. Parents can support functional phonics by encouraging phonemic awareness (hearing individual sounds in words), practicing letter-sound correspondence, blending sounds to read words, and making reading a fun, daily activities. Students will have a functional phonics homework activity nightly.
Math: This week we will continue unit three in our Everyday math curriculum. Everyday Math Unit 3, titled "Number Stories," focuses on solving word problems and includes concepts like using parts and total diagrams, counting on a number line, and working with unknowns. Key topics also involve number grid patterns, using frames and arrows diagrams, and skip counting with 2’s, 5’s and 10’s. We will have Math homework nightly.
Social Studies: This week we will continue a social studies lesson on voting and elections. We will vote for a class president and learn the election process.
Science: This week we will focus on the impact humans have on the earth.
Nightly student homework:
· spelling words
· math activity worksheets
· practice sight words
· read for twenty
· functional phonics activity
Reminders:
· Send weather appropriate clothing with your child daily, we will go outside for recess daily.
· Please make sure you are checking your child’s red take home folder nightly. Please take out student work nightly and remember to help your student complete and return their math homework daily. Students should bring their homework folder to school daily.
The partnership in your child’s education is very valuable please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time!
Laura Fowell
Contact info: [email protected] 
763-777-8942 ext:8811