Using Our Blog

Use the Topic links on the right side of this blog to view posts about different math and science topics we are learning about, and find internet resources to help your child.

Doubles and Near Doubles

        What are doubles facts?? A double is an addition fact where both numbers being added together are the same, like 2+2 or 5+5. Memorizing your doubles facts can help you to add other number sentences more easily. If you know that 3+3=6,  when you see 3+4, you can see that it should be just one more, because four is just one more than 3, so you can take the sum of the double (3+3=6) and add 1 more (3+4=7).  We have introduced the concepts of doubles and near-doubles to our students and we will be continuing to practice addition using doubles in the next few weeks. Here are some resources to help your child practice their doubles.
        We have been singing the doubles rap to help us memorize our doubles facts:

0+0=0: Oh!

1+1=2: Ooh!

2+2=4: More!

3+3=6: Kicks!

4+4=8: Great!

5+5=10: Again!

6+6=12: That’s swell!

7+7=14: Let’s lean!

8+8=16: You’re a queen!

9+9=18: Jelly bean!

10+10=20: That’s plenty!

     Here is a powerpoint presentation showing the doubles, and how they can help us when adding: Using Doubles.

     Here are some flashcards to help your child practice their doubles:

Doubles to 10

Doubles to 20

Here are some online games to help your child practice their doubles:

Monkey Drive – Racing game to practice your doubles

Ann and Addem's Dart Board game

Alien Attack – Solve the doubles before they fall to Earth

Doubles Mad Math Minute – timed game

Top of the Class Game – Move the bee up to the top by making doubles

Here are some video Resources

Doubles Songs – I Can Add Doubles, 1-5 version 

Doubles Songs – I can Add Doubles, 6-10 Version

Brainpop Jr Doubles Movie – this is only accessible if you have a brainpop subscription.

Subtraction

     We have been working on Subtraction for the last couple of weeks. We are focusing on learning different models of subtraction. In kindergarten, we learned that subtraction means to take away. Now, we are learning that subtraction can also be used to understand and solve problems about comparison and parts of a whole.
     Common Core Standard 1.OA.1.: Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem
      Ehow has a great explanation of the different models of subtraction. We have been practicing the completion model, the comparison model and the whole/part/part model (missing part).
     The completion model helps students learn that subtraction is the opposite of addition, teaching students to solve an addition problem where one addend is missing, by using a subtraction problem. For example: Jason had 4 stickers. His mom gave him some more. Now he has 6 stickers all together. How many did his mom give him? We could write this problem as the following number sentence 4 + x = 6. Students can use the counting up method to solve this problem by starting at 4, then counting up on their fingers to get to six. They can also use a subtraction expression to solve this problem: 6-4=2. Students must understand that subtraction is the opposite of addition and that if they look at how many there are altogether, then subtract off what he had to start with, they will find the missing addend.
     The comparison model uses subtraction when comparing two groups to determine how many more or less either group has. For example: Jason had 4 cookies. Susie had 6 cookies. How many more cookies does Susie have? Students can make a picture to solve this problem:

    








      They can also use a subtraction expression to solve this problem: 6-4=2. Students must understand that if they look at the larger group, and subtract the part that they have in common, they will be left with the difference.

     The part/part/whole model is very similar to the missing addend problem in how it is solved, but the type of word problem the students will encounter is different. This problem will involve two parts of a whole that are somehow different. For example: There are 8 dogs and cats dancing. Four dogs are dancing. How many cats are dancing? This could also be written as a missing addend sentence: 4 + x = 8. Students could again use the counting up method, or can draw a missing addend picture and draw to count up

 

     Just like the completion model, they can also use a subtraction expression to solve this problem: 8 - 4=4. Students must understand that subtraction is the opposite of addition and that if they look at the whole (how many there are altogether), then subtract off how many items are in the first group, they will find out how many items are in the second group.

     Our Common Core standard requires first graders to understand and solve all of these types of problems. Please discuss and practice these types of problems with your child and make sure to review their daily work. Below, you will find some additional subtraction resources that you can use to help your child practice subtracting.

Videos:

A nice lesson on subtraction by a teacher

Using Triangles for fact families

Online Subtraction practice and games:

Subtraction practice problems

Subtraction Quiz

Subtraction Flash Cards

Timed Subtraction Practice

Pop the balloons subtraction game

Owl subtraction game

Bowling

Mothmatic Subtraction Game

 

Let’s Learn About Animals.

We have been studying a few different things about animals.

      We learned about the basic needs of animals – shelter, food, water and air. What are some different animal shelters: a bird lives in a nest, a bear lives in a cave.  We have learned about the groups or classifications of animals, including mammals, reptiles, birds and insects. We have also learned to classify animals by what they eat: meat eaters (carnivores), plant eaters (herbivores) and animals that eat meat and plants (omnivores). We have discussed the different characteristics of the different animal groups (eg. Mammals have fur, birds have feathers. Carnivores have sharp teeth to rip and tear meat, herbivores have flat teeth for grinding plants) Check out these different resources for more information and fun activities about animals. 

Animals – Groups/Classification

• San Diego Zoo - click on each animal type to read a few details and see picturess of animals from that group
• Kids Corner Animal Classification – Gives characteristics of the different animal groups. You can get more details if you click on the link on the right under “Read more about”. There is also an animal classification game that requires you to sort the different characteristics of each animal group.
• Brainpop video about classifying animals - This has a lot more detail than what we discussed in class but it is a great extension!
• Kids National Geographic Creature Feature – this website has different animals in each group. Click on the name of the animal group on the left to see different animals in that group.

 

Animals – Needs

• Macmillan Mcgraw Hill Animal Needs Slideshow – a slideshow about what animals need.

Carnivores and Herbivores

• Switch Zoo Animal Sorting Game – practice sorting animals into groups: carnivore, herbivore and omnivore.
• Carnivores, Herbivores and Omnivores video – a short video telling about the characteristics of each type of animal.
• Animal Diet Game - A simple game that requires students to determine what group each animal belongs to.  
• Your Dictionary List of Omnivores - A list of animals that are omnivores

Class Overview

         Welcome to Mrs. Inglish's Far Out First Grade Class! First Grade is a year of shift in learning. In Kindergarten, your child was learning to read. In First Grade, they will continue to learn to read, but they will begin to read to learn! I am so excited to be making this new jump with your children, as this will be my first year of first grade as well.  

         Your child will be learning A LOT this school year! Check out the Common Core State standards. These are the things we will be learning this year. You play a vital role in your child's education. Please make sure you talk to your child every day about what he/she learned in school, and discuss and practice those things at home. Read daily with your child. Talk to your child and share experiences. The best gift you can give to your child is your time. You will be amazed by the end of the year at how much your child has grown!

        Thank you to all of the parents who joined us at Back to School Night!  I hope the information we shared was helpful. For those parents who were unable to attend, please read through the powerpoint slides from our presentation. A lot of information was shared and we are sending home some additional information in the homework folder on Tuesday, including information about how to log in to the different curriculum websites. Please check your child's homework folder!

 

Important reminders:

         Attendance: Please try to avoid unnecessary absences. Each missed day of school leads to loss of opportunity to learn. If your child is absent, please send a note or call the school office to let us know the reason for the absence. Please make sure your child is on time every day. We begin promptly each day at 8:00AM. 

Important Links:

        Here are some important links to find school and district information:

Our Wescove Elementary Website

The West Covina Unified School District Website

Food Services (pay for school lunches online!)

     Email Mrs. Inglish - Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns!

 

 

Fractions!

This week we are working on fractions. We will be learning about dividing objects/shapes into equal parts - halves, thirds and fourths.
Here are some great resources and games to help your child practice fractions. Some of these resources have some higher grade level activities, so you will want to monitor/work with your child, and only use the website as long as it is appropriate for your child.

• WebMath - What is a fraction
• Displays whatever fraction you type in with a picture and description. Type in ½ and it shows and tells you about one half.
• Kids OLR (Online Resources) – Fractions
• Click “What is a Fraction” for a visual with explanation of different fractions 
• BBC Fractions of Something Game
• Choose something to divide (eg pizza) and drag over the numbers to create a fraction that the pizza will be divided into.
• IXL Fractions Quiz
• Practice identifying different fractions by choosing the picture that shows each fraction given
• Harcourt Fractions Memory Game
• Match the picture of each fraction to the written form of the fraction
• Harcourt Fractions Cross the River Game 
• Match the fraction picture to it’s numeric fraction to cross the river
• Fractions Quiz
• Identify the correct fractions
• AAA Math Identify the Fraction 
• Gives an explanation of fractions and then some practice

Spring Sing

We will be having a performance on May 22nd. Our students will be singing five songs and parents will be invited to watch us sing at 8:15. The students are practicing their songs in class, but I have uploaded the lyrics so the students can practice at home also if they wish. You can view the lyrics from my Google drive at the link below:

Spring Sing Song Lyrics