Mrs. Balsewicz’s 1st Grade November 

Newsletter 

 

 

Math Workshop  

Math: We are currently finishing up on using base ten blocks to find ones, 

tens and hundreds within a number. That’s where the students take a number 

(97) and know that in order to make that number it needs to have 9 tens, (9 

groups of ten ones (popsicle sticks) and 7 ones (individual popsicle sticks). This 

work is to allow the children to have a better understanding of what makes up a 

number. Not only do they need to make the number using base ten blocks, they 

also need to be able to write the number 97 when seeing base ten blocks as well 

as writing the expanded form equation 90 + 7 = 97. The students also worked on 

vocabulary words such as, greater than, less than and equal. Using these 

vocabulary words, the students needed to indicate if a number sentence was true 

or false and provide an explanation to their thinking either by drawing and/or 

writing in their Math Journals. For example, 55 > 81, False because 55 has only 

5 tens and 81 has 8 tens. 11 = 9 + 2 True because 9+1 would be ten and 1 more 

would be 11. The children have also been exposed to equations as hard as the 

following 16+4=10+____ to show understanding of what equal really means (each 

side of the equations need to balance).   

 

Please let me know if you have questions.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Unit 3 the students will be working on using strategies such as counting all, 

counting on, using doubles, and bridging to 10 to answer algebraic equations. We 

will also continue to work on writing, identifying and counting numbers to 120 

along with problem solving (Fred had 4 apples and he picked 7 more, how many 

does he have now?) For homework, give your child some math story problems 

that they can figure out that have to do with their life which creates more 

meaning for them. For example, we have six people eating, we have______ 

number of ___________, how many will each person get?   

Writer’s Workshop 

In Writer’s Workshop, the children are working on adding Bold Beginnings (who, 

when and where) Mighty Middles (what, how and why) and Extraordinary Endings 

(adding an ending that is close to the story. For example, instead of saying, the 

end or we went home, they could say, It was the best day ever or I can’t wait to 

go again, etc. The children are doing a great job of adding punctuation to the end 

of their sentences, putting spacing between their words and capitalizing the 

letter I when they are talking about themselves (who is the most important 

person in the story). The children will continue to add details to their mighty 

middles. This is where the children will work on showing the story rather than 

just telling the details. The listeners need to be able to visualize what is 

happening in the story. For example, writing, I saw a bird , that is an example of 

telling the story whereas, I looked out the window and saw a red bird flying in 

front of the window. It came so close that I jumped back because I thought it 

was going to hit the window showing the listener. 

 

 

Snack Reminders and Cautions:   First grade has snacks every day at approximately 1:50. It’s amazing how hungry 

the children are for snacks. It must be all that brain power being used! . If you 

want them to have a snack in the afternoon, please plan on sending one with them. 

(Great teaching opportunity in independence, have your child pick out their snack 

and put it in their backpack before they go to bed) 

 

 

Please continue to send back library books to school when your child is 

done reading them so they can be quarantined . Tuesdays is our library day.  

1st Grade Positive Happenings  In 1st grade I believe, “We are all good”, it’s the choices we make, 

that are good or bad! I see discipline not as a punishment but rather 

an opportunity for learning! Positive reinforcement is used in the 

classroom, such as positive comments, high fives, stickers, a pat on 

the back, etc. As a class, the children can earn pom-poms for good 

choices that are made during class. When the jar is full, the 

children will decide and vote as a group as to what they would like to 

do for a party (voting and group decision making is a standard in 

Social Studies). Watch for emails regarding the earned parties. In 

addition to class rewards, the children can also earn individual tickets 

for good choices. Once they have earned 10, they may turn them in 

for a prize of their choosing from the prize box.  

 

 

 

However, at times their needs to be consequences for our actions, 

just like in the “real world”. Holding students accountable for their 

actions is not a punishment but rather an opportunity to make the 

students responsible. Both empathy and consequences drive the 

teaching, to help students to grow and be responsible individuals.  

 

The students are very excited to be celebrating their 1st Reward 

Party. The students have collected enough pom-poms to fill up a jar 

with all their good choices they have been making. Yesterday, we 

brainstormed some ideas for parties and after voting, Candy Party 

(Kid Choice) had the most votes. I promise to keep it to a small 

amount. We are going to also play candyland (if I can find a few more 

game boards). 

 

 

 

Please let me know if you have any questions. 

 

 

 

1st Grade and Meadowbrook 

Happenings November 12th--Candy Party 

November 25nd-29th Happy Thanksgiving (No School) 

 

 

 

Social Studies 

 

We are starting a new unit for social 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Laurie Balsewicz 

lbalsewi@waukesha.k12.wi.us 

 

 

 

studies, Economics. The children will be 

learning about wants and needs and 

community workers, services and goods. 

Learning is Fun!