France

For the past several years, it has been a tradition at Hough Street School to hold a Cultural Event at the end of the school year.  In past years, students have studied the counties of Central and South America and Asia.  This year, each classroom will study and learn about countries in Europe.  This year, our class has decided to study France.  We will present our learning at the Cultural Event at the end of May.  To help us prepare for this event and become experts in both the French language and culture, we've enlisted the help of Madame Rowley.  Madame is the grandmother of a student in our class and an expert in everything French.  Madame was a French teacher for over 28 years and is excited to share her knowledge with our first graders!

  

 

Baby Haradon

Please Welcome the Newest Addition to Our Hough Family

Genevieve Susanne Haradon

11.12.13 at 11:31 PM

9 pounds 4 oz - 21 inches

 

 

Turkey Talk

The turkey is a funny bird

Its head goes bobble-bobble;

And all he knows is just one word... 

And that is

GOBBLE, GOBBLE!!!

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Fact Family Fun

Fact Families

One of the more common concepts taught in first grade math is the concept of a fact family (or fact families). 

A fact family is made up of three numbers. Just as in any family the members, or numbers, are related and there are always at least four math facts to be made with them. 
 

Take, for example, these members of a fact family: 3, 4, and 7.

The Fact Family Relationships

In the family 3, 4, and 7 they are related because you can add two of the numbers to get the last number.

• 3 + 4 = 7

You can also switch the first two numbers, using the commutative property of addition, and still get the same answer.

• 4 + 3 = 7

Fact Family Cousins

If addition is the direct relationship amongst these family members, then subtraction is the family cousin through the inverse property. Simply put, subtraction is the opposite of addition, but it's still related.  The problems still only use the three members of the family.

• 7 - 3 = 4
• 7 - 4 = 3

Keeping Track of All Family Members

Once your child knows the relationships of the fact family members, it's easy to see who is missing at a quick glance. Solving addition and subtraction problems is then much easier and starts to become automatic. Take for example, this problem:

• 3 + ____  =  7

Your child should quickly be able to recognize 4 as the missing family member.

Fluency

Fluency is defined as the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. In order to understand what they read, children must be able to read fluently whether they are reading aloud or silently. When reading aloud, fluent readers read in phrases and add intonation appropriately. Their reading is smooth and has expression.


Children who do not read with fluency sound choppy and awkward. Those students may have difficulty with decoding skills or they may just need more practice with speed and smoothness in reading. Fluency is also important for motivation; children who find reading laborious tend not to want read! As readers head into upper elementary grades, fluency becomes increasingly important. The volume of reading required in the upper elementary years escalates dramatically. Students whose reading is slow or labored will have trouble meeting the reading demands of their grade level.

How to help

With the help of parents and teachers, kids can learn strategies to cope with fluency issues that affect his or her reading. Below are some tips and specific things to do.

 

What kids can do to help themselves

• Track the words with your finger as a parent or teacher reads a passage aloud. Then you read it.
• Have a parent or teacher read aloud to you. Then, match your voice to theirs.
• Read your favorite books and poems over and over again. Practice getting smoother and reading with expression.

What parents can do to help at home

• Support and encourage your child. Realize that he or she is likely frustrated by reading.
• If your child can decode words well, help him or her build speed and accuracy by:
  • Reading aloud and having your child match his voice to yours
  • Having your child practice reading the same list of words, phrase, or short passages several times
  • Reminding your child to pause between sentences and phrases
• Read aloud to your child to provide an example of how fluent reading sounds.
• Give your child books with predictable vocabulary and clear rhythmic patterns so the child can "hear" the sound of fluent reading as he or she reads the book aloud.
• Use books on tapes; have the child follow along in the print copy.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Halloween Fun

Enjoy the SPOOKTACULAR 

pictures from our Halloween!