Newsletter September 26-30

I remembered to send your child's poetry folder home.  In fact, I am placing it on their desks after I finish this post!  Please read these poems with your child nightly and return the folder on Friday for our poetry performances.  I mentioned last week that all of the children with the same poem will perform together as a group.  Please encourage reading with expression.  Memorizing the poem is optional, but those that memorize it can choose to perform it on their own after the group performances.     

Next week, October 3-7 is SEP week.  I can't believe that they are here already.  I included in your child's folder today a notice of when their conference is scheduled.  If you have a conflict with your scheduled time, please send me a note or e-mail and we can change it.

There are a couple of new items in your child's folder this week (besides the poetry journal).  One is a list of sight words.  Please practice these with your child and return the yellow slip of paper when they are ready to "pass off" the words in class.  They should be able to read these words automatically, without much hesitation, and without trying to sound them out.  I will send a new list, up to 11 lists, after you child passes one off.  We, as first grade teachers, will include on our first quarter report card lists one and two.  Practicing these sight words can be part of your 20 minutes of reading at night. Don't practice them for the whole 20 minutes though, just a few minutes each night. The other new item is the challenge words that are attached to the spelling list.  I will be including these every week.  I include them for all students because it's easier to load their folders that way, but if you feel that the regular spelling words are enough for your child, do not study these.  These spelling words are bonus and the children that attempt them will get extra credit on their spelling tests each Friday. 

Remember to have your child write their spelling words for homework and return the list along with the homework side of their math worksheet. 

I hope you are enjoying this beautiful Fall weather!  Happy Reading!