Happy Halloween! Thanks to all of the wonderful, dads and grandpa that came and helped carve pumpkins with my students today. It will definitely be a highlight of our year.
I honestly can't believe that it will be November tomorrow. We have had a fun month of pumpkins, spiders and moon watchers. We will continue our moon unit through the month of November, so that every student can have a chance to observe the moon and report to the class. Today we wrote "pumpkin similes". I loved all of the original comparisons that my students came up with. During the month of November we will be learning about Thanksgiving traditions, comparing the lives of Pilgrims to our lives now, and especially learning about gratitude. We will be learning through literature, writing and art projects.
I sent home a new list of sight words today with your child. Those sight words are yours to keep. You can cut them up and use them as flash cards if you would like to. At the end of the year, you will have a nice collection of first grade sight words. Remember that I will test your child every Friday on the new list of words.
Congratulations to our sweet Michaela! She received the Catch the Vision award for the month of October. She is very deserving of this award. She always does her best work and is a good friend.
The October reading record is due November 1st. I put the November reading record in your child's folder today. Thanks for reading with your child nightly. It helps immensely!
Have fun Trick or Treating and Happy Reading!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Newsletter October 25-28
Welcome back! I hope that you all had a nice Harvest Holiday. I enjoyed my sleep-in days very much.
I will send home your child's grades by Wednesday. I only printed the category report because of the amount of paper it takes to print out all of the assignments. If you want to see all of your child's assignments please use the username and password that I gave you at SEP conferences and access Power School. If you have forgotten this information let me know and I will send you another one. I also will attach your child's attendance record. Please make sure that your child is here and on time for school.
I sent home spelling words last Wednesday, but did not send your child's new poem. I sent it home today (Tuesday Oct. 25). Thanks for helping your child with these poems. We have been having great performances on Fridays.
I am going to change the way that I have been doing sight words. Instead of sending the whole list with 20 plus words on it, I am now going to send home a list of words on Monday and will test the kids on Friday. I feel that the big list has been unmanageable for some and when I have tested my students most of them miss several of the words. Please help your child study these words at home. If you have any questions please let me know.
We have started our literacy block. I am still in need of personal portable CD players so that I can have a "listening center" in my classroom. If any of you have these that you don't use anymore please send them my direction.
We are going on a walking field trip to the Paiute Tribal Center on November 8th at 9:00. Please sign the permission slip that I put in your child's folder and send it back ASAP. I also put in a note about our Halloween pumpkin carving party. Remember that the students do not dress up for school on Halloween, but there is a PTA sponsored Halloween Carnival on Friday, October 28th at 5:30 where they can dress up. The Halloween carnival will be held here at East Elementary.
Happy Reading!
I will send home your child's grades by Wednesday. I only printed the category report because of the amount of paper it takes to print out all of the assignments. If you want to see all of your child's assignments please use the username and password that I gave you at SEP conferences and access Power School. If you have forgotten this information let me know and I will send you another one. I also will attach your child's attendance record. Please make sure that your child is here and on time for school.
I sent home spelling words last Wednesday, but did not send your child's new poem. I sent it home today (Tuesday Oct. 25). Thanks for helping your child with these poems. We have been having great performances on Fridays.
I am going to change the way that I have been doing sight words. Instead of sending the whole list with 20 plus words on it, I am now going to send home a list of words on Monday and will test the kids on Friday. I feel that the big list has been unmanageable for some and when I have tested my students most of them miss several of the words. Please help your child study these words at home. If you have any questions please let me know.
We have started our literacy block. I am still in need of personal portable CD players so that I can have a "listening center" in my classroom. If any of you have these that you don't use anymore please send them my direction.
We are going on a walking field trip to the Paiute Tribal Center on November 8th at 9:00. Please sign the permission slip that I put in your child's folder and send it back ASAP. I also put in a note about our Halloween pumpkin carving party. Remember that the students do not dress up for school on Halloween, but there is a PTA sponsored Halloween Carnival on Friday, October 28th at 5:30 where they can dress up. The Halloween carnival will be held here at East Elementary.
Happy Reading!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Newsletter October 17-19
We had a great time at the pumpkin patch! I took some cute pictures and I will post them soon. October is a fun month in 1st grade. We are learning about spiders, pumpkins, and the moon. Thanks to those who have already been "moon watchers". I am glad the moon has been cooperative.
I can't believe that we have almost completed one quarter of school. This Wednesday, October 19th is the last day of the quarter. I will print out grades and send them home with your child early next week. I will also send home a progress monitoring graph, like the one that I showed you at SEP's. If you have any questions about grades or their progress in reading please don't hesitate to contact me.
Since this is a short week, we will not have a spelling test this week or poetry performances. I will send home spelling words, and new poems this Wednesday since we get back on a Tuesday, October 25. That way you will have the time at home to study if needed.
This week we will conclude our "Walk to Read" program. When we get back all of my children will be back in my room. Some of the students will still go to a reading group out in the reading building. I will let you know if you child will be receiving that extra reading intervention. If you have been helping in other classes please come to my classroom. I will have you reading with children individually. Please be patient, as we rewind a bit. I use a Literacy management system in my classroom called "Daily Five". It consists of five literacy activities that the children can choose from while I teach small groups. The students will be "Reading to Self", "Listening to Reading", "Writing", doing "Word work", or "Reading to Someone". I will also include AR tests and allow my students to use the smart board in literacy activities. This new system will take some training. First graders need to be taught explicitly and since most of my students were elsewhere for reading, I will need to train them in my system. I am excited to get going. I love teaching reading! It's got to be one of the best parts of teaching first grade.
Wednesday, Oct. 19th is picture retake day. If you want your child to have their picture retaken please send the first picture packet back to school by Wednesday and I will send them down for a retake.
For our Halloween party, on Monday Oct. 31, I want to have Dads come and help carve pumpkins with groups of kids. If you would like to help with this let me know. I will send a note home on Wednesday with more information.
I hope you all have a fun, restful, and safe Fall Recess. Happy Reading!
I can't believe that we have almost completed one quarter of school. This Wednesday, October 19th is the last day of the quarter. I will print out grades and send them home with your child early next week. I will also send home a progress monitoring graph, like the one that I showed you at SEP's. If you have any questions about grades or their progress in reading please don't hesitate to contact me.
Since this is a short week, we will not have a spelling test this week or poetry performances. I will send home spelling words, and new poems this Wednesday since we get back on a Tuesday, October 25. That way you will have the time at home to study if needed.
This week we will conclude our "Walk to Read" program. When we get back all of my children will be back in my room. Some of the students will still go to a reading group out in the reading building. I will let you know if you child will be receiving that extra reading intervention. If you have been helping in other classes please come to my classroom. I will have you reading with children individually. Please be patient, as we rewind a bit. I use a Literacy management system in my classroom called "Daily Five". It consists of five literacy activities that the children can choose from while I teach small groups. The students will be "Reading to Self", "Listening to Reading", "Writing", doing "Word work", or "Reading to Someone". I will also include AR tests and allow my students to use the smart board in literacy activities. This new system will take some training. First graders need to be taught explicitly and since most of my students were elsewhere for reading, I will need to train them in my system. I am excited to get going. I love teaching reading! It's got to be one of the best parts of teaching first grade.
Wednesday, Oct. 19th is picture retake day. If you want your child to have their picture retaken please send the first picture packet back to school by Wednesday and I will send them down for a retake.
For our Halloween party, on Monday Oct. 31, I want to have Dads come and help carve pumpkins with groups of kids. If you would like to help with this let me know. I will send a note home on Wednesday with more information.
I hope you all have a fun, restful, and safe Fall Recess. Happy Reading!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Newsletter October 10-14
It was wonderful to visit with all of you last week. I have such a great bunch of first graders! I brag all of the time to my colleagues about the extraordinary parental support I have this year. It is evident to me that you read with your children nightly, and that you help them get their homework done. Parental support is so valuable in a child's education and my students have great help at home. Thanks again!
This week is Red Ribbon Week. I sent home a flier on Friday stating what the school will be doing each day. Each day the kids can "dress up" according to the theme. For example, Monday, October 10 is Crazy Socks Day. Look for the note if you haven't seen it yet, so that your child can participate if they want to.
I told some of you this at SEP conferences, but most I did not tell because I was not informed until Wednesday afternoon. We are going to discontinue our "Walk to Read" program on October 18. If your child goes to another teacher during our literacy block (9:00-10:30 daily, except Wednesday), they will now come to my class. If you help during that reading time with another teacher you will now come to my class. I will contact those of you that help out next week to explain how I will use you in my classroom. Thanks to those that have volunteered to come in and help at 11:00-11:45. I can always use volunteers to listen to students read so if you are willing let me know and I will gladly have you!
I want to include a listening center as part of my literacy block. To do this, I am I am in need of portable CD players--the pre-Ipod era players. If you have one of these portable players, with headphones laying around ready to go to the DI please send it my direction instead.
Our math program now has a fact worksheet with nearly every lesson. I will give it to the students daily, and hope that they will finish both sides in class. If they don't finish both sides in class, I will have them bring it home for homework. Look for this along with their regular math homework.
I sent home our "Moon Bag" today for the first time. I showed this to you at our conference last week. Please help you child find the moon and draw it on the next page. Please remember to date the page. Also, if they can't see it you can have them draw what they see in the sky, or visit the internet for a better "picture". Please return the "Moon Bag" the following day so that another student can get the opportunity. If your child happens to bring the "Moon Bag" home on a Friday, you may have them draw the moon three times, or just once. I think this will be a fun month, full of excited "Moon Watchers"!
If you haven't sent an apple with your child yet, please do it by Tuesday, October 11. We are going to put in our witches eyes and teeth that day and start the "drying" process. Remember also, that we are going to the Pumpkin Patch this Thursday. If you haven't sent the $1.00 donation please do so no later than Thursday.
One last thing, I sent home the October Scholastic book orders today (Monday, October 10) with your child. The book orders will be due October 17. I have included a letter with the orders about online ordering. This is just another option on how to order books. You can still send the orders back with a check or cash the traditional way. If you order online, it is also due October 17. One book suggestion is: "Splat the Cat's Halloween".
Have a great Fall week and Happy Reading!
This week is Red Ribbon Week. I sent home a flier on Friday stating what the school will be doing each day. Each day the kids can "dress up" according to the theme. For example, Monday, October 10 is Crazy Socks Day. Look for the note if you haven't seen it yet, so that your child can participate if they want to.
I told some of you this at SEP conferences, but most I did not tell because I was not informed until Wednesday afternoon. We are going to discontinue our "Walk to Read" program on October 18. If your child goes to another teacher during our literacy block (9:00-10:30 daily, except Wednesday), they will now come to my class. If you help during that reading time with another teacher you will now come to my class. I will contact those of you that help out next week to explain how I will use you in my classroom. Thanks to those that have volunteered to come in and help at 11:00-11:45. I can always use volunteers to listen to students read so if you are willing let me know and I will gladly have you!
I want to include a listening center as part of my literacy block. To do this, I am I am in need of portable CD players--the pre-Ipod era players. If you have one of these portable players, with headphones laying around ready to go to the DI please send it my direction instead.
Our math program now has a fact worksheet with nearly every lesson. I will give it to the students daily, and hope that they will finish both sides in class. If they don't finish both sides in class, I will have them bring it home for homework. Look for this along with their regular math homework.
I sent home our "Moon Bag" today for the first time. I showed this to you at our conference last week. Please help you child find the moon and draw it on the next page. Please remember to date the page. Also, if they can't see it you can have them draw what they see in the sky, or visit the internet for a better "picture". Please return the "Moon Bag" the following day so that another student can get the opportunity. If your child happens to bring the "Moon Bag" home on a Friday, you may have them draw the moon three times, or just once. I think this will be a fun month, full of excited "Moon Watchers"!
If you haven't sent an apple with your child yet, please do it by Tuesday, October 11. We are going to put in our witches eyes and teeth that day and start the "drying" process. Remember also, that we are going to the Pumpkin Patch this Thursday. If you haven't sent the $1.00 donation please do so no later than Thursday.
One last thing, I sent home the October Scholastic book orders today (Monday, October 10) with your child. The book orders will be due October 17. I have included a letter with the orders about online ordering. This is just another option on how to order books. You can still send the orders back with a check or cash the traditional way. If you order online, it is also due October 17. One book suggestion is: "Splat the Cat's Halloween".
Have a great Fall week and Happy Reading!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Newsletter October 3-7
We had wonderful poetry performances on Friday. I was so pleased that many in my class decided to memorize their poems. This is a great way to increase oral reading expression and to show the students what it means to be a good audience. I have included a new poem in your child's notebook today. Please again help your child read this, and remember that memorizing the poem is totally optional. I do not want frustrated students, just happy readers! Please remember to return the folder each Friday, maybe just keeping the folder in their backpack will help--that way you won't forget to return it.
The September reading record (has apples on it) is now due. I have sent home a new October reading record (look for a paper with ghosts on it). Remember that I ask that your child read for 20 minutes, five times per week. This can include reading the poem, the decodeable books, a take-home library book, or sight word practice. These reading records are now worth 100 points.
Our class received the "traveling eagle" at the first assembly last week. That is for the class that Mr. Burton feels was the best behaved! I was super excited about that, and so were the kids. Congratulations to our September "Catch-the-Vision" winner--Luis Torres. Luis is a hard worker and a good class citizen. I love having him in my class.
We will not have our library time this week because of the Book Fair that is taking place. You can still return your child's books anytime. Next week (October 10-14), our library day will be different because the librarian has a training meeting on Thursday. I will let you know in my next blog post when our day will be.
We have an orchestra program for our 5th grade students. This year we have over 30 students. Mr. Burton asked us to announce that an orchestra volunteer would be greatly appreciated. If you have any experience in orchestra and would like to help out please let me know and I will pass your name onto the orchestra teacher.
Thanks in advance for making time for our SEP conferences. This is an invaluable experience and one I look forward to. Remember that school dismisses at 2:30 everyday, including Wednesday. Thanks for all that you do for your child.
Happy Reading!
The September reading record (has apples on it) is now due. I have sent home a new October reading record (look for a paper with ghosts on it). Remember that I ask that your child read for 20 minutes, five times per week. This can include reading the poem, the decodeable books, a take-home library book, or sight word practice. These reading records are now worth 100 points.
Our class received the "traveling eagle" at the first assembly last week. That is for the class that Mr. Burton feels was the best behaved! I was super excited about that, and so were the kids. Congratulations to our September "Catch-the-Vision" winner--Luis Torres. Luis is a hard worker and a good class citizen. I love having him in my class.
We will not have our library time this week because of the Book Fair that is taking place. You can still return your child's books anytime. Next week (October 10-14), our library day will be different because the librarian has a training meeting on Thursday. I will let you know in my next blog post when our day will be.
We have an orchestra program for our 5th grade students. This year we have over 30 students. Mr. Burton asked us to announce that an orchestra volunteer would be greatly appreciated. If you have any experience in orchestra and would like to help out please let me know and I will pass your name onto the orchestra teacher.
Thanks in advance for making time for our SEP conferences. This is an invaluable experience and one I look forward to. Remember that school dismisses at 2:30 everyday, including Wednesday. Thanks for all that you do for your child.
Happy Reading!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)