Newsletter August 26 - 30

I hope that you all had a nice rainy weekend.  I still marvel at this wonderful class that I have this year.  I am a lucky teacher!

Today I sent home your child's new spelling list.  Remember that I will test each Friday.  I will send home last week's tests tomorrow.  All of my students did very well!  I do not count letter reversals as an error, if I can tell which letter they meant.  If they reverse the letters b or d then I orally ask them to spell the word.  If they can spell the word orally correctly, I give them credit. I will continue to test this way for three more weeks, and then I will start adding a spelling sentence to the list.

I hope you are spending 20 minutes with your child each night reading and practicing their sight words and/or spelling words.  I will test on the first sight word list on Wednesday, September 4th.  The August reading record (paper with the suns on it) will be due the day after Labor Day, on Tuesday, September 2.  The August reading record will be worth 50 points, but after that the reading records will be worth 100 points.  I also give each child that returns their reading record a certificate and a little treat.  Please be honest and diligent.

If you are in need of books at home, I just sent home a Scholastic book order.  The best way to order is to use the online code found on the note with the fliers, or you can click on the link on this blog.  These orders will be due on Friday, September 13th.  There are always wonderful titles available and every month $1.00 books are available.  This month Hi Fly Guy is available for $1.00--a favorite series of 1st graders.

I sent home a t-shirt design contest note and a blank piece of paper for you child's artwork.  This is an optional activity, but if your child wants to participate please have the artwork returned by September 3rd. 

Right now my students are practicing their handwriting and we are emphasizing correct formation.  Today I sent home a sheet with each letter of the alphabet on it and the numbers through 10.  I sent it home so that you can reinforce  this handwriting at home.  It will help you to know what I am saying as they form their letters.  Please emphasize that they should always start from the top of the line, not bottom up. 

Our math books finally arrived!  I will start with Unit 1 tomorrow.  Your child will now have math homework almost nightly.  This week I only assigned homework on Wednesday and Friday.  I will post the math homework on this blog every week.  Sometimes that might change, and if that happens I will send out a quick e-mail to let you know that we will not have math homework. Use this as part of your child's reading time.  Have them help you read the directions.  These will be due the next day, but I will accept late work.  They will be worth 5 points each.

Remember that next Monday is Labor Day.  Have a wonderful long weekend.

Happy Reading!

Newsletter August 19 - 23

We have had a great first few days in first grade.  As I stated at Back to School night, this is going to be a good year and is a great group of students.  They are smart, well-behaved, and ready to learn.  That makes my job extra exciting!!

We have been reviewing procedures and rules in our classroom and have been talking about "jitters" during the first days of school.  We made "Jitter Juice" to help drive the jitters away that even  the teacher might be feeling.  We've read several books about the first day of school and how they might be feeling.

Today was our first day of PE and Music and we also went to our first day of Theater class.  Mr. Seeley is incorporating science in the class and today the students created "pictures" with their bodies to help show the seasons, and then we danced showing a thunderstorm.  I think this will be a great addition to our curriculum.

I sent home three things today in your child's homework folder (remember to send that back everyday with your child).  I sent home this week's spelling words.  We started working on them today in class and we will have a test this Friday.  I also sent home our first sight word list and our August reading record (has suns on it).  Please start reading tonight with your child for 20 minutes 5 days per week.  If your child practices their sight words include that as part of the 20 minutes of reading.  Remember right now it's o.k. for you to snuggle up with your child and help them read, but as the year progresses I want the reading to be done by the student.  I sent home a permission slip to use our Take-home library.  This is a great way to get books into your home that are on your child's independent reading level.  Please make sure you sign that and get it back to me so that your child can begin receiving books from our Take-home library. After you read with your child for 20 minutes please have your child color in one sun on their reading record.  I would suggest attaching the reading record to your fridge or someplace that is seen commonly so that you will not lose it and will remember the importance of reading with your child every night.

Our math books still have not arrived so your child will not have math homework until they come.  I will let you know when they arrive.  Right now we are reviewing some math concepts from kindergarten.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  The best way is to contact me through e-mail, but you are welcome to call the school and leave a message or send a note with your child. This is going to be a wonderful year!

Happy Reading!!

Back to School

Welcome back first graders!  School will begin on Thursday, August 15 at 8:55.

Back to School Night will be Tuesday, August 13, at 6:00 p.m. here in our classroom (Room #7).  Followed by a General PTA meeting at 6:30 in the gym.

I am excited for a new year and for new learning adventures!!