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!