Please check in your child's folder or backpack today for their SEP conference appointment. It is on pink paper. Please sign and return it as soon as possible. If you can't make the time that I scheduled please indicate a time and/or day that will work better for you. I am excited to meet with all of you. Remember that during SEP week (Sept. 30-Oct. 4) that school dismisses everyday at 2:30.
In math we are working on our subtraction unit. Today we used concrete objects to solve subtraction story problems. It took a bit longer than I anticipated so we will continue with that concept tomorrow and homework will be sent home then. Most of my students were sent home with their Unit 1 math test today. Let me explain how I grade those. The grade is purple is their actual grade on the test, the one that I recorded. I have a great SUU student, Miss Makayla, who helps three days a week. She takes those tests and helps the children with the problems that they missed. So, your child will come home with a corrected paper with all problems being correct. I do not then give them 100%, but their original score stands, but they get immediate feedback as to why they missed a particular problem. Most of my students struggled with the "missing addends" problems. That is tricky and we will work on that throughout the year so they will understand the algebraic concept.
In reading, our groups are going well. I e-mailed those of you that have volunteered to help in my classroom. You may start coming this week, or if you needed more notice you can come next week. If your child has not passed off their Sight words List #2, please work with them. I will test all students on Sight Word List #2 on October 2.
In science, we are still discussing and learning about the weather and seasons. We will especially talk about the life cycle of an apple tree and in October we will move onto our moon unit.
I hope you are looking over at the sidebar of this blog for calendar items, math homework assignments, and the spelling words and sentence.
Happy Reading!
Monday, September 23, 2013
Monday, September 16, 2013
Newsletter September 16 - 20
I will not be here this Wednesday. I have a fabulous sub lined up. She taught for my many years and your children will be in competent hands.
This week will be our first week that a sentence has been added to your child's spelling list. My blog is the only place you will be able to find this sentence (look at the right sidebar). The sentence will be worth 7 points: 5 points for all words spelled correctly, and one point each for a capital letter at the beginning and punctuation at the end of the sentence.
Tomorrow I will test on Unit 1 in our Go Math program. Please help your child complete their homework for this unit so that they will perform better on the test tomorrow. We will start Unit 2 on subtraction on Thursday.
Your child should be working on Sight Word List #2 now. I will test all students that haven't passed off List #2 on October 2. Of course, you can go through the lists at your child's pace. Please read every night with your child. I will emphasize this over and over all year long. Reading with your child increases their vocabularies, and truly helps them become better readers.
Today we went to our second theater experience. It was fabulous! Mr. Seeley does a great job. He is incorporating science in with the activities. Today the children used large pieces of fabric and pretended to be seeds, they then grew into what their seed represented. They had a great time, and learned a lot too. I wish I would have brought my camera to "show" you what they learned.
This week we will be doing a writing assignment about why your child is special. It was correlate with an art project that we did last week. We are continuing to learn about proper sentence writing. Our reading groups are in full swing and are going well.
Please don't hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns.
Happy Reading!
This week will be our first week that a sentence has been added to your child's spelling list. My blog is the only place you will be able to find this sentence (look at the right sidebar). The sentence will be worth 7 points: 5 points for all words spelled correctly, and one point each for a capital letter at the beginning and punctuation at the end of the sentence.
Tomorrow I will test on Unit 1 in our Go Math program. Please help your child complete their homework for this unit so that they will perform better on the test tomorrow. We will start Unit 2 on subtraction on Thursday.
Your child should be working on Sight Word List #2 now. I will test all students that haven't passed off List #2 on October 2. Of course, you can go through the lists at your child's pace. Please read every night with your child. I will emphasize this over and over all year long. Reading with your child increases their vocabularies, and truly helps them become better readers.
Today we went to our second theater experience. It was fabulous! Mr. Seeley does a great job. He is incorporating science in with the activities. Today the children used large pieces of fabric and pretended to be seeds, they then grew into what their seed represented. They had a great time, and learned a lot too. I wish I would have brought my camera to "show" you what they learned.
This week we will be doing a writing assignment about why your child is special. It was correlate with an art project that we did last week. We are continuing to learn about proper sentence writing. Our reading groups are in full swing and are going well.
Please don't hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns.
Happy Reading!
Monday, September 9, 2013
Newsletter September 9 - 13
The "Take-home" library (books in a bag) started today in our class. Please have your child read this book to you, preferably more than once. After they have read the book, initial by the book title and send the book back with your child. Your child will then bring a new book home tomorrow. If you do not initial the book, your child will not receive a new one. The take-home books will be sent home Monday through Thursday. If you lose this book, it will be a $5.00 replacement fee. Please take advantage of this great program.
Scholastic book orders will be due this Friday, September 13th. Remember that the easiest way to order books is to use the online code. When you order books, our classroom receives points that can help build our classroom library.
This week in math we will finish Unit 1 on addition. We will review on Friday and I will test on Unit 1 next Monday. Please continue to help your child with their math each night. Several students have not put their names on their math homework. I cannot tell the difference between my students' number handwriting yet, so if they do not put their names on their homework I cannot give them credit for completing the assignment. Please make sure that your child's name is on the Home reading records too, I can't decipher some signatures either.
Next week, I will start our Star of the Week program. Each student will get the opportunity to be Star of the Week. I will send home a schedule this week, and if you child is the Star of the Week, I will send home complete instructions the Friday before it is their turn.
Our reading groups started today. I thought they went very smoothly. We are practicing our Daily Five Centers and many students went to their first "special" reading group. For those, that signed up to help with reading in our classroom, I would like you to start next week starting September 16th. I will e-mail you first to remind you of the time and day you signed up, and if I can't reach you that way I will make a phone call.
SEP week (parent/teacher conferences) will be held the week of September 30 - October 4. School will dismiss at 2:30 everyday that week, including Wednesday. I will send home your child's date and time at least a week before the conference. We make as a faculty coordinate with siblings so that you will only have to come one day.
One last little thing, if you could help our class by sending a package of pencil top erasers that would be great. We will use these for our classroom supply not each individual student. I failed to put that on my list of supplies at the beginning of the year. Thanks for your help.
Happy Reading!!
Scholastic book orders will be due this Friday, September 13th. Remember that the easiest way to order books is to use the online code. When you order books, our classroom receives points that can help build our classroom library.
This week in math we will finish Unit 1 on addition. We will review on Friday and I will test on Unit 1 next Monday. Please continue to help your child with their math each night. Several students have not put their names on their math homework. I cannot tell the difference between my students' number handwriting yet, so if they do not put their names on their homework I cannot give them credit for completing the assignment. Please make sure that your child's name is on the Home reading records too, I can't decipher some signatures either.
Next week, I will start our Star of the Week program. Each student will get the opportunity to be Star of the Week. I will send home a schedule this week, and if you child is the Star of the Week, I will send home complete instructions the Friday before it is their turn.
Our reading groups started today. I thought they went very smoothly. We are practicing our Daily Five Centers and many students went to their first "special" reading group. For those, that signed up to help with reading in our classroom, I would like you to start next week starting September 16th. I will e-mail you first to remind you of the time and day you signed up, and if I can't reach you that way I will make a phone call.
SEP week (parent/teacher conferences) will be held the week of September 30 - October 4. School will dismiss at 2:30 everyday that week, including Wednesday. I will send home your child's date and time at least a week before the conference. We make as a faculty coordinate with siblings so that you will only have to come one day.
One last little thing, if you could help our class by sending a package of pencil top erasers that would be great. We will use these for our classroom supply not each individual student. I failed to put that on my list of supplies at the beginning of the year. Thanks for your help.
Happy Reading!!
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Newsletter September 2 - 6
I hope that you all enjoyed your long holiday weekend. It's always hard for me to see the summer come to a close, but I was happy to see your darling children this morning.
The August reading record is now due. Please make sure that you sign the sheet and make sure that your child's name is on it. This will be worth 50 points. I sent home the September reading record today. This time it has apples on it. Remember that I want your child to read for 20 minutes five times per week. You can include sight word practice and the math homework as part of the 20 minutes.
I sent home new spelling words today also. I will send home last week's test tomorrow. Next week will be the last week that I only test on the list of words. I will start adding a sentence to the list as part of the test. We have been learning how to write super sentences in class so my students will be prepared to write a sentence along with their list of words.
Our library day is usually on Friday, your child should have shared two library books with you. This week, the librarian will be at a training on Friday afternoon so I needed to change our library day to Thursday this week. Please make sure that your child's library books are back by Thursday so that they can check out two more books.
I am preparing the take-home library list, and will begin sending home Take-home library books starting next Monday, September 9th. I will explain how that will work next week on this blog. We will also start our reading groups next Monday. I am excited that we are starting so early this year.
Our math program Go Math is going well. We are discussing addition in this first unit. Thanks for helping your child with their homework. In science, we are discussing the weather and weather words.
Today I showed my students the record breaking swim by Diana Nyad, from Cuba to Florida. They were impressed by her age and her endurance and that she didn't get hurt by a shark. We discussed if we truly believe and really want something we can do anything we set our minds to. I truly believe that about this great group of first graders that I am privileged to teach. They are full of potential!!
Happy Reading!
The August reading record is now due. Please make sure that you sign the sheet and make sure that your child's name is on it. This will be worth 50 points. I sent home the September reading record today. This time it has apples on it. Remember that I want your child to read for 20 minutes five times per week. You can include sight word practice and the math homework as part of the 20 minutes.
I sent home new spelling words today also. I will send home last week's test tomorrow. Next week will be the last week that I only test on the list of words. I will start adding a sentence to the list as part of the test. We have been learning how to write super sentences in class so my students will be prepared to write a sentence along with their list of words.
Our library day is usually on Friday, your child should have shared two library books with you. This week, the librarian will be at a training on Friday afternoon so I needed to change our library day to Thursday this week. Please make sure that your child's library books are back by Thursday so that they can check out two more books.
I am preparing the take-home library list, and will begin sending home Take-home library books starting next Monday, September 9th. I will explain how that will work next week on this blog. We will also start our reading groups next Monday. I am excited that we are starting so early this year.
Our math program Go Math is going well. We are discussing addition in this first unit. Thanks for helping your child with their homework. In science, we are discussing the weather and weather words.
Today I showed my students the record breaking swim by Diana Nyad, from Cuba to Florida. They were impressed by her age and her endurance and that she didn't get hurt by a shark. We discussed if we truly believe and really want something we can do anything we set our minds to. I truly believe that about this great group of first graders that I am privileged to teach. They are full of potential!!
Happy Reading!
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