Newsletter December 16 - 20

We have one more week until our two week Christmas break.  We are going to do some fun things but we are also working up until the end.  We will still have reading groups this week as well as finishing our math unit with a test on Wednesday.

I sent home spelling words today.  Please  help your child study these words at home, especially if they have been missing several words on previous tests.  This week's spelling pattern is a little tricky because the "er" sound is represented several ways--/ir/, /ur/, and /er/.  The sound is exactly the same, but your child will need to know which words to use which letter combination.  I have given you a Christmas gift and only assigned one sentence for this week's list of words.

Both of our librarians, Mrs. Clark, and our Take-home librarian, Mrs. Bowen will be collecting all books this week before Christmas.  Tuesday will be our last day before the break that Take-home books will be sent home.  Please return all take-home books by Wednesday, December 18.  This service will resume when we return on January 6th.  I have noticed a decline in these books being returned, I hope that doesn't mean that you aren't reading with you child every night!  Our library day is Friday, we will still go to library, but we will not check out books then.  Please help your child remember to bring their regular library books by Friday.  We have found that many books get lost over the break, so returning all books before the break  helps lessen that loss.

Mrs. Humphrey's, my student teacher, will administer the Unit #5 math test this Wednesday.  Please keep up with your child's math homework so that they will be better prepared for the unit tests.  We have cruised through this unit so thanks for helping with math homework nightly.

Thanks to those that have sent candy, or icing, or crackers for our Gingerbread house project.  If you can still send the item that I requested please do so by tomorrow, Tuesday, December 17th. I still need help that day.  So far it's just Mrs. Humphrey's and I that will be here.  If you can help that day, Thursday, December 19th from 1:00 - 2:30 I would appreciate it.  Please let me know if you are planning on coming.

I sent home your child's fragile "secret gift" today.  I hope that you enjoy them.  Thanks to those that have allowed your child to earn $1.00 for this gift.  I think the gift has more meaning when they have helped to "earn" it for you.  You can still send the $1.00 this week if you haven't already done so.

I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas break.  I know I will--my son who has been serving an LDS mission in Belgium and the Netherlands will be returning on December 27th.  This week I will read a book to my students titled, The Best Christmas Present of All, and I always  conclude by telling  my students that they are "my best Christmas present of all".  I truly believe that, along with my family, these students are the best thing in my life!  I adore them and am so glad that I can be their teacher.

Happy Reading.  School resumes January 6, 2014. Enjoy the pictures from Santa's Flight!

15 planes landed with gifts and supplies.

Keeping warm while waiting for Santa.

It was very cold waiting for Santa.

Santa finally made it!

Santa leading "the wave".

Darrell and his mom.

Newsletter December 9 - 13

We had a great time walking to Zion's Bank and decorating the tree in the lobby.  We were greeted by Santa and sang Christmas songs and had cookies.  I hope that you all saw or heard that we made the front page of the Daily News.  I guess you could say we are now FAMOUS!  The Zion's Bank that we decorated the tree for is located on Center and Main. 

Tomorrow we are going to watch Santa and his helpers fly into Cedar City.  I wouldn't be surprised if this event is broadcast on a local news channel.  Please send your child with warm clothes--coats, gloves, hats, warm shoes and socks etc.  If any of you would like to meet us at the airport you are welcome to come, but we will not have room on the buses.

I sent home a note about our Gingerbread house making activity on Thursday, December 19th at 1:00.  If you could help by donating the highlighted item on the sheet.  If you can't find the particular item that I  highlighted, anything that you might think would be great to decorate with would be fine.  I could use help that day as the kids make their houses.  If you can help please let me know.  The more the merrier!! The note also asked for a $1.00 donation for a "secret" gift that your child will make in class.  I asked them to ask for ways to earn this $1.00.  If you could please have these donations sent to school by Tuesday, December 17th. 

We are so busy with extra Christmas activities that we don't get as much time to work on our spelling words in class.  Please help your child study the spelling words at home especially these next couple of weeks.  I will still send home spelling words next week.

Happy Reading!!

Decorating the tree with Santa and Zion's Bank

Newsletter December 2 - 6

Welcome back after our Thanksgiving break!  I hope that you all had a nice relaxing break and are ready for three more weeks of school.  I will send home spelling words for all three of our remaining weeks in December.  I will continue to assign math homework too, as I want to complete Unit 5 before Christmas break.

Today we welcomed our student teacher Amanda Humphreys.  She played soccer in Texas and for SUU and will be a wonderful addition to our classroom until the end of January. 

This week we will walk to Zion's bank and help decorate a tree in their lobby.  We started today making one of the ornaments.  I sent home a permission slip for your child to attend this Field trip (green paper).  Please return that by Wednesday, December 4th.  The weather is supposed cool down considerably by then so please send your children with warm coats, hats, mittens etc. 

The November reading record is now due.  I sent home December's reading record home with your child today.  They kids loved watching Mr. Burton get a pie thrown in his face during our last assembly.  Please help your child read every night and turn in their reading record so that our class has the chance to win the next "Mr. Burton event".  (I haven't heard what that will be yet)

Today I tested all students that have not passed off sight word List #4.  If your child is not on that list yet, please practice with them each night.  Knowing their sight words will dramatically increase their reading fluency. 

December is a fun time to teach first grade.  On Thursday, December 19th at 1:00 we will be decorating gingerbread houses in our classroom.  I will send home a note with each child at the end of this week describing this activity, and asking for donations of white icing, graham crackers, candy for decorating etc.  I could also use several volunteers that day to help with the assembly, and then wrapping the gingerbread houses up so that they can be taken home easily.  On the morning of December 10th, our entire school will go to the airport and watch Santa fly into Cedar and then visit our school.  That should be an event that your child will never forget!

I sent home December's Scholastic book order today.  Those orders will be due this Friday, December 6th, so that they will be back before Christmas break.  Again, if you would like me to save books for gifts let me know.  I included a coupon for a free book (up to $5.00) if you spend $10.00.

Happy Reading!  Snuggle up with some hot cocoa and read with your child!