Newsletter December 19 - December 21

Thanks to those that came and helped with our Gingerbread houses today.  We had a room full of helpers and it was so appreciated!! Thanks also for sending so much candy.  I will use the leftovers throughout the year and also with a Christmas bingo game.

Here are this short week's happenings:

• Your "secret gift" was sent home last Friday, unless your child was absent that day.  I will send home the others tomorrow (Tuesday).  Thanks for helping your child earn $1.00 for that gift.
• Today, Take-home books were sent home, but tomorrow and Wednesday they will not come home.  Please help your child find their book to return before the break because the librarian  is taking inventory and sending home late notices to those that haven't returned their books. 
• The items in the lost and found will be donated on Wednesday. Please come and check the lost and found or remind your child to check before Wednesday if they have something missing.
• The PTA is having a pizza party for the class (I think pizza, it could be ice cream), for the class that has the most Box tops turned in by the end of January.  If you have any of those collected please send them in with your child.  Those really do add up so take the time to cut them off and send them in.
• We didn't have our math test today, but I will administer that first thing in the morning before our movie with Mrs. Rieff's class.  
• TOMORROW WE (ALL FIRST GRADES) DECIDED AT THE LAST MINUTE TO LET OUR KIDS  WEAR THEIR PAJAMAS TO SCHOOL IF THEY WANT TO.  SO IF YOUR CHILD IS TELLING YOU THEY CAN WEAR THEIR PAJAMAS TOMORROW (Tuesday), THEY ARE CORRECT!

I hope that you all have a wonderful break filled with love, family, and friends.  The end of the second quarter is this Wednesday.  I will not send grade printouts until after the break.  

Merry Christmas!

Newsletter December 12 - December 16

This is our final full week of school during 2016.  When we return in January our third quarter will be starting and I just signed up for our Middle of the Year (MOY) DIBELS testing on January 12.  Thanks for encouraging your students to not bring toys to school as they will become my property since it has become such a problem ("toys" are anything that can become a distraction in school).

Here are this week's happenings:

• I have had 6 wonderful parents (or grandparents) volunteer to help with our Gingerbread houses on Monday, December 19 at 12:45. We will go with that full steam ahead.  If you haven't informed me that you would like to come and would still like to just let me know.  We can have more than 5--that was just my minimum number of helpers that I need.  I would imagine that we will finish that activity around 2:00-2:15 (just to give you an idea how long I'll need your assistance).  THANK YOU for volunteering and thank you for sending in items to help with the construction and decorating.  If you haven't sent something in to help please send it by this Friday, December 16.  
• I sent home spelling words today.  The test will be this Friday, December 16.  The words follow the patterns that we have been learning about in class (/ar/, /er/, /oi/, and /aw/ along with a "tricky" word.  I will not send home new spelling words next week, but look for new ones when we return in January.  We don't have spelling words every week and don't have a set day for spelling tests.
• We have decided to forgo our Christmas Around the World because of so many other activities that are taking it's place (movie, assembly with a special visitor, gingerbread houses, the dual immersion has a program etc.).  Check out the schedule on the sidebar of this blog for the exact days we will be doing certain activities.  I will continue to have reading groups and even give our Chapter 6 math test on Monday, December 19 so we will work amidst the "fun". 
• Thanks to those that have helped their child earn $1.00 for their "secret gift".  We started those today.  If you haven't helped your child find a way to earn their $1.00 you still have time--some kids were worried that they hadn't brought their dollar.  I just think helping to "earn" their gift makes it much more meaningful (as I've mentioned several times before). I will send those home with your child by the end of this week.  
• As I mentioned above, we will work hard and finish chapter 6 in math before we go home for the holiday.  Today we continued to work with two-digit numbers by identifying the tens and ones.  We modeled those numbers with ten rods and ones, then "drew" numbers, and then identified the tens and ones and then the corresponding number with a given picture.
• In reading we are still working with the "bossy R" letter combinations (/er/,/ar/, and will learn /or/). I am hoping to finish up our unit on Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt before the break (might be wishful thinking).  
• If you ordered books from Scholastic for Christmas I will let you know when they arrive and then leave them in the office so that you can pick them up at your convenience.    

Happy Holiday Reading!!

Newsletter December 5 - December 9

We just completed our 75th day of school!  Here are this week's happenings:

• The December Scholastic book order is due tomorrow, December 6 so that they will be delivered before the Christmas break.  Use the online code JFVMJ to order.  Some of you have already taken advantage of the "free book" coupon I attached to the December reading calendars :)
• The PTA will award readers this Friday (bookmarks).  I know that you have several things to sign (blue notes, my calendar, PTA bookmarks) and that can seem overwhelming.  When I made my yearly plan I was unaware of the PTA bookmarks (though I am glad for the support). Maybe a silly organizational idea?--keep the calendar and bookmark always in your child's homework folder, or on your fridge or in their take home book bag.  That way after you read they are  always in the same place to sign.  I will give a certificate and treat to those that have turned in their November reading calendar by this Wednesday.  Points will still be given after that date, but it will not include a treat and certificate. Calendars must be signed to received points.
• I have many students filling their Sight Word Soldier necklaces up with beads.  A few of my students have passed off all 33 lists and have now moved onto the Fry Phrase lists.  Some students though have only a bead or two on their necklaces.  I am wondering if you have possibly lost the list that your child should be working on?  I am going to send home lists to all those that haven't passed one  off in a while.  This is an individual thing and if your child hasn't passed off all 33 lists now that's not what I'm concerned about, I just want that practice at home to help their reading become more fluent regardless of the list that your child is on. Remember that sight word practice can be included in your child's ten minutes of nightly reading.  If he/she can only read his take-home book once, and practice their sight words then just send the blue note back signed and I'll still give them credit for reading.  I don't want your child to spend more than 10 minutes on "homework" (unless they want to read more of course), but my expectation is just 10 minutes. 
• I have started to receive items for our Gingerbread houses--thank you!! I have also had 3 parents volunteer to help that day.  I still need 2 more parents to help that day.  Please let me know if you can help.  Please send the items by Friday, December 16.  I sent a detailed note home last Friday regarding this activity.  We will be starting our "secret gift" this week.  Please also help your child "earn" $1.00 for their gift to you.  Thank you--I think that will make it more meaningful :)
• We just started our 4th Skills reading unit.  Today we learned about the /er/ sound--not to be confused with the /r/ sound :)  In our listening and learning we read about Ancient Egyptian God Amon-Ra and concentrated on the word "depicted".  My students "depicted" in drawing and writing their favorite place.  
• In math we have worked on counting patterns using a 120-chart.  We have counted by ones, and by tens starting at a given number.  Today we were reminded that two-digit numbers are made up of "tens" and "ones".  We then broke those numbers apart.  For example:  19 is 1 ten and 9 ones or 10 + 9 = 19.  I have noticed some confusion with recognizing numbers especially numbers like 21 and 12.   Most of my students can count out loud but when I would have them find a certain number to start the counting pattern some struggled. A suggestion would be when you are out in the "world" with your child point out numbers, have them tell you number's name or help count items as they put them in your shopping cart or whatever.  Then, go further and ask them how many tens and ones are in that given number.  

Happy December Reading!! We just read Santa's Stuck today.  There are so many wonderful holiday titles--take advantage of your child's excitement and read holiday books with your kids. 

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.