Newsletter December 11 - December 15

It's our last full week of December before we dismiss for the Christmas break.  Remember that we have school through Wednesday, December 20 (dismiss at 1:30) and that school will resume on Tuesday, January 2.  The end of the second quarter is December 20.  I really planned on getting a Power School print out sent home last Friday, but alas that hasn't happened.  Give me until this Friday and watch for it in your child's backpack. 

We took our middle-of-the-year DIBELS test on Monday morning.  I will send those results home as soon as they become available.  If I have a specific concern about your child's results I will send you an e-mail.  If you have questions about those results please don't hesitate to contact me.  I am happy to e-mail or meet in person to discuss your child's progress.

Here are this week's happenings:

• Spelling words were sent home on Monday. The test will be this Friday, December 15.  Remember that we do not have a traditional schedule for spelling words where we would have a test every Friday.  The tests are five days after they are given out and that varies with the curriculum.  I will always tell you here in the blog when the tests are and when the words have been sent home.  We will not have another list of words until after the break.
• I have started receiving supplies for our Gingerbread House activity.  THANK YOU!  Please help by having those supplies delivered by Monday, Dec. 18.   We will decorate our houses on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 10:15.  I have two parents that have volunteered to help.  I need 2 more to help on that day.  If you can help please let me know so that I can make plans.  
• The afternoon of December 19 will be our Polar Express movie with Mrs. Carter's class.  Students can wear pajamas that day--come to school dressed in them :). Please make sure your child wears appropriate shoes as we will have PE that morning before the Gingerbread houses and movie. 
• Thanks also for helping your child earn $1.00 for a secret gift.  We will use this week to work on those.  I will send this fragile secret gift home with your child on Friday.  It gets a bit hectic the last few days so feel that sending it home a bit earlier will be best. 
• Our learning in reading these past few lessons as centered around "r-controlled" vowels (ar, er, or).  We have reviewed the sounds and the spellings for those sounds. Our book "The Green Fern Zoo" is filled with words with those spellings.  
• In our Early American Civilizations unit we have started learning about the Mayan people.  We have learned about their farming and cities (maize and Bakaal) and the importance of family to the Mayan people.  Today Elizabeth and Reese excitedly told me at break; "We are playing like the Mayans". 
• In math we are still working on related facts or Fact Families.  I think most of my students are starting or have already grasped that important relationship between addition and subtraction.  (ex. 9 + 6 = 15, 6 + 9 = 15, 15 - 6 = 9, and 15 - 9 = 6)
• If your child has an over due library book notices will sent home this week.  
• The PTA reading awards will be presented this Thursday (Dec. 14) at 3:00 in our classroom.  I sent home slips yesterday if you child will be receiving an award that day. 

One last Christmas idea--students in my class can have markers (this was an optional school supply from the beginning of the year).  Most students have them to access in their desk, but I could honestly say I think that ALL students would like them.  We use them for birthday writing, sometimes with other writing, and they especially use them during "free time" in the morning before the bell rings.  If you need another gift idea, maybe a package of markers for school would be a nice idea :). Just an idea, not a requirement.

With a short week next week, I don't think that I will post a newsletter so here's wishing you a wonderful Christmas break. Take-home books will not be sent home over the break.  We'll be back January 2 for the first day of our third quarter! 

Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!!

Newsletter December 4 - December 8

December weather is here!  It was quite cold today.  Please make sure that your child is dressed for the weather.  They go outside for lunch break unless snow or rain is coming down.  Today many just came in a hoodie and that didn't seem keep the cold out well enough.  You can send gloves and hats and boots if needed.  I have some control over our first two breaks (today we stayed in for the last break because the wind had kicked up and it was still quite cold), but for lunch I take my lunch and don't have the option of keeping students in at that time. 

Here are this week's happenings:

• Our middle of the year (MOY) DIBELS test will actually be next week instead of in January as it has been in years past.  Our class will be tested on Monday, December 11 at 9:00 am.  Please help by giving your child a nice breakfast and a good nights sleep.  I will send those results home as soon as they become available.  
• December 20 is the last day of our second quarter.  I will send a Power School print out home by this Friday so you can see how your child is doing and then send out a final second quarter printout when we return to school in January.  December 20 is also the day school dismisses for Winter break.  That is a Wednesday and school will dismiss at 1:30 and resume on Tuesday, January 2. 
• With our learning that will still continue throughout December we will be doing some Christmas activities and project.  One of those projects will be a "secret gift" that my students will be making.  I talked to them today about earning $1.00 for this gift.  We talked about ways that they could earn $1.00 to help pay for this "secret gift" (doing dishes, chores, folding laundry etc.).  If you could help your child with this and then send the $1.00 to school with your child by December 18 (that's that last Monday before the break).  I would appreciate it and I think my students will, as Phoenix said today, understand the "Christmas rule" by earning and giving something this Christmas.  
• Another activity that we will do is making Gingerbread houses out of graham crackers.  I have planned to do this on Tuesday, December 19 at 10:15.  I will be sending out a letter about both of these projects/activities and ask for a donation for the gingerbread houses.  I also NEED help with this activity.  Please send me an e-mail if you can help.  I will use as many of you that can help, but NEED about 4 volunteers. 
• Tomorrow I will give the Chapter 4 test in math and then we will start Chapter 5 on Thursday.  That chapter will continue throughout December and into January.  The next chapter deals with addition and subtraction relationships.  We will also start timed addition and subtraction tests in class.  Students will start with +0 and move through +9 then onto subtraction.  I sent home Xtra math log in information last week again for those who didn't sign up already.  This is a math fact practice computer program that is free and that the students already do here at school.  It can help with math fact automaticity.  
• Last Friday I sent home December Scholastic books fliers.  These orders will be due this Thursday, December 7.  That way the orders will be back in time for Christmas gifts.  I am happy to "save" any books that will be used for gifts.  Just let me know and we can arrange a time or a way for me to get them to you.  
• November Reading calendars are now due!  December reading calendars were sent home on Friday, December 1.  I will count reading minutes through December 19 for December.  Students will not bring home take-home books over the break. Our next PTA reading awards will be Thursday, December 14 in our classroom at 3:00.  Remember to mark those also as your child is reading.  They need to be signed by a parent/guardian to be counted so make sure that you monitor this as some students are just coloring them in and turning them in without getting a signature. 
• In reading we just started a new Unit and learned about the /er/ sound and how to spelling it.  This is the sound in "teacher" not the /r/ sound as in 'red'.  We talked about the difference between those two sounds and how to spell it.  Today so many of my kids noticed the 'er' spelling as we read and wrote and noticed it around the room.  I love my little phonics detectives! We will start a new non-fiction book with this Unit called "The Green Fern Zoo".  It will follow Vern a zookeeper and his journey through The Green Fern Zoo.  We will learn about many different animals and make comparisons and connections along the way. We do not have spelling words this week. 
• Simon joined our class today.  He comes to us from Ecuador where his father is employed.  Tomorrow we will also have Colt join our classroom.  We are getting some "gifts" for Christmas in the way of new students.  We now have 20 students in our class.

Watch for the note to come home about the Gingerbread houses and "secret gift" donations tomorrow.  Don't forget we have PE on Tuesday and Thursday so have your child wear appropriate shoes those days. Library is always on Wednesday.  Find any lost books before the holiday :)  Sight Word Soldiers pass off will be Wednesday morning. 

Happy Reading!!

Newsletter November 27 - December 1

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving break.  It was nice to have all 18 of my students back today--we've had a stretch of many absences so I'm glad sicknesses seem to be at a stand still right now.  We have 3 1/2 weeks until our Christmas break and the end of the second quarter of school.  These next few weeks like the rest of the year will fly by.  Christmas time in first grade is the best!

Here are this week's happenings:

• We welcomed a new student today, Lilly, who has joined us from Summit County (Kamas area).  She is going to be a great addition to our class.
• We are almost finished with Unit 3 in reading.  We have learned several vowel combinations (oo, oi, ou, and aw).  These vowel patterns are taught and reinforced through our book Fables.  Today we read The Dog and the Ox.  Ask your child about the lesson (moral) learned from that Fable.  I will give an assessment on those sounds and spellings
  
  
  
  
  at the end of the week and we will start Unit 4 either Friday or Monday.  We do not have spelling words this week.
• In math we are continuing to work with addition to "help us subtract".  For example, if we know that 6 + 4 = 10 then we know that 10 - 4 = 6.  This chapter in math (subtraction strategies) is fairly short and we are about mid-way through the chapter.  We have three more lessons and then review before I will test.  I plan on testing for that chapter next Tuesday.
• In December one of our activities that we will do is making Gingerbread houses out of graham crackers.  I think I want to do that the last week of school before Christmas break either Monday or Tuesday afternoon.  Our calendar hasn't been updated yet with school activities that last week, so I may need to change that to the week prior.  I will keep your informed and ask for help with supplies and volunteers for this activity.  I definitely can't do it without your help :)
• I know December gets hectic.  Please do your best to continue reading with your child every night for 10 minutes (take-home books).  Our next reading test (DIBELS) will be in January when we return from the break.  More is expected from the students on the second portion of the test and reading practice helps--I promise! 

Happy Reading and don't forget Sight Word soldier lists this Wednesday!  We missed last week so it's time to add more beads (more words) to our brains and necklaces.

November 20 - November 21

Just a short one this time on our short pre-Thanksgiving week.

• Thanks so much for your quick responses to help with our Turkey cookies tomorrow.  I had all of the assignments made in about ten minutes after I asked for some help.  I really appreciate it.  Our day tomorrow with be a "normal day" with reading groups etc. until about 2:00.  Then we will make a bracelet that will go along with a Thanksgiving poem, make the Turkey cookies and do some other Thanksgiving type activities as time permits.
• I will also administer the spelling test tomorrow before lunch.  I sent home lists last week, but the list is always on this blog (right sidebar).  If  you look at this blog on your phone scroll down and switch it to "web version" (or something like that) to see all of the information.
• Students will not come home with take-home books tomorrow.  With the days off, it's easy to lose those books.  Have a nice 5 day break!

I told my students (my kids) today how "thankful" I am for each of them.  I truly feel grateful to be their teacher.  There is something so special about this class.

Happy Reading and Happy Thanksgiving!

Newsletter November 13 - November 17

This is our last full-week until our short week before Thanksgiving.  Today we took our second spelling test.  A new list of words will come home tomorrow.  That test will be on Tuesday, November 21 before our Thanksgiving holiday.

Here are this week's happenings and announcements and whatever else I need to say:

• Next week we only have two days of school.  I will still be teaching curriculum those two days, we'll have a spelling test, have reading groups etc., but on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 21 we'll do some Thanksgiving activities.  One of the things we will do is make "turkey cookies" out of Oreos, and create a bead bracelet as we learn about the "first Thanksgiving".  I would love some help with donations for these activities.  I will contact you through e-mail if you signed up to help with Thanksgiving, but could use some more help with donations.  If you can help please send me an e-mail.  I will send you back an assignment.  It will be something like; a box of whoppers, or a container of chocolate frosting.  THANK YOU!
• Please don't pull back on nightly reading with the holidays coming up.  I KNOW how stressful the holiday season can be and I don't expect perfection, but please do your best and keep this healthy habit of nightly reading for 10 minutes with your child.  I am so impressed at the progress I am seeing with my kids in reading--it shows as my students are "moving up levels" with their take-home books!  Keep it up!! It helps!
• Our math test for Chapter 3 will be tomorrow (Tuesday, November 14).  We will then move into our Subtraction strategies unit on Wednesday.
• We have finished our portion on Mesopotamia and just started learning about the Ancient Egyptians.  Today we learned the importance of the Nile river to the Egyptians and how it helped them in farming especially when the spring brought flooding into the area (sometimes flooding can be helpful). 
• In reading we are still learning about vowel teams or combinations.  We have learned the two sounds that the 'oo' spelling makes and we've learned about the sound that the 'ou' spelling makes. We will also learn about 'oi' and 'aw' in this unit.  As well as learning about verbs and reading from our Fables book (these books or readers emphasize through words and stories the things we have been learning about).  Today we read the fable "The Dog and the Mule".  The kids generated the lesson or moral of the story--"to be yourself". Ask your child about that fable and what they learned :)

Don't forget to help your child to remember to return their library books by Wednesday and to practice their sight words.  Please return the blue notes so that Mrs. Harris can pass your child off.

Happy Reading!!

We loved watching A'merrie on our Field Trip to the Paiute Tribal Center.

Blue Eagle awards and sports watches.

White eagle awards

Orange eagle award

Red Eagle awards

Newsletter November 6 - 10

It feels like Halloween was ages ago as we have started to dive into Thanksgiving learning.  Today we used a Scholastic Weekly Reader to learn about a "day in a Pilgrims life" specifically Pilgrim children.  We will use that knowledge in a writing and art activity on Wednesday.

Here are this week's happenings (other than our Pilgrim project):

• Tomorrow we are going to the Paiute Tribal Center for their Native American Month program.  We will be walking there and will leave East Elementary at 1:15 and return at approximately 3:00.  I would really like a helper to walk over there with me and my students.  If you could come with us tomorrow please let me know through e-mail.  
• This week is Drug and Bully Prevention week.  Today we signed a pledge, placed cups in the fence for our "No Drug Zone" sign, and were given red wrist bands to remind us to be drug and alcohol free.  If you child keeps that red wristband on all week they will be given a small prize from the PTA on Friday. Tomorrow we are going to the PTA sponsored presentations on drug and bully prevention from 9:00-9:20.  I sent home a flier last week about the activities and "crazy hair day" associated with the week last week so I won't go into detail about those specific activities.  If you have any questions though please contact me.
• This Thursday in our classroom at 3:00 we will have our PTA reading awards presentations.  Most of my students will be receiving at least the first award as I mentioned at the beginning of the year, I will supplement reading at home with 15 minutes of reading at school.  That way by reading the expected 10 minutes a night plus 15 minutes in class my students can achieve the highest award or "Gold Eagle".  This won't occur though without the reading at home minutes combined with our reading in class.  Please don't get lax on reading each night.  I know this time of year gets busy with the holidays, but continue with the healthy habit of reading each night with your child.  Those students who read every night really progress in reading and it's showing already. 
• I mentioned earlier that we are diving in to Thanksgiving learning. We are also finishing up on our math addition strategies unit.  We are still learning about adding three numbers together.  That will take a few more lessons solidify.  I will test on that chapter early next week.  In reading, we took our first spelling test today.  Watch for results tomorrow or the day after.   A new list of words will come home tomorrow and that test will be next Monday, November 13.  
• Don't forget library on Wednesday and Sight word Soldiers!

Happy Reading! 
 

Newsletter October 30 - November 3

We had a fun time putting together our "apple head" witches today.  Tomorrow will be a full day with Halloween.  We will still have regular reading groups in the morning along with PE and Computers.  We will do some Halloween math in the afternoon and attend the Halloween sing at 2:15 and participate in the costume parade starting at 2:45.  Remember that you are welcome to attend the costume parade, but for space reasons there is not enough room in the Halloween sing for parents to attend.  I have explained several times the requirements for costumes tomorrow.  If you child's costume has a hat, or partial helmet type mask, glasses or gloves they can wear those for the parade but not during school.  Full masks, gigantic costumes and blood and gore are not acceptable at any time during the day or the parade.

Here are this week's happenings and notes and announcements:

• We are starting the month of November this week--October reading calendars will be due on Wednesday, November 1.  I will send November reading calendars home that day also.
• Today I sent home a spelling list.  We have just started our Unit 3 in our CKLA reading program.  We will now have spelling tests every 5 lessons.  That means that students will come home with a list and five days later I will test them in class on that list of words.  The words will come from the spelling patterns that we are learning.  The spelling test for the first list will be on Monday, November 6.  We won't have a traditional "Friday" spelling test, but on each spelling list I will have my students write the date of the test at the top of the list.  Some students may need a bit more practice than we have time for at school.  If you study these words with your child, you can count those minutes as part of their 10 minutes of reading.  I would rather see 10 minutes of reading though nightly, than 10 minutes of studying spelling words.  Helping them practice these words at home though might help with some initial frustration on the spelling test.  
• Next week on Tuesday, November 7 I want to take my class over to the Paiute Tribal Center for their program for Native American Month.  It will be a walking field trip.  We will leave the school at 1:15 and return by 3:00.  I need to get a confirmation from the tribal office, but plan on that day for a field trip.  I would be happy to have someone walk over with us to the tribal building.  If you think you could do this please let me know through e-mail.  
• This week in addition to starting our new reading unit where we will dive into vowel combinations such as /oo/ as in soon and narrative writing we will also start a new "Listening and Learning unit" about Early World Civilizations specifically Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt.  I love teaching these next two units both about early civilizations.  I love too that this program incorporates these subjects into first grade curriculum.  It's amazing what first graders can learn and retain if given the chance.  
• In math, we have learned how to add 10 to a number (10 + 4 = 14) and today we used that knowledge to "make a ten" to add (ex. 9  + 5 = 14, students learn to take 1 from 5 to "make a ten" then they will compute 10 + 4 = 14 so 9 + 5 = 14) Later this week we will learn how to add three numbers together and then problem solve (story problems) using the addition strategies we have learned.  The test for this chapter will be next week.  I will let you know a specific date as the concepts have been taught and reviewed. 
• Today was our first quarter first grade awards.  Congrats to those receiving attendance awards and to our Catch the Vision recipients, Elizabeth and Wes.  Our next PTA reading awards will be November 16 in our classroom.  I will send home information about that (a note in your child's folder) if they will be receiving one of those awards).   

Happy Reading and Happy Halloween!! Don't forget Sight word soldiers this Wednesday.  Send those signed lists (blue notes) back before Wednesday.

Catch the Vision awards

Halloween Apple head witches

Perfect attendance awards

Excellent attendance awards

Jeremiah--most improved award

Newsletter October 24 - October 27

I hope that you all enjoyed our three-day weekend.  I traveled to Colorado for a family event and the vibrant yellow leaves were beautiful along the way.  We had a great time at the pumpkin patch last week.  Thanks for sending in your 1.00 donation.  Today we finished up our Pumpkin Life cycle flip book in conjunction with that field trip.  Ask your child to read their book to you. Fall in first grade is a very magical time! 

Here are this week's happenings:

• Next week on Halloween students can wear their Halloween costumes all day.  They can't be
  "bloody or gory" and no masks.  We will have a school-wide Halloween sing at 2:15 and a traditional Halloween costume parade from 2:45 - 3:15.  The Halloween sing will be in the gym and with all of the students in there is too crowded for parent visitors, but you are welcome to come and watch the parade.  Tables will be set up in the cafeteria for you to sit around as we circle through the school and cafeteria.  Those two activities will mostly be our Halloween party, but I will contact you if you signed up to help for Halloween and ask for a healthy snack before we head down to the sing.  We will finish our apple head witches the day before on October 30.  They are looking old and shriveled and are ready to "get dressed".  
• On October 30 at 3:00 in the cafeteria we will have our First grade awards.  These awards are attendance and behavior awards (perfect, excellent, Catch the Vision and Most improved).  I will contact you through e-mail if you child will be receiving an award.  You are welcome to come to this ceremony. Watch for an e-mail in the next couple of days.
• In math we are continuing with addition strategies.  We are working on doubles plus 1 and will continue with doubles minus 1 tomorrow.  That strategy is helpful for addition problems like 5 + 6 were the numbers are one apart.  Students use a known fact of 5 + 5 = 10 and then "add one more".  If they know 5 + 5 = 10 then one more than 10 is 11 so 5 + 6 = 11.  This is a tricky concept and we'll work on it.  We are have also learned the counting on strategy as well.  In the next few weeks, I will start timed addition and subtraction quizzes to help students with the facts through 20.  We want them to be somewhat automatic :)
• In reading we are finishing up our unit and I will assess their knowledge of the "silent e" spelling at the end of this week.  We have enjoyed reading about Gran and her adventures with Jen and Josh.  We will start a new unit next week.  Spelling words and spelling tests with start shortly.  Also in reading we are now reading versions of Little Red Riding Hood.  Today we read a version from China called Hu Gu Po.  Ask your child to retell this story to you :)  We will read another version from Botswana Tselane on Thursday and then do some group culminating activities around these versions.  Especially we will note the differences and similarities in the stories and point out the setting, characters, conflict and plot.  

I'm going to try and post a picture from the pumpkin patch at the end of my newsletter so scroll down.  Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns and.......
Happy Reading!

Robinson Family Pumpkin Patch October 2017

Newsletter October 16 - October 20

Today was the start of our second quarter of school.  It amazes me how fast each school year flies by.  I will print out first quarter Power School grades and send that home by this Wednesday.  At the end of each quarter I do drawing for a free book from the take-home book "tickets" (blue notes).  Each quarter five or six students will come home with a free book obviously the more "tickets" they have in the drawing the better chance they will have have, but more importantly imagine what better readers they will be with each book read!

Here are this week's happenings:

• This Wednesday we are going on our Field Trip to the Robinson Family Pumpkin Patch.  We will leave here by bus at approximately 9:30 a.m. and return by 11:00 for our library time.  I sent a note home about this last week.  Please help by sending in a $1.00 donation, as each student will be able to pick out one pumpkin to bring home. If any of you would like to come with us on this field trip please send me an e-mail.  An extra set of "adult" hands is always helpful.  
• Friday October 20, the Walk-a-thon money is due.  If you turn in money after that date it will still go towards a "good cause" but your child will not be eligible for the prizes after Friday.  Friday is also the day that the Box Tops are due for the root beer float party.  The class with the most box tops turned in will receive the Root Beer floats.
• This week our learning will center around addition strategies in math.  Today we again learned about "counting on".  Students learned that if they add 1, 2, 3 to a number they can "count on".  For example 3 + 8 = 11;  Students start on the "greater" number and then "count on".  Students say "8 then 9, 10, 11.  I taught them to "pound" the greater number in their fist then "count on from there.  I noticed some of you took advantage of the xtra math computer program that I sent home.  I sent home the information last week.  This is a great way to help with those automatic addition and subtraction facts which are a basis for higher level math concepts.  Look for that in your child's folder.  If you want another letter let me know and I can print your child off another one.
• In reading we just learned the /ue/ sound and spelling.  We now have learned all of the "magic e" spellings for long vowels (a_e, i _e, o _e and u _e).  Students are exposed to those spellings in the book Gran that we read from everyday. 
• Today we started reading versions of Tom Thumb.  We finished three versions of Cinderella last week.  Ask your child about the version "Billy Beg" or the "Girl with the red slipper"   I wasn't familiar with those versions until we started this reading program 2 years ago.  Tomorrow we will read a version of  Tom Thumb,  "Thumbelina".   
• Don't forget that next Monday, October 23 we are off for our Fall Holiday.  School resumes the following day, Tuesday October 24.
• In years past, students have been able to dress up for Halloween.  I am assuming this tradition will continue this year, but I haven't heard anything definitive about that or when the costume parade will be.  I will investigate and let you know more details next week in this newsletter.  

Happy Reading!!

Newsletter October 9 - October 13

Thanks for making the effort to come and see me last week during SEP conferences.  I hope that you found it valuable. If you ever have questions or concerns I am willing to meet anytime or to communicate through e-mail or a phone call.  I have a sweet little class this year and I feel lucky to be their teacher.  We gained another new student today--Phoenix Barnes from Mrs. Carter's class has joined our bunch.  He was warmly received.

Here are this week's happenings:

• This week we have a few PTA sponsored activities--on Thursday, October 12 at 3:00, in my classroom, those that have been earned Eagle awards (reading awards) will be presented.  If you child is receiving an award I gave you the invitation during SEP conferences.
• Friday October 13 is the Walk-a-Thon.  I sent home information about how you can donate for that event last week.  Donations are not necessary all will and can participate.  The Walk-a-thon will be in the afternoon from 2:00-3:00.  
• The October Scholastic book order will be due this Friday.  The easiest way to order is to use the online code, but you can always send back the fliers marked with your selections and check made out to Scholastic.
• Today we started our new math unit.  We are again back to Addition strategies, but with sums through 20 now.  Today we again reviewed the commutative property of addition (8 + 7 = 15 so 7 + 8 = 15).  We learned to use our number line to help us add two numbers together.  Students start on the "bigger" number and then "hop forward" the remaining number.  For example 6 + 9 = 15, students start on 9 and "hop forward" 6 to arrive at the sum 15.  This is just another strategy to help with addition. 
• We started a new Reading unit also--Different Lands--Similar stories.  We will hear several different versions of familiar stories.  Today we started with Cinderella from France and tomorrow we will hear a version The Girl with the Red Slipper from Egypt.  
• Our reading groups are well underway.  Everyday except Wednesday all students are instructed in a small group setting on their reading level.  I hope that you have noticed some improvements in your child's reading.  In first grade those improvements can be pretty dramatic sometimes.  It's amazing to witness. Please help with those "dramatic improvements" by having your child read their take home books every night and practicing their sight word.  Remember that Wednesday is our Sight Word pass off day.
• We are hoping for a field trip next week to the Robinson Family pumpkin patch.  We are just waiting on a bus confirmation.  We planned on this happening next Wednesday, October 18 in the morning.  I will let you know as soon as I get the go ahead from the bus garage.  
• Lastly, instead of starting our "apple head" witches tomorrow (Tuesday) we will start the creation on Wednesday.  With PE and computers on Tuesday our time will be a bit limited, so I thought it would be better to do those on Wednesday after lunch.  If you have already sent an apple with your child thank you--if not, please help by sending one in by Wednesday.

Happy Reading!!

Newsletter October 2 - October 6

Welcome to October!  The end of first quarter is Friday, October 13.  If your child has any missing work that needs to be turned in by Wednesday, October 11.  I will print out a Power School report after the end of the quarter and send it to you.  You can check Power School at any time using the information I gave you at your SEP conference.  Let me know if you see any discrepancies--that is definitely not an exact science.

Here are this week's happenings:

• Thanks to those that I have already visited with at your child's SEP conference.  If you need to reschedule please send me an e-mail and I can usually accommodate your schedule.  Remember school  dismisses everyday at 2:30 even on Wednesday.
• This Wednesday morning is the PTA sponsored Grandparents breakfast from 8:00-8:40.  The book fair is also open during that time and all week until Friday at 3:00.  
• Another round of PTA reading awards will be on Thursday, October 12 at 3:00 in my classroom.  I will or  already have informed you at your child's SEP conference if they will be receiving an award that day.  You are welcome to come to this awards presentation.  It's brief so make sure you arrive on time (3:00 in my room).
• Please send an apple with your child by next week for our "apple head" witch craft.  We will be making them next Tuesday so apples by Monday would be very helpful.  Thank you!  
• We are almost finished with Unit 2 in math (subtraction strategies).  I hope to give the test for that chapter this Friday.  I'll see how the review goes on Wednesday and Thursday, but my plan like I said it to test this Friday.
• In reading we have started Unit 2--we have learned how to spell the /e/ sound 'ee' and today are starting the 'magic e', 'silent e' rule.  We will learn about the /ae/ sound and how to spell it 'a_e'.  Students will also be exposed to these "new" spellings and sounds in their reading.  We started a new book "Gran" which is about an adventurous grandma and her grand kids Josh and Jen.  
• I know we have a book fair this week, but I will still send the October Scholastic reader fliers home next week.  They will be due on Friday, October 13.  Ordering online is the easiest way to order from those fliers.  This is of course optional :)
• Don't forget to send back sight word lists (blue note) on Wednesday (tomorrow).  Please make sure that those words are automatic for your child.  Mrs. Harris gives them a "second chance" to get it automatically but sends it home, if it's not automatic the second time, with the word(s) listed that still need to be worked on.  Please don't give up if that happens, simply practice once more and send the list back in again.  Acquiring automatic sight words is crucial to becoming a fluent reader so include this practice in your child's ten minutes of nightly reading if necessary.  I gave or will give those students who haven't passed off a list in a while a list at SEP conferences so all students should have one.

Have a great Fall day and Happy Reading!

Newsletter September 25 - September 29

It's the final week of September already and the Fall chill is definitely in the air.  Please make sure you send a jacket/coat etc. with your child on these colder days.  We go outside for recess unless it's below freezing or raining or snowing like crazy. 

Here are this week's happenings:

• Please send your child's homework folder everyday (broken record I know).  Sometimes, even for a few days at a time, your child's homework folder will not have anything in it, but days like today it will have several notes and work from school in it.  If your child doesn't have their folder it's much easier to lose those important notes.
• The important note today is the purple paper!  It's your child's SEP appointment time.  Please send that back ASAP.  If you can't make the appointment I will e-mail you and we can rearrange a time that is more convenient for you.  Your child is invited to attend these SEP appointments with you. They will be for about 15 minutes.  SEP week is next week--Oct. 2-6 and school will dismiss everyday at 2:30 (including Wednesday).  The PTA is sponsoring a book fair in the library during SEP week and a Grandparents breakfast has been scheduled for Wednesday morning October 4 (notes about these things came home today also).
• Our library day has changed from Wednesday to Friday this week.  You can still send your child's library books back anytime, but they won't be bringing new ones home until Friday.  During SEP week we will not have library because of the Book Fair.
• Our learning is still focused on subtraction strategies in math and the Human body in Science/Social Studies.  Today we learned about vaccinations and those who were instrumental in creating the first vaccinations (Dr. Jenner and Louis Pasteur).  In reading we are still working on double consonants and in grammar we have learned about quotation marks.  We are reading from our book Snap Shots about Beth and Nat's adventures in the U.K.  Ask your child about the story we read today:  The Man in the Black Hat. 
• Don't forget that Wednesday is Sight Word soldiers day and the Reading Calendar for September will be due next Monday, October 2.  That is worth 50 points and students who turn it in get a certificate and little treat.  

Happy Reading!

Newsletter September 18 - September 22

Two weeks in a row with a Tuesday newsletter.  It's been "one of those weeks" twice.

Here are this week's happenings:

• We took our Unit 1 math test last week and for the most part my students understand addition concepts through 10. Watch for your child's math test to come home in their homework folder. We have moved onto subtraction concepts.  It's been a shift in thinking to subtract numbers rather than add them together.  Today we modeled "taking apart" numbers.   For example:  "John had 8 marbles, four of those marbles are red, the rest are yellow--How many marbles are yellow?"  We modeled that with two-sided counters and then wrote subtraction sentences (8 - 4 = 4).  
• In reading, we are finishing up with our first unit also.  Our next unit with focus on vowel teams (ee, ai, etc.) The books that supplement our learning focus on this "new" patterns.
• We have a new student in our class, Adrian.  He comes to us from North Elementary.  He's been warmly received into our classroom.  My students are great friends.
• Elizabeth is our first official Star of the Week this week.  On Monday, we learned more about her as she shared her poster.  Today we read her favorite book "Finding Winnie" an award winning true story that I wasn't aware of and hadn't read the book before.  It was a great one!  We will also add some special writing about Elizabeth as we complete her "Important page". I will send home information about being Star of the Week the week before it's your child's turn.  I also sent home a schedule a couple of week's ago.
• October 2-6 is SEP (parent/teacher conferences). I will send home an assigned time next Monday.  I will do my best to coordinate with siblings.  With dual immersion and with the 4th and 5th grades having an initial open house type conference I may not be able to schedule all of my appointments back to back with siblings.  I look forward to meeting with all of you.
• Keep reading for 10 minutes each night with your child.  Thanks for keeping up with that and sending back your child's take-home book everyday!  I have said this before and will say it over and over--it really is helpful to make reading a habit and it helps your child become a better reader.  
• Sight word soldiers (sight word pass off) is every Wednesday.  I have had some who haven't ever returned a list.  Please do this--it's fun for my students to earn beads for their necklaces but it's also important to help with their reading fluency (rate and accuracy).  Last week, I had Mrs. Harris send home lists with those who haven't sent one back so please look for those in your child's folder.  If you need another one please send me an e-mail and I will send another one home.

Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns and Happy Reading!

Newsletter September 11 - September 15

Yesterday, as you may have already been told I had a substitute in the afternoon, so my newsletter for the week is a bit late. 

Here are this week's happenings:

• Remember that tomorrow the Scholastic book orders are due.  The best way to order is online using our classroom code. Wednesday is also Sight Word Soldiers Day and library.  Please remember to send your sight word notes back and library books.
• Most of you are making sure that your child reads their take-home book every night.  Thanks!  Remember that I only expect 10 minutes of reading a night and this will greatly benefit your child's reading ability.  Practice makes perfect! If you haven't been asking about this every night please recommit yourself to listening to your child read every day.  I included a note about my expectations in the take-home bag.  If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me. 
• Some students bring extra school supply items from home that weren't included on their list of suggested supplies.  If you child comes home with one of those "extra supplies" such as small pencil sharpeners it's because they have been playing with it instead of using it appropriately.  I don't encourage those pencil sharpeners as they usually become a "toy" and make messes on the floor.
• Today reading group started.  I notified those through e-mail if your child would be attending a reading intervention group.  In our reading program, we are working on identifying vowel sounds and spellings, learning about nouns and ending punctuation.  We have also learned about possessives (Nat's cat).  My kids are so excited to point out apostrophes in text as we read.  Though most still don't have the word "apostrophe" correct yet :). We'll get their though. 
• We have started our Human body unit.  Today we learned about the skeletal system (supports and protects vital organs).  Ask your child if they remember how many bones the human body has (206).
• In math we will take our unit 1 test this Thursday and then start on Subtraction concepts for the next couple of weeks.
• The first week of October is SEP week.  I will send home scheduled times in the next week or so (I know it's crazy that it's mid-September already).  We try our best to coordinate times with siblings in other classes.  Watch for that (I will let you know the exact day that I send it home though).

I need to run and grab my son from basketball, so I hope I didn't forget anything.  Forgive my typos :).  as this as a quickly typed newsletter.  I sure love my class this year--they truly are wonderful kids!

Happy Reading!

Newsletter September 5 - September 8

I hope that you all enjoyed your three-day Labor Day weekend.  I know I did. 

Here are this week's happenings:

• Tomorrow (Wednesday) our Take-Home books (book in a bag) will start coming home.  I have included a note in the bag that will help you understand how to use these and what I expect.  If you have any questions about those books please feel free to contact me.  TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE BOOKS--BOOKS ON YOUR CHILD'S READING LEVEL. Be careful not to lose them as their is a replacement fee associated with lost books.
• Tomorrow also is our Sight Word Soldiers "pass off" day.  Please send your child's blue slip back on Wednesday's so that they can earn beads for their necklaces.  If you child does not pass off the whole list it will be returned with the words that they need to work on.  Don't stop there--send it back it and help your child to get moving through these lists.  I can't just "pass them" off if they don't read the words automatically. 
• Fall pictures will be this Friday.  All students will have their picture taken regardless if money is sent with them.  You can send back the envelope with your child's order by Friday or I believe you can order online also.  
• Please make sure your child's August reading calendar is turned in.  I award each child that turns one in with a little treat and a certificate.  I will not accept calendars after this Friday for a treat/certificate.  September calendars were sent home on September 1.  The take-home library books will help with the ten minutes of reading each night.
• I send home graded work with a score on it, but I have a high school volunteer and now some SUU students who are here for a class assignment and they help with corrections.  If you child's paper comes home and it looks like they got 100% but their score does not reflect that, corrections have been made.  I keep the original score, but love that with volunteers this year my students can get almost immediate feedback on the mistakes they are making. 
• This week I will send home Scholastic reading orders.  These are optional, but all those that order help our class earn "free books".  These orders will be due next Wednesday, September 13.  The best and easiest way to order is using our online code (included with the orders on the letter attached), but you can also send back the order form with payment by Sept. 13.
• With 15 kids I am going to implement my "Star of the Week" program.  Each student will have a week where they can "shine" in my classroom.  I will send home a schedule of when your child will be "Star of the Week" and then give you the materials the week before their assigned time.  Watch for the schedule to come home this week. 
• As far as curriculum, this week we will finish up our Fables and Folktakes Unit.  Today we read about the trickster spider Anansi (an African folktale).  That was our last folktale to read in this unit.  As a culmination, my students will divide into groups and create a poster about their "favorite folktale".  They will include on that poster the story elements of "plot, setting" and the main characters".  They will as a group share these posters with the class. In math we are still learning about addition concepts.  Today we learned about the different ways to make a number for example:  "To make 5" we can add 0 + 5, 1 + 4, 2 + 3, 3 + 2, 4 + 1, and 5 + 0.  So far, I am pleased with the knowledge my students have carried with them from kindergarten.  They for the most part, are quickly understanding these addition concepts.  In reading we are still reviewing sounds and spellings for those sounds.  Today we reviewed or learned for some the /ch/ and /sh/ spellings and sounds.  Ask your child what we drew on our hands with pen today to help us remember those sounds and spellings :). We are also learning about nouns as these are words that name "a person or a thing" (we will add "place" later).  We will start constructing complete sentences (capital, punctuation, complete thoughts) in the next few weeks (this is a year long process as we  first learn to write sentences which then translate into paragraphs). 

Happy Reading!

Newsletter August 28 - September 1

We had a wonderful Monday in first grade!  I truly love this little class already and am so excited about their potential!  I hope that you looked over your child's behavior chart last week.  I told my kiddos today that maybe we need to add a "gold" spot because several are making it up to purple and they still could "clip up".  These behavior charts are an excellent way for students to monitor their OWN behavior. 

Here are this week's happenings:

• We are continuing our math unit on addition concepts.  Today we again solved addition word problems using pictures to model and then completing an addition sentence. This week we will learn some addition rules such as; adding zero to a number, adding in any order (Commutative Property of addition) in addition to "different ways to make ten" (6 + 4 = 10 or 2 + 8 = 10 for example).  
• In reading we will take another placement type assessment with our reading aides.  It's called DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills).  After all first graders have been tested this week we will meet with our Reading Specialist and organize reading groups.  My best guess is we will start those groups the second week in September.  It's wonderful it get started so early in the year!
• I sent home an order form for pictures which will be taken Friday, September 8.  All students will have their picture taken that day regardless of payment.  
• Sight Word Soldier (sight word lists) will be sent home this week.  Please start working on those lists with your child and send them back regularly so students can earn beads for their Sight Word Soldier necklaces.  They will not only come home with a necklace full of beads at the end of the year, but a brain full of sight words.  Automatically reading these common sight words will greatly increase your child's fluency (rate and accuracy when reading).  Reese's mom has volunteered to come and help pass off these lists on Wednesday so keep that day in mind when you send back the pass off sheet.  If I get other volunteers that are consistent I will let you know.  
• If you haven't sent back the Master Signature sheet that was sent home on the first day of school please do so ASAP.  One of the signatures on that sheet was our district's "computer use policy".  Students will not be allowed on school computers if that is not signed.  We go to computers on Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon so your child will be missing out on that computer time.  If you need me to send home another one let me know and I will put the papers in your child's homework folder.
• Students will be bringing home library books this Wednesday.  In first grade, students can check out two books.  Please keep track of these, read them with your child, and return them every Wednesday (can return earlier if you want to) so that new books can come home every week.  Every year we struggle to get all books back to our library and it costs our school $ to replace those or we don't replace popular titles because they've been lost.  
• Tonight from 5:30-8:30 is our PTA sponsored Luau.  Tickets can be purchased to play games and also food can be purchased.  This is a fun activity and makes a little bit of money for our school.  If you come from 5:30-6:30 I might see you there!  

Happy Reading! 

Newsletter August 21 - August 25

Welcome to our blog!  I will post my weekly newsletter here which will include announcements and what's happening in our classroom.  I will also post pictures occasionally.  I will never include your child's last name, but if you would like your child to be excluded from pictures on this blog please let me know and I will not post their picture.

We have been in first grade for about a week now.  I think my wonderful little "firsties" are getting used to a full day.  I haven't heard as many, "when are we going home?" or "when is it lunchtime?" type of questions today.  Thank you to those that have sent in snacks for our morning break--some of you have signed up multiple times. 😀 I think this helps ease the transition from summer break to a full day of school.

I am really excited about this upcoming year.  We only have 15 students so far in our class this year (seriously unheard of).  I know this will be beneficial for your child.  I will be able to more closely monitor each of my students and give them the help that they need. 

We have dived right into our curriculum.  Today we started our first math unit "Addition concepts".  We learned about using pictures to help us solve addition problems.  In reading (CKLA) we are reviewing concepts from kindergarten.  We are reviewing vowel and consonant sounds and how to "spell those sounds"  and  how to correctly form letters.  We have learned that vowel sounds are important because all words have a vowel sound in them and vowel sounds are those in which our mouth is open as we form them and air is able to escape.  Tomorrow we will start learning about nouns. Also in reading we are learning about Fables and Folktales.  We have heard three Fables (short, fictional stories with a moral) 1.  The Boy Who Cried Wolf, 2.  The Milkmaid and the Spilled Milk, and 3.  The Goose and the Golden Eggs.  With these stories we learn about characters, the setting, plot and the value lesson (moral) that each teaches as well as vocabulary study. 

Here are this week's announcements or happenings or reminders (in a more condensed form):👇👇

• Please send your child's homework folder (blue plastic folder) back with them EVERYDAY!  Make it a habit of checking that folder and returning things that need to be returned in that folder. 
• Today our first reading calendar was sent home. In my "Parent Handbook" I have outlined my homework expectations.  Please start reading with your child (hopefully your child doing most of the reading) for ten minutes each school night.  That calendar will be due September 1. 
• PTA reading bookmarks were sent home last Friday.  Please read over their requirements for awards.  Since I only expect 10 minutes of reading each school night and in order to receive the top award (Gold Eagle) students would need to read 25 minutes a night, I will supplement that in class when our reading groups start.  I will supplement with 15 minutes of reading in class so your child will still need to read at home to progress through the levels.
• Starving Student cards were sent home last Friday.  This is a fundraiser for our school.  If you do not want to purchase the card please send it back in the envelope provided.  If you would like to purchase the card please send the money and order form back in that envelope.  Thanks.  They really do have some good promotions and "pay for themselves" if you use them throughout the year. 
• Next Monday, August 28 our PTA is sponsoring a Back to School Luau (information about this has also been sent home).  It is from 5:30 - 8:30.  You can come anytime during those hours.  I'd love to see you there!
• If you haven't sent back the student registration sheet that I sent home in my back to school letter please do so ASAP.  That is how I get e-mail addresses to Mr. Moyle (for school newsletters and information from the principal) and sometimes honestly that information is more up-to-date than the information in Power School.  
• The next couple of weeks all students will be assessed in reading by our competent reading aides.  After the assessments some students may be placed in a reading intervention group.  I will inform you if you child qualifies for this intervention.  
• If you have been saving Box Tops over the summer please send them in with your child by October 20 (winning class receives a root beer float party).  These can be found on many food products (cereal, fruit snacks, Totinos pizza and sometimes school supplies).  Just cut them off and return them to school with your child.  It really can add up. 😊
• We have started our computers and PE schedule.  We have PE/Computers on Tuesday and Thursday.  Please make sure that your child is wearing proper shoes on those days.  
• If you haven't signed up for REMIND please pick up your phone now and sign-up for that free texting service.  It's a great way to get information back and forth without having to exchange personal information.  It's the best way I've found to communicate quickly with parents.  I'll keep "encouraging"  you until you try it. 😀

Thanks for sharing your child with me this year.  As I stated above I am really excited about this year and can visualize really wonderful things happening in classroom #7!  If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to contact me.  E-mail is the best for that kind of communication.

Happy Monday and Happy Reading!! 

Newsletter May 22 - May 24

This newsletter will be brief as this is the final week of school.  Every year I feel a bit melancholy as I close the door, but we've had a great year in first grade.  Thank you for your support and help throughout the year.

Today we had our pizza party for those that read 100-books.  My husband came and he helped make it a lot more fun!  My kids said, "why can't he come all of the time".  I submitted a picture of those who read 100 books and it will be in the Iron County Today newspaper on May 31. 

We also walked to the Library in the Park today and played at the Main Street park afterwards.  The librarian reminded us of the summer reading program.  The kick-off party is at the library on June 3 from 2:00-4:00.  You can sign up anytime though for this program.  I used to do that with my little kids and it was a fun weekly activity to go to the library and keep them reading throughout the summer.

Tomorrow we will clean out our desks so backpacks will be full tomorrow :)  We will watch Charlotte's Web in the morning with Mrs. Rieff's class.  We just finished reading the book today. Whew!  that was close. 

Wednesday, May 24 is our final day of school.  We will have a school-wide assembly/slideshow at 9:00 am that morning.  If you child ordered a yearbook, I would assume it would come home that day, though I haven't heard for sure.  I will also send home fourth quarter grades and promotion cards on Wednesday which will have your child's second grade teacher assignment printed on it.

I hope that you all have a wonderful summer vacation.  I have truly enjoyed my time this year and hope that your child's transition into second grade is a smooth one.

Newsletter May 15 - May 19

I just got on here to edit my post from yesterday and realized that I didn't even save it!  Ugh!  Thank goodness it was short and sweet. 

Here I go again with some noteworthy items for this final full-week of school:

• DIBELS scores have been sent home--either in the mail or sent home yesterday.  Please ask your child about those.  I will send home a note with final grades on the last day of school giving you my insights and suggestions for summer reading.  If your child wasn't "green" it is especially important that they continue reading in the summer.
• Today (Tuesday) I will send home a note about some away from the school activities.  You shouldn't be surprised about these as I have been mentioning them for several weeks on this blog.
• All work is due this Friday--INCLUDING THE MAY READING RECORD!  100-book lists are also due then--I won't accept lists after that date.  The pizza party reading picnic for those that reached this goal will be on Monday, May 22 during lunch.
• If your child hasn't returned their library books or paid the replacement fee (both regular and take-home) or owe lunch money please do so ASAP.  Students who do not have these turned in will not be able to watch our first grade movie on Tuesday, May 23.  They will go into the cafeteria with reading aides instead.
• Our last spelling test is Tuesday.  I will give the words in the order that is on this blog (see the right sidebar). We had our last math test yesterday and are wrapping up with both our reading and math units.
• Today I am sending home a packet of math sheets that you child can work on over the summer.  These will be helpful to jump start your child with 2nd grade math concepts.

Happy Reading!

Newsletter May 8 - May 12

Our swimming field trip is tomorrow, Tuesday, May 9 in the afternoon. I sent home a note last week detailing the event as I have given out information for weeks on this blog and sent home another note last month.  Thanks to those that have volunteered to help us that day!

Here are this week's happenings and announcements or reminders:

• Please remember our dress code as the weather is warming up--no short shorts, hats, spaghetti straps or tank tops 
• All library books (both regular and take-home) are due this week.  Library books are due this Thursday, May 11 and take-home books (book in a bag) are due this Friday, May 12.  Please help us get all of our books returned.  I will send out reminders and texts to those that haven't returned their books or paid the fine.
• If you have any Box tops please send them by this Friday, May 12.  The winning class will receive an ice cream party.
• All 4th quarter work will be due by Friday, May 19.  I will send home grade printouts the following Monday.  THE MAY READING CALENDAR WILL BE DUE THAT DAY ALSO (May 19)!
• Some of you will receive DIBELS scores in the mail.  State law requires that we inform parents via mail if their child is below benchmark on this test.  I will still send out those scores along with helpful hints for this summer to all students.  It won't be sent through the mail.  I will let you know when those have been put in your child's folders.
• Mr. Moyle reminded us today to please not bring "toys" to school, lately we've had issues with "fidgit" spinners and always with Pokemon cards.  Please help us by cleaning out your child's backpack and reminding them to leave "toys" at home.
• This week we will finish our math unit on Two-Dimensional Geometry.  Today we learned about halves and on Wednesday we will learn about fourths. We will review on Thursday and take the unit test on Friday.  We will then review "harder" concepts from earlier in the year and work on concepts that will be a jump-start for second grade.  I will send home some worksheets that your child can work on over the summer to also help for second grade.
• Today we learned about the Sonoran Desert habitat.  We will continue this Unit until the end of the year.  We will learn about rain forests, Temperate deciduous habitats, and the African Savanna.  My students will write a final informational paragraph choosing one of these habitats.
• Our spelling test will be tomorrow morning--I will group the words by spellings:  i.e. all 'ai' words together and all 'ay' words together hoping that will help. 

As this year is drawing to a close, I wanted to say how much I've enjoyed your beautiful children.  They will forever be apart of my heart.  Thanks for your support throughout the year.

Happy Reading and Happy Mother's Day!

Newsletter May 1 - May 5

I am late, late with this blog newsletter.  We had such a nice time on our field trip to the St. George Children's Museum.  Thanks to those who volunteered and rode down with us to help chaperone the group.  The weather was beautiful and I think it was a memorable day in first grade.

Here are this week's happenings and announcements:

• Tomorrow is the last day to hand in PTA reading bookmarks for certificates and awards.  Thanks to those that supported this program to read.  We have several "gold eagle" award winners from our classroom.  Yay! to Logan, Khloe, and Owen!  I hope that we have a couple more after May 5.
• We won the first box tops ice cream party.  Wouldn't it be fun to win again?!  If you have any box tops please turn those in by Friday, May 12 to be eligible for the party.
• I sent home Scholastic book orders last week.  I will extend that due date for orders until tomorrow, Friday, May 5 (Cinco de Mayo).  This would be nice time to get a few books for summer reading.
• Today was our last day to check out books from our library.  Every year it takes a while to get books all returned so I decided to give us an extra week to help collect all of our books.  Please, please go on a library book hunt tonight and help us get 100% of our books returned this year.  Every year our library loses many books and those do not get replaced unless they are paid for by the borrower.  All those who return their books by May 18 will receive a free book.  I will start sending home reminders as well as the librarian will send home a replacement cost if your child can't find their book(s).  We will still have our library time for the next couple of Thursdays but not check out books.  Mrs. Clark always chooses such entertaining books to share with my class.
• Spelling words were sent home yesterday and the test with be next Tuesday, May 9.  We will have the test in the morning and then swimming in the afternoon.
• May 19 is the last day for our 100-book challenge.  Those that joined the "100 book club" will have pizza for lunch the following Monday, May 22 in my classroom.  Caim was our latest to reach the 100 book milestone--he will join Deni, Jay, Khloe, Mary, Logan, Owen, and Tenley (so far) for pizza. 
• Also on May 19 it's our "Field Day".  For first grade field day, we will walk up to the canyon park (where we had our Easter egg hunt) and then walk the trail and play on the playground before heading back to the school.  Before we go to the park, we will have a sidewalk chalk activity outside on the blacktop and afterwards a water balloon toss.  I will need volunteers to help send in filled up water balloons in order for that activity to work.  Let me know if you would be willing to help us out by sending in water balloons (filled).  I would love sidewalk chalk donations also :)  On field day, the lunchroom does a BBQ for lunch.  The kids get their lunch (BBQ hamburger or hot dog) and then eat it outside.  If your child normally brings a home lunch they may want to join us and have school lunch that day.  Of course, if your child brings a home lunch they will still join us and eat outside with us. 
• On May 22, we will be walking over to the Cedar City Library for a little tour and explanation about their summer reading program.  We will then play at the park adjacent to the library.  We will leave here around 9:40 and return before lunch.  I would love a helper to walk over to the library and back with us.  If you could walk with us please contact me.
• I noticed that Mr. Moyle sent a link about our school calendar.  Please consider filling the survey out and giving your opinion about our current calendar.  If we don't speak up then changes don't happen.
• We took our DIBELS test yesterday.  I will send out those results and recommendations for remediation and work over the summer when our reading specialist prints them out.  For the most part, I am pleased with the progress my class has made this year in reading.  That's one of the best things about teaching first grade.  These kids come in reading a few words, but leave reading, and reading and reading!  It's amazing!
• Last thing.... our swimming field trip is next Tuesday, May 9.  I have three parents that have volunteered to come and help with that.  The more the merrier where swimming is concerned.  If you would like help out that day please contact me by e-mail.  We will leave here about 12:45 and return by 3:00.  I will send home a note tomorrow reminding you about the field trip and what to bring etc. 
• OK I lied :)  this really is the last thing.  Take-home library (book in a bag) books will continue through next Friday, May 12.  Just like the "regular" library we will be asking for those books to be returned or to pay the $5.00 replacement fee.  I sent home (on bright orange paper) last week notices to those whose take-home library books haven't been returned for some time.  Please help us keep that library stocked with books by returning them by May 12. 

Happy Reading!

Newsletter April 24 - April 28

I hope you all had a glorious spring break.  I know I was yawning this afternoon and my kiddos were asking for snacks today.  It's amazing how long that felt (almost like we'd been gone for the summer).  We still have four plus weeks left and will continue to learn and grow up until the end.

Here are this week's happenings:

• This Wednesday, April 26 is our walking field trip to SUU for Bard's Birthday Bash.  We will leave here at 9:00 (so please make sure you child is here on time).  We will walk to the Shakespeare center for activities like Renaissance dancing, jousting, improv, and cake with the queen.  We will return at approximately 11:30 right before lunch. Thanks to those that have volunteered to walk with us to SUU.  
• We have a minor (fun) change to our trip to the St. George Children's Museum next Monday, May 1.  In addition to our trip to the museum and lunch we are able to ride the carousel adjacent to the museum.  That will up the cost just a bit.  Instead of just $1.00 the cost will now be $1.75 ($1.00 for the museum and 75 cents for the carousel).  If you haven't already sent your money please do so by this Friday, April 28.  I have three parents that have committed to coming down with us to the museum.  I still need one more parent that can commit to coming with us that day.  The museum requires 1 adult for every 5 students.  If you can come please let me know ASAP.  You are welcome to ride the bus with us or follow us down or meet us at the museum.  
• Spelling Words were sent home today.  They are a bit tricky and will require some extra study at home for most students. The test will be this Friday.
• This is our last week for reading intervention (special) reading groups.  I will continue to hold small reading groups in my class through the month of May, but the reading aides will be testing students, and taking inventory and closing up shop for the summer.  I so appreciate all of the wonderful assistance we receive at East Elementary especially when it comes to small group reading interventions.  Our final end-of-the-year Dibels test will be next Wednesday, May 3 in the morning.  Please help by ensuring that your child gets a good nights sleep and food in their tummy that morning.  If they are sick or absent they will be tested another day. 
• May 17 is the final day for our 100-book challenge.  I have several that are so close to getting to the 100 book mark!  We will have our Pizza party the following Monday, May 20 and I will submit a picture of all of the kids that read 100 books to the Iron County Today newspaper.  I will let you know the date of that publication after submission.
• We will continue our Sight Word Soldier program for three more weeks.  Thanks to Mary's mom who has faithfully come in every Wednesday to help keep that up.  It really helps!  Some necklaces are overflowing with beads and that means that little brains are overflowing with sight words too. 
• I really will get Scholastic book orders out this week.  They will be due next Wednesday, May 3.  That will be the final order that I will send home this year.  They will be back in time before the summer break. 
• We just started our final unit in reading today and as I noted earlier will be working on that until the end :). Today we learned about other spellings for the /ae/ (sound)--'ai' and 'ay'.  I love it when my students point out those "newly' learned spellings in their reading.  In math, we are working with two-dimensional shapes.  Today we continued with sides and vertices (corners or angles) and added trapezoids and hexagons to the mix. We will continue to learn about the history of the earth and then move into Animal Habitats to finish out the year.
• One last field trip request--I only have two parents that have volunteered to come swimming with us on May 9.  I need two more (but will take as many as want to come).  Please consider coming with us and swimming with the kids.  As a reminder, we will leave the school around 12:40 and return by 3:00 on Tuesday, May 9.  
• Take-home books again were not sent home today as our librarian was out sick today. 

Have a great night!  and Happy Reading!

Newsletter April 10 - April 14

We have fun things planned for this week before our Spring break.

Here are this week's happenings:

• Thanks for getting me all of your lunch preferences in for our field trip to the St. George Children's museum on May 1.  I have one parent that has volunteered to help us that day--I still need three more parent volunteers to accompany us on that trip.  You can ride the bus down with us (leaving at 9:00 a.m.) or meet us at the museum at about 10:00 a.m.  Please contact me if you can help us.  The museum requires that many helpers so if we can't get a few more we may be forced to cancel the trip. I have had a couple of you send in your $1.00 for that trip.  You can send that in anytime before May 1.  It's easier if I get the $1.00 before the day we leave so I can get a count to our secretary in advance rather than running around the morning of figuring our money situation.   
• Our Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for this Thursday at around 2:15 at the Canyon Park.  We will go to the west side of the park (by the hill, pavilion and bigger playground) instead of the east side as originally planned since the Kindergarten classes will be going on Friday and we won't have competition for that space.  I have two parents that have volunteered to help come and get the eggs and "hide" them for us.  I would love to have some more helpers.  Let me know if you could come and help.  You would need to come to our classroom at about 1:30 to get the eggs and then take them to the park and "hide" them.  We will leave the school at 2:00 right after library to go to the park.  We still need more eggs!  Please consider if you can help us by sending in a dozen plastic- candy filled Easter eggs by Wednesday, April 12.  You can either buy them already pre-filled (easiest way obviously) or fill them yourself.  Please secure them with a piece of scotch tape if you fill them as they tend to pop open. 
• For our swimming field trip, I have two parents that have volunteered to help.  I need a couple more for that field trip.  We will go on Tuesday, May 9 in the afternoon (12:30-3:00).  Let me know if you can help with that also.  The PTA is sponsoring that field trip and will sponsor parent volunteers also.  
• Tomorrow we will take our Chapter 11 math test (three-dimensional shapes).  We will then move onto our final chapter (parts of a whole) and then review some tricky parts of our addition/subtraction chapters as well as work on concepts that will help with moving onto second grade.
• We do not have spelling words this week.  We are also concluding a unit in reading also.  We will pause for a few days and work on personal narrative this week and finish our reading book called "Grace".  When we return from spring break we will begin our final unit in reading!  CRAZY!  Don't think we're done as we have our end-of-year reading test (DIBELS) on May 3.  Reading intervention groups will commence on May 1, but we won't stop small group reading instruction.  I will continue to have small reading groups within my classroom for the month of May.
• It's the week of new units.  We just started our Unit on the History of the Earth (think rocks, geology, continents etc.).  I'm amazed at what my students already know, but I will be amazed at what they learn also.  Today we learned about Geologists and the three terms that all "geologists" understand that cause changes in our earth--those are "heat", "pressure", and "time". 
• Take-Home books will come home Monday-Thursday only this week.  The take-home librarian wants to cut down on lost books over the break so books will not come home on Friday.  Please take this time to find your book if it's been missing for a while. Remember that the replacement cost for take-home books is $5.00.  
• I didn't get Scholastic book orders out last week.  I will do my best to get them separated out and sent home this week.  I will send home both April and May brochures and that will most likely be our final order of the year. Thanks for ordering--that is one of the ways that I acquire "free" books for our classroom and adds to the collection of books that I give my students as the progress through the 100-book challenge. We have another 100 book club member--Tenley reached the 100 book mark last week.  Congratulations!  Keep reading towards that goal.  We have a little over a month left. 

I hope that you all have a nice Spring Break--I am hoping it actually feels like spring for it!  Send Easter eggs if you can and haven't already :)  and Happy Reading!

Newsletter April 3 - April 7

It seems like writing my blog newsletter brings the snow.  It's doing the same thing as last Monday--snowing!  I am going to write a note about our upcoming field trips in April and May so watch for that to come home by Wednesday. 

Here are this week's happenings:

• The next spelling test is tomorrow.  The words were sent home last week and are on this blog.  Some students need extra practice at home with these words--count it as your ten minutes of reading if you spend that time studying the words.
• We are in the middle of our Astronomy Unit.  Today we talked about the space race between the US and the Soviet Union and then the students acted as "engineers" and designed and named a rocket that they would launch into space.  We will continue with our study of the first men on the moon (my students always wonder if we are related :) and then will go more into depth about the planets.
• In math we are working with three-dimensional shapes.  Today we combined these shapes to create "new" shapes.  
• Tenley has joined our 100 book Challenge Club by reaching the 100 book mark today!  May 17 is the final day for this challenge.  
• I will send home April Scholastic book orders this week.  They will be due April 12.  
• One activity I wanted to mention (it will be on the note I send home too) is the Easter Egg Hunt.  We originally planned it for April 14, but need to change that to Thursday, April 13 due to a Life Skills assembly scheduled on April 14.  
• I hope you are checking and talking to your child about their weekly behavior charts.  These were meant to open up discussion about your child's behavior daily.  

Have a nice snowy night and Happy Reading!

Newsletter March 27 - March 31

Happy Monday!  I hope you are enjoying this "spring weather".  We have been working on crafting our spring paragraphs and so far the weather (except the rain of course) hasn't fully cooperated with our "signs of spring" discussions and writings. THANK YOU FOR THE TEACHER APPRECIATION GIFTS THAT I RECEIVED THIS MORNING.  What a nice pleasant surprise--it brought tears to my eyes!

Here are this week's happenings:

• Our next spelling test is tomorrow, Tuesday, March 28.  I sent home the words last week (tests are every five lessons so do not always fall on a consistent day).  If you have lost the list they are also on the sidebar of this blog.  They are a bit tricky with the 'sk' and 'scr' spellings and knowing when to use 'c' or 'k'.  Last week we made a graphic showing the 'c' and 'k' spellings.  If the /k/ (sound) is heard and is followed by vowels with "lines" (i and e) then the /k/ sound is usually spelling with an 'k' (kit, Kent etc.) and if the /k/ (sound) is followed by a "curvy" vowel sound (o, u, and a) then it's usually spelled with a 'c' (cap, cut, cop etc.).  I use "usually" because as you know in our language there are always exceptions to the "rules". 
• We will also have our Chapter 10 math test tomorrow on Representing Data (graphing).  We will then move onto Three-Dimensional Geometry (3-dimensional shapes basically). We have two more chapters in math and then will spend our final weeks working on topics that will help prepare my first graders for second grade math.
• We are continuing on with our Astronomy unit.  Today we talked about constellations--specially Orion (Taurus, Scorpio, Canis major and minor in their too) and the Big and Little Dippers.  We discussed why the early Greeks named the stars and that we see basically the same constellations as they saw and use the same names they used to describe them. 
• We just booked several field trips in the coming next couple of months (April and May).  I have them on the calendar portion of this blog (you may need to click out of "mobile version" and go to "web version" so you can see all of this blog).  I will also send home a note about those field trips, the costs involved and the volunteers I will NEED in order for us to go on these field trips. I will let you know when that note is coming home.
• I did want to mention one field trip/activity that is coming up in a couple of weeks.  We will be having a first grade Easter Egg hunt on the east side of the Canyon Park (the entrance as you drive up to the canyon).  Mrs. Rieff's class will join ours at 2:15ish on Friday, April 14 (the Friday before we get out for Easter break).  We need some help with this.  First of all, we are asking for a donation of 12 plastic candy-filled Easter eggs.  You can buy the already pre-filled Easter Eggs or you can fill them yourself.  If you choose the "fill yourself" option, please make sure that the candy inside the eggs are wrapped and that you use a piece of scotch tape to adhere the egg together so that we don't get a lot of "cracked, opened eggs".  I would like to have these eggs by Thursday, April 13.  You can start sending them anytime before that date. Of course, donating 1 dozen eggs for this cause is optional and all children will be able to participate.  The second thing we will need help with is we'll need a few parents to help take the eggs to the park and "hide" them for us.  We would need those parents by 1:30 that day (April 14) for our arrival to the park at 2:15.  We would need you to come to our classrooms and collect the eggs and then take them to the park for hiding. 
• Some of you have not returned your Take-home books for months, weeks, days.  Please continue to read nightly with your child.  We now have four students that have reached the 100- book mark--Khloe, Mary, Logan and Owen!!  Yippee!  

Oh my goodness!  I just turned around and looked out my window and it's totally snowing--definitely not spring like weather.  Don't forget to send your child to school with appropriate clothing for outside play.

Happy Reading!