January 2 - January 5

Welcome back after our Christmas holiday. Please make sure that you are asking your child about their behavior (remember their charts come home every Friday).  Today we needed some reminding about appropriate first grade behavior that was possibly "forgotten" over the break :)   Today was the start of our third quarter of school.  I will send home 2nd quarter final Power School grades by the end of the week. 

Here are this week's happenings:

• New spelling words were sent home today.  These words are a bit harder as most are two-syllable words with different spellings that we have learned (ex. perfume--we have learned 'er' and also 'u-e')  Students will have to put two syllables together and remember multiple spellings.  These words may take some extra effort at home.  As I've said before though, I would much prefer that you spend your ten minutes of reading time each night actually listening to your child read not practicing spelling words.  Practice a bit, but reading is priority! Remember that I don't expect any longer than 10 minutes each night :) The test will be next Monday, January 8 and the words are listed on the sidebar of this blog.
• December reading calendars are now due.  I will give a certificate and treat for those turned in by this Friday.  After that date, I will still accept them, but students will not receive the little "treat incentive". I sent home January reading calendars home today.
• Tomorrow is Sight Word Soldiers pass off day.  The last Wednesday before our break I sent home lists to those that haven't passed one off recently.  Please work on those and help your child fill their little brains with words that they can read automatically.  
• The PTA is having another awards presentation in our class this Thursday, at 3:00 in our classroom.  I will send home a reminder if your child is receiving an award.  With the last award ceremony the week before we had a break I don't anticipate a large amount of recipients.  Don't forget to fill those out also as your child reads every night.
• Today new reading intervention groups were started.  Most students that received reading intervention are still receiving that extra support, but I have a few that will be staying in class with me based on our recent DIBELS results.  I will e-mail or talk to you individually if your child falls in that category.  I thought that I could send home the DIBELS results to you as I obviously have the results now, but the reading specialist reminded me that we need to hand out those results "in person" or have them mailed directly to the student (parents).  I will save those to hand out to your directly the first week of February during our 2nd SEP conferences.  If I was concerned about your child's results I would have sent you an e-mail (I would be concerned if your child regressed at all).  If you would like to see those results earlier than our next set of conferences please let me know and we can arrange a time to meet. 
• In math we will finish up our chapter on Addition and Subtraction Relationships and I will test on that chapter next Monday, January 8.  Tomorrow our study will focus on word problems and Thursday we will be reviewing basic facts through 20.  We will review on Friday and Monday before the test.
• In reading we are continuing with decoding two-syllable words.  Students know that a syllable is made up of one vowel sound.  We have learned to chunk the word by reading the first syllable, then the second syllable and then putting those together (ex. bath-tub, lad-der).  We will start putting our sentences together into paragraph form in the next few weeks as we continue to read about animals in our book the Green Fern Zoo.  Students will choose an animal from the book and write a paragraph about that animal.  We will learn about an opening sentence, 3 details or facts, and a closing sentence. We will work on this skill for the remainder of the year.
• Our study of the Maya people continued today as we learned about the Mayans fascination with the night sky and the Mayan calendar.  We will next move into study of the Aztecs. 

With the New Year upon us and goals being made maybe it would be a nice time to recommit yourself to reading with your child if that hasn't been a habit at your house.  This is just a friendly suggestion, but I can attest that it helps your child especially if your child is struggling.  I know sometimes it's a struggle with work and other family responsibilities but the connection it provides it priceless :)  I just received notes from the take-home librarian.  I will be sending those home tomorrow if you child didn't turn in their book before the holiday they will receive a notice.  We have library tomorrow also so please send books back tomorrow, if they weren't turned in before Christmas.

Happy Reading!