Newsletter September 24 - September 25

Today I sent home Take-home books (book in a bag)  for the first time.  I included a note about my expectations with those books (it's in the bag on golden paper).  Research shows that reading a text more than once helps a child's fluency (speed or rate and accuracy during reading).  That is why I ask that each book be read 3 times each.  Some students have books that take longer than 10 minutes to read 3 times.  If that is the case for your child then just stop after 10 minutes of reading, but please return the small blue note stating that your child read for 10 minutes.  Honestly, right now I don't think I have many students in that category.  Use these take-home books to your child's advantage!  These books are on their level--they should be able to read them on their own.  They shouldn't be  too hard or too easy.  If you feel that the level sent home is "too hard or too easy" please send me an e-mail and I will adjust the level.  We based the levels on the students Beginning of the Year reading scores. For your information, first grade students "should be" on a Level H by the end of the year.  So you can see where your child is now and where they need to get to by the end of the year.  Reading every night with your child--listening to THEM read will help get them to where they need to be.

Here are this week's happenings and notes:

• Next week is SEP week.  I sent home appointment times last Friday.  Please send those back ASAP so that we can rearrange the time if necessary.  These appointments are just 15 minutes and you can bring your child with you.  The PTA also holds a book fair at that time in the library. 
• On October 3, the PTA is sponsoring a grandparents breakfast in the cafeteria.  I sent a note home with the details last week.  
• Right after I send this I am going to send e-mails to those who I haven't received their Starving Student Card back.  Please send that back if you don't want it or send back payment of $25.00 if you keep it.
• We are still in the middle of our subtraction unit in math.  We will have a review tomorrow on the concepts that we have already learned and then learn about taking away all or zero (8 - 8 = 0 or 8 - 0 = 8) and taking apart numbers (9 - 0 = 9, 9 - 1 = 8, 9 - 2 = 7 etc).
• In reading we will be moving onto Unit 2 in our Skills section.  That unit will focus on long vowel sounds (words like cake, bike, cute or beet).  We will continue to read from a "reader" where those vowel sounds are emphasized.  We call these books "decodeable".  That means that the words that are in the story are all words that students have learned about and can read.  For example in our current reader words with short vowel sounds and the the spellings of /ch/, /sh/, /th/, and double consonants (ll, bb etc.) were emphasized as well as sight or tricky words that we have been learning.  It is also filled with periods, question marks, and exclamation marks as well as apostrophes showing possession and quotation marks.  We teach-- then it's reinforced in their reading. 
• In the Listening and Learning section of our reading we have moved from the Human Body to hearing versions of different stories.  We are starting with versions of Cinderella.  We first heard the original version and today heard a version from Egypt called "The Girl with the Red Slippers".  We talked about the similarities in the two versions and tomorrow we will focus on the differences.  We will also listen to an Irish version called "Billy Beg" and then move onto versions of Tom Thumb. 
• We will continue learning about the human body a bit and how to especially keep it healthy as I have asked a USU extension employee to come and present 7 lessons on "My Plate" (think food pyramid).  She will start tomorrow and will continue every other Tuesday through December. 
• I hope that you are asking to see your child's behavior chart every Friday.  It helps to work together to improve behavior in the classroom.   
• Happy Birthday to Kimberlin (on September 23).  Today we celebrated our first birthday of the year.  If your child has a birthday that falls during the school year you are welcome to send store-bought treats to help celebrate.  We now have 18 students in our class.

 Read with your child tonight and every night using their Take-home book!!!  Return it everyday for a new one!!

Happy Reading,
Mrs. Armstrong

Newsletter September 17 - September 21

I can't believe that I am putting October dates on my calendar already.  We are half way through the first quarter of school.  I still haven't received information about our Take-home library starting.  I am really hoping that it will start soon.  Reading 10 minutes each night is the only "homework" that I require.

Here are this week's happenings:

• Some of you have asked if I can send home two sight word lists each week.  I am willing to do that for all students if you would like that.  Let me know and I can send home two lists with your child, if they pass off two lists.
• This Friday, all students will have a health screening for vision and dental.  If your child needs further observation then I will send home either a vision note or a dental note after Friday.
• We still have about half of our Starving Students cards not returned.  This was a PTA fundraiser.  If you didn't want to buy it for $25 then you need to send the card back to school, if you wanted to keep it then you need to send $25 back.  I will send home e-mails to those students whose card or money has not been returned as a friendly reminder.  😊
• SEP's (Student Education Plans or parent/teacher conferences) will be in two weeks from October 1 -5.  School will dismiss at 2:30 everyday that week including Wednesday.  I will send home an appointment time later this week.  I will do my best to schedule those times around siblings in other grades.  If you can't make the time please send back the note stating a date or time that would work better for you.  
• We have moved to our subtraction unit in math.  The last couple of days we have been learning about how to write a subtraction sentence from a visual model.  We will now move to "taking from" and comparing.  For example:  tomorrow we will work on problems like "Jeff has 5 apples.  3 apples are red.  The rest are yellow.  How many apples are yellow? (5 - 3 = 2).  Then we will compare.  For example:  Mindy have 8 puzzle pieces.  David has 5 puzzle pieces.  How many more puzzle pieces does Mindy have than David?  (8 - 5 = 3)
• In reading we are finishing up our unit on the Human Body.  Today we learned about the Circulatory System and tomorrow we will add the Nervous System to knowledge base.  We will then learn about keeping our bodies healthy.
• In our skills portion of reading we are learning about question sentences and using a ? to end those sentences.  We are reviewing the /ch/, /sh/, and /th/, sounds and spellings and have learned that nouns name a person, place or thing.  
• Thanks for sending in box tops.  I think the "contest" ends on October 12 so keep sending them in.  
• Congratulations to Zeke, Kash and Liam.  They all received their "Red Eagle" award by turning in their first PTA bookmark.  Remember to mark those along with the calendar that I send home so that you children can earn those PTA awards. 

Have a great Monday and Happy Reading!
Mrs. Armtstrong

Newsletter September 10 - September 14

Tomorrow our reading intervention groups will start.  I sent e-mails to those students who will be leaving my classroom to attend a reading intervention group.  If you have any questions please e-mail me back.

Here are this week's happenings:

• Picture Day is this Friday, September 14.  All students will get their picture taken during the Fall picture time.  If you want to purchase pictures you can either send the picture order form back with your child (I sent it home last week) by Friday, or order online.  I will not be here this Friday, I am traveling up north for a family wedding so it might be easier for my substitute if you order online.  I just did this for my sophomore son at CHS.  They sent home a proof with his picture with an order number--I just went to the website, plugged in the numbers, ordered what I wanted and paid.  The pictures will be sent directly to my house.  I could even change the background if I wanted to.  My suggestion would be to order that way.  
• The fluoride rinse program will start this Wednesday.  Your child in order to participate in this program will need to send back the permission slip that was in their homework folder on the first day of school.  If you still want to do this and didn't send that back let me know and I will send you another permission form.  The PTA volunteers suggested that first graders practice "swishing" water at home before the first fluoride rinse so if you remember signing the paper give them a little lesson in swishing water and not swallowing it then spitting it back out as cleanly as possible.  😀
• Our first PTA reading awards will be this Thursday, September 13 at 2:45 in our classroom.  I sent home notes to those students today (in homework folder) who will be receiving an award.  You are welcome to attend this simple, short ceremony.  Remember for your child to get these awards the PTA bookmarks need to be turned in.  I will start supplementing in class tomorrow since our reading groups start then.  You can't get all of the awards though if you don't read at home and send back the bookmarks.
• On Wednesday we will take our first math test on addition concepts.  We will then move right into subtraction concepts on Thursday.  We will start with using pictures and manipulative to model simple subtraction problems.  
• In reading we are still reading from our book Snap Shots.  We are still reviewing vowel and consonant sounds, blending sounds into words, writing complete sentences and in grammar learning about nouns and apostrophes.  We know that an apostrophe shows possession (i.e. Nat's mom or Bud's leg).  We have also started an addition computer program called Lexia that will supplement our reading instruction in class.  Students will get on Lexia three times a week for at least 20 minutes a time.
• We just read about the Muscular System and this week we will also learn about the Digestive, Circulatory and Nervous systems before moving onto  keeping our bodies healthy.  
• The take-home library is supposed to start this week.  I am crossing my fingers!  They revamped the whole library this year so we are a little bit slow to start that program.  When we start it please take advantage of it by having your child read their books nightly and returning it for a new book daily.  
• I had several students (more than in past years which is great) sign up for the Wee Be Groovin dance class that is offered free of charge each Monday from 3:30-4:30 here in our gym.  If your child would like to do this they need to send in the permission form (orange paper that I sent home last week).  If they want to and you don't have the permission form again please let me know and I will send another one home with your child.

Have a nice Monday and Happy Reading!!

Mrs. Armstrong

Newsletter September 4 - September 7

I hope that you all had a nice Labor Day weekend.  My remaining family at home ventured up to Bryce Canyon.  We haven't been there in years--we are sure lucky to live in such a beautiful area.

Here are this week's happenings and announcements:

• Sight Word Soldiers pass-off day is tomorrow.  Please send the signed blue note back tomorrow with your child so that they can pass off another list of words.
• The August reading calendars are NOW due.  I had several students bring them back today.  I will give students a certificate and a treat if they turn in the August calendar by this Friday.  September reading calendars were sent home today.  I still haven't heard when the take-home library will start.  I am hoping it's soon since we have all been tested and I can send home books on each child's individual level.
• The PTA does a reading incentive program also.  They sent home "reading bookmarks" and an explanation about the program on the first day of school (all had notes in their homework folders).  This Thursday is when the PTA will pick up our first batch of bookmarks for the awards program.  I believe that our awards program will be the second Tuesday of each month at 3:00. If you need another bookmark please send me e-mail or Remind text and I will put one in your child's homework folder. Since I only require ten minutes of reading a night and to earn the highest award students are asked to read for 20 minutes a night I will supplement those with minutes in class.  I will supplement by giving students 10 minutes of reading time from class.  That way all students can get the top "Gold Eagle Award" if they read at home and get the supplement from class.  
• Starving Student cards came home last week.  This is an optional fundraiser.  I have about half of those back.  If you don't want to buy the card please send it back with your child.  If you want to buy it or order extras send back the $25 and the order form in the envelope provided.  This is not a free card for each family. 
• If your child is absent I will send home the "morning work" that they will have missed.  It will have your child's name on it and the abbreviation "HW" (homework) and the date they missed.  Please help your child return these to school.  I do grade the morning work assignments.  
• Each Friday help your child to remember to wear their East Elementary t-shirt or a blue shirt for our Spirit Friday.  
• School pictures will be on Friday, September 14.  I will send home order forms tomorrow.  You can either send that order form back in with an order and a check or order online.  All students will have their pictures taken even if a picture packet isn't desired. 
• I have given Mr. Moyle most of your e-mail addresses.  Please let me know if you are not receiving periodic messages from Mr. Moyle or the PTA (monthly school newsletters and things like that). In fact, he sent out the September Principals letter home today.
• We are finishing up our Addition Concepts unit in math.  We have learned that the order of the addends doesn't change the sum.  Tomorrow we will put together numbers to 10 (1 + 9 = 10, 2 + 8 = 10 etc.) then on  Friday and Monday we will review addition to ten and then take our first math test next Tuesday (that's my plan). 
• In reading, we have moved from fiction folktales and fables to learning about  the Human Body.  Today we learned about how a pediatrician helps children when they are sick and how they also help them stay healthy.  We will learn about several body systems throughout this unit (digestive, skeletal, muscular and nervous systems) as well as learn about immunizations, staying healthy, and the food pyramid. 
•  We are reviewing the digraphs 'sh', 'ch', and 'th'.  We will start reading our first reader titled "Snap Shots" tomorrow.  We are also learning how to write complete declarative sentences (those that end in a period). Reading intervention groups will start next Tuesday, September 11.  I will inform you through e-mail if you child will be attending one of those reading groups. You will also receive their DIBELS results in the mail as soon as they are all available.  If you have any questions about those results please don't hesitate to ask. 

I think that's it.  Thanks again for helping your child read nightly at home, for sending in snacks and for being a partner in your child's education.

Happy Reading!
Mrs. Armstrong