Newsletter October 28 - November 1

This will be brief today but I think I'll answer any questions you might have and fill you in on this week in first grade.

Here we go:

• Halloween is Thursday!! Remember that students can come dressed in their costumes, but no masks, blood, gore or weapons.  The Halloween Sing will be at 2:20 followed by the parade.  The best place to view that parade is from the cafeteria.  We will have a regular morning and in the afternoon after WIN time we will finish our apple head witches and have a healthy snack before heading down to computers, the sing and then the parade.
• I sent home spelling words yesterday.  This will be the only time I will do that.  We as a team decided to NOT give the traditional spelling tests from the CKLA program that we use.  We have spelling "tests" after we teach each phonics pattern and input those scores onto mastery connect, but we feel that the tests from the CKLA program are not a reasonable assessment.  Research tells us not to give lists of words that students will later forget, but rather embed spelling into our curriculum which we are doing.  Like I said, we will still "test" our students on specific patterns like a_e, but it will be right after the teaching and the list will be words that they would use frequently.  In later spelling lists from CKLA students are asked to spell words like perfume--though it's nice to know how to spell that how often will they use that word.  We would rather have them spell words they will use frequently and that will not be frustrating to our students.  We feel that we will be better able to gauge if a student is mastering a certain spelling pattern by giving them assessments of our own design. 
• This week we are finishing up on our addition strategies unit.  Starting in November we will move to geometry and time and measurement rather than dig deeper into the meaty addition and subtraction chapters. We did this last year and it worked out beautifully.  During the busy, sometimes hectic months of November and December we worked on those chapters at the end of the book and then in January we will resume with addition and subtraction relationships until the end of the year. 
• I am so impressed by all of the take home books that are coming back EVERY day!  I really think we have a 90-95% return rate on those books.  I don't know for sure but I am so appreciative that you take the time to read with your child every night.  The PTA book marks will be collected this week for the awards program the second Thursday in November.  I will send home notices to those students who will be receiving an award.  Please get those PTA bookmarks in by this Friday.  
• We had our silly string party last Friday.  I hope that you saw the picture I sent home.  Thanks to those that registered for the fundraiser and helped us reach our goal.  Our class will receive 10% of the profits and I will use that for Christmas gingerbread houses and other Christmas projects.  I will still need donations around that time, but that extra 10% will be less money out of my pocket and I appreciate that! 

Please make sure that you send your child with warm clothes.  It's freezing right now in my room as they turn the heat off or down right at 3:30.  It's supposed to be getting colder.  I would make a recommendation to put your child's name on their coat or jacket somewhere.  We have so many coats or jackets that get misplaces and never claimed from the lost and found and then donated.  If your child's name is on the coat then we do our best to find the owner without a name we can't do that.

Happy Halloween week!!!

Mrs. Armstrong

Newsletter October 22 - October 25

I hope you all had a nice three-day weekend.  We hopped right back into things today and had a nice time at the pumpkin patch.  Thank you to all the volunteers that came with us today.  I love all the help I am receiving from home from this class.  It's really extraordinary.

Here are this week's happenings:

• We will not have library this week since we missed Monday but you can send back your child's books anytime.  We have a bin in your classroom to put library books.  
• I realized I haven't really told you about Halloween at East Elementary and Halloween is next week.  Students can come to school on Halloween dressed in their costumes (I love that we get to do this).  Please no blood, weapons, gore, or masks that cover the entire face. If you child has a hat or helmet, or crown those can be worn during the parade.  If they have a mask like the Incredibles mask that can also be worn during the parade only, but masks that cover the whole face cannot be worn even during the parade.  We will have a fairly regular morning that day with reading groups and math.  In the afternoon we will go to a Halloween sing in the gym.  This is just for students as it's VERY crowded with the whole school in there.  After the sing we will have a costume parade. Parents are welcome to come and watch the costume parade.  The best place to sit and watch the parade is in the cafeteria.  Our calendar says that parade will start at 3:00 but I kind of feel like it will start a bit earlier than 3:00 so if I were you and wanted to attend I would be in the cafeteria around 2:45ish.  I just don't think the Halloween sing will last for 40 minutes.  We will have a little Halloween movie with healthy treats in the afternoon before the sing and parade.  If you signed up to help with the Halloween party I will contact you to help with a healthy snack. 
• This week we are wrapping up our reading unit and taking long vowel reading and spelling tests.  We are finishing up the stories in our book Gran and will be writing complete sentences about our field trip today.  
• In math we just finished learning about making a ten to add and on Thursday we will start learning about adding 3 numbers (3 + 4 + 2 = 9) .  Students will learn to group together addends that will be advantageous (i.e 5 + 2 + 2 = 10 grouping 5 + 5 first then adding 2 more).  Some students have a hard time with that concept (which numbers to group together) so we will also learn to just group the first two numbers in the series together and then add the third.  
• Don't forget that it's Sight Word Soldiers tomorrow!
• Picture retakes will be this Friday, October 25.  If you want your child to get retakes please let me know otherwise I will not have your child get a second picture taken.  If you ordered a picture packet and want retakes please send back the first packet of pictures. 
• Friday we had a nice time at the SUMA and Frehner museums.  I especially liked the art museum.  My students brought home a pinch pot and a fossil.  We were pretty tired after a field trip and the Spirit Run but James told me on Friday "that was the BEST day ever!"  
• We are super close to receiving a Silly String Party for the fundraising part of the Spirit Run.  There is still time for students to register if they haven't already (students who just register receive a free lanyard).  Donations and registrations can occur until midnight this Friday October 25.  

Happy Reading,

Mrs. Armstrong

Newsletter October 14 - October 18

Welcome to the second quarter of school and first grade!  Without further adieu.....

Here are this week's happenings:

• Tomorrow, October 15 at 3:00 in the cafeteria is the First Grade awards ceremony.  The awards for this ceremony are attendance awards, two Catch the Vision awards (all-around awesome student) and one most improved award.  I have sent e-mails to those students who are receiving an award tomorrow.  You are welcome to attend, but it's brief so be on time.  You are welcome to take your child home with you afterwards if you would like to. 
• On Friday we will be walking (weather permitting) to SUU for the SUMA and Frehner museums field trip.  We will leave here at 9:10 am and return right before lunch.  Thanks to those that have volunteered to walk with us.  I never limit the amount of volunteers that attend field trips with us.  If you would like to come and haven't informed me just send me a remind text or an e-mail.  The more the merrier!
• On Tuesday, after our break we are going to the Pumpkin Patch. That field trip is in the afternoon.  We will leave East Elementary at 12:40 and return by 2:00 . Remember that the cost for this field trip is $1.00 to cover the cost of the pumpkin.  Please send the $1.00 by Friday. 
• Thanks to those that are supporting the Eagle Spirit Run Fundraiser.  The Spirit run will be this Friday October 18 at 2:15.  It will help if your child is wearing comfortable shoes that they can walk or run in.  I sent the link to register this weekend.  It's free to register. 
• We are continuing to learn about addition strategies.  This week we will add ten and more (10+5=15) and make a ten to add (9 + 5 = 14 with make a ten to add students will take one from 5 to "make a ten" and then do the 'easier' problem of 10+ 4 = 14 to find the sum).  In reading we have added o_e to our spelling knowledge and will next add u_e.  We have learned that nouns not only name a person, place or thing, but that some nouns are proper nouns and some are common nouns. 

Have a nice long three-day weekend!  Thanks for all that you do to support me.

Happy Reading,

Mrs. Armstrong

Newsletter October 7 - October 11

We are back to normal after our SEP week.  Thank you so much for making time to visit.  I had 100% attendance and many with both parents.  That shows me how much you value your child's education.  I am grateful for the parental support I have with this class this year!

Here are this week's happenings:

• We had our Spirit Run kickoff assembly last Friday and I just sent the information sheet home about that fundraising event.  I didn't want to send it home Friday since the assembly was at the end of the day and I was afraid my students wouldn't get it home in their folders.  Please take a minute to read over the information.  A few things to note about this:  Registration is free and all students who register will receive a lanyard.  If our class reaches our goal then we personally receive 10% of the profits.  That would help with things like our Gingerbread houses in December. This is optional and we don't encourage students to go door to door.  
• I only have about half of the apples we need for our Halloween witch craft that we will be making tomorrow.  Please send an apple tomorrow with your child.  If this is a problem for any of you please don't hesitate to let me know.  I just need to know how many extra I will need so that all of the students will be able to participate.  
• We have two field trips coming up in October.  One was just scheduled for October 18.  We will be walking to SUU (weather permitting) and going to both the SUMA and Frehner museums.  I need some volunteers to go with us (walk from East to SUU and back).  We will leave here at 9:10 and return around 11:30 (right before lunch).  The next field trip is to the Robinson Family Pumpkin Patch on Tuesday, October 22.  We will leave by bus from East right after lunch around 12:40 and return by 2:00 just in time for computers and PE.  This cost for the Pumpkin Patch is $1.00.  If you would like to help with either or both field trips just send me an e-mail.  I will send home a regular note about these field trips just to make sure everyone receive the information.  The entire first grade will go to the Pumpkin Patch, but just our class and Mrs. Carter's class will be going to SUU on October 18. 
• In math we are again working on addition.  We are learning different strategies to help with addition.  The first one and the one we concentrate on most is "counting on".  This strategy is used if you have an addend of 1, 2, or 3 added to the other addend.  For example 8 + 3 = 11.  Students start on the larger number (8) and count on 3 (9, 10, 11) for the sum.  Today we learned about doubles facts ( 3 + 3 = 6 or 5 + 5 = 10 for example).  We will use our knowledge of doubles facts for the next strategy of doubles plus 1 and doubles minus 1.  Students will take addition facts with numbers right next to each other and first compute the doubles fact and then either add or subtract one from the doubles. (7 + 8 = 15, the doubles facts is 7 + 7 = 14 so students take 14 + 1 =15 because 8 is just one more than 7 or double the 8's for 8  + 8 = 16 and minus 1 from 16 because 7 is one less than 16).  This double plus one and doubles minus one strategy is tough for little minds because right now most of the doubles facts are not automatic.  That is why we feel that the counting on strategy is the one to spend our time on. Our math intervention on Wednesday will be spent on remediating or enriching with counting on.
• In reading we are now learning about long vowel sounds.  We have learned that 'ee' is a way to spell the /e/ sound.  We have also learned about a_e and today i_e to spell the long /a/ and long /i/ sounds.  We are reading a new book called Gran where we go on adventures with Josh and Jen and their fun Gran.  The spelling rules or phonics that we are learning are highlighted in these books.  That means students see many words with the 'ee', a_e, or i_e spellings.  All of the words in these books the students have been taught how to "sound out" or know the "tricky words" because we have introduced those. These books are called decodeable because nothing is surprising in these books and the students have learned about all of the sounds and spellings. 
• This is the last week of the first quarter--I know crazy right?!  This week we will have our second PTA reading awards on Thursday, October 10 at 3:00 in my classroom.  I sent home notices to those that will be receiving an award that day.  You are more than welcome to attend.  Next Tuesday, October 15 we will have our first grade awards in the cafeteria.  These awards are for perfect attendance and the Catch the Vision award or Most improved award.  I will let you know via e-mail if you child will be receiving an award at this ceremony. 
• Harvest Holiday is Monday, October 21 (no school).  We have a three-day weekend to look forward to.
• I just got an e-mail from the take-home librarian telling me that several of my students have moved up a level in their reading.  That's because they have read the whole list on a certain level.  This makes me happy because it shows how many students are reading every night!  I can't emphasize this enough (and I'll say it a lot during the year) that practicing reading at home helps your child's reading abilities so much!!! Please let me know how you feel about your child's level.  If it doesn't feel "just right" it's not.  It shouldn't be too easy or too hard. These books should be read by your student to you--not the other way around.  Keep up the good work!

Happy Monday and Happy Reading,

Mrs. Armstrong