We're definitely on the downhill with four more weeks of school left. I will still send home spelling words and math homework for the next three weeks. All assignments will be due, Friday May 16th. I will not accept late assignments after that date.
If your child has not passed off of the first grade sight word lists (eleven lists), then I have sent home the lists with your child today. Please work on those with your child! I will test on List #10 on this Friday, May 2 and List #11 on Friday, May 16th.
I sent home a permission slip for our swimming field trip today. Please sign it and return it soon. I also sent home a note on coral paper outlining the day. I REALLY need 4-5 volunteers to help that morning and get in the pool with the kids. We can't do it without volunteers! Please let me know soon if you can help out.
I have several new students and some that haven't had a chance to be "Star of the Week" I am going to be combining several students for the next two weeks, so that all students have their week of glory. Please watch for instructions to come home this Friday or next Friday concerning Star of the Week expectations.
We just got our incubator filled with five eggs. I sent home a flier today about the type of chickens that these eggs will produce. We are really encouraged by the 4-H to sell any hatched chicks. If you have the mean to care for some new additions to your family (i.e chicks) please let me know. The cost per chick is $2.00 and you would need to pick them up by this Friday, May 2.
The April reading record is due this Thursday, May 1. I will send home one more reading record for May. It will be due May 16, and since it's a shorter month it will be worth just 50 points for May. I have had two more students reach the 100 book milestone. Kean and Jentri both have read over 100 books now. Such a great accomplishment!
Next week we will be our testing week. On Wednesday, May 7th we'll have the DIBELS test in the morning. As you may recall, I will make pancakes for my students before the test. Thanks to Kayzley for sending in apple juice. If you would like to help send in syrup or apple juice you are more than welcome to help out! On Friday, May 9th we'll take another reading test, called the RLA. This test puts them on a specific reading level (i.e grade level 1.2 etc.) I will send the results of both of those tests as soon as I can after I receive them.
We just finished our last lesson in Unit 11 of our Go Math program. I will review tomorrow for the test on Wednesday. We will then work on the last unit of the program for the next two weeks. I will do as I've done before and list the lesson we'll be working on. Your child may or may not have homework based on how fast we complete the book portion in class. Please ask though nightly if you child has homework.
Congratulations to Janelle Milliman who was our classroom's Catch the Vision winner for April. She is the definition of "sweetness" and such a deserving student.
Happy Reading!
Monday, April 28, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
Newsletter April 21 - 25
Welcome back! I hope that you all have a wonderful Easter break! We have five more weeks left of school. I just signed up for our DIBELS testing. That will be Wednesday, May 7 in the morning. I will feed my students pancakes that morning before the test. If you could donate some apple juice for that morning please let me know.
This Thursday, we are going on another walking field trip to SUU to Bard's birthday bash. It is always a fun occasion, with cake, a maypole, jousting, and an improv performance. We will leave East Elementary at 12:40 p.m. and return right before school lets out. Please sign and return the permission slip that I sent home in your child's homework folder today.
On May 6th we have reserved the Aquatic Center in the morning for swimming. We usually like to have that activity later in the month, but there are restrictions on buses for the month of May and when I called to arrange a date, May 6th was our only possibility. For that field trip/activity, we need 4 to 5 brave parent volunteers who will get in the water and "swim" with the class. If you would be willing to help that day please let me know. The cost for the field trip is $2.00, unless your child has a swimming pass. I will send home more information about that field trip in the next couple of blog newsletters.
We just started on Unit 11 in math. It deals with three-dimensional shapes. Like our last unit, I feel that sometimes we will get through the in class portion of the lesson quickly and then we can do the homework in class as well. I just put the math homework down as a guide, so again if your child tells you that he or she does not have homework, they are telling you the truth :)
We have four more weeks until our 100-book challenge ends. Angela just reached the 98 book mark today! She's getting close!
I will be taking a "personal day" this Friday. My oldest child, my daughter is getting married, and I am going to go down to St. George and help her as she is getting her bridal photos taken that day. We are getting our incubator that day for our chick hatching extravaganza. The eggs will arrive the following Monday, so hopefully we'll have some chicks hatch next week. That experience helps to reinforce life cycles. In science during May, our focus is life cycles as well as plants and seeds. If you would like to buy a chick let me know.
Happy Reading!
This Thursday, we are going on another walking field trip to SUU to Bard's birthday bash. It is always a fun occasion, with cake, a maypole, jousting, and an improv performance. We will leave East Elementary at 12:40 p.m. and return right before school lets out. Please sign and return the permission slip that I sent home in your child's homework folder today.
On May 6th we have reserved the Aquatic Center in the morning for swimming. We usually like to have that activity later in the month, but there are restrictions on buses for the month of May and when I called to arrange a date, May 6th was our only possibility. For that field trip/activity, we need 4 to 5 brave parent volunteers who will get in the water and "swim" with the class. If you would be willing to help that day please let me know. The cost for the field trip is $2.00, unless your child has a swimming pass. I will send home more information about that field trip in the next couple of blog newsletters.
We just started on Unit 11 in math. It deals with three-dimensional shapes. Like our last unit, I feel that sometimes we will get through the in class portion of the lesson quickly and then we can do the homework in class as well. I just put the math homework down as a guide, so again if your child tells you that he or she does not have homework, they are telling you the truth :)
We have four more weeks until our 100-book challenge ends. Angela just reached the 98 book mark today! She's getting close!
I will be taking a "personal day" this Friday. My oldest child, my daughter is getting married, and I am going to go down to St. George and help her as she is getting her bridal photos taken that day. We are getting our incubator that day for our chick hatching extravaganza. The eggs will arrive the following Monday, so hopefully we'll have some chicks hatch next week. That experience helps to reinforce life cycles. In science during May, our focus is life cycles as well as plants and seeds. If you would like to buy a chick let me know.
Happy Reading!
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Newsletter April 7 - 11
This Thursday we are going on our field to to SUU to watch the Pirates of Penzance play. I am so sad because I will not be here that day. East Elementary will be getting a new first grade teacher next year, and Mr. Burton has asked me to sit in on and help with the interviews. If your child has not sent their permission slip back (yellow paper), please return it by tomorrow! I don't want my sub to have to worry about missing permission slips. Please send the $1.00 donation for the play by tomorrow also for the same reason.
Next Tuesday we are having our first grade Easter Egg Hunt. Thanks to those that have already sent candy-filled eggs for that activity. Just a reminder that this will occur at the Canyon Park and we've ask for a donation of one dozen candy-filled eggs. Again, scroll down and read the previous newsletter posts for more information. I sent home a permission slip for this field trip/activity today. It is on pink paper. Please sign that and return it by next Monday. We need volunteers to help us take the eggs to the park and "hide" them for us (Mrs. Wininger and I). If you can help that day please let me know. We would need you by 1:30.
We are finishing up our graphing unit in math this week. I will test on this unit next Monday or Tuesday before the spring break. I have put the lessons that we will be doing on the homework section of this blog, but sometimes we may finish the homework in class like we did yesterday. If your child tells you that they did the homework in class believe them!
We have 30 days of school left! Spring fever has definitely set in. Please continue to be diligent with nightly reading with your child. We will be having our final DIBELS reading assessment the first week in May. I'm excited as many of my students are moving towards reading 100 books. Traysen has now reached 40 books! Many have not turned in their March home reading record. I will still give your child credit for their reading if you turn it in, but your child will not receive a certificate treat and pizza coupon. It needs to be turned in the first week of the month for that "reward".
Have a beautiful day and Happy Reading!!
Next Tuesday we are having our first grade Easter Egg Hunt. Thanks to those that have already sent candy-filled eggs for that activity. Just a reminder that this will occur at the Canyon Park and we've ask for a donation of one dozen candy-filled eggs. Again, scroll down and read the previous newsletter posts for more information. I sent home a permission slip for this field trip/activity today. It is on pink paper. Please sign that and return it by next Monday. We need volunteers to help us take the eggs to the park and "hide" them for us (Mrs. Wininger and I). If you can help that day please let me know. We would need you by 1:30.
We are finishing up our graphing unit in math this week. I will test on this unit next Monday or Tuesday before the spring break. I have put the lessons that we will be doing on the homework section of this blog, but sometimes we may finish the homework in class like we did yesterday. If your child tells you that they did the homework in class believe them!
We have 30 days of school left! Spring fever has definitely set in. Please continue to be diligent with nightly reading with your child. We will be having our final DIBELS reading assessment the first week in May. I'm excited as many of my students are moving towards reading 100 books. Traysen has now reached 40 books! Many have not turned in their March home reading record. I will still give your child credit for their reading if you turn it in, but your child will not receive a certificate treat and pizza coupon. It needs to be turned in the first week of the month for that "reward".
Have a beautiful day and Happy Reading!!
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Newsletter March 31 - April 4
Thanks to those that came and watched us sing our little Water Cycle song during the science/AR assembly last Friday. We had to change our configuration at the last minute, because our "mad scientist" had so much to show us. I thought our first graders still did a great job despite the last minute changes. Abbi shared her essay "I like science because..." for our class and Kate Ison was our Catch the Vision winner for March. My students loved watching Mr. Burton "kiss a pig" for the PTA reading incentive. Our March reading records are now due! Turn those in now so that we can be eligible for next months PTA sponsored reading incentive event. Which is yet to be announced!
I sent home a permission slip for a field trip next week. We will be walking to SUU to the Pirates of Penzance play. We will leave here by 9:30 a.m. and return by lunch. This cost for this field trip is a $1.00 donation. The SUU playmakers groups always does a fantastic job!
In my last blog, I announced our Easter Egg Hunt. I will be brief explaining that again. If you need more information, scroll down and read last week's newsletter. In summary, we'll be going to Canyon Park on Tuesday, April 15th at 2:00 p.m. We are asking each child to donate one dozen candy-filled eggs (use scotch tape to hold them together). Thanks to Damion who has already donated several dozen eggs!!!
I also sent home a Talent Show information and permission slip. The Talent Show will be held Friday, April 11th. If your child would like to participate the permission slip is due April 7th. The show will be presented twice. Once at 2:00 for parents of the participants, and another time at 2:00 for the study body.
I was pleased with our last math test results. Remember that if you child misses any problems on the test, that I have SUU students that help with corrections. Your child will come home with those corrections made, but the original percentage will stand. We have started our unit on graphing. So, far I feel like my students have a handle on the picture graphs. We still need to work on comparing two items on a graph (i.e. How many more students like blue paint than red paint?) Before the test, I will reinforce that concept with my students.
If your child has not passed off Sight Word List #9. They should pass that list off this month. Please practice sight words with you child. Especially if you child's fluency (number of words they can read in a minute) was not where it needed to be last time we tested. I was excited to see three more students bring lists of 10 books that they have read. Jentri has now read 80 books, Kate has read 60 and Anna has read 20!
Happy Reading!
I sent home a permission slip for a field trip next week. We will be walking to SUU to the Pirates of Penzance play. We will leave here by 9:30 a.m. and return by lunch. This cost for this field trip is a $1.00 donation. The SUU playmakers groups always does a fantastic job!
In my last blog, I announced our Easter Egg Hunt. I will be brief explaining that again. If you need more information, scroll down and read last week's newsletter. In summary, we'll be going to Canyon Park on Tuesday, April 15th at 2:00 p.m. We are asking each child to donate one dozen candy-filled eggs (use scotch tape to hold them together). Thanks to Damion who has already donated several dozen eggs!!!
I also sent home a Talent Show information and permission slip. The Talent Show will be held Friday, April 11th. If your child would like to participate the permission slip is due April 7th. The show will be presented twice. Once at 2:00 for parents of the participants, and another time at 2:00 for the study body.
I was pleased with our last math test results. Remember that if you child misses any problems on the test, that I have SUU students that help with corrections. Your child will come home with those corrections made, but the original percentage will stand. We have started our unit on graphing. So, far I feel like my students have a handle on the picture graphs. We still need to work on comparing two items on a graph (i.e. How many more students like blue paint than red paint?) Before the test, I will reinforce that concept with my students.
If your child has not passed off Sight Word List #9. They should pass that list off this month. Please practice sight words with you child. Especially if you child's fluency (number of words they can read in a minute) was not where it needed to be last time we tested. I was excited to see three more students bring lists of 10 books that they have read. Jentri has now read 80 books, Kate has read 60 and Anna has read 20!
Happy Reading!
Monday, March 24, 2014
Newsletter March 24 - 28
I really did send your child's third quarter grades home today. Please let me know if you see any discrepancies on your child's print out. Notice the amount of absences and tardies your child has accrued. We start reading groups right at 9:00 and if you child is tardy, they are missing out on valuable small group instruction that cannot be made up during the day.
Today we went down to the gym to practice for our little program that will be held this Friday during the AR assembly at 2:00 and then again at 2:45. Remember you are welcome to come and watch the first grade sing a song. I have outlined our program in previous newsletters so I will not do that again today.
We have another new student--Chevelle Mitchell. She has recently moved here from Grand Junction, Colorado, but her mother told me that her father grew up here in good old Cedar City! She is a wonderful girl, and again it amazes me how well new students assimilate into my class this year. I think it's because I have such a wonderful bunch of first graders!
Mr. Burton wanted me to remind you of Kindergarten registration tomorrow. It will be held from 12:00-3:00. If you have a child that will be entering kindergarten next year or know of someone in our boundaries that will have a child entering kindergarten please register tomorrow. This helps us get a good estimate on enrollment for next year.
Easter is just around the corner and we've planned our annual first grade Easter Egg hunt. We will be joining Mrs. Wininger's class for an Easter egg hunt at Canyon Park on Tuesday, April 15 at 2:00 pm. For the Easter egg hunt, we are asking that if possible that each child donate one dozen plastic candy-filled eggs. They now have pre-filled plastic eggs at the store which are convenient, but you don't need to purchase those. Please tape the eggs together with scotch tape, otherwise they pop open. If you you can help us please send those eggs by Monday, April 14th. We will combine our eggs with Mrs. Wininger's class and then allow the children to find the same amount of eggs. I could also use a couple of parent volunteers to help get the eggs to the park and "hide" them for us. If you could help with that please let me know.
We are busy trying to fit all that we need to fit in before the end of the year. In math I will test on Unit 9 this Thursday. Make sure that you help your child with their Unit 9 math homework before that date! We have started our maps unit, and will soon start learning about Force and Motion. Then we'll finish the year off with plants and life cycles.
Our 100 book challenge is still ongoing. Remember your child has 9 more weeks to complete that challenge. If your child reads for five days a week, and reads 2 books a time they can easily accomplish this wonderful achievement! We started this in early January so we've had plenty of time and opportunity finish this by the end of the year.
Happy Reading!
Today we went down to the gym to practice for our little program that will be held this Friday during the AR assembly at 2:00 and then again at 2:45. Remember you are welcome to come and watch the first grade sing a song. I have outlined our program in previous newsletters so I will not do that again today.
We have another new student--Chevelle Mitchell. She has recently moved here from Grand Junction, Colorado, but her mother told me that her father grew up here in good old Cedar City! She is a wonderful girl, and again it amazes me how well new students assimilate into my class this year. I think it's because I have such a wonderful bunch of first graders!
Mr. Burton wanted me to remind you of Kindergarten registration tomorrow. It will be held from 12:00-3:00. If you have a child that will be entering kindergarten next year or know of someone in our boundaries that will have a child entering kindergarten please register tomorrow. This helps us get a good estimate on enrollment for next year.
Easter is just around the corner and we've planned our annual first grade Easter Egg hunt. We will be joining Mrs. Wininger's class for an Easter egg hunt at Canyon Park on Tuesday, April 15 at 2:00 pm. For the Easter egg hunt, we are asking that if possible that each child donate one dozen plastic candy-filled eggs. They now have pre-filled plastic eggs at the store which are convenient, but you don't need to purchase those. Please tape the eggs together with scotch tape, otherwise they pop open. If you you can help us please send those eggs by Monday, April 14th. We will combine our eggs with Mrs. Wininger's class and then allow the children to find the same amount of eggs. I could also use a couple of parent volunteers to help get the eggs to the park and "hide" them for us. If you could help with that please let me know.
We are busy trying to fit all that we need to fit in before the end of the year. In math I will test on Unit 9 this Thursday. Make sure that you help your child with their Unit 9 math homework before that date! We have started our maps unit, and will soon start learning about Force and Motion. Then we'll finish the year off with plants and life cycles.
Our 100 book challenge is still ongoing. Remember your child has 9 more weeks to complete that challenge. If your child reads for five days a week, and reads 2 books a time they can easily accomplish this wonderful achievement! We started this in early January so we've had plenty of time and opportunity finish this by the end of the year.
Happy Reading!
Monday, March 17, 2014
Newsletter March 17 - 21
We have officially begun the 4th quarter of school! I will print out your child's grades and send them home by this Thursday, March 20. I love this time of year, it's wonderful to remember where my students started and where they are now. I love that most of my students will spontaneously read things now. They'll read the titles of books, the math problems, labels etc. It's wonderful for a teacher to watch. Please keep reading nightly with your child! Help them develop a love for reading!
We are working on time to the hour and the half-hour in math. Sometimes we will finish the math homework in class, depending on the concept and student behavior. I have listed the lesson that we will do each day on the sidebar of this blog. Please ask your child each night if they have math homework. I really am hoping to give you a little math break this week. :) If so, use that time to study sight word List #8, if your child hasn't passed it off yet. I will test on that list on March 31.
This is an exciting week as we are going to the St. George children's museum this Thursday. We will leave right after the bell rings at 9:00 am so make sure that your child is on time to school that day! All of us will be bring a school provided sack lunch. Please make sure that your child's lunch account is current. The museum depends on donations, so if you could help by sending a $1.00 donation with your child we can help keep that museum up and running. I'm excited to go. I've heard wonderful things about the museum.
I mentioned this last newsletter, but am going to remind you just in case you didn't catch it. On Friday, March 28 at 2:00 the first grade classes will be "performing" during the AR assembly. We will sing one song and have one student from each class read an essay titled "Why I like science". You are welcome to come and watch our performance. We will also perform at the 2:45 assembly, but 1st grade awards are given during the 2:00 time slot.
If your child hasn't turned in their February reading record yet, please help them to get it turned in. It's too late, for a free pizza coupon and treat from me, but it's not too late to help our class win the prize of helping Mr. Burton "kiss a pig"!
Happy Reading!
We are working on time to the hour and the half-hour in math. Sometimes we will finish the math homework in class, depending on the concept and student behavior. I have listed the lesson that we will do each day on the sidebar of this blog. Please ask your child each night if they have math homework. I really am hoping to give you a little math break this week. :) If so, use that time to study sight word List #8, if your child hasn't passed it off yet. I will test on that list on March 31.
This is an exciting week as we are going to the St. George children's museum this Thursday. We will leave right after the bell rings at 9:00 am so make sure that your child is on time to school that day! All of us will be bring a school provided sack lunch. Please make sure that your child's lunch account is current. The museum depends on donations, so if you could help by sending a $1.00 donation with your child we can help keep that museum up and running. I'm excited to go. I've heard wonderful things about the museum.
I mentioned this last newsletter, but am going to remind you just in case you didn't catch it. On Friday, March 28 at 2:00 the first grade classes will be "performing" during the AR assembly. We will sing one song and have one student from each class read an essay titled "Why I like science". You are welcome to come and watch our performance. We will also perform at the 2:45 assembly, but 1st grade awards are given during the 2:00 time slot.
If your child hasn't turned in their February reading record yet, please help them to get it turned in. It's too late, for a free pizza coupon and treat from me, but it's not too late to help our class win the prize of helping Mr. Burton "kiss a pig"!
Happy Reading!
Monday, March 10, 2014
Newsletter March 10 - 14
It was so nice visiting with most of you last week. I hope that you know that parent teacher conferences are not the only time that I am willing to discuss you child's progress with you. I am willing to talk to you anytime in person, through e-mail, or a phone call before or after school. Thank you for taking the time to come and make your child's education a priority!
Third quarter ends this Friday, March 14th. I will not accept late, third quarter work after that date. I will print out grades next Monday, and send them home by Wednesday, March 19th.
A couple of calendar items that are coming up that I want to make you aware of are on March 27th and 28th. The first is the Science Fair and Arts Night on Thursday, March 27th at 6:00p.m. This is a night where you can bring your child to enjoy the science fair exhibits and also view artwork from each class that will decorate the walls in the gym. On March 28, at 2:00 it is our turn to perform at the AR assembly. We have invited Mr. Fred Rowley to make a presentation about science and we'll sing one or possibly two songs before he makes his presentation. We also perform again at the 2:45 assembly, but the first grade awards are given out at the 2:00 time so I would encourage you to attend that assembly if you would like to watch your child.
I just got an e-mail today that if your child still wants to participate in the Science fair they can turn in their science fair form by this Wednesday, March 12th. The deadline was March 7, but has been extended to the 12th. This is absolutely the last day to turn those in.
The March Scholastic book order is in your child's homework folder. Those orders will be due this Friday, March 14th.
Keep reading with your child and help them reach our 100 book goal by May! Have a wonderful Monday!
Third quarter ends this Friday, March 14th. I will not accept late, third quarter work after that date. I will print out grades next Monday, and send them home by Wednesday, March 19th.
A couple of calendar items that are coming up that I want to make you aware of are on March 27th and 28th. The first is the Science Fair and Arts Night on Thursday, March 27th at 6:00p.m. This is a night where you can bring your child to enjoy the science fair exhibits and also view artwork from each class that will decorate the walls in the gym. On March 28, at 2:00 it is our turn to perform at the AR assembly. We have invited Mr. Fred Rowley to make a presentation about science and we'll sing one or possibly two songs before he makes his presentation. We also perform again at the 2:45 assembly, but the first grade awards are given out at the 2:00 time so I would encourage you to attend that assembly if you would like to watch your child.
I just got an e-mail today that if your child still wants to participate in the Science fair they can turn in their science fair form by this Wednesday, March 12th. The deadline was March 7, but has been extended to the 12th. This is absolutely the last day to turn those in.
The March Scholastic book order is in your child's homework folder. Those orders will be due this Friday, March 14th.
Keep reading with your child and help them reach our 100 book goal by May! Have a wonderful Monday!
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