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