I hope that you all had a great long President's Day weekend. This weather is still crazy warm! We are experiencing "spring fever" a little early this year.
I put Science Fair packets in your child's homework folder today (coral color). I do not require the science fair, but encourage any students that would like to participate. This year they are adding a "collection" component for K - 2 students. If my first grade child was participating in the fair, I would choose that option. It is more applicable to their developmental age. If your child wants to participate the entry form is due March 7th. The science fair is March 27, and if you child participates they will be able to show their project to judges that day. On the evening of March 27 at 6:00 any are welcome to come and view the science fair projects as well as the art that will adorn the halls of the school and gym.
SEP is quickly coming upon us. Those conferences will be held the first week of March. I will send home appointment notices next week. I will keep the same time that we had for our fall conferences and will again coordinate with so that you won't have to come to the school multiple times if you child has siblings in the school.
I will send home a Scholastic book order home tomorrow. It will be due Tuesday, February 25. The best way to order is online using the code on the letter I send with the order, or by clicking on the link on the sidebar of this blog.
Our bus was approved for our March 20th field trip to the Children's museum in St. George. I could use two adult volunteers to accompany us that day. Please let me know if you can or would like to help. I will order a school lunch for all children, unless you tell me otherwise.
We're starting our new unit in math, so homework will be sent home most days. I hope you enjoyed your little break last week :) In science, we just finished a little discovery about Groundhog burrows (which my kids loved), and we'll move into our physics unit (force and motion) in the next couple of weeks.
I'm thrilled at all of those students that are moving towards our 100-book challenge. Today Janelle and Kayzley logged their first 10 books, and Kean was our first 25 book reader. He got a free book, and a little treat. Kate, Brendan and Jentri aren't far behind--they have each read 20 books! Thanks for helping your child with this. I love it when they excitedly bring me a list of books they've read.
Please never hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns. The best way to reach me is through e-mail. I usually get back to you promptly.
Happy Reading!
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
February 10 - 14
We got a new student today Bob Dutchie has joined our ranks. He's a great student and I'm happy to have him in our class. I sent home a new Valentine's Day letter today, with his name added to the list. Instead of 20 students we now have 21 students. Our party will be this Friday, at 1:30. Your child can bring Valentine cards to share with the class, but please make sure that every student receives a Valentine and/or treat. Thanks to Taylor's mom for supplying the heart-shaped cookies and icing and to Taryn and Willow for sending sprinkles. If you want to send other candy items to help decorate our cookies that would be great. I am especially looking for more items to decorate our Valentine cans on Thursday (stickers, glitter glue, ribbon etc.).
Today I was just informed that we need to go to the Bus garage for a bus safety lesson. We will go this Friday morning at 10:45 and will be back before lunch. I will send home a permission slip tomorrow. Please sign and return that permission slip before Friday. Our Valentine's Day will be a full day!
Another field trip we have to look forward to is the St. George Children's Museum on March 20th. This will be an all day field trip. I will need two or three volunteers to come with us on that field trip. If you would like to come please let me know. For the field trip we will be eating a sack lunch at the park adjacent to the museum. I am requesting that all of my students eat a school sack lunch, for convenience. If you adamantly are opposed to having your child eat a school supplied sack lunch that day please contact me and they can bring a lunch from home. I need to get an order for the lunches in fairly early so I need a count soon.
I have decided to review for another day before I test on Unit 7 in our Go Math program. I feel that my students still need some practice with 10 more and 10 less than a number. I am going to do some review activities tomorrow and test on Wednesday and Thursday. I am going to do half of the test on Wednesday, and the other half on Thursday. You will have a little bit of a break with math homework this week. Please use that extra time and read more! I'm happy the Jentri, Brendan, Angela, and Anna are on their way to reading 100 books.
We have PE on Monday and Wednesdays. Please make sure that your child is wearing appropriate shoes on those days. This especially applies to the girls in my class. If they aren't wearing the appropriate shoes sometimes they have to sit out during the activity for the day.
Mr. Burton wanted to me inform all parents of a Dual Immersion meeting this Thursday, February 13 at 5:30 p.m., here are the school. This is for interested parents, especially those parents with kindergarten students.
Thanks for all that you do to help your child. I love this week in First grade. Happy Valentine's Day! Remember that next Monday, February 17 is President's Day holiday.
Happy Reading!
Today I was just informed that we need to go to the Bus garage for a bus safety lesson. We will go this Friday morning at 10:45 and will be back before lunch. I will send home a permission slip tomorrow. Please sign and return that permission slip before Friday. Our Valentine's Day will be a full day!
Another field trip we have to look forward to is the St. George Children's Museum on March 20th. This will be an all day field trip. I will need two or three volunteers to come with us on that field trip. If you would like to come please let me know. For the field trip we will be eating a sack lunch at the park adjacent to the museum. I am requesting that all of my students eat a school sack lunch, for convenience. If you adamantly are opposed to having your child eat a school supplied sack lunch that day please contact me and they can bring a lunch from home. I need to get an order for the lunches in fairly early so I need a count soon.
I have decided to review for another day before I test on Unit 7 in our Go Math program. I feel that my students still need some practice with 10 more and 10 less than a number. I am going to do some review activities tomorrow and test on Wednesday and Thursday. I am going to do half of the test on Wednesday, and the other half on Thursday. You will have a little bit of a break with math homework this week. Please use that extra time and read more! I'm happy the Jentri, Brendan, Angela, and Anna are on their way to reading 100 books.
We have PE on Monday and Wednesdays. Please make sure that your child is wearing appropriate shoes on those days. This especially applies to the girls in my class. If they aren't wearing the appropriate shoes sometimes they have to sit out during the activity for the day.
Mr. Burton wanted to me inform all parents of a Dual Immersion meeting this Thursday, February 13 at 5:30 p.m., here are the school. This is for interested parents, especially those parents with kindergarten students.
Thanks for all that you do to help your child. I love this week in First grade. Happy Valentine's Day! Remember that next Monday, February 17 is President's Day holiday.
Happy Reading!
Monday, February 3, 2014
February 3-7
Thanks to all those who came to Curriculum Night. I thought it was a huge success. My darling students did such a great job! I was so pleased and impressed with their performance. Thanks for supporting your child and getting them here during a snowstorm.
Today we worked on our Math Lesson 7-3. We didn't finish all of the pages in our math book, but I had already placed the homework in your child's homework folder during lunch. I still think that your child could do the homework, but you can decide if they complete 7-3 tonight or tomorrow night. I plan on completing all of the units in Chapter 7 this week, and reviewing both Friday and next Monday before we take the test next Tuesday, February 11th. I think my students are understanding the concept of greater than, less than, and equal to.
This Friday, February 7 at 8:00 a.m. the PTA is sponsoring Dad and Doughnuts in the gym. So, Dads you may accompany your child to school that day and enjoy a doughnut and books with your child. This is open to any significant male role model in your child's life (i.e step-fathers, grandpas, uncles etc.).
It's now February--the January reading record is now due. The class that returns the most reading records in January will be able to deliver lunch to Mr. Burton who will be working on the roof. Please return your child's reading record so that our class can be in the running for this fun event. I hope that you are keeping track of the books that your child is reading for our 100-book challenge. Please send lists back as soon as you fill up 10 books so that we can start charting our progress.
Congratulations to sweet Teyha! She was our Catch the Vision winner for January. Jentri received her silver eagle, Taylor, Taryn, and Anna received their blue eagles, and Angela reached the pinnacle as she received her Gold eagle. Remember that they earn these eagles by reading AR books and taking the subsequent AR tests. This can only be done at school and we have a limited amount of computer space and time to complete those tests. Some students need more one-on-one adult help than others and some days I do not have adult volunteers in my classroom to assist with these AR tests. If you would like to come in after school and help your child with these AR tests you are more than welcome to come.
Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Please watch for a note to come home in the next couple of days asking for donations to help with our little party, and donations for our Valentine cans that we will decorate in class. This note will also have a class list so that you can purchase Valentine cards for each member of the class.
Happy Reading!
Today we worked on our Math Lesson 7-3. We didn't finish all of the pages in our math book, but I had already placed the homework in your child's homework folder during lunch. I still think that your child could do the homework, but you can decide if they complete 7-3 tonight or tomorrow night. I plan on completing all of the units in Chapter 7 this week, and reviewing both Friday and next Monday before we take the test next Tuesday, February 11th. I think my students are understanding the concept of greater than, less than, and equal to.
This Friday, February 7 at 8:00 a.m. the PTA is sponsoring Dad and Doughnuts in the gym. So, Dads you may accompany your child to school that day and enjoy a doughnut and books with your child. This is open to any significant male role model in your child's life (i.e step-fathers, grandpas, uncles etc.).
It's now February--the January reading record is now due. The class that returns the most reading records in January will be able to deliver lunch to Mr. Burton who will be working on the roof. Please return your child's reading record so that our class can be in the running for this fun event. I hope that you are keeping track of the books that your child is reading for our 100-book challenge. Please send lists back as soon as you fill up 10 books so that we can start charting our progress.
Congratulations to sweet Teyha! She was our Catch the Vision winner for January. Jentri received her silver eagle, Taylor, Taryn, and Anna received their blue eagles, and Angela reached the pinnacle as she received her Gold eagle. Remember that they earn these eagles by reading AR books and taking the subsequent AR tests. This can only be done at school and we have a limited amount of computer space and time to complete those tests. Some students need more one-on-one adult help than others and some days I do not have adult volunteers in my classroom to assist with these AR tests. If you would like to come in after school and help your child with these AR tests you are more than welcome to come.
Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Please watch for a note to come home in the next couple of days asking for donations to help with our little party, and donations for our Valentine cans that we will decorate in class. This note will also have a class list so that you can purchase Valentine cards for each member of the class.
Happy Reading!
Monday, January 27, 2014
Newsletter January 27 - 31
Happy 100th Day of school! We had a fun time today as we guessed the 100 objects in our 100-day bottles. We had cotton balls, jelly beans, pinto beans, and metal stamps (linotypes) among other creative items. If your child did not complete this assignment, they can bring their 100 items tomorrow (January 28th). I told my students today that Tuesday would be the last day for that assignment (since it really was for our 100 day celebration). We need to practice for our Curriculum Night reader's theater and continue working in our Go Math book.
I sent home your child's DIBELS scores today. I attached a light purple note to each of the score sheets. I hope that this note helps to clarify how the test is administered and how you can interpret the scores. I also spent some time writing a specific note for each student. These specific notes, will give you ideas on what you can do at home to help your child progress in their reading. If your child reached all of the "benchmark" scores (where they need to score at this time in the year), please continue to work hard at home since the number of words that each child should read in a minute dramatically increases by the April test date.
In addition to the DIBELS scores, I sent home a note about our 100-book challenge. This challenge is very achievable. We have 80 days left in the school year, so if your child reads at least one book each school night (they should be reading every school night), then they will only need to read 20 more to make this goal. If you have questions about this challenge please don't hesitate to contact me.
I sent home sight word lists home today with your child if he or she still needs to pass them off. I will test all students on Sight Word List #6 this Friday. Remember that there are 11 Sight Words lists that 1st graders should pass off by the end of the year. The faster that they master these words, the better readers they will become.
Curriculum Night is this Thursday, January 30 at 6:00. My kids are excited to perform our water cycle reader's theater for you that night. Remember we will perform at 6:00p.m. so that you can go to the Multicultural Fair, and to other classrooms. Please be here on time!!!
I haven't heard of any students that will not be participating with us during Curriculum Night, so I will see you all this Thursday night!
Happy Reading!
I sent home your child's DIBELS scores today. I attached a light purple note to each of the score sheets. I hope that this note helps to clarify how the test is administered and how you can interpret the scores. I also spent some time writing a specific note for each student. These specific notes, will give you ideas on what you can do at home to help your child progress in their reading. If your child reached all of the "benchmark" scores (where they need to score at this time in the year), please continue to work hard at home since the number of words that each child should read in a minute dramatically increases by the April test date.
In addition to the DIBELS scores, I sent home a note about our 100-book challenge. This challenge is very achievable. We have 80 days left in the school year, so if your child reads at least one book each school night (they should be reading every school night), then they will only need to read 20 more to make this goal. If you have questions about this challenge please don't hesitate to contact me.
I sent home sight word lists home today with your child if he or she still needs to pass them off. I will test all students on Sight Word List #6 this Friday. Remember that there are 11 Sight Words lists that 1st graders should pass off by the end of the year. The faster that they master these words, the better readers they will become.
Curriculum Night is this Thursday, January 30 at 6:00. My kids are excited to perform our water cycle reader's theater for you that night. Remember we will perform at 6:00p.m. so that you can go to the Multicultural Fair, and to other classrooms. Please be here on time!!!
I haven't heard of any students that will not be participating with us during Curriculum Night, so I will see you all this Thursday night!
Happy Reading!
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Newsletter January 21 - 24
I hope that you all had a nice three day weekend. I honestly can't believe how nice the weather has been in January this year, I think we might pay for it in May.
Today I sent home a 100-day homework assignment. It should be in your child's homework folder or backpack. I will show my class an example of this assignment tomorrow in class. This assignment will be due on Monday, January 27th (the 100th day of school). If you have any questions about this assignment please don't hesitate to contact me. Look for our 100-book challenge information to come home next week.
We have been practicing our Water Cycle Reader's theater. The kids are doing a great job. Remember that we will be performing this during Curriculum Night on January 30, at 6:00 pm. right here in our classroom. I have not had anyone tell me that their child will be absent that night, please let me know so I can plan accordingly.
Tomorrow we will review for our math test #6. The students will be tested on Unit 6 this Thursday. Please make sure that you are caught up with unit 6 homework so that it helps them for the test on Thursday.
Most of my students have been given the DIBELS reading test. I will print of their results tomorrow during Early Out and send the results home with your child on Thursday. If you have questions about these results I would be happy to talk to you about them, through e-mail or in person.
Happy Reading!
Today I sent home a 100-day homework assignment. It should be in your child's homework folder or backpack. I will show my class an example of this assignment tomorrow in class. This assignment will be due on Monday, January 27th (the 100th day of school). If you have any questions about this assignment please don't hesitate to contact me. Look for our 100-book challenge information to come home next week.
We have been practicing our Water Cycle Reader's theater. The kids are doing a great job. Remember that we will be performing this during Curriculum Night on January 30, at 6:00 pm. right here in our classroom. I have not had anyone tell me that their child will be absent that night, please let me know so I can plan accordingly.
Tomorrow we will review for our math test #6. The students will be tested on Unit 6 this Thursday. Please make sure that you are caught up with unit 6 homework so that it helps them for the test on Thursday.
Most of my students have been given the DIBELS reading test. I will print of their results tomorrow during Early Out and send the results home with your child on Thursday. If you have questions about these results I would be happy to talk to you about them, through e-mail or in person.
Happy Reading!
Monday, January 13, 2014
Newsletter January 13 -17
Welcome to the 3rd quarter of school. We are halfway through the school year. I can't believe it!
Tomorrow morning right at 9:00 a.m. my class will be given the DIBELS reading test. Please help your child by getting them to bed early, and offering them a good breakfast. I will send home those results as soon as I can after the test.
Please look for a blue note in your child's homework folder today. It has a Reader's theater part attached to it. We will start working on that reader's theater tomorrow. Please help them with their part at home. We will practice many times in class, but any practice at home will be helpful. Remember that we will perform this reader's theater on Thursday, January 30th at 6:00 p.m. for Curriculum Night.
The Scholastic book orders that I have sent home will be due this Friday, January 17th.
I have printed your child's grades for the second quarter and I will send those home tomorrow. Please look over those and if you have any questions, please feel free to send me an e-mail or note.
I was very happy with the spelling test results from last week. Please continue to help your child study the spelling words at home.
Today we had theater class with Mr. Seeley. The kids were able to improve their communication techniques with puppets. They LOVED it! I wish I would have brought my camera to take pictures. We are lucky to have Mr. Seeley in our school.
We have two new students, Alayse Johnson joined us today from Three Peaks Elementary, and Preston Williams will join us shortly. I love how wonderful my students are with new classmates. They bring them right into our classroom family immediately, through kindness and acceptance.
Happy Reading!
Tomorrow morning right at 9:00 a.m. my class will be given the DIBELS reading test. Please help your child by getting them to bed early, and offering them a good breakfast. I will send home those results as soon as I can after the test.
Please look for a blue note in your child's homework folder today. It has a Reader's theater part attached to it. We will start working on that reader's theater tomorrow. Please help them with their part at home. We will practice many times in class, but any practice at home will be helpful. Remember that we will perform this reader's theater on Thursday, January 30th at 6:00 p.m. for Curriculum Night.
The Scholastic book orders that I have sent home will be due this Friday, January 17th.
I have printed your child's grades for the second quarter and I will send those home tomorrow. Please look over those and if you have any questions, please feel free to send me an e-mail or note.
I was very happy with the spelling test results from last week. Please continue to help your child study the spelling words at home.
Today we had theater class with Mr. Seeley. The kids were able to improve their communication techniques with puppets. They LOVED it! I wish I would have brought my camera to take pictures. We are lucky to have Mr. Seeley in our school.
We have two new students, Alayse Johnson joined us today from Three Peaks Elementary, and Preston Williams will join us shortly. I love how wonderful my students are with new classmates. They bring them right into our classroom family immediately, through kindness and acceptance.
Happy Reading!
Monday, January 6, 2014
Newsletter January 6 -10
Welcome back! I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday break. It was so great to see my "kids" this morning. They were excited and ready to resume learning. It's great when they can pick up a book in reading groups and read it again as if they hadn't missed a day.
This Friday is the end of the 2nd quarter. All work will be due that day. Math homework through lesson 6-3 will be on this grade print out. The December reading record is now due. I sent home the new January reading record (mittens) today. PLEASE read with your children. I will send home a letter by Wednesday that will reiterate the importance of daily at home reading. Watch for that, and hopefully it will reignite your fire to read nightly/daily with your child.
Next week, the second installment of the DIBELS reading test will be administered to all first graders. I will send home those results as soon as I receive them after the test. I will make adjustments in reading groups based on those results. Our class will take the test, on Tuesday, January 14th right at 9:00 a.m. Please have your child here on time that day, well-rested, and well-fed. Actually having your child on time every day and well-rested and well-fed is a great daily practice :)
I sent home spelling words today and I think this list is one of the hardest lists of the year. Please help your child study these words and the dictation sentences so that they can be more successful on the test this Friday. We will have more time in class to work on this words, since the Christmas rush is over with, but they are still tricky and most students will need extra practice at home.
We will finish up our unit on the Moon in the next couple of weeks with the moon bag. Thanks to those that return that moon bag the very next day after observing it. Mrs. Humphrey's will begin teaching about the states of matter and the water cycle, and we will begin a unit on penguins using the reading strategy "close reading". That is where we dissect a book through numerous readings of the same text. Through the various readings we will learn about the different features in a non-fiction (informative) book (labels, graphs, table of contents, glossary etc).
Curriculum Night this year is on Thursday, January 30th at 6:00 p.m. Our class will be performing a very short "Water Cycle" reader's theater that night. Please watch for you child's part to come home in the next few days and continue to read this blog for information regarding Curriculum Night.
Happy Reading!
This Friday is the end of the 2nd quarter. All work will be due that day. Math homework through lesson 6-3 will be on this grade print out. The December reading record is now due. I sent home the new January reading record (mittens) today. PLEASE read with your children. I will send home a letter by Wednesday that will reiterate the importance of daily at home reading. Watch for that, and hopefully it will reignite your fire to read nightly/daily with your child.
Next week, the second installment of the DIBELS reading test will be administered to all first graders. I will send home those results as soon as I receive them after the test. I will make adjustments in reading groups based on those results. Our class will take the test, on Tuesday, January 14th right at 9:00 a.m. Please have your child here on time that day, well-rested, and well-fed. Actually having your child on time every day and well-rested and well-fed is a great daily practice :)
I sent home spelling words today and I think this list is one of the hardest lists of the year. Please help your child study these words and the dictation sentences so that they can be more successful on the test this Friday. We will have more time in class to work on this words, since the Christmas rush is over with, but they are still tricky and most students will need extra practice at home.
We will finish up our unit on the Moon in the next couple of weeks with the moon bag. Thanks to those that return that moon bag the very next day after observing it. Mrs. Humphrey's will begin teaching about the states of matter and the water cycle, and we will begin a unit on penguins using the reading strategy "close reading". That is where we dissect a book through numerous readings of the same text. Through the various readings we will learn about the different features in a non-fiction (informative) book (labels, graphs, table of contents, glossary etc).
Curriculum Night this year is on Thursday, January 30th at 6:00 p.m. Our class will be performing a very short "Water Cycle" reader's theater that night. Please watch for you child's part to come home in the next few days and continue to read this blog for information regarding Curriculum Night.
Happy Reading!
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