Newsletter March 5 - March 7

This is a shorter week--we have school Monday - Wednesday and are off this Thursday and Friday.  So this newsletter will reflect a shorter week.

Here are this week's happenings:

• We will not have a new spelling list until we get back next week and since we will not be in school on Friday Sight Word Soldiers will be next Friday.  Thank you to Phoenix's mom for taking that over.  Congratulations to Reese's mom on her new little addition--a baby boy!
• Remember our field trip to SUU to watch Tom Sawyer on Wednesday, March 21.  The cost for this field trip is $1.00.  Please send that with your child by Tuesday, March 20. I would love having a parent volunteer walk over there with us.  If you can help please let me know.
• Wednesday is the last day of third quarter.  The third quarter Student Awards will be Tuesday, March 13 at 3:00 in the cafeteria.  I will send e-mails to those that will be receiving awards that day (attendance, Catch the Vision, and Most improved awards).
• Yay! for Brinley.  She is our first student to achieve the 100 book mark in our 100-book challenge.  I reminded my students that we all read at a different pace and that they still have plenty of time to accomplish this goal.  May 16 is the last day for this goal.

I hope that you all have a nice four day weekend and a rejuvenation to head into the fourth quarter of school--crazy how time flies!

Happy Reading!

Newsletter February 26 - March 2

Last week we had a new addition to our class.  Miss Bagley is our student teacher.  She is very capable and I am happy to have her in my class to learn and to teach.  She will be here until mid-April. 

Here are this week's happenings:

• Friday is now our Sight Word Soldiers day.  Please help your child with their lists and send those back by Friday.
• The spelling test is on Thursday (a list was sent home last Friday).  The list is also on the sidebar of this blog.  As you are studying if you talk about the different ways the sounds are spelled that might help for example;  trucker (/t/ is spelled 't'), kitten (/t/ is spelled 'tt') and parked (/t/ is spelled 'ed'). 
• February Reading Calendars are due this Thursday, March 1.  I will send home new March calendars that day. I will accept those calendars for a little treat and certificate by Tuesday, March 6.  After that, I will still give credit for the work completed but a treat and certificate will not be attached to it.
• On Friday it's "Dr Seuss'" birthday.  Our wonderful PTA is coming to our classrooms to share Dr. Seuss stories and a cupcake.  
• Next week is our final week of quarter three.  Remember that we have a couple of days off before we start back up into our fourth quarter.  We do not have school on Thursday and Friday, March 8 and 9.  
• On Wednesday, March 21 we will be going on a walking field to SUU to watch Tom Sawyer put on by the Playmakers.  It is a production full of children and is usually a great time and something that maybe many first graders haven't attended before (an actual stage play). We will leave the school at approximately 9:15 for the play at 10:00 and return by lunch.  I would love to have, actually I should say I need a parent volunteer come with us and walk to SUU. If you could spend the morning with our class please let me know. The cost for this field trip is $1.00.  Please send that with your child by Tuesday, March 20.  
• We are having issues with toys being brought to school.  I talked to my students today about bringing toys or anything that can get broken, stolen, lost or are a distraction to class.  I asked them to please clean out their backpacks of these toys and to not bring them to school unless it's a special toy day in PE.  I also told them that I would like to see "Show and Teach" items instead of toys being brought to school for Show and Tell (shells, family pictures, book, a rock found on a hike etc.) instead of bringing toys.  Could you please help your child with this and not have them bring toys to school?  I know some kids leave them in their backpacks and I never see them and they aren't a problem, but I would appreciate the help.  If you have any concerns about this please let me know. 
• In our learning we have moved to our unit on the History of the Earth.  We will learn about the different layers of the earth, different types of rocks and how they are formed and learn about geology and what geologists do.  In math we have moved to our unit on adding and subtracting two-digit numbers.  Miss Bagley our student teacher is presenting these lessons.  Tomorrow the students will learn about adding tens (example 30 + 50 = 8 tens = 80. ).  In reading and writing we are starting opinion paragraphs.  We just wrote a class opinion paragraph about our favorite class activity so far (we chose Valentine's day).  Students will then take a stand or choose their favorite animal and write an opinion paragraph about that animal. 
• Our 100-book challenge is well under way.  I am excited as more lists are returning.  I am going to change that due date just slightly because we have two field trips the last week of school (I'll inform you of those when it gets closer to the time) and because of those field trips and field day I wanted to make the due date for the 100 books on Wednesday, May 16.  We will have our reading picnic (pizza, breadsticks etc. in my room) on Thursday May 17. 

I will print off third quarter power school grades next week and send them home with your child the following week after we return from the two day break.  If you child needs to return any missing assignments due to absences please return those by next Wednesday, March 7. 

Don't stop reading with your child!  Try to make it an enjoyable activity with your child. 

Happy Reading!

Newsletter February 12 - February 16

Thanks for those that took some time to come and visit with me during our SEP week.  If you ever have any more questions or concerns please feel free to contact me (e-mail is the best way).

Here is what's happening in our class this week:

• Our spelling test will actually be tomorrow, Tuesday instead of Monday.  I think that I had my students write Monday on their spelling lists.  We will take that test in the morning. The list is words can always be found on this blog (right sidebar) if you've lost your list. A new list will come home tomorrow and that test will be next Wednesday, February 21.
• Today I sent home a Scholastic book order.  It will be due this Friday, February 16.  I also sent home notes if your child will be receiving a PTA reading award on Thursday, February 15 at 3:00 in our classroom.  You are welcome to attend. Check for the note about the PTA Talent Show in March too!
• Wednesday is Valentine's Day.  We will be having our little party (delivering Valentine's and cookie making) right after lunch at 12:35.  Students can bring Valentine cards and/or treats that day to deliver during our party.  Please make sure that everyone in our class receives a Valentine.  I sent home a note a couple of weeks ago with details and a list of our class.  Thanks to the couple of you that have sent in $1.00 for the Valentine's day bags.  If you could help with that I would appreciate it.  We will decorate those bags tomorrow afternoon.  Thank you to those that have sent supplies to help us decorate with.  I hope that makes it easier for you at home as now you don't have to figure out a Valentine's day box on your own :)  I COULD USE A VOLUNTEER OR TWO TO HELP THAT DAY (Valentine's day at 12:35)--if you can help I would have you help the kids frost and decorate their cookies.  Let me know if you can help please.
• Don't forget Sight Word Soldiers is this Wednesday.  After this week, instead of Wednesday our pass-off day will be on Friday.  Thanks so much to Reese's mom, Kim, for helping with that all year and good luck with your new baby!  Thanks to Phoenix's mom for volunteering to help it continue.
• I have had several students that are making progress for the 100-book challenge. Don't leave it until the end or it will be frustrating for all involved.  If your child reads the take-home book every night it's cinch! 
• In reading and writing this week we will work on "tricky spellings".  Today we talked about the letter 'g' and that it's a spelling for two different sounds (/g/ and /j/).  Students learned which sound to try first if the encounter an unknown word with the letter 'g'.  Students will write about their "Love Monsters" that we created today and start the process of writing a descriptive paragraph about "What Fills My Heart". 
• In math we are learning about greater than, less than, and equal to.  We have learned to use the tens place first to determine which number is greater or less than.  We have also learned about the >,< and = signs.  
• In our Astronomy unit we have learned about the sun, stars, and the moon.  Tomorrow we will learn about astronauts and space exploration and then move onto the planets in our solar system. 

Don't forget it's a three-day weekend.  It's President's Day on Monday, February 19.  

Happy Reading!

Newsletter January 29 - February 2

We continue to sail through the third quarter of school.  Today I sent home SEP appointment times (bright yellow paper).  Please look over those and send the bottom portion back ASAP.  If you cannot make the time I scheduled please note another day and time that would work better for your schedule and I will try and accommodate that request.

Here are this week's happenings in first grade:

• I sent home a list of spelling words today.  The test will be this Friday, Feb. 2.  The words are pretty straightforward, but may take a bit of study time to ease with test anxiety.  But, as always I would much prefer reading take-home books over studying spelling words.
• The January reading calendar will be due this Thursday, February 1.  I will send home the February calendar that day. I have changed some students' reading levels (take-home books level A-Z).  Let me know if you feel that the level your child is currently bringing home is appropriate.  This should be the student's independent level.  They should be able to basically open up the book and read it to you without missing many words.  If they are struggling with every word, it's too difficult, if they breeze right through it then it's too easy.  We want a "good fit" for each student. 
• Today we started two new Units--both in our CKLA reading program.  We began Unit 5 in the skills portion and in the Listening and Learning portion we began our unit on Astronomy.  My students already seem to have a good background about "outer space" so this unit will be especially fun.  In the skills portion, we will continue to learn spelling patterns.  We will especially concentrate on word endings.  Today we learned about root words and suffixes and when to double the ending consonant when adding an ending to a root word (for example; stop becomes stopping or stopped).  The rules are if it's a one syllable root word, with a short vowel followed by one consonant then you double the last consonant before adding the ending. We will review this throughout this unit. We will also begin a new fiction book called Kate's Book.  It will follow Kate and her grandma on many adventures. We will  continue our writing of paragraphs using opening and closing sentences and a middle full of supporting sentences. 
• In math, my plan is to test on our place value unit this Friday.  We are on course for that to happen.  I will let you know if we need an extra review day and instead take the test on the following Monday. Today we showed two-digits numbers two different ways (example 64 = 6 tens and 4 ones and 64 = 5 tens and 14 ones).  This will set the stage for regrouping in second grade. 
• I plan on having a Valentine's Day party in my classroom on Wednesday, February 14.  I will send home a note about that in the next couple of days.  It will have  a list of students in our classroom so that your child can hand out Valentines if they want to.  We have 22 students in our class right now if you wanted to get Valentine's before I send the note home :)
• We will again have library tomorrow, Tuesday, instead of our regular Wednesday time as our librarian is again away for a family emergency.  
• Thursday is our "Toy day" in PE.  Please talk to your child about leaving their toys in their backpacks except for their PE time.  Also, toys any other days really should be left home--that includes fancy notebooks, pencils that make noises or become toys, old phones etc.  They really are a distraction in a school setting in and out of the classroom. An exception for this might be for Show and Tell on Friday :)  I do though encourage "learning" show and tell though so things like shells, or rocks, or a special family picture something like that would be very appropriate to show. 
• I hope that you read the note about our 100-Book challenge. I know that you have a lot of things to sign when it comes to reading (calendar, PTA bookmarks etc.) and now another thing.  If I could figure out a better way to keep track of the books read for the 100-book challenge I would do it.  This is very achievable if your child continues to read their take-home book every night.  Don't leave it until the end because then it's frustration for all involved.  This is an optional activity, but I would encourage positive reinforcement and participation.  

Happy Reading and don't forget to sign the SEP note!

Newsletter January 22 - January 26

We had a wonderful 100 days of school on Friday.  We managed to have a "regular morning" of literacy and reading groups and then in the afternoon we moved to our 100-day project (thanks for helping with that) and an art and writing activity and a special 100 day "mystery" treat.  I know my students are 100 days smarter.  It's amazing the growth that can occur during the first grade year. If you follow Cedar East Elementary PTA on facebook we even had our picture on that page.

Here are this week's happenings:

• Our librarian is out this week for a family emergency and our library time has been rescheduled to tomorrow--TUESDAY instead of Wednesday.  Please help you child find their books to return them.
• Take-home books will not come home on Wednesday as  our take-home librarian will be out that day. They will come home on Tuesday and then again on Thursday.  Thanks for being consistent with those books!  
• If you want to order Scholastic books for this month please do so by today--January 22.  
• Watch for information about our 100-book challenge to come home hopefully on Wednesday, but by Thursday for sure.  
• Phoenix's mom has volunteered to help with Sight word soldiers in mid-February.  She will be coming on Friday morning rather than Wednesday morning.  I will let you know when that change will occur.
•  I will send home SEP appointment times next Monday.  Please help me by signing and returning the bottom portion of that paper ASAP.  If you can't make your scheduled time please note a time and day and would work for you when you return the paper.  Spring conferences are (well I should say winter)  February 5-9. School dismisses at 2:30 that entire week including Wednesday.
• Our curriculum hasn't changed much--in math we are working on place value.  Today we showed two-digit numbers in three ways (ex. 1 ten and 2 ones = 10 + 2 = 12).  We learned about the Incan runners today and the honor they brought to their families and in reading we read about Sandhill Cranes and Spoonbills and continued to work on our descriptive paragraph about marshmellows. We again don't have any spelling words this week:)

Happy Reading!

Newsletter January 16 - January 19

I hope that you had a nice MLK holiday.  Today we invited two more students in our classroom--Jenna and Lupita.  They both have been at East already and are now attending our classroom.  As always, my class were kind and inviting and helpful to these two new students.  I'm going to be brief and get to the point quickly this week so.....

Here are this week's happenings:

• We took our spelling test today.  I will send those results home shortly.  We will not have a new list of words this week (I think I might have just heard some cheering).
• The 100th day of school is this Friday.  I sent home a packet of notes about this day.  Students can dress up like they are 100 years old and there is a little 100 day project.  Those are due this Friday--it's optional, but students that don't participate usually feel badly that they didn't bring one.  Friday we will also be having a Life skills assembly at 2:00. Watch for a new challenge our 100-book challenge to come home early next week. 
• Box Tops are due for the next incentive also on Friday--if you have any at home please send them with your child for a chance to win a doughnut party.
• I am in need of another parent volunteer that can help out with our Sight Word Soldiers program.  Thank you to Mrs. Harris for helping out consistently every Wednesday morning.  She will be having a baby and will need to discontinue that mid-February.  If you could help with this please let me know.  I prefer Wednesday, but it doesn't have to be on Wednesday morning so we can work around your schedule. 
• SEP conferences are the first week of February.  I will be reviewing your child's recent reading scores then and talk about their progress academically discuss any concerns I may have.  I really want to have 100% attendance.  I will send home appointment times (they will be the same time that I scheduled you in the Fall) the last week in January.  Please send those back when you receive them--I am happy to reschedule times, stay late, come early whatever to meet with you.
• In math we are going to pause and review 10 more (5,15,25, 35 etc.).  My students understand the basic counting by 10, but when you start at a given number many have struggled with that concept.  In reading, we are especially going to concentrate on descriptive writing.  We will describe grapes tomorrow and then move onto writing about animals from our book The Green Fern Zoo.  We will learn about especially using descriptive language using all of our five senses.  We are just started learning about the Incas today.  We learned about their massive empire and how they built many road systems that are still present today throughout that region.  
• Scholastic Book orders came home today.  Those orders will be due next Monday, January 22.  They always have $1.00 books this time one of them is "Snowmen All Year" which seems to be a favorite among many of my students. Order online using our classroom code which is the easiest way! 
• If you didn't receive a "red" PTA bookmark for a free movie ticket please let me know and I will send one home with your child.

Happy Reading!

Newsletter January 8 - January 15

Yesterday was our spelling test.  I have those graded, but neglected to send them home with your child today.  I will put them in their mailboxes for tomorrow.  A new list of words came home today for our test next week.  The test will be on Tuesday, January 16.  As a reminder studying at home is helpful, but reading is priority :)

Here are this week's happenings:

• The PTA reading awards are actually this Thursday at 3:00 in our classroom. I sent home a notice with your child (it's just a little slip of paper) if they will be receiving an award.  You are welcome to attend.  If you are new I will send home a PTA bookmark with your child.  Just keep track of the minutes that your child reads at home and send the completed bookmark back for another one.  Each bookmark gives the student an award or certificate.  The culminating award for 11 completed bookmarks is the "Gold Eagle". Students will receive a t-shirt!  Today I just received some special bookmarks in my box--they are red and if those are turned in students will receive in addition to the leveled award that they are on a ticket to Fiddlers Theater for a "free movie".  Just one more way to give your child an incentive to read :)
• Next Tuesday, January 16 at 3:00 in the cafeteria we will be having our First Grade attendance and Catch the Vision awards.  I will contact you through e-mail if you child will be receiving an award that day.  Perfect attendance is just that--perfect.  Excellent attendance is just one absence or tardy and Catch the Vision is for a exemplary student both academically and behaviorally.  
• The PTA is having another Box Tops challenge.  If you have Box Tops at home please send them with your child by Friday, January 19.  Please consider reading the PTA newsletter and signing up at Smith's and Lin's for their incentives--every little bit counts!
• We took our math test today rather than yesterday as I stated last week.  I will send those results home by the end of the week.  We will start Unit 6 "Counting and Modeling Numbers" (think place value).  We will start by using a 100's chart and count by ones and tens using that chart.  Students will then be able to determine how many tens and ones are in a given two digit number (23 = 2 tens and 3 ones or 20 + 3). 
• We have switched with learning about the Mayan's to learning about the Aztecs.  We have learned about an Aztec legend, floating gardens (Chinampas), and today we learned about an Aztec Emperor, Moctezuma.  My students were intrigued by the fact that nobody could look the emperor in the face and that they had to take their shoes off in his presence and that they only used their bed sheets once. 
• In reading we are concentrating on past-tense verbs.  We have learned about the "past tense" marker 'ed' and the three different sounds it makes (/t/, /d/, and /ed/ ex. park becomes parked in past tense).  If you notice all of our spelling words this week except the "tricky word" have the past tense marker 'ed'.  We have read about many different animals--yesterday we read about Groundhogs and tomorrow we will read about reptiles.  Ask your child daily about what they are learning and reading about. 

Next Monday is our MLK holiday.  We will not have school that day.  I hope that you all have  wonderful three day weekend.

Happy Reading!