Welcome back to school! It only takes me a day to get back into the swing of things, except I am still yawning a bit, and my "kids" are again asking, "When is it lunch time?"
Today we took most of our Chapter 5 test in math. If your child has not turned in their Math Chapter 5 homework packet please turn that in tomorrow! We will finish that test tomorrow and start on Chapter 6 on Thursday. I will send home the new Chapter 6 math homework packet that day with a schedule.
We are continuing our study of Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. We have recently talked about the building of the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx and today we talked about how a "princess", Hatshepsut (hat, shep, soot) helped to change some ancient Eygptian laws. Ask your child about what Hatshepsut did that was courageous and different from the other Egyptian pharaohs.
Tomorrow we will take our spelling test on the days of the week. I sent home a list of those words before the break, and stated on the top that we would take that test today, but with our Polar Express and pancakes day, we needed to move that test until tomorrow. If you could help your child study those words tonight that would be great. We did some rainbow writing this afternoon to help us remember how to spell those words, but they are long and somewhat tricky so any extra practice at home would be helpful. The spelling words are always on the left sidebar of this blog, along with math and literacy homework reminders.
The December PTA reading calendar is now due! I sent home a January calendar today (yellow paper). Please turn the December calendar in by Friday, for 50 points in my class and a treat or prize from me and from the PTA. Many students tell me they "never get a reading calendar". I know that is not true, as I put one in every child's box or homework folder at the beginning of the month. I do not have extra calendars, as this year the PTA provides those. Please put those calendars in a place where they will not get lost and that will remind you to read with your child for 15 minutes every night. If you have lost your calendar you can send me a signed note, with the number of minutes read for the month and I will count that.
Thank you for getting your child here on time everyday! This is such a great time for academic growth in first grade. If you child is missing valuable reading instruction then the growth may also be missed. We are in Unit 4 of our skills unit for reading. We have just learned the /er/ (sound) and how it is spelled and today we concentrated on the /ar/ (sound) and spelling. We have started a new informational text that will complement the sounds and spelling patterns that we learn in class. It's amazing to see my students devour texts that once seemed overwhelming. Don't let up on reading with your child every night! We will have our next DIBELS testing next Friday, January 15. Most likely all of my students will be moved up a level or more. That will mean that their take-home books will be moved up to their appropriate "new" level. Watch for that change.
Happy Reading!
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Monday, December 14, 2015
Newsletter December 14 - 18
Take-home books did not get switched today. Please take some time to read other texts or practice sight words tonight. Your child should be ready to pass off List #4 this week if they haven't already. Speaking of "books", I will not send home take-home books this Friday and on Thursday please help your child to remember to return both of their library books. They will not check out new books that day, but please return their books. With a two week break, many books get lost so I wanted to try and avoid that by not sending home new take-home books or library books. If you can find the time over the break continue to read with your child. We will have our second DIBELS testing on Friday, January 15.
One more thing about take-home books. I guess for the last few days the "blue slips" have not been included in the bag. Thank you for continuing to reread these texts three times with or without a "blue slip". If that happens though, if you just initial the pink paper enclosed that will be good enough. Thank you!!
Here is our schedule for this last week of school in 2015:
One more thing about take-home books. I guess for the last few days the "blue slips" have not been included in the bag. Thank you for continuing to reread these texts three times with or without a "blue slip". If that happens though, if you just initial the pink paper enclosed that will be good enough. Thank you!!
Here is our schedule for this last week of school in 2015:
- Gingerbread houses will be assembled on Thursday, December 17 starting at 12:45. If you haven't sent the item I asked for please send it by Wednesday, December 16 so I will know if we have what we need. If you would like to help, please send me an e-mail. I would love to have helpers.
- The morning of our Gingerbread houses all students will be attending a Christmas movie showing in the gym. First grade will go at 9:30.
- I will also squeeze in a math test on Thursday. The math homework packet for Chapter 5 is due then too!
- On Friday, December 18, Mrs. Vogel and I will join forces for Pancakes and Polar Express. We will make pancakes for our kids in the morning and watch Polar Express snippets throughout the day. At 2:20 on Friday, the entire school will join in a rousing Christmas Sing. We will still squeeze in a bit of learning about Ancient Egypt and having regular reading groups everyday except for Thursday :) I will send home our "fragile, secret gift" with your child on Friday. They have had fun making these. Thank you to those who helped by sending 50 cents with your child.
Monday, December 7, 2015
Newsletter December 7 - 11
We are busy working through Chapter 5 in math. Today we completed Lesson 5.5 I didn't send home a schedule this time. The packet will be due by Thursday, December 17, the same day we will have our test for that chapter.
December 17 will be a fun, busy day. I have decided to change the Gingerbread house activity to Thursday, December 17 at 12:45 pm. That way I can set up at lunchtime. I will send home a note tomorrow asking for specific donations. If you find anything that you think would be a fabulous addition for gingerbread house decorating you are welcome to send that also. Thank you so much for making this activity possible. I can use any volunteers that would like to help that day. Let me know if you can come and help. The more the merrier!
Thank you to those that have sent in 50 cents for our "secret gift". We will start those this week and they will come home with your child next week. Thank you too if you helped your child find a job to do to earn the money.
In reading, we are now learning the spellings for vowel combinations. Two letters that work together to create one sound. Today we learned about the /aw/ (sound) as in paw and how to spell it. We have also learned about both sounds for the spelling "oo", and the /ou/ sound and spelling like in shout. These sounds and spellings are reinforced through reading and writing, and the students read from a student reader everyday using those "newly" learned skills. I am excited about the progress I am witnessing. Please help your child with the spelling lists that I send home. Today we took Spelling Test #3. Some students struggled a bit, some due to absences, but others just need extra practice at home.
In the listening portion of our reading program, we are continuing our study of Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. Today we learned about hieroglyphics and papyrus and why writing was important for the Ancient Egyptians as well as for us today. I love that my little 6/7 year-olds are learning such high- level vocabulary and information about the world around us.
This time of year is so fun and magical in first grade. I just love it.
Happy Reading!
December 17 will be a fun, busy day. I have decided to change the Gingerbread house activity to Thursday, December 17 at 12:45 pm. That way I can set up at lunchtime. I will send home a note tomorrow asking for specific donations. If you find anything that you think would be a fabulous addition for gingerbread house decorating you are welcome to send that also. Thank you so much for making this activity possible. I can use any volunteers that would like to help that day. Let me know if you can come and help. The more the merrier!
Thank you to those that have sent in 50 cents for our "secret gift". We will start those this week and they will come home with your child next week. Thank you too if you helped your child find a job to do to earn the money.
In reading, we are now learning the spellings for vowel combinations. Two letters that work together to create one sound. Today we learned about the /aw/ (sound) as in paw and how to spell it. We have also learned about both sounds for the spelling "oo", and the /ou/ sound and spelling like in shout. These sounds and spellings are reinforced through reading and writing, and the students read from a student reader everyday using those "newly" learned skills. I am excited about the progress I am witnessing. Please help your child with the spelling lists that I send home. Today we took Spelling Test #3. Some students struggled a bit, some due to absences, but others just need extra practice at home.
In the listening portion of our reading program, we are continuing our study of Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. Today we learned about hieroglyphics and papyrus and why writing was important for the Ancient Egyptians as well as for us today. I love that my little 6/7 year-olds are learning such high- level vocabulary and information about the world around us.
This time of year is so fun and magical in first grade. I just love it.
Happy Reading!
Monday, November 30, 2015
Newsletter November 30 - December 4
I hope that you all had a nice Thanksgiving break. It seems that a few sicknesses are going around as we had several students absent today. It was nice to see my cute first graders back though! We took our second spelling test today. I will send home a new spelling list tomorrow. The test for that list will be on Monday, December 7. Please help your child study those spelling words at home. The spelling patterns should be familiar, but with some students being absent, and with the test being after a weekend, help at home would be beneficial.
Today we started into Chapter 5 in our GoMath books. This chapter deals with Addition and Subtraction relationships. I think that the homework pages are fairly self-explanatory for this chapter so I will not send home a "hint" sheet. Of course, if you need some clarification, please don't hesitate to e-mail with questions. The math homework packet came home with your child today. It will be due on Wednesday, December 17. I will send home a schedule tomorrow. I didn't get a chance to attach them before the school day ended.
The PTA November reading calendars (yellow paper) are due tomorrow. Please help your child to fill out that calendar and tally the number of minutes. That calendar counts for 50 points and the PTA will provide prizes for minutes read and I will award each returned calendar with a certificate and small treat.
With Christmas just around the corner, I wanted to make you aware of a couple of activities we will do in our classroom. On Wednesday, December 16 at 10:00 a.m. we will make Gingerbread houses out of graham crackers. I will send home a note about this in a few days, and will also ask for donations (supplies for the houses). These donations are optional, but anything you can help with would be appreciated! I could use parent volunteers that day. The more the merrier!! We will also be making a "secret gift". I will encourage my students to help earn 50 cents for this gift. If you could help find a small job that they could complete at home and then send 50 cents for that "secret gift" I would appreciate that also.
I will send home a grade printout by Thursday. Some of my students are finding it hard to complete their morning work. If this is the case, for your child, I will send home the unfinished assignments to complete at home. I don't expect all of it to be done in one night, but helping them complete these assignments would be helpful.
Please study the sight words with your child. They should have passed off at minimum right now List #3. The more sight words they know automatically the faster reader they will become. If they have to stop at every little word to try and "sound it out" then, their comprehension of the text also suffers. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes every night. Make sight word practice a habit.
Happy Reading! (and rereading:)
Today we started into Chapter 5 in our GoMath books. This chapter deals with Addition and Subtraction relationships. I think that the homework pages are fairly self-explanatory for this chapter so I will not send home a "hint" sheet. Of course, if you need some clarification, please don't hesitate to e-mail with questions. The math homework packet came home with your child today. It will be due on Wednesday, December 17. I will send home a schedule tomorrow. I didn't get a chance to attach them before the school day ended.
The PTA November reading calendars (yellow paper) are due tomorrow. Please help your child to fill out that calendar and tally the number of minutes. That calendar counts for 50 points and the PTA will provide prizes for minutes read and I will award each returned calendar with a certificate and small treat.
With Christmas just around the corner, I wanted to make you aware of a couple of activities we will do in our classroom. On Wednesday, December 16 at 10:00 a.m. we will make Gingerbread houses out of graham crackers. I will send home a note about this in a few days, and will also ask for donations (supplies for the houses). These donations are optional, but anything you can help with would be appreciated! I could use parent volunteers that day. The more the merrier!! We will also be making a "secret gift". I will encourage my students to help earn 50 cents for this gift. If you could help find a small job that they could complete at home and then send 50 cents for that "secret gift" I would appreciate that also.
I will send home a grade printout by Thursday. Some of my students are finding it hard to complete their morning work. If this is the case, for your child, I will send home the unfinished assignments to complete at home. I don't expect all of it to be done in one night, but helping them complete these assignments would be helpful.
Please study the sight words with your child. They should have passed off at minimum right now List #3. The more sight words they know automatically the faster reader they will become. If they have to stop at every little word to try and "sound it out" then, their comprehension of the text also suffers. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes every night. Make sight word practice a habit.
Happy Reading! (and rereading:)
Monday, November 23, 2015
Newsletter November 23 - 27
Just a few notes for our short week:
- Tomorrow is our pajama day and read-a-thon. Students can wear their pajamas all day, bring a blanket, stuffed animal or small pillow (they will not be allowed in the classroom until our read-a-thon). Our read-a-thon will begin at 2:00 followed by a little Thanksgiving activity. We will be making "turkey" cookies out of Oreos. Thanks for those who have helped send supplies.
- Math Chapter 4 Homework packet is due. I had two turned in without names. I will send home a grade print-out early next week, so please check and make sure your child has that packet turned in and let me know if they don't so that I can figure out whose assignments are missing.
- I will send home sight word lists (#2 and #3) with students who have not passed them off tomorrow. I will start testing on List #3 when we return from our Thanksgiving break.
- Our next spelling test will be the day we get back from Thanksgiving break. I sent home the list of words several days ago.
Monday, November 16, 2015
Newsletter November 16 - 20
Snow has arrived! I think the snow can cause "spring fever" behavior more than spring weather can. We had all breaks inside today, but if snow is not falling from the sky the students will be expected to go outside for break. Please send warm, appropriate clothing with your child when the weather is snowy, cold, windy, etc.
This Wednesday, we will have a spelling test. I sent home the list of words last week, with a note on the top stating that we will have a test on Wednesday, November 18. We learned about all of those spelling patterns in our last unit, so the patterns should be very familiar to your child, but studying at home may be helpful for some students. The Scholastic book order is also due this Wednesday, please order online if possible (that's the easiest way), or you can send the order form back with one check made out to Scholastic. I will be happy to "hide" these books for Christmas if you would like me to.
If you want to brave the weather tonight, the PTA is hosting a fundraiser at both Dairy Queen locations from 6:00 - 9:00. A proceed of all sales will go to East Elementary.
We have started a new unit in Reading. The subject is Early World Civilizations. We are specifically learning about Mesopotamia (Middle East region) and Ancient Egypt. I love that this new reading program encourages learning that may seem far above that of a first grader. I am learning things right along with them. At the end of the unit we will learn about world religions--Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The lessons in no way "preach" those religions, but rather give students knowledge and understanding about those different religions.
Next week, the day before we dismiss for the Thanksgiving break. We will have a pajama day/read-a-thon. That will start at about 2:00. We will also make "turkey cookies" out of oreo cookies. If you signed up to help for our Thanksgiving party I will contact you via e-mail and ask you to send something for those cookies if possible. For the read-a-thon, your child can bring books to read (though I have many books in my classroom), a blanket, or a stuffed animal to read to. These items will need to stay in their backpacks though during the day, so take that into account.
Happy Reading!
This Wednesday, we will have a spelling test. I sent home the list of words last week, with a note on the top stating that we will have a test on Wednesday, November 18. We learned about all of those spelling patterns in our last unit, so the patterns should be very familiar to your child, but studying at home may be helpful for some students. The Scholastic book order is also due this Wednesday, please order online if possible (that's the easiest way), or you can send the order form back with one check made out to Scholastic. I will be happy to "hide" these books for Christmas if you would like me to.
If you want to brave the weather tonight, the PTA is hosting a fundraiser at both Dairy Queen locations from 6:00 - 9:00. A proceed of all sales will go to East Elementary.
We have started a new unit in Reading. The subject is Early World Civilizations. We are specifically learning about Mesopotamia (Middle East region) and Ancient Egypt. I love that this new reading program encourages learning that may seem far above that of a first grader. I am learning things right along with them. At the end of the unit we will learn about world religions--Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The lessons in no way "preach" those religions, but rather give students knowledge and understanding about those different religions.
Next week, the day before we dismiss for the Thanksgiving break. We will have a pajama day/read-a-thon. That will start at about 2:00. We will also make "turkey cookies" out of oreo cookies. If you signed up to help for our Thanksgiving party I will contact you via e-mail and ask you to send something for those cookies if possible. For the read-a-thon, your child can bring books to read (though I have many books in my classroom), a blanket, or a stuffed animal to read to. These items will need to stay in their backpacks though during the day, so take that into account.
Happy Reading!
Monday, November 9, 2015
Newsletter November 9 - 13
Today we started Unit 4 in math on subtraction strategies. I will send home a "help sheet" tomorrow so that you can help with the homework more efficiently. Today the strategy was "count back", which I feel is self-explanatory so that is why the helps will come home tomorrow (and they aren't done yet)! :) We will finish up with this unit before the Thanksgiving break. The packet will be due on Monday, November 23. The homework packet for Math Chapter 3 is already late. Please help your child remember to bring that back.
I will send home another Scholastic book order by this Wednesday. It will be due by Wednesday, November 18. These next two orders have Christmas books. If you would like me to save any books for gifts I would be happy to do that for you. Just let me know.
Today your child came home with a username and password for a computer program called Raz-Kids. Please consider allowing your child to get on the computer at home and have fun learning with this program. Some of our trust lands money was allotted for this program. We will sometimes use this program in class, but it's primarily an at home program, as we are already using program at school called Imagine Learning. If you have any questions about Raz-Kids please don't hesitate to ask and I'll find out the answer.
The PTA has two activities or fundraisers coming up. One is the Dairy Queen fundraiser on November 16. Please consider eating at either Dairy Queen location that night or get an ice cream treat. If you mention East Elementary a portion of your bill will be given to our school. The other activity sponsored by our PTA is a Read-a-thon/Pajama party. That will be held on Tuesday, November 24 (the day before the break). Your child can wear their pajamas all day, bring a blanket, books to read, or stuffed animal to read to. We will have that read-a-thon in conjunction with our Thanksgiving party where we will make "turkey cookies" out of oreos. I will send home more information about that at a later date.
Don't stop reading every night with your child and sending back their take-home books daily!!!
I will send home another Scholastic book order by this Wednesday. It will be due by Wednesday, November 18. These next two orders have Christmas books. If you would like me to save any books for gifts I would be happy to do that for you. Just let me know.
Today your child came home with a username and password for a computer program called Raz-Kids. Please consider allowing your child to get on the computer at home and have fun learning with this program. Some of our trust lands money was allotted for this program. We will sometimes use this program in class, but it's primarily an at home program, as we are already using program at school called Imagine Learning. If you have any questions about Raz-Kids please don't hesitate to ask and I'll find out the answer.
The PTA has two activities or fundraisers coming up. One is the Dairy Queen fundraiser on November 16. Please consider eating at either Dairy Queen location that night or get an ice cream treat. If you mention East Elementary a portion of your bill will be given to our school. The other activity sponsored by our PTA is a Read-a-thon/Pajama party. That will be held on Tuesday, November 24 (the day before the break). Your child can wear their pajamas all day, bring a blanket, books to read, or stuffed animal to read to. We will have that read-a-thon in conjunction with our Thanksgiving party where we will make "turkey cookies" out of oreos. I will send home more information about that at a later date.
Don't stop reading every night with your child and sending back their take-home books daily!!!
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