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Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
December 2008
I cannot believe that we only have one week left until Christmas Holidays! This month has definitely gone by so quickly! The children have been so busy this month reading, studying contractions and practicing skip counting by 2's, 5's, and 10's. In between all of our busy studies we have found time to make several holiday crafts! Look for those to be coming home at the end of this week! We will continue to maintain our regular schedule this week with the exception of Thursday. We will have Christmas Around The World rotations with the other first grade classes on Thursday and have our class party that afternoon from 1:30 - 2:15. We will have a "Polar Express" party, so please allow your children to bring their robe and slippers to wear during the party. Don't forget to send a book for our book exchange. A big thank you to Missy Breedlove for organizing our Holiday Party! On Friday everyone can wear their PJ's to school and we will end the month of December with a fun PJ party and a special movie! I hope you and your family have a wonderful and safe holiday season filled with love, peace, and much, much happiness!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Field Trip Tomorrow!
We will be going to see Cinderella in the morning! The children may wear their First Grade T-Shirts with blue jeans. We are looking forward to a wonderful time together!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
November 12, 2008
Next week our whole group reading sound will be /sh/ as in sheep. The Read Well story for Unit 14 is about a sheep who shows acts of kindness. So our writing jobs will be related to sheep and we will be discussing ways to show kindness to others. We will also spend some time talking about Thanksgiving for the next two weeks.
I didn't send an AR prinout due to the fact that children weren't able to get books to read. Now that the Book Fair is over the library will be open again for book check out. Several children read books from our class library and tested on those.
Please continue to read, in addition to library books, the last 2 or 3 units of Read Well homework stories. Because this familiar text uses words that the children have learned in small groups in weeks past, smooth fluency should be expected, not stopping every other word or so to sound out. If this is happening make a note of those words to practice.
We are discussing place value in Math.
N E W S
November 16-22 is American Education Weeek. The following is a list of activities planned for that week. You may want to begin brainstorming ideas about what your child will do for Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
Monday-We'll do an author study and make a display outside our class.
Tuesday-Students may come to school dressed in the career of their choice.
Wednesday-In class we will write and illustrate, "What I Like Best About My School." We will display these in the class.
Thursday-A guest reader to come a read to the class.
Friday-Children can bring in their all time favorite book to share.
All Cinderella permission slips and money were due Monday. Our field trip will be Friday, November 21st. We will wear our First Grade t-shirts with khaki pants or skirts to the performance.
The Auburn Raptors are coming to talk to the first graders on Thursday. We are looking forward to seeing all the different raptors they are bringing to share with us.
Recently I became a consultant for Usborne books. These are wonderful books at great prices. I had a show for the teachers in my classroom and the children were able to look at all the books I had on display. I enjoyed watching them to see who picked what books. If you would like to purchase any books for your child or Christmas gifts, I have a catalog and would be glad to send you the information. Also, if you have some friends or would like to have a book show at your home let me know. It is a wonderful way to share these great books with others while at the same time earning free books for you own family. Since I am a new consultant anyone who has a show earns double free books! I decided to mention it to everyone because the children were all so excited! Feel free to call or e-mail me if you have any questions. As always, there is NO obligation at all!
Have a great week!
I didn't send an AR prinout due to the fact that children weren't able to get books to read. Now that the Book Fair is over the library will be open again for book check out. Several children read books from our class library and tested on those.
Please continue to read, in addition to library books, the last 2 or 3 units of Read Well homework stories. Because this familiar text uses words that the children have learned in small groups in weeks past, smooth fluency should be expected, not stopping every other word or so to sound out. If this is happening make a note of those words to practice.
We are discussing place value in Math.
N E W S
November 16-22 is American Education Weeek. The following is a list of activities planned for that week. You may want to begin brainstorming ideas about what your child will do for Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
Monday-We'll do an author study and make a display outside our class.
Tuesday-Students may come to school dressed in the career of their choice.
Wednesday-In class we will write and illustrate, "What I Like Best About My School." We will display these in the class.
Thursday-A guest reader to come a read to the class.
Friday-Children can bring in their all time favorite book to share.
All Cinderella permission slips and money were due Monday. Our field trip will be Friday, November 21st. We will wear our First Grade t-shirts with khaki pants or skirts to the performance.
The Auburn Raptors are coming to talk to the first graders on Thursday. We are looking forward to seeing all the different raptors they are bringing to share with us.
Recently I became a consultant for Usborne books. These are wonderful books at great prices. I had a show for the teachers in my classroom and the children were able to look at all the books I had on display. I enjoyed watching them to see who picked what books. If you would like to purchase any books for your child or Christmas gifts, I have a catalog and would be glad to send you the information. Also, if you have some friends or would like to have a book show at your home let me know. It is a wonderful way to share these great books with others while at the same time earning free books for you own family. Since I am a new consultant anyone who has a show earns double free books! I decided to mention it to everyone because the children were all so excited! Feel free to call or e-mail me if you have any questions. As always, there is NO obligation at all!
Have a great week!
Monday, November 3, 2008
November 3-7, 2008
I can't believe it is already November! What a busy month October was!
This week our focus in whole group reading will be /r/ as in rabbit and /ea/ as in eagle. Some of our writing jobs will related to rabbits. I hope that you enjoyed seeing the writing jobs for the month of October. Don't forget to send those notebooks back tomorrow. Please contine to listen to your child read the Read Well homework stories each night, just the last 2 or 3 units. These should be read fluently and with expression.
We are still reviewing the rules of language by copying and correcting sentences from the overhead. I introduced Rule 11, a noun is a word that names a person, place, thing or place. We will continue to discuss nouns this week and ABC order.
In math we are learning about graphs and tables. We will be testing on this chapter at the end of the week. Look for the end of chapter review.
Just a few reminders:
The Book Fair will be here until November 7th. Only children with money can go to the library to buy books. Because of the Book Fair children aren't allowed to check out books. They are allowed to borrow any of my books and if you have books at home that you think may be AR you can look them up at arbookfind.com. AR testing may go slow this week.
Spirit of Giving PTA Meeting Thursday, November 6 at 6:00 p.m.
Progress Reports and Signed Papers will go home Thursday, November 6th.
School holiday November 11th.
Manners of the Heart Workshop for parents in the library on Wednesday, November 12 from 8:30 - 10:30. Anne Shoemaker will be the presenter, she is wonderful!! I hope you can attend.
Field Trip coming up!! On Friday, November 21 we will take a field trip to the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre to see Cinderella performed by the Alabama Dance Theatre. Watch for more information to come home this Wedensday.
Many children are in need of another journal, markers and/or glue sticks. Please check with your child and see if they need to replinish any supplies.
This week our focus in whole group reading will be /r/ as in rabbit and /ea/ as in eagle. Some of our writing jobs will related to rabbits. I hope that you enjoyed seeing the writing jobs for the month of October. Don't forget to send those notebooks back tomorrow. Please contine to listen to your child read the Read Well homework stories each night, just the last 2 or 3 units. These should be read fluently and with expression.
We are still reviewing the rules of language by copying and correcting sentences from the overhead. I introduced Rule 11, a noun is a word that names a person, place, thing or place. We will continue to discuss nouns this week and ABC order.
In math we are learning about graphs and tables. We will be testing on this chapter at the end of the week. Look for the end of chapter review.
Just a few reminders:
The Book Fair will be here until November 7th. Only children with money can go to the library to buy books. Because of the Book Fair children aren't allowed to check out books. They are allowed to borrow any of my books and if you have books at home that you think may be AR you can look them up at arbookfind.com. AR testing may go slow this week.
Spirit of Giving PTA Meeting Thursday, November 6 at 6:00 p.m.
Progress Reports and Signed Papers will go home Thursday, November 6th.
School holiday November 11th.
Manners of the Heart Workshop for parents in the library on Wednesday, November 12 from 8:30 - 10:30. Anne Shoemaker will be the presenter, she is wonderful!! I hope you can attend.
Field Trip coming up!! On Friday, November 21 we will take a field trip to the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre to see Cinderella performed by the Alabama Dance Theatre. Watch for more information to come home this Wedensday.
Many children are in need of another journal, markers and/or glue sticks. Please check with your child and see if they need to replinish any supplies.
Monday, October 20, 2008
October 20, 2008
Happy Monday to everyone! We have been having a wonderful and busy time learning so many new things in first grade! Our field trip to Charlotte's Web was just perfect! The children had a super time, enjoyed the play, and behaved like little angels! I was so proud of them.
Fall picture proofs were sent home Friday. If you would like to order pictures please fill out the information and return it to school along with a check made payable to Southern Photo no later than Monday, October 27th. I must say the pictures were ALL just precious!
This week we are celebrating DRUG FREE WEEK. Please refer to the sheet sent home last week as to what we are doing each day. Tomorrow is "wear red" day.
Accelerated Reader is going really well. I am so proud of the children and their eagerness to read! Please contact me if you have any questions.
Report Cards and Signed Papers were sent home last Thursday. If you have not returned either or both of these important items please do so tomorrow!
A great big thank you to everyone who came to the Fall Festival. I saw many of you, and looked for all of you. I know we were so blessed this year with just perfect weather!!
The race is on to see what class can have the highest percentage of PTA memberships. The winning class receives a field trip to WSFA in a limo! Oh how fun! I would love for our class to win. If you can join again or know of someone willing to support Blount and join please do so. If everyone joins once more we will have 220%! Thank you all for your support of our wonderful and hard working PTA!
We are continuing working on subtraction in math. I would still like to encourage you to keep practicing your addition flash cards!
I will not introduce another Grammar Rule until next week.
We are learning all about Mammals this week. I love this unit, we will be doing a detailed study of the story of Owen & Mzee. Be sure and ask your child about the precious true story of this tortoise and hippo!
I will be out of school this Thursday and Friday. I am having some oral surgery.:( Lynn Higgins will be my substitute. She is very familiar with Blount and has worked in my class many, many times. I am sure everyone will be wonderful for her. Hopefully, if all goes well, I will be back on Monday. (And FYI, I do not allow the children to take AR tests while I am out.) Just so you won't be asking your child if they took an AR test today.
Thanks for all you do! Have a wonderful week and please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!
Fall picture proofs were sent home Friday. If you would like to order pictures please fill out the information and return it to school along with a check made payable to Southern Photo no later than Monday, October 27th. I must say the pictures were ALL just precious!
This week we are celebrating DRUG FREE WEEK. Please refer to the sheet sent home last week as to what we are doing each day. Tomorrow is "wear red" day.
Accelerated Reader is going really well. I am so proud of the children and their eagerness to read! Please contact me if you have any questions.
Report Cards and Signed Papers were sent home last Thursday. If you have not returned either or both of these important items please do so tomorrow!
A great big thank you to everyone who came to the Fall Festival. I saw many of you, and looked for all of you. I know we were so blessed this year with just perfect weather!!
The race is on to see what class can have the highest percentage of PTA memberships. The winning class receives a field trip to WSFA in a limo! Oh how fun! I would love for our class to win. If you can join again or know of someone willing to support Blount and join please do so. If everyone joins once more we will have 220%! Thank you all for your support of our wonderful and hard working PTA!
We are continuing working on subtraction in math. I would still like to encourage you to keep practicing your addition flash cards!
I will not introduce another Grammar Rule until next week.
We are learning all about Mammals this week. I love this unit, we will be doing a detailed study of the story of Owen & Mzee. Be sure and ask your child about the precious true story of this tortoise and hippo!
I will be out of school this Thursday and Friday. I am having some oral surgery.:( Lynn Higgins will be my substitute. She is very familiar with Blount and has worked in my class many, many times. I am sure everyone will be wonderful for her. Hopefully, if all goes well, I will be back on Monday. (And FYI, I do not allow the children to take AR tests while I am out.) Just so you won't be asking your child if they took an AR test today.
Thanks for all you do! Have a wonderful week and please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
October 7-10, 2008
I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend!
We want to say a big welcome to the our newest friend Aditya Sripada who just moved to Alabama from Virginia.
We have finished our read aloud "Charlotte's Web" and are most excited about our upcoming Field Trip to ASF on Tuesday, October 14. Our First Grade T-Shirts will be in tomorrow!!! Yea! Please remember you can wear your shirt on spirit days and be sure and wear it next Tuesday!
Make sure you are completing your 20 minutes of reading each night as well as practicing your math flash cards.
We have Fall Pictures taken tomorrow. (Thursday) The children do not have to wear their uniforms but must remain within the dress code. (no flip flops, etc) Also, be sure and wear your very best smile!:)
Mark your calendar for our fun FALL FESTIVAL!! The fall festival will be held next Thursday at Thorington Road Park across from the school. This is our biggest fund raiser and I hope to see all of you there!
Report Cards will go home Thursday, October 16th.
I apologize for not sending Scholastic Orders home yet, look for them to come at the beginning of next week.
Thanks for everything!
Thought for the week: Forget your mistakes, but never forget what they teach you!
We want to say a big welcome to the our newest friend Aditya Sripada who just moved to Alabama from Virginia.
We have finished our read aloud "Charlotte's Web" and are most excited about our upcoming Field Trip to ASF on Tuesday, October 14. Our First Grade T-Shirts will be in tomorrow!!! Yea! Please remember you can wear your shirt on spirit days and be sure and wear it next Tuesday!
Make sure you are completing your 20 minutes of reading each night as well as practicing your math flash cards.
We have Fall Pictures taken tomorrow. (Thursday) The children do not have to wear their uniforms but must remain within the dress code. (no flip flops, etc) Also, be sure and wear your very best smile!:)
Mark your calendar for our fun FALL FESTIVAL!! The fall festival will be held next Thursday at Thorington Road Park across from the school. This is our biggest fund raiser and I hope to see all of you there!
Report Cards will go home Thursday, October 16th.
I apologize for not sending Scholastic Orders home yet, look for them to come at the beginning of next week.
Thanks for everything!
Thought for the week: Forget your mistakes, but never forget what they teach you!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
September 29 - October 3, 2008
We have been so busy in room 123 and can tell that fall is here! I cannot believe that we have been in school 8 weeks! The children have already learned so much. I am so proud of them and want to thank you for your support and help at home!
I hope you enjoyed looking through your child's writing portfolio this weekend. The children were so excited to bring them home and share them with you! Writing Portfolio's will come home at the end of every month for you to see.
We are dong a great job working during our literacy block. Our small groups are working extremely hard. I have added more homework stories for red and yellow groups to practice reading at home. If you will notice I put a sticky note on the story we are reading this week. Please do not go ahead but feel free to go back and review old stories. I usually add 4-5 stories at a time. If you have questions about your child's reading please do not hesitate to set up a conference or e-mail me. I will be more than happy to sit down and talk with you.
Our Accelerated Reader (AR) testing is going great! Thank you for continuing to send in sticky notes when your child is ready to test. I hope the AR reports that I send home on Friday are helpful in showing you what tests your child has taken and how well they are comprehending. If you have any problems understanding the reports let me know I will be glad to go over them with you.
I introduced asking sentences this week. This grammar rule will be our focus for two weeks. You can help at home by talking about the difference in an asking sentence and a telling sentence. Give examples and let your child tell you if a period or a question mark would go at the end of the sentence. This can be a tricky concept so extra practice at home would be great!
We are continuing to practice addition facts in the classroom. I made each child their own set of doubles flascards. When they have memorized the doubles and can recite them "quickly" without counting on fingers, I have a special treat for them. PLEASE practice ALL your flashcards for a few minutes every night. (right after you read WITH your child for 20 minutes.;))
Monday, October 6th is a holiday. Enjoy your long weekend! I will be sending home permission slips for Charlotte's Web next Tuesday. Please return these on Wednesday. Also, our First Grade t-shirts will be here next week. The children may wear these t-shirts on spirit days, field trip days, and days when we have a guest speaker. I will let you know the days we have guest speakers. Scholastic book orders came in last Friday. I will be sending home a new book club order home on Tuesday, book orders will be due on Friday, October 10th. Thank you to everyone who ordered books, I was able to get 8 new books for our classroom library! YEA!
Thought for the week ~ No one can do everything, but everyone can do something!
I hope you enjoyed looking through your child's writing portfolio this weekend. The children were so excited to bring them home and share them with you! Writing Portfolio's will come home at the end of every month for you to see.
We are dong a great job working during our literacy block. Our small groups are working extremely hard. I have added more homework stories for red and yellow groups to practice reading at home. If you will notice I put a sticky note on the story we are reading this week. Please do not go ahead but feel free to go back and review old stories. I usually add 4-5 stories at a time. If you have questions about your child's reading please do not hesitate to set up a conference or e-mail me. I will be more than happy to sit down and talk with you.
Our Accelerated Reader (AR) testing is going great! Thank you for continuing to send in sticky notes when your child is ready to test. I hope the AR reports that I send home on Friday are helpful in showing you what tests your child has taken and how well they are comprehending. If you have any problems understanding the reports let me know I will be glad to go over them with you.
I introduced asking sentences this week. This grammar rule will be our focus for two weeks. You can help at home by talking about the difference in an asking sentence and a telling sentence. Give examples and let your child tell you if a period or a question mark would go at the end of the sentence. This can be a tricky concept so extra practice at home would be great!
We are continuing to practice addition facts in the classroom. I made each child their own set of doubles flascards. When they have memorized the doubles and can recite them "quickly" without counting on fingers, I have a special treat for them. PLEASE practice ALL your flashcards for a few minutes every night. (right after you read WITH your child for 20 minutes.;))
Monday, October 6th is a holiday. Enjoy your long weekend! I will be sending home permission slips for Charlotte's Web next Tuesday. Please return these on Wednesday. Also, our First Grade t-shirts will be here next week. The children may wear these t-shirts on spirit days, field trip days, and days when we have a guest speaker. I will let you know the days we have guest speakers. Scholastic book orders came in last Friday. I will be sending home a new book club order home on Tuesday, book orders will be due on Friday, October 10th. Thank you to everyone who ordered books, I was able to get 8 new books for our classroom library! YEA!
Thought for the week ~ No one can do everything, but everyone can do something!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
September 22-26, 2008
Happy Fall!
This week in reading our whole group focus sound is "N" as in Nightingale. The focus of our writing jobs will be all about birds this week. On Friday of this week the children will bring home their "Writing Portfolio" for you to see what they have done this month. Please LEAVE all papers in and return it to school on Monday.
Our AR testing is going really well. Please make sure you are reading with your child each night so they will be ready to test the next day. I think it's reasonable to say that all children should be able to take at least 3 tests a week. Of course some may be able to take more than that. The focus is to make no less than 80% on the test. This is a wonderful indicator of comprehension. Along with the 20 minutes of reading each night, read the latest Read Well homework sheet in the back of the take home notebook. Remember, this should be read smooth and fluent, because it is familiar text. If your child is in the green reading group, they will not have any Read Well stories in their take home notebook.
We started working on Grammar Rule 8 this week: When writing days of the week always begin with a capital letter. Please continue to go over DOL and remember it is turned in for a grade on Friday.
Addition and subtraction are still the focus in math. This week we will learn how to use a number line to add and subtract. Continue to practice your addition flash cards EVERY night! So far we have covered adding 0, 1, 2 and doubles.
We have started having math centers, but they are not as structured as Reading Centers. The time in math centers will allow me to work with individuals or small groups on skills that need reinforcing or working on math facts. The children really enjoy math centers.
Thank you all for joining Blount Elementary PTA. Our class has reached 100%!!
Book orders should come in next Monday or Tuesday. Thank you for ordering books! Our class recieved 6 new free books from book orders. Yea!
Have a great week!
This week in reading our whole group focus sound is "N" as in Nightingale. The focus of our writing jobs will be all about birds this week. On Friday of this week the children will bring home their "Writing Portfolio" for you to see what they have done this month. Please LEAVE all papers in and return it to school on Monday.
Our AR testing is going really well. Please make sure you are reading with your child each night so they will be ready to test the next day. I think it's reasonable to say that all children should be able to take at least 3 tests a week. Of course some may be able to take more than that. The focus is to make no less than 80% on the test. This is a wonderful indicator of comprehension. Along with the 20 minutes of reading each night, read the latest Read Well homework sheet in the back of the take home notebook. Remember, this should be read smooth and fluent, because it is familiar text. If your child is in the green reading group, they will not have any Read Well stories in their take home notebook.
We started working on Grammar Rule 8 this week: When writing days of the week always begin with a capital letter. Please continue to go over DOL and remember it is turned in for a grade on Friday.
Addition and subtraction are still the focus in math. This week we will learn how to use a number line to add and subtract. Continue to practice your addition flash cards EVERY night! So far we have covered adding 0, 1, 2 and doubles.
We have started having math centers, but they are not as structured as Reading Centers. The time in math centers will allow me to work with individuals or small groups on skills that need reinforcing or working on math facts. The children really enjoy math centers.
Thank you all for joining Blount Elementary PTA. Our class has reached 100%!!
Book orders should come in next Monday or Tuesday. Thank you for ordering books! Our class recieved 6 new free books from book orders. Yea!
Have a great week!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
September 15 - 19, 2008
I hope everyone had a nice weekend! We are going to be busy, busy in room 123 this week. Tomorrow we will have a guest speaker from the Montgomery Humane Society come and talk to us about Bite Prevention and Animal Safety. I think the children will really enjoy her presentation. We will also be talking about our "Names" this week and how we got our names. I can't wait to read the book "Chrysanthamum" to the children! It is one of my favorites! After reading the book the children will have a special homework assignment to do at home this will not be due until Thursday. I hope you are continuing to read each night as well as working on memorizing addition facts. We finished Chapter 3 in Math and will begin Chapter 4 tomorrow still working on Subtraction. In Language we will be focusing on Grammar Rule 7 ~ The names of specific places begin with capital letters. Please continue to go over your child's DOL each night. Also if you have noticed several units of Read Well homework in your child's notebook it is because so often we go through a Unit quickly and I don't always have time to put each unit's homework stories in the notebooks. You will know what unit to study by looking at the sheet that tells what the last unit your child passed was. I will continue to put 5 units or so at a time in the notebook. As always go back and re-read old units. Re-reading not only helps increase fluency and comprehension, it is so motivating for the children. If you have any questions or concerns about your child's reading or anything at all please don't hesitate to contact me!
I will be sending Scholastic Book Club orders home on Monday the 15th. If you would like to purchase any books you may do so online or by filling out the order form and returning it to me by this Friday, September 19th. If you send your order in to me please include a check for the correct amount made payable to Scholastic. There is no obligation to order books from book clubs!
Have a great week! I will post pictures from the Arboretum and the Humane Speaker sometime this week!
I will be sending Scholastic Book Club orders home on Monday the 15th. If you would like to purchase any books you may do so online or by filling out the order form and returning it to me by this Friday, September 19th. If you send your order in to me please include a check for the correct amount made payable to Scholastic. There is no obligation to order books from book clubs!
Have a great week! I will post pictures from the Arboretum and the Humane Speaker sometime this week!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
September 8-11, 2008
I want to begin by thanking everyone for attending Open House. I hope when you left you felt it was time well spent. I know it was a lot of information to go over in such a short time period. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about anything we went over or anything at all concerning your child. Again, thank you for attending!
Our mandatory MPS field trip is to the arboretum on Tuesday. And then in October we get to see Charlotte's Web!! We are all so excited and have started our book study. I think after reading the book together and completing our book study the children will see so much more about this classic than just the basics. If you have not sent in your money for Charlotte's Web please do so by this Wednesday, September 10. We must send all money in to the ASF to hold our reservations. This trip is non-refundable.
If you have not joined PTA, PLEASE join. We want our class to be at 100%! Remember that friends, grandparents and even aunts and uncles can join. The cost is $10.00 per membership. Help our class reach our 100% goal. Thanks!!
We will continue our Reading Groups this week. We will focus on Grammar Rule 6 for our DOL sentences. In Math we will begin Chapter 3 (Subtraction) I will send a parent letter home tomorrow. Continue to practice flashcards!!! Also, please read your child's AR book with them, ask them questions and then read it again. When they are ready to test, send a sticky note saying ready to test.
Also, I will be out on Wednesday, September 10. Mrs. Lynn Higgins will be the substitute. She has worked in my room MANY times and is very familiar with my classroom procedures and routines. I am sure the children will love her just as much as I do. I will be attending a Debbie Miller workshop on Reading in Birmingham......and I am soooo excited! I love Debbie Miller and her books. I can't wait to meet her and listen to her speak. I promise I will come back with tons of wonderful ideas!
Mid Term Progress reports will come home on Thursday. Please sign these and return them to school on Friday.
Have a great week.
Our mandatory MPS field trip is to the arboretum on Tuesday. And then in October we get to see Charlotte's Web!! We are all so excited and have started our book study. I think after reading the book together and completing our book study the children will see so much more about this classic than just the basics. If you have not sent in your money for Charlotte's Web please do so by this Wednesday, September 10. We must send all money in to the ASF to hold our reservations. This trip is non-refundable.
If you have not joined PTA, PLEASE join. We want our class to be at 100%! Remember that friends, grandparents and even aunts and uncles can join. The cost is $10.00 per membership. Help our class reach our 100% goal. Thanks!!
We will continue our Reading Groups this week. We will focus on Grammar Rule 6 for our DOL sentences. In Math we will begin Chapter 3 (Subtraction) I will send a parent letter home tomorrow. Continue to practice flashcards!!! Also, please read your child's AR book with them, ask them questions and then read it again. When they are ready to test, send a sticky note saying ready to test.
Also, I will be out on Wednesday, September 10. Mrs. Lynn Higgins will be the substitute. She has worked in my room MANY times and is very familiar with my classroom procedures and routines. I am sure the children will love her just as much as I do. I will be attending a Debbie Miller workshop on Reading in Birmingham......and I am soooo excited! I love Debbie Miller and her books. I can't wait to meet her and listen to her speak. I promise I will come back with tons of wonderful ideas!
Mid Term Progress reports will come home on Thursday. Please sign these and return them to school on Friday.
Have a great week.
Monday, August 25, 2008
August 25-29, 2008
What a way to start our third week of school. I hope everyone stayed safe and as dry as possible today. The children did absolutely wonderful today considering we were completely off schedule, ate lunch in our classroom, and spent a good amount of time in the hallway.
This week we will continue to focus on learning school and class rules, and practicing our routines of the school day. We have discussed in detail about the importance of not talking while Mrs. Wright is talking and also in the bathrooms and hallways. Several of the children are having difficulty being quiet at the appropriate times. Please encourage your child to work hard each day and do their very best!
Please support our school by becoming a member of the PTA! Our PTA works extremely hard and helps us in so many ways. If you have not joined please consider joining! Memberships are $10.00 and if you have more than one child, please join for each child. Remember grandparents and relatives can join also!
Don't forget that Monday, September 1st is a holiday. Enjoy the long weekend!
If your child has not memorized his/her lunch number please help them! If you do not know their number please send me a note and I will send it home.
Be sure and check through your child's take home folder each night. Look on both sides of the notebook for papers to keep at home and papers to return to school. Don't forget to sign the conduct calendar and reading log EVERY night.
WORD WALL WORDS
Check your child's notebook for this week's word wall words. Children will be tested on the first 9 weeks word wall words at the end of the nine weeks grading period. The test will consist of the children reading the words to me correctly. So please practice reading these words. If your child can already read the words you may want to practice spelling them, although they will not be required to spell them correctly for a grade until January.
LANGUAGE
Language rules are introduced and practiced by copying sentences from the overhead Monday - Thursday. Beginning this week the sentences will contain errors that will need to be corrected as they are copied. The corrections will be a capital letter at the beginning of the sentence (rule 2), a period at the end of a statement (rule 3) and a capital I when alone (rule 5). We go over these sentences and where the corrections should be every day after the children complete their DOL (daily oral language). The children will bring these papers home daily and should be reviewed each night. On Friday I will choose 5 sentences directly from the sentences the children copied earlier in the week and they will copy and correct these for a daily grade. I will take a daily grade every Friday in Language. Check your child's notebook to see all the grammar rules.
MATH
I was so proud of the children on their first Math test. Everyone did a great job!! We will begin Chapter 2, exploring the Order of Property; ex. 2+4=6, 4+2=6. The children will also learn how to write vertical addition sentences. Please continue to practice the 1's addition facts. We will begin the doubles addition facts this week, ex. 2+2=4, 3+3=6. You will need to make flashcards of the doubles up to 9 and practice each night. We will have a "practice" timed test (one minute to complete 20 addition problems) this Friday. I will send it home so you can see how your child did. Beginning next week timed tests will count as a daily grade. When practicing flash cards the goal is for the children to memorize the sum. We will continue to add new facts each week, be sure and practice every night so your child does not get behind. Research shows that daily practice is required to develop an automaticity with math facts and that if children develop an automatic recall of math facts in the early grades, in later grades they will be free to concentrate on learning higher level concepts of mathematics.
READING
We are continuing to practice the routines of working in literacy centers and small groups. We have also been checking books out of the library. Library books should come to school EVERYDAY, even if your child has not finished reading the book, the book/s should come to school each day. There is time in our schedule that the children may read and take AR tests. Hopefully we will begin taking Accelerated Reader tests this week. For those of you who are not familiar with Accelerated Reader (AR) I am working on a Parent Handbook and will send it home at the beginning of next week.
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Have a great week!
This week we will continue to focus on learning school and class rules, and practicing our routines of the school day. We have discussed in detail about the importance of not talking while Mrs. Wright is talking and also in the bathrooms and hallways. Several of the children are having difficulty being quiet at the appropriate times. Please encourage your child to work hard each day and do their very best!
Please support our school by becoming a member of the PTA! Our PTA works extremely hard and helps us in so many ways. If you have not joined please consider joining! Memberships are $10.00 and if you have more than one child, please join for each child. Remember grandparents and relatives can join also!
Don't forget that Monday, September 1st is a holiday. Enjoy the long weekend!
If your child has not memorized his/her lunch number please help them! If you do not know their number please send me a note and I will send it home.
Be sure and check through your child's take home folder each night. Look on both sides of the notebook for papers to keep at home and papers to return to school. Don't forget to sign the conduct calendar and reading log EVERY night.
WORD WALL WORDS
Check your child's notebook for this week's word wall words. Children will be tested on the first 9 weeks word wall words at the end of the nine weeks grading period. The test will consist of the children reading the words to me correctly. So please practice reading these words. If your child can already read the words you may want to practice spelling them, although they will not be required to spell them correctly for a grade until January.
LANGUAGE
Language rules are introduced and practiced by copying sentences from the overhead Monday - Thursday. Beginning this week the sentences will contain errors that will need to be corrected as they are copied. The corrections will be a capital letter at the beginning of the sentence (rule 2), a period at the end of a statement (rule 3) and a capital I when alone (rule 5). We go over these sentences and where the corrections should be every day after the children complete their DOL (daily oral language). The children will bring these papers home daily and should be reviewed each night. On Friday I will choose 5 sentences directly from the sentences the children copied earlier in the week and they will copy and correct these for a daily grade. I will take a daily grade every Friday in Language. Check your child's notebook to see all the grammar rules.
MATH
I was so proud of the children on their first Math test. Everyone did a great job!! We will begin Chapter 2, exploring the Order of Property; ex. 2+4=6, 4+2=6. The children will also learn how to write vertical addition sentences. Please continue to practice the 1's addition facts. We will begin the doubles addition facts this week, ex. 2+2=4, 3+3=6. You will need to make flashcards of the doubles up to 9 and practice each night. We will have a "practice" timed test (one minute to complete 20 addition problems) this Friday. I will send it home so you can see how your child did. Beginning next week timed tests will count as a daily grade. When practicing flash cards the goal is for the children to memorize the sum. We will continue to add new facts each week, be sure and practice every night so your child does not get behind. Research shows that daily practice is required to develop an automaticity with math facts and that if children develop an automatic recall of math facts in the early grades, in later grades they will be free to concentrate on learning higher level concepts of mathematics.
READING
We are continuing to practice the routines of working in literacy centers and small groups. We have also been checking books out of the library. Library books should come to school EVERYDAY, even if your child has not finished reading the book, the book/s should come to school each day. There is time in our schedule that the children may read and take AR tests. Hopefully we will begin taking Accelerated Reader tests this week. For those of you who are not familiar with Accelerated Reader (AR) I am working on a Parent Handbook and will send it home at the beginning of next week.
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Have a great week!
Monday, August 18, 2008
August 18-22, 2008
We had a great Monday and learned so much today! We are starting our reading groups and will be working together in small groups while Mrs. Wright works with a reading group. We really have to practice using our inside voices and working together during reading because we want everyone to be super readers! We also begin working on our addition facts. I want to encourage you to use flashcards every night for just 10 or so minutes. This can be so helpful, we want these addition facts to be instant, we want to avoid the crutch of always counting on our fingers. Right now we are working on the zero facts and adding 1 to numbers 1-9. PLEASE practice this each night as well as listen to or read to your child each night, also don't forget to practice reading your word wall words in your child's notebook. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail or send me a note, I am here to help. Working together we can help your child become a successful 1st grader!!
A few reminders:
- PTA is tomorrow night at 6:3o in the cafeteria.
- Our 1st grade "Popsicle Party" is Thursday at Thorington Road Park from 6:00- 7:00. I know this is also the Volunteer Orientation, I am sorry that these two conflicted.
- The last day to order First Grade T-Shirts will be this Friday, August 22.
A few reminders:
- PTA is tomorrow night at 6:3o in the cafeteria.
- Our 1st grade "Popsicle Party" is Thursday at Thorington Road Park from 6:00- 7:00. I know this is also the Volunteer Orientation, I am sorry that these two conflicted.
- The last day to order First Grade T-Shirts will be this Friday, August 22.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
First Day Of First Grade!
Our first two days of school have been simply wonderful! We are working really hard on listening and following directions the first time they are given. We are also working on remembering to raise our hands before we speak and listening while others are speaking. Everyone has so much to share and we all want to be heard. Thank you for sending all of your paperwork in so prompt! Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions or concerns you may have! I am looking forward to a fantastic year!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Getting Ready for First Grade!
I hope everyone is having a great summer, enjoying time off with families and making lots of wonderful memories! Our family has already enjoyed the beach, and the girls just finished ballet camp! We are definitely making the most of this fun season! I want to encourage you to continue reading daily with your child. Summer reading can bridge the end of one school year and the beginning of the next! Your child may not be a fluent reader, yet research says that reading aloud to children is a large factor that contributes to reading success! So read, read, read! And enjoy your precious child!
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