First Grade News
October 30, 2009
Dear First Grade Parents,
I’d like to extend an invitation to you to come in to our classroom for a
visit/Open House on Friday, November 6th from 8:30-9:00am. This will be a
good opportunity to catch a glimpse of some of the work your child is doing.
There will be a sign up sheet out for you to schedule your child’s
conference for the week of Dec. 7th-11th. I look forward to sitting down with
you at the conference to discuss your child’s strengths and weaknesses and
ways you can support them at home. I will then send an invitation letter home
the following week to confirm your conference.
The children are having great fun interacting with the smartboard. It
has been a great teaching tool during writer’s workshop. The children watch
me write a story, modeling correct formation of letters, using many word wall
words, using spaces, including rich words, and many details (i.e. who, what,
where, when, why, etc.) to make my story interesting. I tell them, “writers
write what they know about.” Please encourage them on Sunday night to think
about what they may want to write about on Monday morning in their weekend
journals and other topics they are interested in for the week. I’ve modeled
topics such as going for a walk or visiting my Mom… anything at all just as
long as they are writing! The goal by the end of the year is to write six
sentences on a topic with varied sentence beginnings, avoiding run on
sentences and overused words, and using rich vocabulary. I will be
encouraging legible writing using lowercase letters and uppercase letters when
appropriate, as well as punctuation. We encourage phonetic spelling of
unknown words but will encourage correct spelling of word wall and high
frequency words. The children have a Quick Word Handbook that they have begun
using. As I mentioned at the Sept. Open House, the class has been exposed to
the Evan Moor writing program in addition to other writing lessons at writer’s
workshop. We have focused on choosing a good topic and writing interesting
details to support this topic. We have also begun learning about writing a
beginning, middle, and end to our topics. Empowering them to use writing tools
will make them more confident and independent as writers. We write daily to
practice this skill!
We have had fun this past month watching the weather and will analyze the
data we have collected. We will be saving this October data for comparisons
with the data the class will collect in an investigation during the month of
February. Our unit on pennies, pockets, and parts revolved around the use of
data tables, tally marks, bar graphs, and the language of part, whole, and
number sentences. The children have been exploring a variety of software
programs in the computer lab that support our math curriculum (i.e. Math
Missions, Millie’s Math House, Mathosaurus, Polygon Math, etc.) The children
have the ability to change the level of difficulty to create “just right” math
problems to suit their individual needs. The children have asked me to remind
you that they may visit the Cole School website and access the game…I know
that.com in the Kids section. Our math work begins at our daily morning
meeting when the calendar helpers are busy doing their jobs, on to our morning
math lessons and throughout the day at many opportune times. Math can happen
anytime and everywhere! Hopefully, when traveling in the car or children are
bathing in the tub, counting, shapes, coin talk, measuring, number sense,
patterns, etc. can be reinforced. Be sure to ask your child about their daily
work encouraging them to use the language of a mathematician. Thank you for
your support with math homework!
The children have watched and listened to me using reading strategies at
reader’s workshop. Refer to the literature sent home last month when reading
one-to-one with your child. The parent helpers have just begun sitting with
the children listening to them read independently with their “just right”
books. I have already seen much reading growth and there seems to be no
stopping them as they progress through the various levels, recognizing sight
words, decoding tricky words, and thinking and reflecting on the books they
read independently as well as a whole group. Thanks for supporting their
reading growth when they share their weekend book which is hopefully at their
independent level. Each Friday when they choose new books for their book
bags, they are choosing “just right” books- books at their independent reading
level. I am also having them choose 1 or 2 books at their instructional
level- books that are slightly harder forcing them to use their reading
strategies to figure out tricky words. Resist the temptation of telling them
a word right away and instead refer them to the reading strategy card.
Encourage them to talk about the characters and refer to them by name, help
them to make connections to their stories, and to retell their story, using
words such as “In the beginning…, In the middle…, and At the end…. See how
many details they can remember. They need to dig deeper into the text to be
able to reflect on the characters and the meaning of the story.
Thank you very much for the many contributions to the classroom- the
wipes, the hand sanitizer, the snacks, and for the Halloween party contributions!
Hope all families are well and are enjoying this beautiful, fall season!
With regards,
MaryAnne York
First Grade News
Sept 30, 2009
Dear First Grade Parents,
September has certainly flown by here in school! The children have been
industrious this month, learning the routines of school, applying themselves
to lessons and work demands, and learning about their new classmates through
work and play. I am delighted with their efforts to date and with their
willingness to keep in control of themselves, evident with an almost full
pompom container! Be sure to ask them by the end of the week what this means!
It has been a busy month assessing children to get a baseline of skills in the
area of reading through the DIBELS assessment (Dynamic Indicators of Basic
Early Literacy Skills) and the A-Z reading assessment These two tools will be
helpful in determining the needs of all first graders in order to
differentiate instruction to help them move forward on the reading continuum.
I have just begun guided reading groups where children of like ability levels
work together in a small group with me to strengthen concepts about print,
phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency skills. I
have also done a math/counting assessment to see what areas your child will
benefit from reinforcement in. Be assured that we will continue working in
these areas at school but appreciate any help you may provide at home. Thank
you!
I am looking forward to having parent helpers assist our first grade readers
with one-to-one reading on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30-2:00. Hopefully,
those days and time slot will not pose conflicts. My goal is to have parents
in to school once or twice a month. If you did not receive a note from me,
your CORI status is all set. If you did receive a note, please stop by the
Cole School office ASAP with a photo ID to hasten the renewal/ or initiation
of CORI process. Thank you in advance for your willingness to help out!
The children have worked diligently as mathematicians on number skills,
pattern work, geometry, and measurement activities this past month. We have
worked in whole groups, small groups, with partners, and independently to
explore these concepts. As you have seen this past month with the math
homework sent home, your role is instrumental in helping to foster additional
reinforcement in order to strengthen these math skills. As the year
progresses and we spiral through the same math concepts, the level of
difficulty will increase. I will be determining who will need extra support,
whether it be one-to-one or small group work and who will need to be
challenged with additional activities. I am seeing the benefit of some of my
stronger students assisting classmates in explaining and providing help, and
providing opportunities for building confidence and character. As I’ve told
the children before we are “a community of learners” playing and collaborating
together! We, the first grade team, are continuing where the kindergarten
teachers have left off building respect, responsibility, and resourcefulness
in our students!
Just a reminder to please review the work that comes home daily in the
children’s homework folder to review errors, corrections on formation of
letters, or to see notes that are written on paperwork. I would appreciate
your help in having your child complete any unfinished schoolwork or homework
that’s sent home. I understand how busy families are and accept homework
completed either overnight or the following night. Reading books for 20
minutes should be occurring each night. Please refer to the handouts from the
Open House to help guide you in conversations about the books you or your
child may read. “Reading is thinking” and a dialogue should occur to help
push kids’ thinking deeper.
If your child is still tired or cranky when arriving home from school, please
understand that they are still adjusting to school and having a short rest
time and nutritious snack, and fresh air will help get them through until
bedtime. Bedtime should be at a reasonable time whether they appear tired or
not, reading books in bed, listening to soft music or doing quiet activities
to wind down will help them get to sleep at an appropriate time in order to be
ready for school the next day.
As you have been informed, morning meetings with Ms. Nikas have begun this
week. Be sure to send a book or two on Mondays for your child to look at
while waiting for the meeting with Ms. Nikas to begin. My class is on the red
team and meets every Monday morning at 8:40.
FYI- You should have received the school picture info brochure scheduled for
Wed., Oct. 7th. Please jot me a note if you did not receive it in your
child’s homework folder.
Please help your child remember to pack their homework folder each night in
their backpack. Please remind your child what pocket lunch tickets are in or
better yet a special purse or wallet specifically for the lunch ticket or
money. Please remember to discuss lunch choices with your child before they
arrive to school so they are prepared to make a lunch choice easily when
signing in for lunch. Please let your child know what the dismissal plans are
each day so they are in the know and not surprised if the dismissal is
different than the norm. Thank you for your assistance in these areas!
Just a reminder to check my teacher web page every so often at the Boxford
School website for any announcements or reminders. Thanks so much!
Happy Fall!
MaryAnne York
Remind your child to take out his/her book on Friday to share with a family
member.
Weekend Book Sharing
As part of your child’s reading program, I would like to ask you to take some
time each weekend to read with your child. S/he has chosen very special books
that have been practiced all week long. Every Friday, your child picks new
books to put in their “just right” reading bags for the week. These are not
the only books that they will read, but they are their book selections for
their daily independent/bookbag reading time. Throughout the week, your child
uses these books to practice strategies to build and reinforce reading skills.
Also on Fridays, your child will select one of their books, putting it in
their weekend bookbag to take home and share with you over the weekend.
Please have your child return it to school on Monday.
As this is the beginning of the school year and I am currently administering
reading assessments, bear with your child with their choices. For most
students, reading is still brand new and they will try to “retell” the story
using their own words. As they become more comfortable with reading and gain
more skills, they will begin to read more accurately. For those students
already reading, I am working with them on choosing books at their level,
reading with fluency, and decoding more difficult words. Besides developing
decoding skills, it is necessary for them to comprehend what they read,
remembering character names, text vocabulary, sequence of events, and to think
more critically in order to be a more successful reader.
Weekend reading can be a very exciting and sometimes nerve-racking experience
for children and sometimes for you as well. They want you to be proud of
them, no matter what level they are at. Please find the time to sit one to
one on the weekend, as well as nightly for this reading interaction. Your
child will benefit greatly! Here are some suggestions that may be of help to
you while reading with your child.
ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO MAKE MISTAKES!
When children learn how to read, they need to become comfortable with using
the strategies they are learning in class.
TRY NOT TO GIVE THE ANSWER!
Rather than answering the question, “What’s this word?” with a simple answer,
try encouraging your child to be a problem solver. Ask them what they have
learned to do when they get stuck. Say instead, “Use your strategies.”
WHAT ARE THE STRATEGIES OF SUCCESSFUL READERS?
Using a variety of strategies will help your child find a way that is helpful
for their type of learning style.
∑ Look at the pictures for clues.
∑ Skip the word, read on for clarity, then go back and re-read.
∑ Guess the word, and then make sure it fits the meaning.
∑ Guess the word, and then make sure it fits visually.
∑ (Visually means looking at the length of the word, or at the letters/sounds
at the beginning, middle, or end of word.)
∑ Sound it out together.
∑ Use familiar word parts as a starting spot (word chunks/families, word
endings, vowel sounds, etc.)
∑ Give a rhyming word… “that word rhymes with cat!”
POWER STRUGGLES
Sometimes your child just won’t read to you! This is most often attributed to
their worry that you won’t be proud of them if they are not successful the
first time around or if they are tired even if they insist they are not. Try
not to get caught in the struggle. Here are some suggestions for this
particular situation.
∑ “How about if I read a page and then you read a page?”
∑ “Can we read it together?”
∑ “Let me read to you but I might need some help” (purposely making mistakes
lets them see that it’s okay to not be perfect.)
∑ Enjoy this time together! This should be fun, not a test of your child’s
reading ability.
∑ Find a cozy place where you can spend this time alone with your child.
Thank you in advance for the efforts that you make each day helping your child
feel successful and excited about reading. Please let me know if you have any
struggles or have successes that you would like to share.
Please help your child return their book in its weekend bookbag each Monday.
Do encourage your child to read their book repeatedly throughout the weekend
to siblings, friends, relatives, babysitters, etc. The more your child reads,
the better reader s/he will become. Happy Reading!
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First Grade News
Sept. 2, 2009
Dear Families,
Welcome to First Grade! I am very excited for this year to get under way!
This will be my second year as a first grade teacher and I am so happy to have
made the change to this grade level. Previously, I had taught kindergarten
for 17 years, loving it, but curious about moving up a grade. The children at
this age are so enthusiastic and joyful that it is truly a pleasure to come to
work each day. It is my desire to keep you informed on what is happening in
the classroom via monthly newsletters and at my Cole School website. Bookmark
it on your computer so you can check it every so often
(http://boxfordschools.org/hlcole.html). My preferred methods of
communication are by phone or notes sent in, and will be in touch in a timely
manner. The school day can be a busy one so time does not allow me to check
emails throughout the day.
As your child transitions in to Grade 1, do expect them to be quite tired as
they get off the school bus. It will be imperative that they get a good
night’s rest for their busy day at school. No late bed times during the week
will ensure that they are available for learning. A nutritious breakfast will
start them off on the right foot as well as a couple of healthy snacks for
the am and pm. Lunch still remains the same at $2.00 and the menu can be
accessed at www.boxfordschools.org/hlcole.html). There is a bubbler in the
classroom but if you wish to send in a drink or water bottle, please label.
Bathrooms are down the hall so children will take turns visiting the bathroom.
If you feel your child may need more frequent visits to the bathroom please
let me know so I will be sure to allow this in order to prevent accidents from
occurring. We will be vigilant with keeping the classroom germ free, washing
hands with soap and water, as well as using hand sanitizer. Please remind
your child to cover sneezes and stress the importance of washing hands before
eating and after using the bathroom. Thank you!
We will go out for recess most days, in the morning and after lunch. Please
send your child to school with appropriate clothing. We go out in all kinds
of weather unless the office announces that recess will be held indoors due to
inclement weather or severe cold.
Homework is something that happens daily in first grade. Your child should be
reading or be read to at least 20 minutes each day. Most days a brief paper
assignment that reinforces skills taught, will be sent home to be completed
and returned the next day.
As some kindergarten teachers used last year, your child will have a homework
folder. Please remind your child to check their backpack daily for
assignments and time sensitive notes. Establishing the practice of replacing
homework in the backpack, immediately upon completion helps to avoid forgotten
assignments the next day. This will also give you a place to send important
notes to me or checks for lunch tickets in a labeled envelope. As the folder
shows signs of wear and tear, feel free to replace it with one of your child’s
choosing.
Just a reminder that we do not celebrate birthdays with cupcakes or other
birthday snacks. If you wish to send in a small token/goody bag to all
students, that would be fine. The child’s name will be announced over the PA
system and birthday children will be acknowledged in an appropriate way in the
classroom.
The school day begins at 8:40 am. Please remember that your child will be
marked tardy if arriving later than 8:40. It is important for your child to
be on time in order to have a few minutes to connect with friends and
transition to class prior to the beginning of instruction. Children may be
dropped off between 8:25-8:40 to begin their day with a morning recess.
Children will walk through the school to the recess doors on the lower level
and head outside. Recess supervisors will monitor the children until it is
time to line up at 8:35-8:40.
The specialist schedule is as follows:
Monday- Physical Education with Mrs. Costello
Tuesday- Spanish (Ms. Marcille) and Computer lab with Mrs. York
Wednesday- Library with Ms. Boulay
Thursday- Art with Mrs. Dalton
Friday- Music with Mr. Turner
Please remember to have your child wear sneakers and appropriate clothes on
gym day (no dresses). Library books may be returned to school and left in
classroom until library day. Children may wish to use their own art smock on
art day (oversized tee-shirts work well) and will be sent home same day for
washing. Extra tee-shirts will be in the classroom as well.
The Scholastic Book Club is a good source for hard and soft cover books and
will be sent home monthly for your consideration. It is optional and I would
appreciate checks only when purchasing books. Please watch for the due date
so opportunities won’t be missed to select your child’s choices.
I look forward to meeting with you at our September Open House for parents
only. At this nighttime meeting, I will be discussing the curriculum and
classroom expectations for Grade 1. If you are unable to attend I will send
home all the important communication for you to peruse. Please watch for the
date and time to be determined in the next week.
As Debbie Miller states in her book, Reading with Meaning, “Real communities
flourish when we bring together the voices, hearts, and souls of the people
who inhabit them.” I look forward to establishing a classroom community that
embodies this premise. It will be an exciting and productive year! Thank you
in advance your support!
With Regards,
MaryAnne York
P.S. I am sending home an activity for you and your child to complete
together this first week of school. As a way for our class to get to know
each other and build self-esteem, these Read All About Me! posters will be a
way for them to share what’s important to them. Thank you in advance for your
assistance!
