|
May 25, 2012
This week we practiced writing dialogue. We then used puppets created in art class to perform our mini dialogue skits.
We are working on writing descriptively. We are writing about our habitat paintings.
This is a busy time in our classroom. We are reviewing, assessing, and reflecting on our accomplishments.
Starting on Tuesday, we will no longer have nightly homework. However, reading and practicing spelling is still expected. Please understand that although we are not having homework, we are still working very hard at school. Early bedtimes and consistent schedules will go a long way in making our last few weeks of first grade a rewarding one.
Have a wonderful and safe weekend.
***************************
May 23, 2012
We are on Day 16 of incubation. Mrs. Judd has been in to candle the eggs with us, and we have many healthy eggs.
Last week your children were great collaborative problem solvers. Their job was to work in groups to build a nest. We read information on what Mallard nests look like, collected natural materials, and built nests. The children then added some different colored paper eggs. They then had to write fractions to show how many eggs were a certain color.
This week we are reviewing digraphs and our vowels sounds.
In math we are reviewing money, time, and we continue to practice our math facts from 0-9.
Please, if you have not yet done so, please return the Odiorne Point permission slip.
*********************************************************
May 11. 2012
We are on Day 4 of our incubation. I hope you have heard that we also have 4 Pekin eggs incubating. One is very large, and the children are hoping a Triceratops hatches out!
We have been reading and responding to the read-a-loud The Enormous Egg. In this book, a chicken lays a large egg that eventually hatches into a Triceratops! So, our imaginations are working, as we look at the eggs in our incubator.
Be sure to ask your children about our science inquiry using eggs and books! This was a great investigation into force and balance! We learned that eggs are VERY strong!
In reading groups we are reading mysteries. The children are having fun reading and solving the mysteries.
Permission slips went home regarding our field trip. If you are interested in chaperoning, the directions to accessing the Anti-Bullying video are within my April 20th post. If you page down, you will get to it.
Have an "EGG"citing weekend!
***************************
May 2, 2012
Your children have made an excellent transition back from our vacation!
We are very excited to have our "Bean Buddies". Be sure to ask your child about his/her bean buddy. This is part of our review of the concept of living and nonliving. We are also eagerly awaiting the arrival of our duck eggs!
We are working on learning to write contractions. Your child has a homework paper tonight on contractions. There is also some review homework on -ed endings.
During math time we are learning to solve number grid puzzles. Your children are using their knowledge of number patterns to locate missing numbers on the grid. We continue to practice our addition facts too!
Your children continue to read, read, and read!
********************************************************
April 20, 2012
The students have done an amazing job creating and presenting their Earth projects! Our Senior/Community Reading volunteers enjoyed listening to some of our presentations.
We have enjoyed planting our garden too! The children worked with their third grade buddies to plan, measure, and plant our garden. After vacation we will add a few more items too!
Your child will be bringing home a Marigold plant today. For children with plants that didn't sprout, they will bring home some more seeds. Happy planting!
We have enjoyed creating acrostic "Earth" poems. The children have learned so much about our world!
We are readying our classroom for the arrival of our Mallard Eggs. Our eggs will arrive sometime during the week of April 30th! It is a very exciting time in the lives of first graders and their teacher!
Many of you have expressed an interest in chaperoning for our June trip to Odiorne. All chaperones are welcome. More information will be coming home about that in mid-May. All chaperones will need to have watched and let the office know that they have watched the Anti-Bullying video. You can access this at our SAU website, www.goffstown.k12.nh.us. Look on the left for the "Anti-Bullying" tab. This will get you to the video and a downloadable form. If you are unable to access this, please call our school office. They have a CD/DVD available for check-out.
Have a wonderful week!
*******************************************
April 15, 2012
We are busy planting our garden. This past week we planted lettuce and radishes.
The class has enjoyed our unit on Fractions. We will continue to work with fraction concepts this week. We are also working to learn our addition facts automatically!
We are working on using interesting word choices in our writing. This week we will practice recognizing and using onomatopoeia.
Our theme study focus this week is on our Earth. The children will have a different homework assignment this week. Details will come home with your child on Monday.
************************************************************
April 6, 2012
We continue to welcome spring! We have been busy planting Marigold seeds. Please encourage your child to notice nature's signs of spring.
Next week we will plant beans and prepare our class garden.
During reading time we are focusing on previewing our texts. This past week we focused on reading nonfiction. The children were learning to notice the features of nonfiction such as table of contents, index, glossary, and diagrams.
Our When Spring Comes work is posted in our hallway. Your children have done an excellent job describing. This week we wrote songs about spring. Children worked in small groups to compose and illustrate a spring song! Your children and the songs are amazing!
In math we are learning and loving to learn about FRACTIONS. The class is so excited about this concept! A great home extender is to challenge your child to divide a snack or other items up equally between 2, 3, 4 or more people.
Our classroom is in need of soft tissues, liquid hand soap (for use with water) and sanitizing wipes. Any donations will be appeciated. Thank you for all that you do for us!
Save your purple clothes for Friday! Friday April 13 is "Purple Up for Military Kids" at our school. Many children and adults will be wearing purple on this day! Purple symbolizes all branches of the military, as it is a combination of Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine red, and Navy blue. Wearing purple on this day is a visible way to show support and thank the children of military families for their strength and sacrifices.
**********************************************************
March 23, 2012
Welcome Spring! Our class is Searching for Spring, even though it seems like we've bypassed it and gone right to summer!
Your child is invited to bring in a sign from nature that spring has arrived.
This week we focused on sequencing. We learned about the process of making maple syrup. Be sure to ask your children about the process. Don't be surprised if they might want to tap a maple tree!
We enjoyed a wonderful pancake and N.H. maple syrup breakfast today.
We will begin a new Math unit next week. We are also focusing on our automatic learning of the facts 0-9. Your children are masters of the +0 and +1 rule. They are also working on learning the +8 and +9 facts. They are learning to use their "decade" or "ten" to solve the problem faster. For instance: 9+2. The kids learn to split apart the number 2 into 1+1. They then add 1 to make 10 and use the leftover 1 to count up. 10+1 = 11.
There is a wonderful and free site endorsed by EveryDay Mathematics called Xtra Math (www.xtramath.org). I encourage you to try this site with your children. The children work online, take a placement test, and then move on with math work from there.
We will begin our phonics/spelling unit on consonant blends. We continue to review our digraphs (sh, th, wh, ch, and ck.) I have found that many children are not applying the digraphs in their daily writing.
We have had many discussions in the class about quality of work. The children know the expectations for quality thought, spelling, and application of mechanics. This is expected on their homework as well.
We continue to read, read, and read! We are very proud of our second place finish in the Read-A-Thon. Thank you for your generosity! Our class has earned $100 in books for the class.
**********************************
March 16, 2012
We have been reading Tomie dePaola books this week. We have been enjoying the characters Strega Nona and Big Anthony. We have been discussing the traits of these characters.
We have also been working on learning our addition facts. Please make time daily to practice the Fact Triangle cards with your child. Picking 3 or 4 cards and having your child write the fact families associated with the card will really help your child to learn these facts.
We are completing our work with the long u sound. We continue to review the vowel sounds. We discussed this week that vowels are very tricky. For many children, it is very difficult to discriminate between the vowel sounds. We discussed that we can rely on many other strategies, including the consonants that surround the word and our memory of a word. Your children are exposed to a large amount of print daily. They can look back into their memory to think about what a word looks like.
We continue to work on our mapping skills.
Have a wonderful weekend!
************************
March 8, 2012
We are filling our reading pots! Our class loves to READ, READ, and READ!
This week we are investigating Character Traits. Everyone did an excellent job describing the qualities of the characters in the story Starring First Grade. We will continue to investigate characters and their traits next week.
In math, we are also discussing traits. The children learned about attributes (characteristics) of shapes. We have also learned the definition of a polygon. We are enjoying visiting our Shapes Museum and adding to it.
During science and writing time we have discussed the wind. We made wind pictures. We read the book, It Looked Like Spilt Milk. We then looked at our wind pictures and decided what our pictures looked like. We then wrote about our pictures. If you are in the building, these are on display in our classroom.
********************************
March 5, 2012
Happy March! It sure came in like a lion!
Going home with your child are two reading logs for the month of March.
Today we began a new classroom challenge. We created reading pots. For each book we read in school we are completing a golden ticket that goes into our pot. Our class is full of solid gold readers.
We have finished up our science unit on the forms of matter. Your child is bringing home a packet related to this. The last page contains a science experiment that you may choose to do at home. It is optional, and the work does not need to be returned.
We continue to learn about long vowels and review the short vowel sounds. Your child has a large bank of words that he/she is able to read and write accurately. Our goal is to be conscientious spellers, not just for a test, but for a lifetime.
We will begin a new unit in Math. This unit works with Geometry and Attributes.
*******************************************************************
February 21, 2012
Last week we learned about Abraham Lincoln and about George Washington.
During Math time we have added the quarter to our coin counting. The children have learned that when counting money, they should always put it in order from the greatest amount to the smallest amount. Sometimes in our math work the coins will be out of order. We have learned to show our thinking by first writing the money in order before attempting to count it. Showing how we get our answers is essential.
At reading time we are working on summarizing stories by using the key words "Somebody (the character) Wanted, But (problem), and So (solution).
We are working on discriminating between short and long vowel sounds. We continue to practice the long vowel patterns and to review the short vowel sounds. We continuously review our sh, ch, wh, th, and ck digraphs.
This week we will be writing about potential. We are looking at every day objects and writing about the possibilities contained in these objects. Our writing should be on display in the next week or two.
During science time we are learning about forms of matter. Your children know about solids, liquids, and gases. They also know about matter and mass.
*************************************************
February 13, 2012
The children are looking forward to their presentation tomorrow at 9:00 in the library. Hope you can make it. You are welcome to come back to the room for Valentine reading, cupcakes, fruit, juice, and coffee. Thank you to everyone who has committed to donating items.
Today we celebrated the 100th Day of School by working in teams to complete 100 piece puzzles. The kids did a great job working cooperatively and thinking critically!
We also learned about Abraham Lincoln today. Be sure to ask your children the month and the date of his birth, where he was born, and what number president he was. We also learned about why he was called the "Log Cabin President" and what he found in a barrel that changed his life. Please spend some time reading the Mini Book that went home too. The book may stay at home.
Our Food Drive is underway. As a 100th Day Challenge, our class is trying to bring in 100 items by Friday. 91 more items to go!
*********************************************
February 3, 2012
Valentine Presentation
It’s timefor our Annual Valentine Presentation for Families. Please join us and our Third Grade Buddy Class on February 14that 9:00 in the library. Your children will be sharing some special writings on this day.
Immediately following the presentation, please come and join our class to read your child’s Valentines and enjoy a cupcake or two.
***********************************
Got Cupcakes…?
We are looking for contributions of the following for our Valentine’s Day party:
4 dozen cupcakes (or 4 families to each contribute 1 dozen)
2 Fruit Trays
Juice Boxes– for 20
Coffee~Creamer~Sugar~ Hot Cups
Napkins
Plates
***********************
~Mailboxes ~
Your childis invited to create a Valentine Mailbox (no larger than a shoebox)
Please encourage your child to participate and create!
Your child can bring his/her mailbox to school anytime on or before February 14th.
***********************************************************************************************************
January 27, 2012
Ni hao! As part of our work with understanding world cultures and customs, we have learned about China. Your children have learned to locate China on a map, know that it is part of the continent of Asia, can tell you what Ni hao means, learned Chinese numbers, and learned about some of the customs surrounding Chinese New Year.
I am so very proud of your children and their fabulous presentations at Community Meeting.
This week your children learned about "cause" and "effect". They are getting quite good at identifying causes and effects in the books that we read. We will continue to work with this concept next week.
Next week we will also finish up Math Unit 5.
Have a wonderful weekend!
*******************************************
January 24, 2012
Your children are learning about habitats. Today we studied the forest habitat and categorized animals into active, dormant, true hibernators, and migrators. Be sure to ask your children about these terms.
The math homework tonight contains some more problems where the children have to circle a digit in the tens or ones place. (Tonight it is tens.) We do this daily when we discuss the number of days we are in school. We say the number, then we say it the "Tens and Ones Way". So, for instance, the number 84 would be said as "8 tens 4 ones". Using the language of the "Tens and Ones Way" and having your child say these numbers this way, may help him/her to recognize which digit is in which place. When we hit the hundredth day, we will then call this concept the "Hundreds, Tens, and Ones Way".
We will continue to work on this concept throughout the school year.
************************************
January 20, 2012
We are finishing up our reports on NH animals. The children have done a great job. We will continue to study habitats next week.
We are working on learning the rules for long vowel sounds. Your children are learning the vowel, consonant, e patterns, and they will also be exposed to other ways to form long vowel sounds.
During math time we are working on comparing values of numbers, sets, and values of money.
We are in week 2 of our Daily Geography work. This week we focused on using a map and learning position words such as front, back, right, left, near, and far.
Thank you for the wonderful donations for our PTA Theme Basket. International Foods will be a beauty!
Have a Great Weekend!
********************************************************************
January 13, 2012
We are a busy first grade. Today we learned about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The class did a great job connecting how he used the written and spoken word to create peace and change. They also wrote about where they look for peace. Be sure to check out their work the next time you are in the building. We will continue to learn about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Tuesday of next week.
We are finishing up our review of the short vowel sounds, and we are learning about long vowels too. As you will notice, our spelling words are beginning to integrate some long vowel words along with the short vowel words. We will also continue to review those trick words...or as we call them..."The Rule Breakers". (Words that just don't follow the rules!)
We are learning to research, and we are writing reports on a New Hampshire Animal.
Have a wonderful and finally a SNOWY weekend!
*******************************************************
January 5, 2012
BRRRRRR!
We are wrapping up our first week of the new year.
We have enjoyed reading Jan Brett's The Mitten. Tomorrow, we will read another version of this folktale. We have learned that this is a Ukrainian folktale. See if your child can locate the Ukraine on a map. We discussed and compared its relationship to the North Pole, the equator, and the South Pole.
We are also comparing numbers during math time. The children are learning the symbols for greater than and less than.
We are wrapping up our study of the short vowel sounds. Next week we will be reviewing these.
Be sure to ask your children about our Red Wiggler Worm Farm. They learned a lot about these animals and how they make soil and liquid fertilizer/worm tea. The children are able to put leftover parts of their snacks (fruits/vegetables - but no citrus) into the worm composter.
Our PTA theme basket will be international foods.
******************************************
January 2, 2012
Happy New Year!
We are off to a great start to the New Year.
This week we will be reading two versions of the story The Mitten. We will use these stories to make comparisons and contrasts.
During Math, we are working on place value, and we are also working on learning our addition facts. Like sight words, your children need to know addition facts automatically.
Our spelling routine is back on for the New Year. Be sure to have your child study his/her words daily.
******************************************************
December 21, 2011
Your children continue to wow me with their growth! They are becoming fabulous readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists, and geographers!
This week we are wrapping up our "Waiting for Winter" unit. The children have been tracking the moon, continually reviewing the reasons for seasons, and learning the difference between deciduous and conifer trees.
We are beginning to develop our Fact Power! Practicing addition facts +0 through +9 with your child is encouraged. Like sight words, your children are learning to know these math facts automatically!
The weather is changing. Please be sure that your child has appropriate outdoor gear every day! Please put your child's name in all his/her items too!
We are looking forward to our performance tomorrow. As a reminder, children should dress in their Holiday Best. The performance begins at 6:30 pm. Children should arrive in their classrooms between 6:00 pm and 6:15 pm. Bring your cameras and your tissues...your eyes will be watery when you hear their beautiful songs. :]
***************************************
December 9, 2011 ~ Class Party
Our class party will be on December 23rd at 9:00. This will be a breakfast to celebrate our terrific performance in "Humbug" and to celebrate all of our accomplishments this year. Since we are "Waiting for Winter", if we could have items that depict the theme of winter, that would be great.
I am looking for volunteers that day to assist the children with a snowman craft and to help with the party. The party will run from 9:00-9:45. If you are able to help that day, or if you are able to contribute a winter treat or drink for the party, please let me know.
***********************************************************************************
December 9, 2011
We continue our theme of "Waiting for Winter". We are counting down the days to the Winter Solstice. Be sure to ask your child why this day is the day with the longest darkness.
We are also becoming "Moon Trackers". Each day, a child in the room looks up the current moon phase and draws it for our tracking chart.
Thank you for the fabulous response to our collections for a child in need. If you have items to donate, please have your child bring them in by Monday. Through several family donations, we have been able to purchase the Barbie camper for this young girl. Thank you to all for your support.
Next week, we will continue to study the same spelling words. There will be no new words this week.
Your child should be practicing spelling words each night. Fun ways to practice include writing them in different colors, in salt, or in shaving cream, using letter tiles or magnets to spell them, and to play word games. Ask your child to spell words with similar patterns or take a word and ask your child to think what would happen it you changed, added, or deleted a letter. Ex. What would happen if I added the "sh" sound to the word "out"? What would happen if I took the "o" out of "shout"? Your children are learning to be spellers, not just for a test...but for a lifetime.
Families, we have had a few problems with our email getting through and/or being delayed. During the work week, I make an effort to respond to emails within a 24 hour time-frame. If for some reason you don't hear from me, please give me a call. It is likely that there has been an interruption in our email system. Also, putting "Parent of _______" in the subject line is helpful in preventing your email from getting rerouted to other folders.
*************************************************** **
December 5, 2011
Last week I shared with you that in lieu of a gift exchange and teacher gifts, our class would be sponsoring a child in the community that is in need. Our class will be sponsoring a 4 year old girl. These are the things she is in need/want of.
The thing she would most like is a Barbie Dream House or Barbie Camper. (If there are families interested in doing this, please let me know...as it is an expensive item, maybe a couple of families could go in on this gift together.)
Other wishes are hats, mittens, boots size 12, sweatshirts size 6, pants size 6, coloring books, sneakers size 12, undies size 8, socks 10.5 -4, Barbies and clothes, and gel pens.
If your family can help to provide any of these items, that would be fantastic. If possible, please have the items by December 12th.
Our class party will be on December 23rd. I will give you more details later in the week.
**********************************************************************
December 1, 2011
We have wrapped up our unit of "Following the Fall". Our next theme is "Waiting for Winter". We are now reviewing our understanding of the seasons and the reason for seasons. We will also be exploring the Night Sky.
We read, read, and read. This week we read both fiction and nonfiction on squirrels. The children are learning to read for information and to differentiate from what they know based on prior experience and what they are reading and learning from the book.
In our fictional reading we are learning about the setting of stories. We are learning to describe the overall setting in terms of where the story takes place and the time of day/year of the story.
During our Phonics and Spelling time we are investigating the short vowel sound of u. We are also learning about homophones. Words that are spelled differently, have different meanings, but sound the same. Our spelling words this week have many homophones...one/won, not/knot, would/wood, made/maid, may/May, and by/buy. Your children are enjoying exploring our written language.
Your child's Unit 3 Math Assessment report has gone home tonight.
Our holiday party will be on Friday, December 23rd. We will not be exchanging gifts within the classroom, but we are working with Mrs. Ballou from the library on a community project to sponsor a child in need. More information about this will come home soon. Stay tuned...
*************************************************************************************
November 18, 2011
We are focusing on retelling a story in sequence. Your children are using the words First, Next, and Last to sequence the books they read. They are also learning to use the characters' names when retelling. Your children are learning to be specific.
We enjoyed sequencing the stories The Little Red Hen, Goose, and Little Brown Bear Won't Take a Nap.
In Phonics we have completed our study on short i. We will begin working on the short u sound. We are also learning to apply the digraphs sh, th, ch, wh, and ck in our reading and written work.
In Social Studies, we have completed the unit "All About Earth". Your children learned about landforms, the seasons, natural resources, and the difference between a town, state, country, continent, and the world. These are BIG concepts for first graders, and we revisit these concepts in later units.
Next week we will be focusing on the history of The First Thanksgiving.
Thanks to all of you for your generous classroom donations.
Report cards went home on Wednesday. The report card can stay at home, but if you have not done so already, please sign and return the envelope.
***************************************************************
November 10, 2011
Patterns are everywhere. We are investigating number patterns in math and patterns in reading books. We have learned that authors often use build up patterns, back and forth patterns, life cycle patterns, and repeating line patterns.
We are now investigating the short vowel sound of i.
We have written beautiful pieces titled "In November". These are our ideas based on Cynthia Rylant's book by the same name.
Today we learned about Veterans' Day. Be sure to ask your children about the word armistice (it means to stop fighting). Originally Veterans' Day was named Armistice Day. We also learned about the significance of the poppy and about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
We are set for helpers for our Thanksgiving Snack Feast, but we are still in need of supplies. We could use bags of unpopped popcorn, red grapes, and green grapes and spoons, cups, plates, and napkins. Our Snack Feast will be on Wednesday, November 23rd.
*****************************************************
November 4, 2011
The month of November is upon us. If your child celebrates a birthday this month, please be sure to check out my section on birthdays.
If you have not done so already, please look at my November 3rd post (below) to see available conference times.
Next week we will learn about Veterans' Day. In the weeks to follow, we will also be learning about the history of the First Thanksgiving. We will be working with our third grade curriculum buddies to learn about Veterans' Day and the First Thanksgiving.
On Wednesday, November 23rd, our class will be having our own rendition of the First Thanksgiving. On that day, we will have a Snack Feast. We will need a few supplies for this day. They are as follows:
napkins and plates
5 paper/plastic table cloths (white or brown)
3 dozen corn muffins or mini corn breads
2 gallons of cider
2 dozen spoons/cups
1 large bunch of green grapes
1 large bunch of red grapes
2 containers of cranberry sauce (and a can opener if in a can ;} )
3 bags of unpopped popcorn. (not microwave or flavored)
In addition, if you are able to assist, (and you don't mind dressing as a Pilgrim) we'd love to have you help out. We will be having our feast at 10:15 on that day.
Please let me know via email, phone, or note, if you are able to bring something or volunteer.
November 3, 2011
The following times are still available for conferences. Please contact me via email, note, or phone to reserve your time. Times are on a "first-contact, first reserved" basis.
November 10th-2:45-3:00
November 10th -3:15-3:30
November 15th - 2:30-2:45
November 15th - 2:45-3:00
November 17th - 2:30-2:45
November 17th - 2:45-3:00
*************************************
October 27, 2011
I am so very proud of your children. They are becoming wonderful readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists, geographers, and historians!
Our Simple Machines Harvest Festival was a huge success. Thank you families for all that you contributed. It was so much fun to see the children's scientific minds in action!
It's all about patterns and codes in first grade! Our current math unit focuses heavily on patterns. First graders love patterns, and we make connections across the curriculum. We look for patterns in the books we read, and we look for patterns in our environment. Today we read the book The Scarecrow's Hat. The children determined that this book had a "forwards and backwards" pattern. Your children are also interested in environmental patterns. They are having fun noticing the patterns in the classroom ceiling tiles, in their clothes, etc. They are excellent observers!
Monday is Halloween, and our school-wide Halloween Parade. Please review my Newsflash posting regarding costumes. Thank you to all who have volunteered to assist and/or to bring in items for our party.
In addition, I wanted to thank all of you for your commitment to your children. The quality of homework and the consistency in returning homework has been outstanding. Thank you for modeling for your children that quality and commitment are important!
Have a wonderful weekend!
***********************************************
October 22, 2011
On Friday, your child brought home his/her Pumpkin Life Cycle project. Your children did a great job with this unit. The plastic bag contains seeds from 3 different sized pumpkins. These seeds should be spread out and dried for a few days. You can then put them in a paper bag and store them in a dry place. They'll be perfect for planting and carrying on the life cycle come Springtime. Be sure to ask your child about our 3 pumpkins, the amount of seeds in each one, and what we learned about what the color of a pumpkin and the lines on a pumpkin can tell you!
We are becoming problem solvers in all academic and social areas.
In math this week, we read the book Count by Denise Fleming. We then had to find out how many animals there were all together. Your children found many great strategies to solve this problem!
During reading time, we are finding out that authors create problems in the stories, but we also have to figure out how these problems are solved. We are discussing problem and solution. Your children are writing about the problems in books, and they will also be working to write about the solution.
Scientist Steve Lechner joined our class on Thursday. The children learned about balls and inclined planes. They then worked together to build ramps. Their creative and critically thinking minds were hard at work!
Your children are developing wonderful ideas for their writing based on the book One Farm. We are also working to develop our mechanical skills of capitalizing, spacing appropriately, using accurate spellings on word wall words, appropriate approximations on unknown words, and punctuating correctly.
Tuesday is our Harvest Festival. For those of you who have agreed to donate items, these can come in either Monday or Tuesday. We are also in need of acorns, so if you can, enjoy an acorn hunt in your yard and send some in.
Thank you!
***********************************
October 14, 2011
Jimpkin, jumpkin, we're learning the life cycle of the pumpkin!
We have also been learning about our world. Your children have learned the meaning of the words community, city, town, and suburb.
We are continuing to focus on the problems in our stories. Next week, our Book Box reading will focus on nonfiction books.
We are set for volunteers and supplies for Harvest Festival and Halloween. Thank you to all!
We are still "Following the Fall". Next week we will continue to focus on Pumpkins, and we will also be working with leaves and acorns. Please encourage your child to search for interesting leaves to bring in. We'd also love some acorns!
Parent Volunteering will be on Wednesdays from 7:45-8:15. This will begin November 2nd, and it will involve assisting children with accessing our Reading Counts computer program. If you are able to help, please let me know by Monday, October 17th.
Have a great weekend,
Mrs. Veilleux
********************************************
October 6, 2011
We have wrapped up our Apple portion of our Life Cycle unit. We will begin our study of Harvest and Simple Machines shortly.
In math we are will begin to work with money. We are also working on telling time to the hour. Time on the half-hour will also be introduced soon. In EveryDay math, we use the terminology “half-past __ o’clock” when discussing time on the half-hour. Using this language at home will get your child ready for this!
Starting on Tuesday, the cafeteria will be changing over to cash only for SNACK purchases. If your child is purchasing a snack, he/she will need to bring money each day. Snack purchases will not be credited from your child’s debit account. MILK at snack and at lunch will still come out of the debit account.
Also, when sending money for your child’s DEBIT account, please have it in an envelope labeled with your child’s first and last name.
Please make sure your child knows what he/she will need each day as far as snacks, milk, or hot lunch. It makes our morning welcome time run more smoothly. Thank you!
September 30, 2011
We have been reading, reading, and reading. Your children are becoming stronger predictors. We are working on making connections to our reading. Your children were very proud this morning when they shared about reading their Book Box books to their families. During Writers' Workshop, your children have been learning how authors use their experiences to get ideas. Next week we will start to think about Word Choice. Your children's handwriting is improving. Remember to have your child start his/her letters from the top. We talk about letters parachuting down instead of growing up. Your children and YOU are doing a great job with the homework routine. The Reading Log is due on Monday. ******************************************************September 23, 2011 Happy First Day of Autumn! The Brave Bobcats have wrapped up another fabulous week! We are studying the life cycle of the sunflower. Be sure to ask your child about his/her big yellow sunflower life cycle poster. This went home onThursday. We are reading, reading, and reading! During reading time we are working on previewing and predicting before we read. We then confirm or re-assess our predictions as we read. Children sometimes worry that they will be "wrong" with a prediction. We are learning to take risks and that when we predict, we are doing that. We can also re-assess or change our predictions as we read!When reading at home, be sure to have your child preview the story by thinking about the title, looking at pictures, and discussing his/her predictions with you. Then, during and after reading, be sure to discuss his/her predictions again. I have extended the Book Orders until Monday. Please be sure to bring in any orders by Monday.Thank you.***************************September 16, 2011 We are wrapping up our unit on Insects. Be sure to ask your child about our Monarch caterpillars and what they learned about grasshoppers. Your child is bringing home his/her Insect work. The poems and songs in this packet make great reading practice. We will begin our unit on Sunflowers next week. We recognized the Constitution this week by creating and signing our Brave Bobcats Constitution. Your children have learned the meanings for the words "Constitution", "family", "community", and "citizen". Your children continue to be excellent Bobcats.Have a wonderful weekend! **************************September 8, 2011 It has been a wonderful start to the school year. We are learning so much about each other and the routines and structures of our school andclassroom. Today, we had a Monarch hatch! Be sure to ask your child what they learned about Monarchs. I have also challenged your children to look for Monarch caterpillars. If your child finds an egg or caterpillar on some Milkweed, please have him/her bring it in for the classroom. We would love to observe them, and then we will release them here at school.August 2011 I am looking forward to a year full of wonderful learning opportunities! My website is updated often, and it is an excellent "window" into what we are learning and the expectations for our classroom community. Please take a moment to read the "Nuts and Bolts" section, so that your child is prepared for the first day of school and beyond!All the Best,Mrs. VeilleuxSeptember 30, 2011
We have been reading, reading, and reading. Your children are becoming
stronger predictors. We are working on making connections to our reading.
Your children were very proud this morning when they shared about reading
their Book Box books to their families.
During Writers' Workshop, your children have been learning how authors use
their experiences to get ideas. Next week we will start to think about Word
Choice.
Your children's handwriting is improving. Remember to have your child start
his/her letters from the top. We talk about letters parachuting down instead
of growing up.
Your children and YOU are doing a great job with the homework routine. The
Reading Log is due on Monday.
******************************************************
September 23, 2011
Happy First Day of Autumn!
The Brave Bobcats have wrapped up another fabulous week!
We are studying the life cycle of the sunflower. Be sure to ask your child
about his/her big yellow sunflower life cycle poster. This went home on
Thursday.
We are reading, reading, and reading! During reading time we are
working on previewing and predicting before we read. We then confirm or
re-assess our predictions as we read. Children sometimes worry that they will
be "wrong" with a prediction. We are learning to take risks and that when we
predict, we are doing that. We can also re-assess or change our predictions
as we read!
When reading at home, be sure to have your child preview the story by
thinking about the title, looking at pictures, and discussing his/her
predictions with you. Then, during and after reading, be sure to discuss
his/her predictions again.
I have extended the Book Orders until Monday. Please be sure to bring
in any orders by Monday.
Thank you.
***************************
September 16, 2011
We are wrapping up our unit on Insects. Be sure to ask your child about our
Monarch caterpillars and what they learned about grasshoppers.
Your child is bringing home his/her Insect work. The poems and songs in this
packet make great reading practice.
We will begin our unit on Sunflowers next week.
We recognized the Constitution this week by creating and signing our Brave
Bobcats Constitution. Your children have learned the meanings for the
words "Constitution", "family", "community", and "citizen".
Your children continue to be excellent Bobcats.
Have a wonderful weekend!
**************************
September 8, 2011
It has been a wonderful start to the school year. We are learning so much
about each other and the routines and structures of our school and
classroom.
Today, we had a Monarch hatch! Be sure to ask your child what they learned
about Monarchs.
I have also challenged your children to look for Monarch caterpillars. If
your child finds an egg or caterpillar on some Milkweed, please have him/her
bring it in for the classroom. We would love to observe them, and then we
will release them here at school.
August 2011
I am looking forward to a year full of wonderful learning opportunities!
My website is updated often, and it is an excellent "window" into what we are
learning and the expectations for our classroom community. Please take a
moment to read the "Nuts and Bolts" section, so that your child is prepared
for the first day of school and beyond!
All the Best,
Mrs. Veilleux
| |
