December 12 - 16

This week, our class will continue learning about the holiday celebrations of different cultures (Italy, USA, Hanukkah. and Holland).

Thanks to all of you parents who are continuing to encourage your children to read for 20 minutes or more each night.  If students finish their baggy books before they've read 20 minutes, they may reread them to practice fluency or they may read other books from home, etc.   Most students have finished the "little purple books" and flashcards.  After the holidays, I will send home other little paper books for some of those students (and their parents) that have asked for more.

On Friday, December 16 at 10:00, the students will be participating in a Christmas concert which will be put on by the school.  It will be in the gym.  First grade students will be singing two songs.  Parents are welcome to attend, if they wish.

December 5 - 9

Our Unit 5 math pretest will be Monday, and our test will be on Tuesday.  This week, we will begin our Christmas Around the World activities.  Remember that if you have something from another culture that your child could bring to share, we would love that!  Also, if you or a family member would like to come and tell us about one of the countries, please give me a call so we can make arrangements (231-4358).  This week, we will learn about France, Germany, Africa, and England.  Next week is Italy, USA, Hanukkah, and Holland.  Happy Holidays!

November 28 - December 2

This week, as we finish off the month of November, don't forget to listen to your child read.  Our goal is for each student to have read at least 400 minutes this month.  We'll be working toward that goal for December, also, so keep reading!  Our class will be starting "Christmas Around the World" next week.  Each day, Monday - Thursday, we will learn about the traditions of a different country.  If you have lived in another country or have experience with another culture's traditions, we would love to have you come in and share what you know with the class.  I will be sending home a schedule this week.  Our class also liked the Thanksgiving readers' theater so well that we will be working on more of them to present to the class.  Thank you for your help with your child's parts.  Have a good week!

November 21 & 22

Well, it is a very short school week, but we will still be working on reading, writing and math, as usual.  There will, however, be no spelling list this week.  We will also, naturally, be participating in some Thanksgiving learning projects.  Tuesday will be our in-class readers' theater.  With Thanksgiving coming this week, I just want to let you know how thankful I am to work with your children and with such supportive parents as you are.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with your family!

November 14-18

I am looking forward to meeting with each of you parents this week at parent/teacher conferences.  (Remember that each day this week will be an early-out day.)  You will notice that your child will be bringing home a note about two homework assignments this week.  One is to keep track of  what he/she eats for one day (due Thursday), and one is to practice a part for a readers' theater that we will be doing in our class (just with the kids).  One more important thing this week is that we will have our literacy testing in the computer lab Wednesday morning.  Have a good week!

November 7 - 11

Early out: Monday (teacher training)
Math Pretest: Wednesday
Math Test (Topic 4): Thursday
Assessments and Information Gathering for Report Cards: All Week
Review of Treasures (literacy) Unit 2: All Week
Veterans' Day Program: Friday at 10:30

Parents,

Above is a list of important things going on this week.  We will be finishing one math unit and beginning another.  We will also be busily reviewing and preparing for our Unit 2 Treasures literacy test (which will be Wed., Nov. 16 in the computer lab).  Although the first grade students will not be taking part in the Veterans' Day program, I thought you might like to know that it will be presented on Friday.  Also, don't forget to sign up online for your Parent/Teacher Conference appointments.  Conferences will be held next week (11/14 - 11/17), and school will let out early every day next week because of them.  Thank you, and have a great week!

October 31 - November 4

As we begin a new month this week, this is just a reminder that the reading calendars for October need to be turned in no later than Wednesday.  We will be starting a new reading calendar for the month of November.  Once again, each child who reads 400 minutes or more this month will get to attend a fun reading activity.  These students will also receive a Pizza Hut free personal pizza coupon.  Besides  receiving prizes, students will gain the benefit of your time listening to them and of the reading growth they are sure to gain with this practice.  Thank you for encouraging and helping your children to complete this reading "homework" each night.

October 25 - 28

I hope you all had a wonderful fall break!  It is another short week -- but a busy one.  It is Red Ribbon Week, so we will be discussing being drug free.  The PTA Reflections entries are due Friday.  If your student is planning on entering a project, don't forget to send it to school by the end of the week.  Thanks for all you do!

October 17 - 20

Homework this week:  I know that we usually don't have homework besides the nightly 20 minutes of reading, but there is a fun map activity that I will be sending home with the students Monday.  I hope you can make time to help your child complete it and return it to school on Thursday. With this short school week, we will have our spelling practice test on Wednesday and our spelling test on Thursday.  Thursday, we will get out early (at 12:35).  I hope that all of you have a wonderful Fall Break with your families!

October 10 - 14

Dear Parents,
I'm sorry that the purple spelling papers didn't make it home to you Monday!  They were corrected and set on the counter . . . but I failed to put them into the take-home boxes!  We are working on short "e" words this week (the list is on the left of this page).  We were also asked to remind the parents that your child can earn the right to attend a fun reading party at the end of each month that he/she reads for 400 or more minutes.  Just sign the reading calendar in the baggy book and keep track of the number of minutes read.  It is still not too late to commit to earn a gold, silver, or bronze medal at the end of the year (students can still do this, even if they missed last month's goal).  Have a great week!

October 3 - 7

It's a new month, and we are beginning several new units in our class.  We just finished testing in the computer lab (our first time!) on our Treasures test this morning (Monday).  That means we are ready to begin a new literacy unit dealing with our families and our neighbors.  We will also have a math test on Monday, which means we are ready to begin a new math unit -- working with time, money and measurement.  Don't forget to listen to your child read his/her baggy book each night this month!

September 26 - 30

Thank you to all of you parents for your support and your help with everything we do in first grade!  Your children will see how much you value education and learning, and they will do better in school for that good example!  Thank you!  It is a joy to work with your children each day and see their progress!

September 19 - 23

I just wanted to remind everyone to keep reading!  Please encourage your child to read his/her baggy book each night and, if finished, to return the book to school the following day.  This will ensure that your child will get a new book to read.  Remember that this is the homework for our class -- reading for 20 minutes each night.  These few minutes each night will pay big dividends!

September 12 - 16

I really enjoyed meeting with most of you parents for parent-teacher conferences!  Thank you for taking the time to meet with me and to be so supportive of what we are doing at school!  Some of you have expressed a desire to volunteer in the classroom, and I would like to make a schedule to begin next week.  I will contact those of you who mentioned an interest in this.  Don't forget that picture day is Thursday this week.  Also, Scholastic book club orders are due on Friday.  (If you want to order online, click on the link on this page.)  Have a great week!

September 6 - 9

I hope that you all enjoyed a nice long weekend with your family and friends!  This week, we have parent-teacher conferences after school on Wednesday and Thursday.  You should get a reminder note about the time you have scheduled. (If you didn't get a chance to schedule an appointment, I have scheduled a time for you -- let me know if that doesn't work out for you.)  You can choose whether you would like to bring your student with you or not -- that is up to you.  I am really looking forward to meeting with all of you!

Aug. 29 - Sept. 2

Our first spelling test is this week (pretest on Thursday -- test on Friday).  Please help your child  practice the spelling words to prepare for the test.  Starting this week, we will begin our 75-minute reading rotations.  The students will be divided into 3 small groups, having a teacher or aide to teach them at each station during the rotation.  (Highlights from last week include the students' "3 Little Pigs" puppet shows, singing the "Down by the Bay" rhyming song and making our own class book to go with it, and beginning our king/queen of the day activities.)

August 22 - 26

For our first full week of the school year, we will continue our review of things taught in kindergarten.  I will also spend some time testing the students, particularly on their reading skills.  The first little purple books & flashcard sets (or fairy tale readers) will be sent home this week.  After practicing with them at home, the students may bring them back to me and pass them off for a prize.  I am very excited about this class, and I am anticipating a great year!

August 18 - 19

Welcome back to school!  This first week, we will be getting to know one another, learning classroom rules, and reviewing some things that were taught in kindergarten.  We will enjoy stories, songs, and activities (including a treasure hunt).  It will be an exciting first-grade year!