Spring has Sprung!!!

A few important dates to mark down on the calendar…

Tuesday, April 8 ~ Fieldtrip to ASF to see Goodnight Moon.  This fieldtrip has already been paid for.  Please make sure to send in permission slips.

Wednesday, April 16 ~ Easter Egg Hunt at 1:30.  Please make sure to send in 20 eggs by Monday, April 14. 

Thursday, April 24 ~ K-3 Field Day.  A letter for volunteers will go home as soon as Coach Grant gives them to us.  :)  He always needs volunteers!

Thursday, May 15 ~ First Grade Water Day.  We will send home a letter when it gets closer to the date.

First Grade Honor’s Day will be at the end of May, but a date has not yet been determined.

Our grade level t-shirts came in and can be worn every Tuesday and/or Friday with jeans. 

The Book Fair will end on this Wednesday, April 9.

Reading ~ We will begin Unit 4 this week.  A new homework sheet will be added.  I cannot stress enough how important it is that your child can read the ten important sentences on the front as well as be able to decode the words on the back.  The story for this week is called Mama’s Birthday Present.

Language ~ Daily Fix-Its for each story come home every day on their morning work.  This is a grade every Friday.  Students are editing sentences {fixing capital letters, misspelled words, adding punctuation.}  This week the students will be introduced to Adjectives and we will talk about them for the next five weeks. 

Spelling ~ Please look for the Unit 4 Spelling list in your child’s take home notebook.  This will carry us to the end of the year.  Remember, spelling tests are every Friday.  This should be an easy “A!”

Math ~ Ch. 12, 2-D Shapes.  We have learned the characteristics of a circle, triangle, square, rectangle, trapezoid, hexagon.  We have also had a fun time using mental math to combine shapes to make new shapes.  I am amazed everyday at what these children know.  A review sheet will come home the night before the test and it will also be written on their homework chart. 

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me!  Have a great week ~ Kristin :)

February 18-21

The Valentine’s Day party was a hit!  We had lots of fun playing “pin the heart” and eating ice cream sundaes.  Thanks to Mrs. Cayer and parents for putting it together.  :)  And of course, thank you for all my wonderful treats! 

Please send in permission slips and money for our field trip to the Davis Theatre! 

Wednesday will be the only day to turn in money for a First grade level t-shirt.  No Exceptions will be made.  If you would like for your child to have one please send in $12.00 with a size marked.  If a size is not marked I will do my best to guess for you!  These shirts are optional and may be worn with jeans on Tuesdays for the remainder of the school year. 

Class pictures will be taken on Thursday, February 20th.  Students will wear their school uniform.  If you would like to purchase one, please pay by Wednesday. 

READING:  Ruby in Her Own Time               GENRE:  Animal Fantasy

Homework stories will be placed in their notebook.  Please make sure your child can read the sentences and the words on the back fluently.   Also, please review their word wall words!

SPELLING:  Words are in take home folder.  Please make sure your child can spell these by Friday for their Spelling Test.

LANGUAGE:  Verbs that add –s and compound words.  Ex. butterfly, ladybug, snowman

MATH:  We are skipping around a lot in Ch. 9  Some of the skills in the lessons will not be included on the test so we are spending more time mastering what will be on the test.  We have begun time.  We will learn how to tell time to the hour and half hour.  This is always a fun skill to introduce and teach.  Find an analog clock to keep handy so you can have your child tell you the time every hour and half hour.  Make this fun!  :)

AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK is coming up.  We will celebrate READING and Dr. Seuss’ birthday.  We will have a school wide character parade and give the students an opportunity to come to school creatively dressed as their favorite book character.  The parade will be held on Friday, March 7th at 2:00.  I will give more details as it gets closer but be brainstorming a creative character for your child!  Remember, this is NOT an opportunity to wear a Halloween costume!  Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend!

Please feel free to contact me with any questions of concerns.  Have a great short week!

~ Kristin :)

Happy New Year!

I sure hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and two weeks with family and friends!  Of course, the extra two cold days were a nice surprise.  :)

January is here and we really start focusing on “acting and thinking like second graders.”  The kids have loved talking about doing things in the classroom that second graders do.  We are no longer writing on tablet paper.  We have moved onto “second grade notebook paper.” 

Mornings with Mom is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan 14 (last name A-L) 7:15 – 8:00 and Wednesday, Jan 15 (last name M-Z) 7:15-8:00.  If your mom is not available please bring another adult!  :)

On December 10 the students were given the STAR test in the computer lab.  This test is just one indicator of how your child reads and comprehends.  I use their score to determine their ZPD level, which is the level they are able to check out in the library.  I will send the results home this week.  Please keep these at home!

Reading ~ The story for this week is The Big Circle.  Please make sure your child can fluently read the story sentences and isolated words in their take home folder for each story.  Reading tests are taken on the computer every Friday.

Spelling ~ Please make sure your child can spell the twelve words for Week 4.  Spelling tests are every Friday.  Two of them will be counted as major language grades so this is very important.

Language ~ We will focus this week on proper nouns, days, months and special titles.

Math ~ Ch 7, Greater Than, Less Than and Comparing Numbers.  Look for a review sheet to come home the night before the test. 

Monday ~ Nancy’s Italian Ice $1.00

Tuesday ~ Report Cards/Signed Papers

Monday, Jan. 20 ~ No School, MLK/Lee Birthday

Please contact me with any questions or concerns!  Have a great week ~ Kristin :)

Week of December 9 ~ 13

A big thanks to Autumn and Katelyn’s mom for taking the children to lunch while I enjoyed Teacher Treat Day in the library!!!

Please remember to send in $5 cash for the Christmas party scheduled for Thursday, December 19 from 1:30-2:15.  The children may also wear green that day and we will watch the movie How The Grinch Stole Christmas before our party.

Friday, December 13, the children may wear their pajamas to school and we will watch The Polar Express.  I will have a sweet treat for them to enjoy during the movie!

Reading ~ Unit 2 Week 1          Story:  A Big Fish for Max          Genre:  Animal Fantasy

Amazing Words ~ chore, cooperation, commute, downtown, household, rule, subway, display

Word Wall Words ~ catch, put, good, said, no, want

***A new spelling chart will be added to your child’s take home folder for Unit 2.

Vowel Sound in ball:  a, al                     Consonant Digraphs sh, th

Spelling Words ~ fish, with, shop, ship, then, rush, trash, shut, shell, thin

Language ~ We will focus on Common Nouns {a word that names a person, place, animal, or thing}.  Common nouns start with a lowercase letter unless they are at the beginning of a sentence.  Girl (person), classroom (place), dog (animal), and pencil (thing) are common nouns.  They are singular nouns that name one person, one place, one animal, and one thing.

Math ~ We will continue through Ch 6.  Please make sure you are reinforcing the lessons being taught in class using their practice workbook sent home at the beginning of the year.  Please refer to the yellow chart for the current lesson taught.  A review sheet will come home the night before the test. 

Reminders:

12/9 ~ Nancy’s Italian Ice $1.00

12/10 ~ Library lesson with Mrs. Morris

12/12 ~ Signed Papers

12/14 ~ Spirit Day at Tish’s Cupcakes

12/20 ~ Box Top Collecction

12/23 – 1/3 ~ Winter Break {NO SCHOOL}

1/6 ~ Children return to school

Please email me with any questions or concerns.  Have a great week ~ Kristin :)

It’s Beginning to look a lot like Christmas….

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family, friends, food and fun!  December is here and we have three weeks to hang in there until we get another nice break!!!

  On Friday, we will return to Dream Field Farms  for a celebration of Christmas in the 17th century.  Students may wear a Blount spirit shirt/sweatshirt and jeans.  We will be outside so check the weather.  You may want to send extra warm clothing for your little one.  The check-out procedure will be the same.  If you plan to take your child with you from the farm I will have a sign-out sheet.  Children that check out will not need to come to school that day with their book bag, lunch or a snack!

Our Christmas party is scheduled for Thursday, December 19th from 1:45-2:15.  Please look for a note to come home this week explaining our party fun! 

We will be having a Polar Express movie and pajama party on Friday, December 13th.  Students may wear their pajamas to school.  We will have chocolate milk and a sweet treat!  If anyone is interested in sending in either item, please let me know!  :)

WE HAVE COMPLETED OUR FIRST UNIT IN OUR NEW READING PROGRAM.  WHEW!  THIS ENTIRE WEEK WILL BE SPENT REVIEWING WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED SO FAR.  STUDENTS WILL TAKE A BENCHMARK TEST ON PAPER, NO COMPUTER OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEK.  THERE WILL NOT BE A NEW STORY, NO NEW SPELLING WORDS, NO NEW WORD WALL WORDS, NO NEW DAILY FIX-IT SENTENCES, AND NO NEW LANGUAGE SKILLS.  THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO GO BACK AND REVIEW ALL OF THE ABOVE WITH YOUR CHILD.  RESEARCH TELLS US THAT THE BEST WAY FOR A CHILD TO ACHIEVE MASTERY IS TO EXPOSE THEM TO IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER.  :)

  MATH ~ We will begin Ch 6, Count and Model Numbers.  Please make sure you are using your workbook at home to reinforce all skills taught at school.  And remember, a review sheet will come home in your child’s take-home folder the night before the test.  :)

OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS/EVENTS

12/2 ~ Nancy’s Italian Ice 1.00

12/3 ~ Library Lesson with Mrs. Morris

12/5 ~ Teacher Treat Day

12/6 ~ Field trip to Dream Field Farms

12/13 ~ Polar Express Movie and Pajama Party

12/19 ~ Christmas Party 1:45-2:15

12/20 ~ Last day of school!  Woohoo!

Please contact me with any questions or concerns.  Have a great week!

1/6 ~ Students return from holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving Ya’ll!

Thanksgiving….already?  I hope you are getting ready to enjoy thankful times with friends and family.  We are trying out a new tradition in room 121, Sharing Soup.  Each student was given an ingredient to bring no later than TUESDAY, Nov. 19.  :)

The Book Fair will continue through Thursday, Nov. 21.  If you send $$ please make sure it is labeled and sealed in a baggie or envelope. 

REMEMBER THERE IS NO SCHOOL THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 25TH.  I WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING FRESH FACES ON DECEMBER 2ND.

Reading Unit 1 Week 6 ~ The phonics focus will be the short /u/ vowel sound like in “umbrella” and final consonant blends:  first and stick.  Please make sure you are listening to your child read the sentences and words in their take home folder each night.  I cannot stress to you how important this is put “miles on their tongues.” 

Genre ~ Literary Nonfiction                        Story ~ Animal Park

Comprehension ~ Character, plot, setting, main idea/supporting details, and cause/effect.

Amazing Words ~ desert, forest, world, chatter, silent, snort, medicine and poisonous. 

Word Wall Words ~ home, into, them, many

Spelling Words can be found in your child’s take home folder {Week 6}  A new list will come home when they return in December.

Language ~ We will continue reviewing nouns, verbs, adjectives, complete sentences, subjects/predicates of a sentence, declarative {statements} and interrogative {questions} sentences.  This week they will be introduced to an exclamatory sentence which has an exclamation point at the end:   I cannot wait until we get out for Thanksgiving!

Math ~ We will not take a formal math test for Ch. 5.  I have picked out the important skills {related facts and fact families} to focus on so I will take a major grade using those skills only. 

Have a great week! Please contact me with any questions or concerns. ~ Kristin

 

What are you thankful for?

I cannot believe November is already here! 

Scholastic Book Orders are due on tomorrow.  {Monday, November 4} 

Our field trip to the Pumpkin Patch is finally here!  Children need to wear jeans and tennis shoes and I will send an e-mail letting your know what color shirt they will need to wear.  If you plan to be a chaperone and want to take your child with you after the field trip, I will have a sign-up sheet for you.  :)

Thanks so much Wendy Cayer for putting together a class directory.  A new policy does not allow for party invitations to be handed out at school, even if the entire class is invited so please use this to mail out any birthday invitations!

IMPORTANT READING INFORMATION: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

I will be sending home usernames and passwords this week for you to access www.pearsonsuccess.net at home.  You will press login and enter your child’s username and password.  We have begun our weekly Friday testing on the computer.  The computer automatically gives them a score and targets the skills they missed by assigning them activities that can be done at home.  We do not have enough time nor do we have enough computers so please take advantage of this at home to help reinforce any skills being missed in class.

Everyone is taking the test on the computer.  However, we realize this is a learned and practiced skill, so anyone who scores below an A will be given an opportunity to take the same test on paper.  The higher score is taken and entered into INOW for their final major grade.  In signed papers, if your child made an A on the computer test you will receive a slip of paper with your child’s score written on it.  If your child had to take the test again on paper, you will receive the paper test with their grade at the top like normal.  I hope this makes sense.  Believe me, this is sooo very new for us too and we are trying our best to make this simple and fair without overwhelming you or your child while keeping you informed!!!

Reading ~ This weeks story is A Fox and A Kit.  It focuses on ending ~s and ~ing.  Please use the homework sheet in your child’s folder to review the story {10 sentences on the front} and the decodable words on the back for fluency. 

Genre ~ Literary Fiction

Comprehension ~ character, plot {beginning, middle, end}, setting, main idea and important details

Amazing Words ~ observe, parent, wild, canopy, screech, million, reserve, and native

Word Wall Words ~ eat, five, four, her, too

Spelling Words ~ sit, sits, win, wins, fit, fits, hit, hits, nap, naps, her, too

The spelling test this Friday will count as a major grade.

Language ~ We will continue reviewing nouns, verbs, adjectives, complete sentences, and identifying subjects and predicates in sentences.  This week the children will be introduced to declarative sentences.  A declarative sentence is a statement and ends with a period.   The daily fix-it sentences for this Friday will count as a major language grade.

Math ~ We will begin Ch. 5 this week.  Children will learn how addition and subtraction facts are related.  Please look in your child’s folder for math homework to help reinforce the taught skills at home.  :)

IMPORTANT DATES:

11/5 ~ Nancy’s Italian Ice $1.00

11/6 ~ PTA meeting at 6:00

11/7 ~ Field Trip/Signed Papers

11/11 ~ Veteran’s Day {No School}

11/13 ~ Spirit Night at Zaxby’s

11/14 ~ Progress Reports

11/25 – 11/29 ~ Thanksgiving Holidays {No School}

Please contact me with any questions or concerns! ~ Kristin