Fall Festival is Finally Here!

The Fall Festival is finally here!  I hope to see all my friends and their family Thursday for some food, fun, and fellowship!  It begins at 4:30 and ends at 7:30.  There will be games, candy, music and good food.  If you did not buy an early bird wristband they will be available for purchase at the gate.  The PTA has worked very hard to make this happen so let’s show our support and don’t forget to wear your t-shirt! 

In Reading, we will be discussing the letter “t” as in “turkey” but will focus on spiders as it is getting close to Halloween.  We decided to save “turkey” for when it gets closer to Thanksgiving!  Make sure to practice those word wall words and read your homework stories each night!  A word wall word assessment will be given on Friday for a reading daily grade. 

In Language, we will be discussing Rule 4 {The names of specific places begin with capital letters.}  Remember to go over their DOL sentences each night and talk about the new rule.  As you are out and about this week, have your children notice the names of places and restaurants that begin with a capital letter.

In Math, we will test on Ch. 3 and move right into Ch. 4 on Tuesday.  Chapter 4 will focus on Subtraction Strategies.  You may have noticed a set of doubles flashcards in your child’s take home folder.  I challenged the students to memorize them and recall them to me for a small prize.  :)

Nancy’s Italian Ice is Monday for $1.00.  Library Day will be Tuesday so remind your child to pack his or her library book so they can return it for a new one.  If you have not already turned in your money and permission slip for our first fieldtrip to the Pumpkin Patch, please do so.  And remember to let me know if you plan to attend as a chaperone.  I will probably assign groups so that I can walk around and capture all the fun times and memories being made!  :)

Oct 18 ~ Fall Festival 4:30-7:30 and signed papers

Oct 19 ~ End of the first nine weeks

Oct 25 ~ Report Cards

Nov 5 ~ PTA Meeting 6:00

Have a happy week and please contact me with any questions or concerns!

We read, we shared, we learned…

We read Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes.  We shared how we got our names.  We learned that before we speak to think and be smart because it’s hard to fix a wrinkled heart!

First Nine Weeks is coming to an end…..already!

A BIG THANKS to Mrs. Tamela and Mrs. Shellye for dedicating a Thursday afternoon to take the kids to lunch so I could enjoy Teacher Treat Day that PTA {Mrs. Andi is in charge of this and does a fabulous job} so generously puts together!

Was your weekend as busy as mine?  I must confess that I love nothing more than to get up early on Saturday and hit the neighborhood yard sales for books, games for fun friday centers, and other “non sense items” that become my “treasures”  haha!  I even saw a few Blount kids with surprised looks and small whispers of “Mom, she teaches at Blount.” 

We will visit Mrs.  Morris on Tuesday for a fun library lesson.  Please make sure your child is bringing their library book with them every day, especially on Tuesday so they can check out a new book!  We are really taking off with AR so please continue reading with your child!  They love taking tests and I have wonderful volunteers daily that assist with this!

This week in Reading we will learn about “n” as in “nest.”  We will also have some fun activities to go along with Columbus Day! 

Be sure to go back and review all the Word Wall Words from the first week of school.  I will take a reading daily grade on word wall words this Friday, October 12.

In Language, we will continue reviewing Rule 3 {The names of people and pets begin with a capital letter.}  A language daily grade is taken every Friday on their sentences that come home in their binder.  Make sure you are talking about the rule and reviewing each sentence! 

In Math, we are finishing up Ch. 3.  I have skipped some sections that I felt were not teachable the way the book presented them so you may have noticed in your child’s Math Practice HW page that I had them write “skip” on the sections we skipped.  They will not be assessed on these so no worries!  We are excited about learning our DOUBLES and I have even challenged the students with flashcards that will come home Monday to work on memorizing them for a small prize!  :)

Fall Pictures are scheduled for Thursday, October 11 and the children will be allowed to dress out of uniform {but must remember to abide by the Dress Code ~ no spaghetti strap shirts or dresses and no flip flops, sandals or crocs please!}

Upcoming Events and Reminders:

10-8 ~ Nancy’s Italian Ice for $1.00

10-11 ~ Fall Pictures, Early bird wristband sale ends for Fall Festival, and Spirit Night at Flip’s

10-12 ~ Word Wall Assessment

10-18 ~ Blount Fall Festival {4:30-7:30}  Volunteers are needed!  Please fill out the form that was sent home in your child’s take home folder and return it to their teacher or the office!

Here is one thing your first grader is up to in Room 121!  Good writers draw appropriately with detail and use real-life colors.  They sometimes label what they draw! 

Have a Happy Week and please contact me with any questions or concerns you might have!

Kristin :)

P.S. Working on the slide show to present our Chrysanthemum project!  Pictures to come soon!!!

October and Fall…..Love it!

In Reading, we will spend the week talking about our NAMES!  We will read Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes and as an extension, the children will learn and share how they got their names. 

In Language, we will learn rule #3:  The names of people and pets begin with capital letters.  A daily grade will be taken on Thursday and Friday.

In Math, we will learn about Doubles. {1+1=2, 2+2=4, 3+3=6}  These are great addition facts to practice at home and memorize!  The Math test will NOT be this week.

Don’t forget that juice and snack and Nancy’s Italian Ice may be purchased every Monday.  Information was sent home last week about Blount’s Fall Festival!  It is scheduled for Thursday, Oct 18 from 4:30-7:30.  It is a fun way to celebrate the Fall season with friends and family!

Upcoming Dates:

Tuesday {Oct 2} ~ Library Lesson with Mrs. Morris

Thursday {Oct 4} ~ Teacher Treat Day and Signed Papers

Friday {Oct 5} ~ Deadline for Fall Festival T-Shirt Order

Thursday {Oct 11} ~ Fall Pictures {information coming later} and last day to purchase early bird wristbands for Fall Festival

Thursday {Oct 18} ~ Fall Festival 4:30-7:30 and Signed Papers

Thursday {Oct 25} ~ Report Cards {end of the 1st nine weeks}

Have a great week!  Contact me with any questions or concerns you may have :)

 

Meet Mrs. Thomas’ First Grade Friends….Finally!!!

BE SMART ~ JUST GIVE!

Thanks PTA for the AWESOME Pep Rally Friday afternoon to get our kids excited about the campaign. Parents, be on the lookout Monday afternoon for a letter from PTA explaining in detail the Just Give Campaign. If PTA meets their goal, they promise to not have any fundraisers for the entire year ~ woohoo! Thank you for supporting our school! :)

Don't forget that Nancy's Italian Ice will be back on Monday for only $1.00.

We will be rotating tomorrow to Mr. Darby for Art for the next three weeks.

We have a special Author/Illustrator that will be visiting our school on Tuesday from 1:00-1:45. Her name is Michelle Nelson-Schmidt. She sent us a video with a sneak peek of the "what-if monster" she will be bringing to share with the children. We are very excited!!!

Make sure your child is bringing their library books to school everyday!

Thanks to everyone who was able to attend our First Grade Parent Meeting on last Wednesday. I know there was a lot of information covered so please do not ever hesitate to ask questions!

Upcoming Events at Blount:

Tuesday, Sept. 11 @ 6pm ~ PTA General Membership Meeting {Carrabas will be catering dinner for only $6 per person}

Thursday, Sept. 20 ~ Signed Papers/Progress Reports

Friday, Sept. 28 ~ Box Tops are due

Thursday, Oct. 4 ~ Teacher Treat Day/Signed Papers

Thursday, Oct. 11 ~ Fall Picture Day

Thursday, Oct. 18 ~ Fall Festival from 4:30-7:30/Signed Papers

Thursday, Oct. 25 ~ Report Cards

Have a great week ~ Kristin

Week 1 Of First Grade!

We had a wonderful first week of school! I am very proud of how well the students have adjusted to our rules and procedures. They have done an excellent job listening and following directions. I have already learned so much about them...that is one of the best parts!!!

Please make sure to carefully read over the letter that was sent home with your child on Thursday about our First Grade Parent Meeting. Our First Grade Team feels this is the best way to explain to you what your child participates in each day. We will also cover in detail the curriculum we follow to teach your children. This is an informal meeting that I hope will answer questions you may have.

I have had the best time reading the student surveys you were given on the first day of school. I love having a connection with your child in a way that allows me to communcate and integrate their "likes" into our day! :)

We began our Nancy's Italian Ice fundraiser on Monday and it will continue each Monday for the remaining of the year. Thanks to everyone for sending in their 1.00 labeled in a baggie or envelope. This allows me to focus on instruction. I do ask that you continue to only pay for one week at a time. The Italian Ice is delivered during our snack time so you may not want to send a snack on Mondays if your child purchases an Italian Ice. :)

PTA Membership Drive will end on October 5th! If you have not already joined, please consider doing so. Membership dues are $5.00 per child. We would love for grandparents and family friends to support our children and join as well!

A Few Reminders:

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  An excuse for any absence must be sent in within two days of returning back to school.


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  Any change in transportation must be in writing. {I cannot take the word of your child.}

Upcoming Happenings:

8/31 ~ First Box Top Collection Day

9/3 ~ School Holiday {Labor Day}

9/11 ~ PTA General Membership Meeting at 6:00 {Lunchroom} and Room Parent Meeting at 9:30am and 1:30pm.

9/28 ~ Second Box Top Collection Day

10/4 ~ Teacher Treat Day hosted by 4th and 5th grade and Team Spirit Day {students may wear a shirt honoring their favorite team}

10/11 ~ Fall Picture Day

10/18 ~ Blount Fall Festival {4:40-7:30}

Happy Labor Day Weekend and please check the blog again soon for some pictures from the first week of school!