December 19th Newsletter

Reading
We will be reading the following stories: Moving Day and Hermit Crabs.

Comprehension Strategies
We will be working on comparing and contrasting.

Vocabulary Words
Our words will be: grow, light, long, more, other, right, small, room, these, and size words.

Phonics Skills
The children will be working on digraphs:
sh, th, ch, wh, tch

Grammar Lesson
We will review the use of exclamations.

Spelling Words
The spelling words are:
she, fish, much, chin, shell, chop, shoe, chair, their, & where.

December Reading Logs
Your child can return his/her December reading log on January 5th when we return from the holiday break. I am sending home January’s log on December 19th (today) so you can begin recording the books they read in January starting Jan. 1st.

Our student of the week this week was Jorie Selig. She did a nice job of sorting papers & helping others in the class.

Reading Books
We completed our second reading book on Thursday. I sent it home yesterday with your child. Please listen to your child read the stories and help him/her with any unknown words. Practicing reading is very important at this age. Please return the book on January 5th. Thanks.

Cookie Exchange
Thank you to everyone who took the time to bake cookies and send in food for the cookie exchange. It was all very delicious. My children were thrilled with the cookies (and so was I)!

Important Dates
December
20 – Winter Break Begins
January
5 – Classes Resume

Happy Holidays!

December 4th Newsletter

Reading
Next week we will be reading four stories. The Secret Code is about a blind boy who uses Braille to read. Zack and His Friends tells the story of four children who put on a play together. In the story Two Best Friends two girls learn how hard it is when one of them has to move away. Our final story is non fiction and explains How Mail Gets To You.

Comprehension Strategies
The children will practice the skills of evaluating, comparing / contrasting and retelling / summarizing.

Vocabulary Words
Next week we will be using sensory words (words that use the five senses), and words and symbols on signs. Also, the words: best, knelt, rest, sign, and snack.

Phonics Skills
We will be working on clusters with “s” (sled, stick, etc., reviewing clusters with “l” (black, glad, etc.), short “e” words and silent letters: kn, wr, gn.

Grammar Lesson
We will be learning about telling sentences.

Spelling Words
Spelling words: get, men, ten, yes, red, pet,
tent, bell, friend, know.

Our author for the month of December is Chris VanAllsburg. He is the author of The Polar Express, Jumanji, & many other stories.




Character Counts
The character counts pillar for the month of December is Caring. Have your child show their spirit by wearing red every Friday in December. We will doing “caring” activities at school throughout the month.

We will be going outside for recess on days when the temperature is above 20 degrees. Please make sure your child has boots, snow pants, mittens, a hat, and a scarf. A doctor's note is needed if your child is not to go outside for recess.

Our student of the week this week was Nicholas Callaghan. He did a nice job of leading our calendar activities.

Important Dates
December

4 – Parent/Teacher Conferences
5 – No School
12 – Pajama Day
19 – Classroom Holiday Parties
20 – Winter Break Begins

January
5 – Classes Resume

Enjoy the long weekend!

November 21st Newsletter

Due to Thanksgiving break, we will begin the reading lesson on Monday, December 1st.

Reading
Our stories will be An Egg is an Egg, Fluff is Missing, Go Away Otto! and Helping at Home.

Comprehension Strategies
We will be working on the comprehension strategies of summarizing, drawing conclusions, responding, and reading for information.

Vocabulary Words
The vocabulary words will be: children, come, family, father, loves, mother, people, picture, your, black, block, Fluff, and plan.

Phonics Skills
We will be working on words with clusters with “l” (block, plan, etc.), blending short “o” words, clusters with “r” (train, crow, etc.) and contractions with ‘s.

Grammar Lesson
We will work on recognizing the difference between a sentence and a non sentence.

Spelling Words
on, not, got, box, hot, top, pond, doll, they, why
Conference Notes

Our student of the week this week was Manas Gajjela. He did a nice job of leading our calendar activities.

Math
We have been working on adding and subtracting using the number lines on their desks. They all seem to be getting the concept, but occasionally get confused about which direction to move. We also worked with doubles, and doubles plus 1. For example, if you know that 3+3=6, then 3+4=7. The more practice they get with the facts, the faster they will become and the less dependent they will be on bean counters, fingers or number lines.

Important Dates
November
25 Farmer Day – wear farm clothes to school
26, 27, & 28 – Thanksgiving Break – No School

December
2 – Report Cards Go Home
4 – Parent/Teacher Conferences
5 – No School
20 – Winter Break Begins

Thanksgiving Break

Since next week is a short week due to the Thanksgiving Break, there won't be a newsletter. I hope you all have a relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving with your families.

November 14th Newsletter

Important Dates
November
14 – Movie Night – 6:30 – at Prairieview
17 – Book Orders Are Due
21 – End of the 1st trimester
26, 27, & 28 – Thanksgiving Break – No School
December
2 – Report Cards Go Home
4 – Parent/Teacher Conferences
5 – No School



Math
In math, we have been working on using different strategies (such as counting on, using a number line,adding doubles, & doubles plus 1) ) to figure out the answers to math problems.
Last week during library time, the students were shown a video explaining the Math-a-thon program. This program is a fund raiser for St. Jude's Hospital in Chicago. If you would like your child to participate in it, return the form (filled out) to school. The librarian will send home either a booklet or a CD depending on which one you requested. Thank you for supporting local charities.

Our student of the week this week was Grace Malatia. She did a nice job of taking care of the fish and frogs.

Character Counts
Our pillar for the month of November is “Respect.” Please have your child wear yellow on each Friday in November.

On Friday, I am sending home a sheet with your conference time on it. Please sign and return the bottom of the sheet to me as soon as possible. Thanks.
Reading
Next week we will read four stories. Hilda Hen’s Scary Night is about a brave hen that crosses the farmyard at night. In The Trip, we will read about a mouse family that visits the art museum. At the Aquarium is a nonfiction selection with beautiful photographs of fish and other marine animals. Our final story, Why Sun and Moon Live in the Sky is based on an African tale.


Comprehension Strategies

• categorizing, classifying, questioning and rereading.

Vocabulary Words

The vocabulary words are: blue, color, green, also, funny, many, like, some, and brown.

Phonics Skills

• contractions, short “i” words, verbs ending with –s, -ed, -ing, and possessives with 's.

Grammar Lesson

• action parts of a sentence and on capitalizing the first word in a sentence.
  

Spelling Words
Our spelling words for next week are: trip, grab, crab, trap, drip, grin, crack, brown, when, & this.

November 7th Newsletter

Reading
We will be reading four stories. Pearl's First Prize Plant is about a little girl who plants a seed and watches it grow. Our other stories, Ham and Eggs, Miss Jill's Ice Cream Shop, and Making Ice Cream are about things we like to eat.

Comprehension Strategies
We will focus on making predictions and inferences and how to read a social studies article.

Vocabulary Words
Our vocabulary words for the week are:
all, call, eat, every, first, never, paper, shall, and why.

Phonics Skills
We will review blending short “a” and short “i” words, double consonants, plurals, final consonants ck, s as (z), and verb endings -s, -ed, & -ing.

Grammar Lesson
We will learn about possessives with 's and parts of sentences.

Spelling Words
in, it, him, big, sit, did, dish, milk, who, said

Reading Anthologies
Please return your child's reading textbook if you haven't done so already. Thanks.

Book-It
If you haven't turned in your October reading calendar yet, please do so by Monday. Thanks.

Math
In math, we completed chapter 4 and took a unit review test covering chapters 1-4. We will starting chapter 5 which covers addition facts (sums) to 12 and different strategies that can be used to find the answers to these addition problems.

Halloween Party

Thank you to all of the parents that helped out with the Halloween party and also to the parents that brought in paper products, food, treats, etc. The party ran very smoothly. The children had a good time.

Field Trip
On Wednesday, all first grade classes went to Hinsdale to see Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. The play was very good & the children were well-behaved. Everyone had a great time!

Important Dates

November

11 – Veteran's Day – No School
14 – Movie Night – 6:30 – at Prairieview
21 – End of the 1st trimester
26, 27, & 28 – Thanksgiving Break – No School

Have a Great Weekend!

October 31st Newsletter

Important Dates
November
4 – Teacher's Institute – No School
5 – Field Trip
6 – Picture Retakes
7- Return Reading Books
11 – Veteran's Day – No School

Student of the Week
Emma Lafin was our student of the week this week. She did a nice job of feeding our classroom pets.

Field Trip
Next Wednesday, November 5th, we will be going to Hinsdale to see Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. Please pack a sack lunch for your child that day since we're not sure whether we'll be back by 12:00 for a hot lunch. Thanks.

Picture Retakes
Picture retakes will be on Thursday, November 6. If your child is having retakes done, please return his/her original package of pictures. Thanks.

Spelling Tests
Under the reading column is a new addition. We now have spelling words. There will be a spelling test every Friday from now on (unless otherwise notified in the weekly classroom newsletter). The words will appear in this newsletter each week so be watching for them. You can also check my blog.

Reading
Next week we will be reading two stories. One story is about animals that live in a cold part of the world. The other story is about what happens to animals and plants during the four seasons. While we are reading, we will practice identifying the main topic and supporting details.

Comprehension Strategies
We will concentrate on topic, main idea, details, summarizing, and evaluating.

Vocabulary Words
Our words for next week are: look, of, see, animal, bird, cold, fall, flower & full.

Phonics Skills
We will cover the vowel sound of short “u” and double final consonants (i.e. glass, fall, etc.).

Grammar Lesson
We will talk about making proper sentences.

Spelling Words
Our spelling words for our very first official spelling test are: an, at, can, cat, had, man, catch, add, have, and what.

Reading Anthologies
We have completed our first anthology (reader) and I am sending it home with your child. Please have your child read the stories in it to you or to a brother or sister.

PLEASE RETURN THE BOOK TO SCHOOL NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER7th.

***Please send in the October reading logs. Everyone who completed their log will get a Pizza Hut coupon. New logs came home today.

Have a safe & Happy Halloween!

October 24th Newsletter

Important Dates

October

31- Classroom Halloween Parties/Parade 1:30 – Parade, 2:00 – Party

November

4 – Teacher's Institute – No School

5 – Field Trip – Charlie & the Chocolate Factory

6 – Picture Retakes

11 – Veteran's Day – No School

Student of the Week

Saahil Sorakayala was our student of the week this week. He did a nice job of writing the date on the board.

Exploration Stations
We began our weather unit on Thursday. In the weeks ahead, the children will be learning about tornadoes and hurricanes with Mrs. Cornfield, seasons with me, the water cycle with Mrs. Hull, weather terms with Miss Tracy, lightning with Mrs. Sis and clouds with Mrs. Amish. They will bring home the materials from this unit on November 7th when we complete the unit.

Movie Night
Friday, November 14th is movie night for the Ide children. The movie will be shown at Praireview beginning at 6:45. Your child will bring home a flyer with all the details.

Reading

Next week we will be reading stories about bugs. In Quit It, Bug!, two children try to have a picnic on a log and a bug wants to go to his home in that log. In A Surprise for Zig Bug, some bugs think they are swimming in a pool, but it is really a jug. We also have a Science Link story called Insects.

Comprehension

• summarizing and story structure.
  

Vocabulary
The vocabulary words are:
are, away, does, he, live, pull, they, where, quit, up, zig, zag, bug, & jug

Phonics

• the vowel sound of short “u”


• blending words with the CV and CVC pattern


• review the short “e” sound also

Grammar

We will focus on using action words.

Big Words

Our big words for this week are: challenge, grateful, deserve, deceive, amble, and plead.

Math
I sent home the math tests we have taken so far this year. Please look over these tests and help your child with any of the answers they may have missed. Please sign & return the green sheet so I know that you received them. Thanks.

Have a great weekend!

October 17th Newsletter

Important Dates

October 20 – Book Orders are Due
22 – Early Dismissal – 12:00
24 – Progress Reports Go Home
24 – Jr. Achievement Begins
24 – Halloween Party at Ide 6:00-8:00 pm
31- Classroom Halloween Parties/Parade 1:30 – Parade, 2:00 – Party

Student of the Week
Michelle VanGeertry was our student of the week this week. She did a nice job of leading the calendar.

Field Trip
All first grade classes will be going to Hinsdale South High School to see the play Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on November 5th. A permission slip is being sent home today. Please complete it & send it back in an envelope along with $3 to cover the cost. Thanks.

Halloween Party & Parade
Please come and watch our parade. It will be outside (weather permitting) in the back of the school. We will begin at 1:30 and will parade outside beginning in front of the school and will circle around to the back of the school. We will then return to our classrooms for our party.
The students should bring their costumes to school. We will help them get dressed prior to the parade. Since the students will have a treat and a drink at the party, no additional candy treats are necessary.

Reading

Next week we will be reading stories about problems characters have and how they solve them. In Val Can Help, Rob and Val help each other make a snowman. In The Bunnies and the Fox, two small bunnies fool the fox by making a big snow bunny that scares him away. We will also read a science article about animals that live in the woods.

Vocabulary
Our vocabulary words for next week are:

do, for, I is, me, said, you, get, help, kid, next, yes, yet.

Comprehension Strategies

• fantasy and realism
• noting details.

Phonics Skills

• short ”e” sound and blending short “e” words with cvc or vc patterns.
  
  

Grammar Lessons

• using naming words (nouns).
  

Author of the Month
Our “author of the month” for October is Lois Ehlert. She has written many books, which we have been reading daily.

Math
We will begin chapter 4 in our math books next week. In this chapter, children will create addition and subtraction problems, explore how addition and subtraction are related, identify and write related facts, write number sentences to represent addition and subtraction situations, and learn how to choose whether to add or subtract.

Have a great weekend!

October 10th Newsletter

Important Dates
October
13 – Columbus Day – No School
17- Kids on the Block Assembly
22 – Early Dismissal – 12:00
24 – Jr. Achievement begins
24 – Halloween Party at Ide 6:00-8:00 pm
31- Classroom Halloween Parties

Michael Arquilla was our student of the week this week.

Fire Safety Assembly
Lieutenant Tabisz came to our school today and talked about fire safety. We learned about choosing a special meeting place in case of a fire, how to “stop, drop, and roll,” and that we should never go back inside to get something we forgot. He also showed us the special gear that firemen wear and we talked about how it sounds when firemen speak with their oxygen tanks on.

Field Trip
Our class will be going to Hinsdale South High School to see the play Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on November 5th. Watch for permission slips next week. The cost is $3.00 per child.

Reading
Next week we will be reading two stories. One is a funny story about a group of cats who cook a big feast for themselves. The other is about a boy and his surprise birthday party.

Comprehension Strategies
Next week we will be practicing questioning and noting details within a story.

Phonics
Lessons will be introduced on the short “o” vowel sound. We will also be blending the short “o” sound into words that have the cvc and cv patterns.

Vocabulary
We will be working with words that have the short “o” sound such as box, got, hot, lot. We will also review short “a” and short “i” words.

Grammar
Capitalizing names and word order in sentences.

Big Words
This week's “big” words were: invisible, scold, dreadful, complain, scrunched, & exaggerate

Computers
During the month of September we worked on starfall.com in the computer lab. We also practiced making a picture web for short “a” words using the program called Kidspiration. This month we are going to practice math facts using the program called Mathblaster.