February 27th Newsletter

 Important Dates

February

28 – No School – Teacher’s Institute

March

            11 – Report Cards Go Home

          17 – No School - Due to Conferences

          18 – No School – Teacher’s Institute

27 - First Grade Music Concert – 7:00

28 – Papermaking Assembly

          29 – Spring Break Begins

April 7 – Classes resume

         

Author of the Month

     Patricia Polacco is our author for the month of March.  Many of her books are about events that happened to her and her family when she was growing up.  These books discuss problems & feelings that many children have but may be afraid to talk about, such as being bullied, not being able to read, and sibling rivalry.  The children enjoy listening to these books and discussing them as we go along.

Our next field trip, which is to Blackberry Farm in Aurora, is tentatively set for the beginning of June.  I will send home more information on that once our plans are finalized and the date gets closer.

Reading

            The story from our Making Meaning curriculum for next week is Throw Your Tooth on the Roof by Selby B. Beeler.

Comprehension Strategies

          We will be working on wondering, visualizing, and identifying what they learn from nonfiction text.

Vocabulary Words

The vocabulary words for next week are:

Mushy, form, and chew

Phonics Skills

We will be working on vowel pairs ow and ou.

Grammar Lesson

We will be learning about final blends.

Spelling Words

The spelling words for next week are:

Box, job, bulb, own, grow, elbow, yellow, other, were, snowman

     Angelise will be our “student of the week” for the week of March 3rd.

February 21st Newsletter

           

           

 Important Dates

February

          22 – Snowflake Ball   6:30-8:00

          27 – Fuzzy Friend Day

          28 – No School – Teacher’s Institute

         

  We won’t have a “student of the week” next week since there is no school on Friday.

 

Summer Birthdays

    If your child has a summer birthday and would like to celebrate it during the school year, just drop me a note or an e-mail.  You do not have to send treats.  We usually let that person be the line leader for the day and also give him/her a sticker & a pencil.  It just makes them feel special for the day:)

         

A New Addition to our Class

   Our room (and many others) received a new iPad to be used in the classroom. We just received it on Wednesday and I am working on downloading some APPS that can be used within the classroom. I am very excited about this and can’t wait to start using it.  Thank you to our PTO for purchasing this for us and also to all parents for supporting our PTO events.

Reading

            The story from our Making Meaning curriculum for next week is A Harbor Seal Pup Grows Up by Joan Hewett.

Comprehension Strategies

     We will be working on wondering, exploring text, and identifying what they learn from nonfiction.

Phonics Skills

      In phonics we will be working on the long /i/ sound spelled with a “y”.

Grammar Skills

We will work on describing words.

   

Spelling Words

The spelling words for next week are: win, sit, stop, fry, dry, crying, sky, more, before, myself

Science/Social Studies

  We are studying about recycling, landfills, natural resources and Earth Day for this month’s Exploration Station.  We will be having a paper-making/recycling assembly as a part of this unit.  That will take place on Friday, March 28.  Thank you to PTO for sponsoring this event.

February 14th Newsletter

                    

                    

 Important Dates

February

          17 – President's Day – No School

          20 – Spring Pictures

          22 – Snowflake Ball   6:30-8:00

          27 – Fuzzy Friend Day

          28 – No School - Teacher's Institute

         

           

Black History Month

          Since February is black history month, we have been reading some books to go along with this theme. 

          The class really enjoyed the book called Almost to Freedom.  It's a story about slaves escaping to the North as told from a doll's point of view.  Ask your child to tell you about it.

Math

       We have been taking timed addition tests approximately 3 times a week. We have been practicing every day during math centers.  I have noticed quite a bit of improvement this past week.  Please have your child practice these basic facts at home also.  Thanks. 

Nora will be our student of the week next week.

Reading

            The story from our Making Meaning curriculum for next week is A Kangaroo Joey Grows Up by Joan Hewett.

Comprehension Strategies

          The children will work on the following strategies: wondering and identifying what they learn from nonfiction

Vocabulary Words

      The vocabulary words for next week are: pouch, kidney bean, curious, springs, grazing, and lickety-split

Phonics Skills

          Next week the children will be working on the long /i/ sound using -ie and -igh.  They will also be reviewing the oo sound and compound words.

Grammar Lesson

We will be working on adjectives.

Spelling Words

The spelling words for next week are: lip, his, went, night, high, might, light, any, many, frightening

Our classroom has collected 59 cans of food so far for the food pantry. Our goal is to reach 100 cans/items in our classroom. Keep those cans (and boxes) coming!

Enjoy the long weekend!

February 7th Newsletter

 Important Dates

February

          13 – 100^th Day of School

     14 – Valentine's Day Party - 2:00

          17 – President's Day – No School

          21 – Spring Picture Day

          22 – Snowflake Ball   6:30-8:00

          28 – No School – Teacher’s Institute

         

    Computers

   This week, we worked on making a word search using the names of family members. The children typed in names during computer time and printed it out. Your child may use this program (with your permission) at home also.  The website is:   

                www.puzzlemaker.com

Have your child show you how to do it.  They were very excited about this program.

Author of the Month

          Tomie dePaola is our author for the month of February.  We have been reading his books every day for the past week. The children really enjoy his books about Strega Nona and Big Anthony.  We also had a good laugh after reading his book entitled, Tom.  Many of his books are about his life when he was growing up. Ask your child to tell you about it.

Reading

          The story from our Making Meaning curriculum for next week is Dinosaur Babies by Lucille Recht Penner.

Comprehension Strategies

          Next week we will work on making text-to-self connections, using schema to understand nonfiction, and identifying what they learn from nonfiction.

Vocabulary Words

          The vocabulary words for next week are: herds, enemies, guarded, and cracked

Phonics Skills

          We will be working on the long e sound spelled /ea/.

Grammar Lesson

We will be working on nouns.

Spelling Words

       Our spelling words will be:

Met, web, spin, tea, heat, leaf, each, who, which, seashell

   

Nora will be our student of the week next week.