May 30th Newsletter

Blackberry Farm Field Trip

   On Monday, June 2, all first grade classrooms will be going on a field trip to Blackberry Farm in Aurora.  Please make sure your child has a jacket in case it rains or if it is chilly outside.  

       We will be leaving shortly after 9:00 and will return around 2:15.  Since we will be eating there, please pack a disposable sack lunch for that day.  Hot lunches will not be available.  Make sure you put your child’s name on the outside of the paper lunch bag.  

         The children will stay at school throughout the end of the day & will ride the bus home or be picked up as usual.

          If you are chaperoning this trip, please be at school by 8:50 and bring a small tote bag in order to carry your group’s lunches.  You may want to bring an umbrella if it is rainy that day since we will be walking around quite a bit.

         Students that read books throughout the school year will be receiving their ticket to Six Flags Great America in their report card envelope on the last day of school.  Keep reading during the summer!

June

2 – Blackberry Farm Field trip

9 – School Picnic – Lunch is provided

12 – Report cards/Last day of school

12:00 Dismissal

Fun Websites to Use This Summer

www.primarygames.com

www.puzzlemaker.com

www.coolmath4kids.com

www.teachkids.com

www.starfall.com

www.funbrain.com

ABC Countdown

6/2 – “R” – Read with a friend

6/3 - “S” – Sunglasses day

6/4 - “T” – Team spirit day

6/5 – “U” – Under your desk day

6/6 – “V” – Video day

Phonic Skills

     We will work on words with the /au/ sound in them.

Grammar Skills

     We will continue to work on question words – who, what, where, why, when, and which.

Spelling Words

Our spelling words for next week are:

Map, fix, jump, fault, pause, haunt, August, after, every, astronaut

***Please remember to pack a lunch for your child for Monday due to the field trip.

May 23rd Newsletter

Important Dates

May   23 – Patriotic Day – Wear red, white, & blue

        26 – No School – Memorial Day

   30  - Last Day to Return Library Books    

June   

2 – Blackberry Farm Field Trip

9 – School Picnic

12 – Last Day of School

                    

Last Day of School

     Our last day of school will be Thursday, June 12.  School will be dismissed at 12:00.  Report cards will be handed out on this day.  If your child is unable to attend on this day, you may pick up his/her report card the following week in the office.  They cannot be handed out early.

End of the Year Picnic

          Our end of the year picnic will be on Monday, June 9.  We will be going outside (weather permitting) for quite a while in the morning. 

     The PTO will be supplying lunch.  If your child does not like what is being served, just send a sack lunch to school that day. More information will be coming at a later date.

ABC Countdown

5/27 – “N” – Neatness Day

5/28 – “O” – Outside Day

5/29 – “P” – Partners/Puzzles

5/30 - “Q” – Quiet Day

 Summer Reading Suggestions

          It is important to continue to read with your child every day this summer.  It is also important for them to read to you.  This will not only better prepare them for 2^nd grade, but it will also increase their confidence and comprehension skills. 

            Here are some popular kids' book selections for you to enjoy!

Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant

Arthur by Marc Brown

Horrible Harry by Suzy Kline

Cam Jansen Mysteries by David A. Adler

Jigsaw Jones Mysteries by James Preller

Junie B. Jones by Barbara Parks

Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne

Phonics Skills

            We will work on words with the /ur/ sound in them.

Grammar Skills

            We will work on using question words (who, what, where, why & when).

Spelling Words

Our spelling words for next week are:

Not, sum, next, turn, nurse, turkey, purple, love, cover, hamburger

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day!

May 16th Newsletter

Important Dates           

May

     16 – Early Dismissal – 12:00

          23 – Patriotic Day – Wear red, white, & blue

      - Last Day to Check Out Library Books

          26 – No School – Memorial Day

          30 – Last day to turn in library books

June 

     2 – Blackberry Farm Field Trip

          9 – School Picnic

          12 – Last Day of School – 12:00 Dismissal

Library Books

     All library books are due back by Friday, May 30.  We will still go to the library for activities, but we will not be checking out any more books after that date.

     A librarian from a local library will be coming to our school on May 20 to talk about the library program that is offered at their library during the summer.  Most libraries offer a similar program to promote summer reading.  Small prizes and awards are given as the children reach their reading goals.  These programs are helpful in motivating the children to read over the summer.

        Barnes & Noble usually offers rewards for reading during the summer also.  Reading throughout the summer will help to maintain and improve your child's reading skills.

End of the Year Picnic

    The picnic is scheduled for Monday, June 9.  More information will be coming home at a later date.

ABC Countdown

5/19 – “I” – Imagination Day

5/20 – “J” – Jeans and Joke Day

5/21 – “K” – Kid’s Choice Movie

5/22 - “L” – Letter Day

5/23 - “M” – Music Day

Reading

     We will continue to work on guided reading along with some reader theater work.  This is where the students have a certain character’s part to read in a story.  This helps to build fluency and helps the children to learn to use more expression while they are reading.

Phonics Skills

            We will work on words with the /ir/ sound in them.

Grammar Skills

            We will work on using synonyms.

Spelling Words

Our spelling words for next week are:

yet, hid, kept, skirt, girl, shirt, first, of, eight, birthday

Blackberry Farm Field Trip

         Permission slips are being sent home this week.  If you have volunteered to be a chaperone, please add an extra $6 when you turn in your child’s money and permission slip.  Thanks.

May 9th Newsletter

Important Dates

May

          9 – Gym Night    6:30-8:00

     16 – Early Dismissal – 12:00

          23 – Patriotic Day – Wear red, white, & blue            26 – No School – Memorial Day

June 

     2 – Blackberry Farm Field Trip

          9 – School Picnic

          12 – Last Day of School – 12:00 Dismissal

                    

ABC Countdown

5/12 – “D” – Dance Day

5/13 – “E” – Exercise Day

5/14 – “F” – Freeze Pops Day

5/15 - “G” – Game Day

5/16 - “H” – Hat Day

Math

     In math, we have been working on recognizing 3-D shapes, such as cones, spheres, pyramids, cylinders, rectangular prisms, and cubes.  We have been doing computer programs to practice matching the shapes and their names.  We have also been playing games in centers that deal with shapes.

Spelling Words

Our spelling words for next week are:

mud, jam, sent, herd, summer, river, number, always, also, woodpecker

Headphones

     You do not need to purchase new headphones for next year.  Your child's headphones will be passed along to the second grade teachers.  They will be sorted & placed in the correct classroom in late August once class lists are done.

      

     Our chicks are due to hatch on Tuesday.  Our technology department is setting up a camera on Mrs. Hull’s and Miss Tracy’s incubators.  I will send you the link as soon as I receive it so you can watch them at home.

Teacher Appreciation Week

     Thank you for all the food and beverages that were sent in this week – it was wonderful!   It was so nice not to have to pack a lunch. 

     Thank you also for the treats during the week – flowers, cards, candy, etc.  They really made me feel special!

Phonics Skills

          We will work on base words and –er and –est endings.

Grammar Skills

          We will work on using quotation marks.

 Have a Happy Mother’s Day!

May 2nd Newsletter

Important Dates

May

          9 – Gym Night    6:30-8:00

     16 – Early Dismissal – 12:00

          23 – Patriotic Day – Wear red, white, & blue            26 – No School – Memorial Day

June    2 – Blackberry Farm Field Trip

          9 – School Picnic

          12 – Last Day of School – 12:00 Dismissal

                    

   Chick Update

     We candled some of our eggs this week to see whether or not an embryo was growing.  We used an overhead projector and a very dark room.  We were able to see the air cell, veins, and an embryo moving around.  Ask your child to tell you about it.

          Mrs. Fish brought three of her hens to our school on Tuesday and gave a presentation on chickens.  She answered many of the questions the children had wondered about during the last couple of weeks.  She did a great job and was very patient with the students!  The children had a chance to pet a chicken and touch its comb and legs if they wanted to do so.  

   ABC Countdown

5/7 – “A” – Be an “Artist” today

5/8 - “B” – Buddy Read

5/9 - “C” – Compliment Day

Reading

Phonics Skills

We will be working on the sound of /nk/ and also r-controlled vowels, such as -or, -er, -ar, -ur, & -ir.

Grammar Skills

We will be working on dictionary skills.

Spelling Words

Our spelling words for next week are:

Fin, sob, left, sink, pink, drink, thank, once, upon, thinking

    Thank you for attending last week’s open house.  It was good seeing everyone.  This year has gone by quickly - I guess that’s what happens when you have a nice class!

          Thank you also for the donations to our classroom.  We were able to get several new books.

  

Blackberry Farm Field Trip  

   Our field trip to Blackberry Farm will be on Monday, June 2.  If you are interested in chaperoning, please send me a note or an email.  I already have 5 volunteers, but there is room for more if you would like to go.  The cost is $6 for children and also $6 for chaperones. A permission slip will go home on May 16.  You may send your money in at that time. Thanks.