12-15-19

This is my final blog post of 2019! I know you're busy so I'm keeping this one extra short and sweet.  Have a blessed holiday and a relaxing break!  

Week at a Glance

Monday: A Day (Gym, Library)
Tuesday: B Day (Gym, ice skating day!)
Wednesday: C Day (Music)
Thursday: D Day (Music)
Friday: E Day (Art, holiday party)

Details

• Please return ALL library books on Monday!
• We will be skating on Tuesday from 12:00-12:30.  Parents are welcome to meet us there or walk with us from school.  We will depart at 11:45.
• NO Late Start this week.
• This is a Reader's Theater week. Your child may be working with another teacher on this and may have lines to practice.  Please check in with your Firstie to see what they need to do to prepare.
• NO Tinker time this week.
• Our class party is at 11:00 am on Friday, December 20.
• Silly sounds: we have begun our light and sound unit in Science.  If your Firstie discovers an item making a sound (especially one that sounds like something else- ask them about the rainstorm!) they're welcome to bring it in to show the class.

Thank You

During this season of continued thanksgiving and reflection, I am mindful of what a privilege it is to teach in this great community we have and to be a part of the Lincoln School family.  Thank you for your support of me and for entrusting me with your precious Firsties.  

12-9-19

Week at a Glance

Monday: Gym, SEL
Tuesday: Music
Wednesday: Late Start, Music
Thursday: Art
Friday: Gym, Art

Pancake Breakfast

This Saturday is the annual pancake breakfast from 8:00-12:00. Hope to see you there!

Skating Day

It's almost time for this Lincoln tradition.  Our class will be walking to the ice rink on Tuesday, December 17.  We will leave Lincoln at 11:45, skating from 12:00-12:30, and heading back at 12:45.  Rental fees and hot chocolate are covered.  There will be no concession stand, so no need for children to bring money.

Holiday Party

Our class party will be Friday, December 20 at 11:00am.  If you'd like to volunteer please contact Dawn Riethmeier at stylistdawn01@yahoo.com

SEL

We are talking about being aware of hidden rules and expected behaviors.  We talked about the importance rules-that they keep us safe and help us learn.

Academic Updates

We are finishing our study of three letter blends and will begin a very important unit on Sneaky E.  Sneaky E sneaks up at the end of words and changes short vowel sounds to long vowel sounds.  He may sneak his way into your house! Our focus in reading during the next two weeks is fluency as we spend time on poetry and begin our upcoming work on Reader's Theater. We will explore measurement using non-standard units and various measurement tools.

Work at Home Suggestions

Read read read! Firsties still love being read to. Check out this list of popular chapter books for this age group:
-the Henry and Mudge series
-Mr. Putter and Tabby series
-Poppleton
-Amelia Bedelia
-the Mercy Watson series

The great thing about these books is that the kids are close to being able to read them on their own, especially once they've heard them read aloud.

Flash cards can be boring on their own.  Try taping them up around the house or playing memory with them.

Have your Firstie help you measure using a tape measure or yard stick.

12-1-19

Week at a Glance

Monday: C Day (Music)
Tuesday: D Day (Music)
Wednesday: E Day (Late Start, Junior Achievement, Art)
Thursday: F Day (Junior Achievement, Gym, Art)
Friday: A Day (Gym, Library)

Volunteering this Week

Math rotations: Monday 9:30-10:00, Tuesday 9:00-9:30
Tinker time: Friday 3:00-3:30

Academic Updates

Students will be exploring the concept of fact vs. opinion and writing an opinion piece for display in the hallway.  At this point in the year students should be able to write correctly using digraphs, spaces, punctuation, and capitals. We will continue our study of blends this week using 3 letter blends (thr, spl, spr, str, scr). Students should be able to spot these letter combinations as they're reading. Math rotations during the month of December are colorful and fun, yet provide loads of practice on skills Firsties need to master: determining even or odd, putting large numbers in sequential order, adding and subtracting within 20, and telling greater than/less than.  Additionally, we have a number of challenge centers that focus on time and money.

Class Party

Our holiday party will be Friday, December 20.  If you'd like to help in any way please contact Dawn Riethmeier (Ethan's mom) at stylistdawn01@yahoo.com