1-26-20

Week at Glance

Monday: B Day (Gym, SEL)
Tuesday: C Day (Music)
Wednesday: D Day (Late Start, Music)
Thursday: E Day (Art)
Friday: F Day (Planetarium, Gym, Art)

Tinker Time
We will tinker on Thursday this week.

Planetarium
We will visit the Upton Planetarium with Ms. Harmening's class Friday morning.  Students do not need to bring anything with them. 

Reading
Please continue to return reading homework and take-home books.  I've noticed a few kiddos leaving their books in their lockers.  If you're not seeing books at home please ask your Firstie about it!

1-19-20

Week at a Glance

Monday: NO School
Tuesday: D Day (Music)
Wednesday: E Day (NWEA and Art)
Thursday: F Day (Gym and Art)
Friday: A Day (1/2 Day)

*Library this week may differ due to the 1/2 Day.  Please send library books back on Thursday just in case.

**No Tinker Time this week. 

Homework

I'm impressed with how many kiddos have been bringing back their take-home books!  How exciting.  They are becoming better readers every single time they read!  Keep it up, Firsties!  You may have noticed I sent home a reading packet last week.  I plan to continue with these packets to improve reading comprehension and offer an additional opportunity for students to read. I will send them home early in the week and would like to have them back by Friday of that same week.  As much as I prefer not to have homework at this age I'm noticing the class needs the practice.  When I spoke to the children about this extra practice almost every kid said they liked the idea! I encourage them to take ownership of their work and take the initiative to get it down and bring it back independently. They will need your signature, though. Thanks for your help!

1-12-20

Week at a Glance

Monday: E Day (Winter NWEA testing, Art)
Tuesday: F Day (Gym, Art)
Wednesday: A Day (Late Start, Gym, Library, *Hat day-inside our classroom only)
Thursday: B Day (Gym, SEL)
Friday: C Day (Music, Tinker Time)

Hat Day 

Wednesday is National Hat Day.  Students may bring a hat to wear in the classroom. 

Supply Request

Pretzels, pretzels, pretzels!  Firsties are a hungry lot and we go through them very quickly.

No School on Monday, January 21

1-5-20

Happy New Year!!

Week at a Glance

Monday: F Day (Gym and Art)
Tuesday: A Day (Gym and Library)
Wednesday: B Day (Gym and SEL)
Thursday: C Day (Music)
Friday: D Day (Music)

Academics in January

Math: This month we join the school wide math center program. This consists of a weekly timed test.  As students correctly complete each test they proceed at their own pace through progressively difficult tests.  Our focus this month will be on measurement.  Children will discuss length as a measurable attribute and compare the lengths of objects directly and indirectly.  Children will estimate and measure a variety of objects using non standard units.  We will continue to practice adding and subtracting.  New this month: three addends!

Reading: Our focus will be on making connections and inferencing as we read.  Later this week, ask your Firstie about Alexander and his "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day". Students will be adding on to this classic tale in their own writing.

Phonics: Long vowel sounds take center stage this month, starting with long A.  We will be hunting for various ways to make the sound including sneaky e and vowel teams like: ai, ei, and ay. Words to practice at home: snake, stay, sprain, say, tail, whale, clay, waist, shave, snail, weigh.

Science: All month long we will continue learning about light and sound.  Special sound effects are welcome! Topics include: sound vibrations, transparent, opaque, illumination, communicating over long distances, and our vision in the dark and fog.

Social Studies: Based on our Junior Achievement lessons on entrepreneurship and the concept of the book, "If I Built a Car," students will consider and write an imaginative piece about what they might do in the future.

Volunteering this Week

Wednesday: Math Rotations at 9:30
Thursday: Math Rotations at 9:30
Friday: Tinker Time at 3:00

Take-home Books/Games

Student will be coming home this week with a cloth bag containing a book from our classroom.  The books should be right at their reading level which means they should be able to read them independently.  Please encourage your Firstie to read the book aloud to anyone who will listen! As soon as the bag and book are returned I will send a new book home. Occasionally I may also include various flashcards or games tailored to your child's needs.  Unless otherwise noted, please return all supplies.

Coming up Soon-Just for Fun

January 15: Hat day (in our classroom only)
January 21: Squirrel appreciation day
January 31: Backward day

Upcoming Field Trip

We will visit the Upton Planetarium on Friday, January 31.  Unfortunately this is for students only-no parents.