Book Bags & Baskets

BOOK BAG
Tonight you will find an addition to your nightly homework.
Your child has a plastic zip-lock bag with a book log, a reading group book and a book of interest. Please listen to your child read the reading group book. This is a familiar story, as we have read it together. The book of interest is up to you. Read it if you want...or not. We can only do so much. I understand. Please record the books you are reading with your child in the book log.

Return the book bag each and every day, please!

Thank you and happy reading (and listening)

BASKET
Our class is compiling a basket (as a fund raiser) to be raffled off at the WCS Pasta Dinner.
The basket theme is Planes, Trains and Automobiles. I'm thinking this screams "boy basket." Any donations are greatly appreciated.

Writing Celebration!

This week we had an Author's Tea (really lemonade).
Students took turns sharing the story they took time to "fancy up."
I am so proud of their growing ability to choose a topic and tell their story.
They are writing longer and across the pages of a booklet. Some are even adopting a technique we noticed in Kevin Henkes' books, the repeat..."they came back and back and back." :) Exciting.
Then they took that story home. You probably saw it.
Well, JH's family took his story one step further. Please view.
This is amazing. (click on "This is amazing")

Also, thanks for taking time to preview our first grade curriculum this evening.
Any feedback is welcome.

Daffodils

On Friday we planted daffodils in the playground garden with Amy. Everyone dug a hole, put a handful of mini-bulbs, covered them and wished them goodnight for the winter. Now all we can do is WAIT...

Reminder:
Wednesday Evening is Curriculum Night for 1st grade parents. 6:30-7:30 in room 7.
Friday and Monday are NO SCHOOL days, due to a Staff Development Day & Columbus Day.

Exciting:
-I think the class is settling into the routine of completing some "paper" stations each week.
-We have chosen a story to "fancy up" and share with the class. Ask your child what his story is about and what it means to "fancy up." :) Author's Tea...Monday.

AND...if you have yet to see your child's photo on the blog, please let me know. :)

I've Died and Gone to Ice Cream Heaven

OK, so, really, I heard someone say that yesterday!

Thanks to EJB's family and JH's family for making the ice cream happen!

What's New?

We have been...
-reading so many Kevin Henkes books.
-getting many assessments done, as to better service the class.
-identifying the number of syllables in words/pictures/objects.
-counting by 1's and 5's, making tallies, number before and after, telling time to the hour.
-writing about things we KNOW, things that have happened to us.
-writing in booklets! They are wonderful, longer, more detailed stories.
-working on automaticity of letter names/sounds.
-figuring out my mystery sentence. "The leaves are b________." What makes sense? Does it fit?
-earning tons of glass globs.

We WILL BE...
1. wearing our pajamas to school on Thursday, Oct. 1. If you are able to pick up bowls, spoons or vanilla ice cream, please let me know.

2. walking to school Wednesday, Oct. 7. We'll meet at the Topsham Fairgrounds again.

3. seeing parents for Curriculum Night on Wednesday, Oct. 7. 6:30-7:30. Come hear how to support your child at home with reading and math.

Wash Your Hands & Wear Helmets!!!

OK, so is sideways better than no photo, or no photo better than sideways???
(It IS vertical in iphoto...)

2 things
1. Mrs. Barter, our school nurse, came and spoke with kids about appropriate sneezing/coughing techniques...and hand washing. Ask your child how long you are supposed ot wash your hands. Holy cow!

2. We had a serious conversation today about the importance of helmets while riding scooters and bikes. Many kids told me they didn't or didn't have to wear helmets. I was surprised and didn't know if I should believe them.
I shared a story with them about my aunt, who was riding a scooter, crashed and had brain injuries...had to learn to walk and read all over again.
I have 2 extra girl helmets at home. If you need one of them, let me know and I'll send one home with your child. (they are in the Goodwill box right now) Safety First!

Everyday Math Games

Here's a site to go along with our math curriculum.
Try it out.
If you look at our Home Link papers that come home, you'll notice a number like 1-10.
This means Unit 1, Lesson 10.
That will give you an idea of what lessons have already been covered when you are trying to choose an activity.
Let me know what you think.