SPECIALS... Monday - Guidance, Tuesday - Library, Wednesday - PE, Thursday - Art & Music, Friday - Computer,

Friday, November 30, 2018

First Grade News

Important December Dates to Remember
December 6th -  PJ Day for assembly
December 7th - PTG Kids Shop
December 7th - Report cards sent home
December 13th - Book Day Celebration
December 20th - K-4 Holiday Concert - 1:00 p.m.
December 21st - Classroom Christmas party
December 21 - Early release and start of Christmas Break
January 2, 2019 - Back to School! - Happy New Year!

    The month of December is going to be a busy one!
The children are going to be learning so much!
In our reading program we will be working on
drawing conclusions, comparing and contrasting,
and sequencing events. We are also going to be
working on reading, writing and spelling words
with r clusters, l clusters, and s clusters. We
will continue to add more words to our Word
as the month of December goes on. Our short
vowels will continue to be a focus, too.

    In our Lucy Calkins writing program the
children will continue to write teaching books,
choosing topics they are experts in to teach
others. Soon they will begin writing chapter
books, learning how to make a table of contents
to introduce each of the topics in their chapter
book. The children will learn how to write
introductions and conclusions for their
chapter books, finding ways to keep their
readers engaged and interested.

In Math we will continue to work
with addition and subtraction
equations in topic 5.  We will begin
topic 6 this month. In this unit we will
collect, organize, and represent data.
 We will talk about surveys, tally marks,
different types of graphs, and comparing data.

    In December the first graders will
be doing a  ‘Christmas Around the World’
unit in social studies. The children will
learn about the Christmas traditions in
6 different countries - England, Australia,
Scandinavia, Wales, Russia, and Italy.
They will also make a project that shows
the Christmas tradition of each country.
It will give the children the opportunity
to learn how children around the world
celebrate at this special time of the year.

     We want to wish everyone a safe and happy
holiday season. Enjoy this very special time of
the year with your child. Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year!

**Just a reminder...please bring/wear
appropriate clothing to play outside in at recess time**

Friday, November 9, 2018

                                       Thank you

I wanted to quickly thank you for your ability to meet with me to discuss your child.  Collaborating between school and home is a vital relationship that ensures a successful year. So, thank you for coming to Parent Teacher Conferences.  If for any reason you have questions or concerns throughout the year, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Friday, October 26, 2018

November Newsletter
It is very hard to believe that we are entering the month
of November already.  Our first grade friends have been
super busy learning.

Just a reminder (if you have not signed up already)
have parent teacher conferences coming up.  
The link to sign up is

As we enter the new month we will also be starting
our theme 3 reading unit.  In this unit our reading
strategies are phonics and decoding words, evaluating
as we read, predicting/inferring, and questioning.
 For comprehension we focus on main idea and details.
This leads into summarizing what we have read.
We work on reading fluency daily, and have seen
much improvement. For grammar we are focusing
on what is a sentence, and the naming part of the
sentence or the who, and the action part of the sentence.  
We begin Spelling words and tests in this unit.
Be on the lookout for a spelling list to come home.
The first graders will also bring home a Spelling
Contract each week. They will be responsible for
choosing 5 different activities to help them practice
the words on their spelling list. The children are very
excited to start having spelling tests…….just like the big kids!

We are beginning Topic 4 in Math…..Subtraction facts to 20.
 In this topic the students are introduced to several key
strategies for solving subtraction facts.  These strategies
include counting to subtract, making 10 to subtract, and
using addition to subtract. Please continue to practice
those basic addition and subtraction facts:)
 
Ask your child what a small moment story means to them.
The finishing touches (editing and revisions) are being made
to their favorite small moment story as these blossoming writers
are becoming published authors.  Information writing is coming
up next. The students will be writing to teach about topics
that they are “experts” about.

In Science we will explore sound.  The key learning
that sound is caused by vibrations.   For Social Studies
we will discuss and read about the pilgrims and how life was then.  We will also compare it to life now.

**As the weather begins to cool down please dress
appropriately for recess.**

IMPORTANT DATES

Book Fair October 29th - November 9th
Parent Teacher Conferences  November 8th Noon Dismissal
Parent Teacher Conferences November 9th  No School
Veteran’s Day November 12th No School

Thanksgiving Break November 21st to 23rd

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

The Book Fair will be coming to our library....
October 29th through November 9th.
It will be open during school hours and
 during parent teacher conference times.

  We will be visiting the book fair during our library times.
  (Tuesday at 1:30 to 2:00)
 Our first visit will be to browse and create a wish list.
 Students can bring in some money to shop. 
If you send in money please put it in a baggie with child's name. 

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Reminder......picture day is on Thursday October 11th.
Bring those beautiful smiles to school😀

Friday, September 28, 2018

 OCTOBER IN GRADE ONE
Dates to remember
*October 5th full day teacher inservice
*October 8th Columbus Day
*October 11th Picture Day
*October 24th noon dismissal   


READING
We will be continuing to review consonant sounds and short vowel sounds.  
Through reading texts we will be comparing and contrasting, and working with
cause and effect.  Our reading genres will be fantasy, realism and realistic fiction.
A main focus will be on story structure and elements.  Reviewing and working on high
frequency words will be done. Students will continue to read just right books daily.

WRITING
We are still working on small moments.  We are working on ways to bring
our stories to life, make our characters talk, move, feel, and think.
 We are working on telling our stories in steps. After we complete our
narrative unit, each student will publish their favorite small moment story.

MATH
We are still working on adding and subtracting  fluently within 10.
Once we complete topic 2 we will start addition facts to 20.  We will
work on lots of different strategies to add. Please take
some time to work with basic addition facts at home. Thank you:)
SCIENCE
Our second unit is Communication.  We will discuss how people
can communicate with people who are nearby and far away.
 Our discussions will be centered around how we communicate with others.
The students will practice communicating using light and Morse Code.  
They will also create a telephone using cups and string. They will need
to build, test, and explain their creation. It is always amazing to see how many “phones” do work!

OTHER
Please continue to check communication folders daily.  
The year has started wonderfully and the first graders are awesome!

Monday, September 3, 2018


September News From Grade One


We are off to a wonderful start!  The students are all so eager and anxious
to learn all about grade one.  We have worked on classroom and schoolwide
rules and expectations. Just a few reminders…..We do not bring toys to
school unless it is for a special day or a reward.  We can not heat up meals at lunchtime.


Here is a little bit about what we will be working on this month……..


MATH
We are ready to begin the first unit in our brand new math curriculum…..Envisions!
 We completed the review/readiness the first week of school. Unit one is focused on
solving addition and subtraction problems to 10.  The main emphasis of this unit is
to understand the meaning of addition and subtraction. Using various representations
and acting out will help students understand “add to,” “put together,” “take from,” “take apart,”
and “compare” situations.  This early foundation supports the deep understanding
that is essential as they move along in math.


READING
We have started our Back to School Review Unit.  In this unit we work with
introducing the reading strategies of prediction, retell/summarize, and question.
 We review rhymes, beginning sounds, and other phonemic awareness skills.
Letter formation and recognition is also a focus.  We will also review high frequency words
that were taught in Kindergarten. The students have started read to self time, and we are working
on increasing our reading stamina.  We are also working on selecting a “just right” or a “good fit book”.
Doing this will increase reading fluency and accuracy.


WRITING
Writing Small Moments with Independence is unit one!  
As writers they will be challenged to bring their small moments to life.
 They will make a beginning for their story, show what happens in order, use details to help
the reader picture the story, and make an ending for their story.  


SCIENCE
Coming up…...we will study the behavior of light.  Students will observe reflection of
light, and which materials allow light to pass through and which material block light.  

September will be a busy and fun month.  If you have any questions or concerns
please contact me. We are partners in this adventure called first grade!

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Hello 1st Grader!
Welcome back to a brand new school year!  I hope your summer break has been
joyful and full of adventures with your family and friends. I can not wait to hear
all about it.   I am so excited to have you as one of my Fantastic First Graders.
We are going to do so many FUN things, and of course we will LEARN a lot.
I can not wait to get to know each of you and learn with you every day!

Want to know a little more about me?  Here are a few of my favorite things.
Color:       Blue and Purple
Food:      Pizza and Ice Cream
Book:       Charlotte’s Web…...I really have so many favorites:)
Drink:      Coffee and water
Hobby:     Reading, walking, watching Bryce and Mallory at their activities,
                             and spending time with family and friends

I am sure you are anxious to go back to school shopping.  I remember those days.
Here is a list of the personal supplies that each of you will need.  
  • #2 pencils (they sharpen the best)
  • Glue sticks (4-5 would be great)
  • A box of crayons (no larger than a 24 pack)
Plastic containers and supply organizers will be provided for you to keep your school tools in.  

Here are a few helpful and useful items that are used everyday by all our class.
 These items are always greatly appreciated as donations to our classroom.
Thank you in advance for any of these items.
*more glue sticks *tissue *Clorox wipes
*Pencil top erasers *plastic spoons *black dry erase markers
As summer wraps up, I have a couple of things I want you to think about
and prepare for our first day together.
  1. Please bring in something that tells about YOU!  Perhaps this is a favorite stuffie,
a souvenir, a picture, or a toy.  The possibilities are endless.
Please be prepared to share why you picked the item that you brought in.
        2.  Bring in your favorite book or a book you are reading.  We will do a book share.

I am so anxious to meet you and looking forward to this incredible journey called 1st grade.
 Enjoy the rest of your summer vacation!