September 25th - September 29th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

“Eagle Eye” reading strategy (use the pictures to solve tricky words)

“Lips the Fish” reading strategy (get your mouth read and say the first sound)

“Chunky Monkey” reading strategy (finding parts in words we know)

DRA Reading Assessments

Word Work:

Word Wall Words: this, his, they, at, be

Digraph: “wh”

Word Family: _am

       

Writing:

Writing small moment/true stories

Ways to spell tricky words

Math:

Topic 2: Fluently Add and Subtract within 1

Adding and subtracting on a number line

Adding and subtracting using doubles facts (3 + 3)

Adding and subtracting using near doubles facts (3 + 4)

Using addition facts to solve subtraction facts

Theme:

Apple experiment

Making prediction and observing

Fall Carnival

Our second WOHE fall carnival is quickly approaching! To help with the supplies that we will need to make the carnival a success, first grade is asking for donations for a “Family Fun Night” themed basket that will be auctioned off. We are also asking for Little Debbie or Hostess-like snack cakes to use for the cake walk game. If you can donate any of these items, feel free to just send them in your kiddos backpack! Thank you all so much for your support!

Community Time

Just wanted to update you on our assemblies this year. Instead of having a monthly Tiger Pride Assembly where every grade level gives out PAWS awards, we will be having Community Time assemblies every Monday morning at 8:40. At Community Time, only one or two grade levels will give out awards. So, first grade will be passing out their PAWS awards on the first Mondays of the month. That means our turn has finally arrived! I will send a note in your child’s folder or an e-mail, when you kiddo will be recognized!  I will definitely have a hard time deciding who to recognize! We are all working SO hard this year!

Dates to Remember

October 3rd: Fundraiser Limo Ride Day

October 6th: WOHE Fall Carnival

October 12th: All Pro Dad’s Breakfast

September 11th - September 15th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

How does “Listen to Reading” during Daily 5 look and sound?

Building stamina during “Read to Self,” “Word Work,” “Work on Writing,” & “Read to Someone”

Word Work:

Word Wall Words: with, was, for, are, on

Digraph: “sh”

Word Family: _ap

Writing:

Writing small moment/true stories

Good writers add more to their pictures, more to their words, and use a writer’s checklist

Math:

Topic 2: Fluently Add and Subtract within 1

Adding and subtracting on a number line

Adding and subtracting using doubles facts (3 + 3)

Adding and subtracting using near doubles facts (3 + 4)

Theme:

Fall Wonder Table

How to ask questions like a scientist

How to observe nature like a scientist

Raz-Readers

This week your kiddo came home with information about a website called Raz-Kids in their take home folder. This is a great website that allows your child to have access to hundreds of eBooks. You can also download a free app for your iPad/iPhone or Android device as well.

Website: www.kidsa-z.com

User Name: Orchard1b

Happy Reading!

Fall Wonder Table

Last week I send home a letter requesting fall items to place on our Wonder Table.  These can be pumpkins, gourds, fall leaves, etc. These items will help us learn about observing, asking questions, and investigating answers.

Dates to Remember

September 19^th: Picture Day

October 3^rd: Fundraiser Limo Ride Day

October 6^th: WOHE Fall Carnival

October 12^th: All Pro Dad’s Breakfast

September 4th - September 8th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

How does “Word Work” during Daily 5 look and sound?

Building stamina for reading

Readers think about what they already know before they begin to read

Readers add to their schema as they read

Word Work:

Word Wall Words: he, is, that, you, & it

Digraph: “ch”

Word Family: _at

Writing:

Writing small moment/true stories

Good writers add more to their pictures, more to their words, and use a writer’s checklist

Math:

Topic 1: Solve Addition and Subtraction Problems to 10

Review and Topic 1 test

Theme:

How to handle conflict

What to do when someone is “bugging” you

Reading Levels

I have had a few different parents ask about their kiddos reading level, so I wanted to let everyone know that in first grade we spend the first four weeks of school establishing routines and building students’ stamina to be able to work independently. This way we can successfully have reading groups. Your kiddo has not yet been assessed on their reading level this year. We will do the reading assessments starting the week of September 18th.  At that time, I can give you more specific information about how your kiddo is doing in reading. Until then, it would be very beneficial to work with your kiddo on the sight words in their take home folders and read together every day.

Fall Wonder Table

This week I send home a letter requesting fall items to place on our Wonder Table.  These can be pumpkins, gourds, fall leaves, etc. These items will help us learn about observing, asking questions, and investigating answers.

Parent / Community Newsletter

 Check out the parent/community newsletter Orchard Hills Updates on our Facebook page. It has updates from each grade level as well as notes from Dr. Prevo and upcoming events.

Dates to Remember

September 14th: Fundraiser ends

September 19th: Picture Day

October 3rd: Fundraiser limo ride day

October 6th: WOHE Fall Carnival

October 12th: All Pro Dad’s Breakfast

PJ DAY

I’m extremely happy to inform you all that our class has earned a classroom celebration for awesome behavior! We voted on several activities we would like our reward to be.  The majority of the class chose to wear their pajamas to school. On Thursday, September 7^th, your child is invited to wear their most comfortable pjs and bring a SMALL stuffed animal to school. So, congratulate your child on their awesome behavior and encourage them to keep up the good work.

August 28th - September 1st

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

How does “Work on Writing” during Daily 5 look and sound?

Building stamina during “Read to Self” and “Work on Writing”

Reading is thinking!

Word Work:

Word Wall Words: the, and, to, in, & of

Digraph: “th”

Word Family: _and

Writing:

Writing small moment/true stories

Picking a topic and writing across pages

Math:

Topic 1: Solve Addition and Subtraction Problems to 10

Math facts to 10

Word problems to 10

Theme:

Building a classroom community

Read the book The Jelly Donut Difference

How to “sprinkle” happiness

Donut craft to accompany our writing

Text Reminders

Make sure you sign up to receive text reminders from me. I’ve only had a handful of families sign up so far. Flip this paper over to see how it works!

Word Wall Words

Each week your child will be introduced to new sight words. I call them popcorn words because they “POP UP” a lot when we read.  Willard has moved away from traditional spelling tests.  However, it is VERY important that you review these words with your child each week.  Even though they will not be tested on these words, please have your child practice reading, writing, and spelling them.  How well your child knows these words will be reflected on their grade card each quarter. 

First Quarter Popcorn Words

     the                   it                         fun

     of                     with                     girl

     and                   was                      his

     in                     for                       they

     to                     on                         at

     he                    are                       be

     is                       am                        this

     you                   car                       eat    

     that                

Dates to Remember

September 1st: No School

September 4th: No School

September 14th: Fundraiser ends

August 21st - August 25th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

How does Daily 5 look and sound?

Building stamina during Read to Self

Three ways to read a book (read the pictures, read the words, & retell a familiar story)

Writing:

How does Writer’s Workshop look and sound?

District Narrative Writing Prompt

Math:

What does Math Workshop look and sound like?

Introduced the following math vocabulary: add, sum, plus, equal, & equation

Theme:

Building a classroom community

Before you speak, think and be smart. It’s hard to fix a wrinkled heart.

Special Thanks

I want to send out a special thanks to all who donated items from our classroom wish list!  We greatly appreciate your generosity.  These items will help us have a productive year! Feel free to frequently view our classroom website where I will post items throughout the year as we need them.   

Math Homework

First of all, I am not a big supporter of having homework every night.  I am a firm believer that your child has worked hard all day at school, and they need a break at home.  Also, as a mother, I know how important family time is.  Because of this, I will not be making homework mandatory.  It will be sent home but you have the option of completing it with your child.  My hope is that you can use this as a resource to help your child and to understand what we are learning in the classroom. If you complete the homework with your child, that is FANTASTIC! Simply place it back in your kiddo’s folder, and I will celebrate them for continuing to learn at home.

Text Reminders

Make sure you sign up to receive text reminders from me. It will only take a minute to set up!

Dates to Remember

September 1st: No School

September 4th: No School

Welcome First Grade Families!

Hello First Grade Families! Can you believe that summer break is coming to an end and a new school year is about to begin? I am excited about the upcoming school year and wanted to update you on some important information.  Meet the Teacher Night will take place on Tuesday, August 15^th, from 6-7:30 pm. On that night, you may visit the classroom, drop off school supplies, and fill out important paperwork.  Bringing your child’s school supplies that night will help get our first day off to a great start. 

Mrs. Happel’s School Supply List

1 pair of scissors

1 small school box

2 packages of black dry erase markers

2 boxes of 24 count crayons

1 package of yellow 24 count #2 pencils

1 inch 3 ring binder (new or used)

4 glue sticks

1 spiral notebook

1 small flashlight

Wish List Items

Washable markers

Extra black dry erase markers

post-it/sticky notes

****We do NOT need tissues! J****

You might notice that the list is slightly different from the district supply list.  I only included items that we will actually use in hopes of saving you a little money.

Our first day of school will be on Thursday, August 17th.  The first bell rings at 8:20 and school officially starts at 8:40 each day.

I look forward to meeting you all at Meet the Teacher Night!

Mrs. Happel :0)