August 26th - August 30th

What We Are Learning

Reading: Setting up Daily 5 reading structure

·       Good Habits Readers Do: sneak peek, make predictions & check predictions

·       At the end of a book we reread, find favorite parts, retell, etc.

·       How to do Read to Self and build stamina

·       How to do Work on Writing and build Stamina

Word Work:

·       Sight words: the, of, in, to, and

·       Phonics: digraph-ch & matching spoken words to written words

Writing: Narrative Books

·       Elements of a narrative or “Small Moment Story”

·       Choosing a topic

·       Planning a book

• Writing a beginning

Math: Introduction to Subtraction

·       Subtraction strategies between 0 and 10

·       Part, Part Whole

·       -0 and -1 patterns

Theme Time: Theme: Community Building/Kindness

·       Words are NOT for Hurting

·       Helpful vs. harmful words

·       Choosing our words carefully

Snack Time

In 1st grade, we do not have an official “snack time”, but I do allow students to have a snack if they bring one or have leftovers from their lunchbox at the end of the day.

Sight Words

Your kiddo’s take home folder is full of useful information.  Make sure you check the Sights Words tab to see which sight words your kiddo needs to practice.  I circled the ones they were unsure of.  I will try and update these several times a quarter.

Dates to Remember

August 30^th & September 2^nd – No School  

September 20^th - Willard Homecoming Parade (all students attend by bus) and dismiss at 12:30

September 25^th  – Fall Pictures

October 4^th: WOHE Fall Festival

August 19th - August 23rd

What We Are Learning

Reading: Setting up Daily 5 reading structure

·         How to do “Read to Self

·         How to build our stamina

·         How to preview a book and make prediction

·         Readers build good habits

Writing: Setting up Writer’s Workshop Structure

·         How to set yourself up for successful writing by picking a good spot to work

·          Using what we love as inspiration for writing topics and stories

·         Decorating writing folders with inspirational visuals

·         How to share and listen during Author’s Chair

Math: Solving Addition Problems

·       Strategies to solve addition problems

o   Drawing pictures

o   Counting  on

o   Ways to make ten

o   Using a part part whole mat

Snack Time

In 1st grade, we do not have an official “snack time”, but I do allow students to have a snack if they bring one or have leftovers from their lunchbox at the end of the day.

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! 

Special Class Schedule

Monday- Computers

Tuesday- Art

Wednesday-Music

Thursday- Library.

Friday-P.E.

Dates to Remember

August 30^th & August 2^nd – No School  

September 20^th - Willard Homecoming Parade (all students attend by bus) and dismiss at 12:30

September 25^th  – Fall Pictures

Welcome to First Grade!!! Hello there, new first grade families and friends! I am so, so excited that you are going to be in my class this year! I cannot wait to meet you and get to know you better! Below are some important dates and information that is going to help us get this year started off right. Please let me know if you have any questions. Can't wait to see you at Meet the Teacher Night!Meet the Teacher NightTuesday, August 13th6:00-7:30*Please bring your school supplies and be prepared to spend enough time touring the classroom and filling out paperwork.*As far as labeling supplies, please label your students pencil box and scissors. Everything else will be combined and used as class supplies. Thank you!First Day of SchoolThursday, August 15th8:40-3:30 (Students may start coming to the classroom at 8:20)*Please make sure you have communicated with me about how your kiddo will be getting home this day as well as their regular schedule for dismissal.

Welcome to First Grade!!!

Hello there, new first grade families and friends! I am so, so excited that you are going to be in my class this year! I cannot wait to meet you and get to know you better! Below are some important dates and information that is going to help us get this year started off right. Please let me know if you have any questions. Can't wait to see you at Meet the Teacher Night!

Meet the Teacher NightTuesday, August 13th
6:00-7:30
*Please bring your school supplies and be prepared to spend enough time touring the classroom and filling out paperwork.
*As far as labeling supplies, please label your students pencil box and scissors. Everything else will be combined and  used as class supplies. Thank you!

First Day of SchoolThursday, August 15th
8:40-3:30 (Students may start coming to the classroom at 8:20)
*Please make sure you have communicated with me about how your kiddo will be getting home this day as well as their regular schedule for dismissal.

What We Are Learning

Reading: Central Message

·       Books teach us lessons

• Determining the Central Message

Word Work

·       Sight words: Review

·       Phonics: Review

Writing: Realistic Fiction

·       Realistic fiction stories

·       Finalized our final draft

Math:  Adding 3 numbers (4+4+5=_)

·       Using double facts and make a ten strategy to add 3 numbers together

Theme: Ladybugs

·       Observing ladybug larva on our wonder table

·       Asking questions about ladybugs

Glue Sticks and Pencils

I know it’s hard to believe but we are running REALLY low on glue sticks and pencils.  If anyone would be willing to donate a few, we would be SO grateful!

Field Day

Thursday, May 23rd is FIELD DAY!!!  First grade will have Field Day in the morning.  This will be a really exciting day.  Coach has planned some exciting activities. Make sure your kiddo wears tennis shoes that can get dirty or wet.  It is also a good idea to apply sunscreen before they come to school that day.  We will also eat lunch outside, so they should bring a sack lunch from home or buy a sack lunch from school.

Dates to Remember

May 10^th: Morning with Mom

May 23^rd: Field Day

May 24^th: Last Day of school/Dismiss at 12:30

April 22nd - April 26th

What We Are Learning

Reading: Fluency

·       Noticing punctuation while reading

·       Sounding like characters in our stories

·       Reading with expression

·       Performing a Readers Theater

Word Work

·       Sight words: Review

·       Phonics: oo (book) & oo (moon) chunk

Writing: Realistic Fiction

·       Realistic fiction stories

·       Giving feedback to friends on their writing conventions (uppercase letters, punctuation, and word wall words)

Math:  Related Facts

·       Using adding to help us solve subtraction problems (10-6=­­_ & 6+ _=10)

Theme: Insects

·       Characteristics of an insect

·       Ladybug craft

Wonder Table

Now that spring has finally arrived, I would love to update our wonder table.  Keep an eye out for spring time items that we can observe. Your child is invited to bring in budding flowers, interesting plants, and yes…even insects (no spiders please)! All I am asking is that you make sure all insects are in a secure container.  We will observe them and then release them outside.  Keep your eyes open for signs of spring!

Glue Sticks and Pencils

I know it’s hard to believe but we are running REALLY low on glue sticks and pencils.  If anyone would be willing to donate a few, we would be SO grateful!

10 Year Celebration

On Friday, May 3^rd WOHE will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary.  There will be cupcakes, bounce houses, and fun videos/pictures of the kiddos.  I hope to see you all there!!!  

Dates to Remember

May 3^rd: WOHE 10 Year Celebration

May 10^th: Morning with Mom

May 23rd: Field Day

May 24^th: Last Day of school/Dismiss at 12:30

March 4th - March 8th

What We Are Learning

Reading: Non-Fiction

·       Review NF text features

·       Main Idea and details of NF text

·       How to locate information in NF texts

Word Work

·       Sight words: teacher, quit, rain, out, favorite,

·       Phonics: syllables

Writing: Teaching Books (opinion)

·       Spring Break Opinion Writing

·       Supporting your opinion with at least 3 details

·       Using transition words (First, Next, Finally, etc.)

Math: Topic 12

·       Determining of an object is longer or shorter

·       Measuring using nonstandard units

Theme: American Symbols

·       Researching the American Flag, the Statue of Liberty, and the Bald Eagle

First Grade Field Trip

First grade is going to the Nature Center March 22nd.  We will leave WOHE at 9:00.  Your kiddo needs to bring a sack lunch from home or get a sack lunch from school. Here are a few things that you can do for us to make our field trip successful:

•Dress your child in their WOHE shirt and tennis shoes.

•Send your child with a coat.

•Pack your child’s lunch in a disposable bag.

•Arrive at school on time.

Let me know if you want to come, enjoy the fun, and be a chaperone!

Spring Conferences

This year Spring Conferences will be March 26^th & March 28^th. These conferences will be different from fall conferences in that they are not student-led but more conversation focused and a chance to look at data about your child’s growth this year. Check your kiddo’s folder! There is a paper inside! 

Dates to Remember

March 11th and March 12^th: Snow Make Up Days

March 12^th: Release at 12:30

March 13^th- 17^th: Spring Break

March 22^nd- Field Trip to Nature Center

March 26^th & March 28^th: Spring Parent Conferences

March 29^th: No School

April 19^th: No School

April 22^nd: Make Up Snow Day

February 25th - March 1st

What We Are Learning

Reading: Non-Fiction

·       Review NF text features

·       Main Idea and details of NF text

·       How to locate information in NF texts

Word Work

·       Sight words: kick, sister, brother, jump, & talk

·       Phonics: Ow

Writing: Teaching Books (opinion)

·       Supporting your opinion with at least 3 details

·       Using transition words (First, Next, Finally, etc.)

·       Picking a piece to publish

·       Writing celebration

Math: Topic 12

·       Determining of an object is longer or shorter

·       Measuring using nonstandard units

Theme: Clouds

·       Types of clouds

·       The weather they produce

·       Cloud observation

First Grade Musical

The First Grade Musical will be Tuesday, March 5th at 7:00. Here are some details about that night you might want to be aware of:

*I will be in the room around 6:30.  You can drop your child off there and then find a place to sit to enjoy the show.

*If your child does not have a costume to wear, they should wear their WOHE shirt.

*When the program is over, you can pick up your child directly from the commons area. 

Spring Conferences

This year Spring Conferences will be March 26^th & March 28^th. These conferences will be different from fall conferences in that they are not student-led but more conversation focused and a chance to look at data about your child’s growth this year. I am asking that your child does not attend. Check your kiddos folder! There is a paper inside!

McTeacher Night

On Monday, March 4th from 4-8pm come and support Orchard Hills at the McDonalds on Chestnut Expressway and West Bypass.  WOHE gets a portion of the sales. The best part is that the faculty from Orchard Hills will be taking orders, selling cookies, and having fun!  I will be there from 4-5pm. Come, have dinner, and help support our school!

Dates to Remember

March 4^th: McTeacher Night

March 5^th: First Grade Musical

March 8^th: Release at 12:30

March 11th and March 12^th: Snow Make Up Days

March 12^th: Release at 12:30

March 13^th- 17^th: Spring Break

March 22^nd- Field Trip to Nature Center

March 26^th & March 28^th: Spring Parent Conferences