What We Are Learning

Reading: Because your child has learned so much this year, they are now in charge of teaching the class! Your child has picked a book to share with the class.  While they read aloud and practice their fluency, they are also teaching their classmates about making predictions, making connections, retelling the story, visualizing, and expanding our vocabulary. Ask your child what book they chose to share and what skills they are teaching us.

Writing: In writing this week we realized we are experts in all things first grade. Your child is now writing about things they learned this year.  Look for the finished pieces in your child’s take home folder next week.

Math: This week your child is moving through 7 math centers.  These centers review skills they have learned this year. Ask your child which center they like the best.

Field Day

Field Day will be Tuesday, May 27^th. This will be a really exciting day.  Coach has planned several water activities. Here is what your child needs to bring that day:

·        An extra change of clothes and shoes

·        Sunscreen (I get sunburnt ever year!)

·        Tennis shoes that are ok to get dirty

·        Sack lunch from home or school sack lunch

First grade will have Field Day in the morning.  Your child will be pretty miserable the rest of the day if they do not bring an extra set of clothes!

Teacher Appreciation Week

Thank you all for an amazing Teacher Appreciation Week! I feel so blessed!

My Transition Back

Thank you all for being so flexible while I was on maternity leave.  We are now working on getting back into our predictable routine. Here is a picture of my beautiful baby girl! I’m one proud Mamma! J

Dates to Remember

May 26^th: Memorial Day No School

May 27^th: Field Day

May 28^th: Dismiss at 12:30 Last Day of School

Guess who is going to come and visit you guys this Friday! This girl!

Introducing Abigail

Hello Friends! I miss you all so much! I know that you are working hard for Mrs. Thomas. I can hardly wait to hear about everything I have missed.  I know you will all impress me so much with how much you have learned while I've been gone. Abigail and I will come and visit you all soon. Until then, here are some pictures of Abigail:

What We Are Learning

Reading: This week in reading we worked on making our reading more fluent. We practiced changing our rate and voice depending on the text we are reading.  We also set new reading goals. Ask your child about their new goal.

Writing: In writing this week we continued our opinion writing unit. We finished revising, editing, and publishing our pieces persuading our audience which pet is the best to own. Ask your child about what topic they chose to write about.

Math: This week we continued our new math unit on adding numbers to 20. We focused on adding by counting by 2s, 4s, and 5s.

Theme:  During Theme Time this week we looked at how weather can affect water.  Ask your child about the difference between snow, hail, sleet, and rain.  

Valentine’s Day Party

On February 14 at 10:00, we will be having our Valentine’s Day Celebration! Your child is encouraged to create a Valentine’s box at home and then bring it to school. I am asking that your child not bring them to school before February 13^th. The party will start at 10:00 and end at 11:00.  Feel free to come and enjoy the fun with us! Your child may also bring in Valentines for their classmates.  However, if they choose to bring them, please make sure that they bring one for every student.  We have 20 students in our class.

Word Family

Please practice making words with the following pattern:

This week’s Word Family

_ake

Word Wall Words

Please practice reading, writing, and spelling our Word Wall Words. 

This week’s word wall words:

could  have  make  any  into

Dates to Remember

February 7^th-13^th: Book Fair

February 14^th: Valentine’s Day Party 10:00-11:30

February 14^th: Dismiss at 12:40 (Make Up Snow Day)

February 17^th: Make Up Snow Day

February 27^th: Baby Happel is due J  

New Writing Unit

This next school week (January 6-10) we will begin a new writing unit. It will be focused on opinion writing.  To introduce the students to the concept of fairly judging or forming an opinion with reasons for their opinion, we will be using collections.

Each child is welcome to bring in a collection of 5 items that are all in the same category.  Some examples might be 5 rocks or stickers, 5 writing utensils, or even 5 books they enjoy. I ask that all of their items fit inside of a shoebox or Ziploc. 

In order to start our unit on time, I ask that you please send your child’s collection with them on or by Tuesday, January 7^th. Please let us know if you have any questions. 

December 9th - December 14th

What We Are Learning

Reading: This week in reading I have been busy doing benchmark reading assessments to determine your child’s reading level. I have been so impressed with everyone’s progress. Please keep reading at home with your child so they continue to improve.

Writing: In writing this week we finished our nonfiction writing unit.  Your child drafted, revised, edited, and published a nonfiction chapter book.  To celebrate their awesome effort and hard week, we had a writing celebration! Ask your child what their published piece was about.

Math: This week in math we continued a unit on fractions.  We learned how to divide circles and rectangles into halves and fourths. Ask your child what the word partitioning means.

Theme:  During Theme Time this week, we learned the difference between wants and needs.

Tiger Pride Assembly

On December 20^th, your child is invited to wear their pajamas to school. During this day, the whole school will be wearing their PJs! Also, we will have our Holiday Party at 9:00 and our Tiger Pride Assembly at 10:45. Feel free to come and enjoy the fun!

Headphones Needed

We are very lucky to have 5 iPads in our classroom.  Your child has access to these devices on a daily bases. Because they are used so often, we are in need of some good quality headphones that will be able to withstand being used so frequently.  If you would be willing to donate some headphones to our classroom, your generosity would be GREATLY appreciated!

Word Wall Words

Please practice reading, writing, and spelling our Word Wall Words. 

This week’s word wall words:

sat, read, run, she, sit, then, & he

Last week’s word wall words:

not, mom, out, now, of, put, & ran

Dates to Remember

December 20^th: School Wide PJ Day

December 20^th: Holiday Party 9:00

December 20^th: Tiger Pride Assembly 10:45

December 20^th: Dismiss at 12:30

December 21st –January 5^th:  Christmas Break

January 20^th: Make Up Snow Day

February 14^th: Make Up Snow Day 

October 4th - October 9th

What We Are Learning

Reading: This week we learned about character traits.  We used adjectives to describe characters on the inside and the outside.

Writing: In writing this week we really focused on revising and editing our nonfiction chapter books.  I have been so impressed with how much effort everyone has been using.  Ask your child what topic they have chosen to write about.

Math: This week in math we continued to learn about attributes of 2D shapes. Ask your child about how to play the game Guess My Rule.

Theme:  Your child learned about Veteran’s Day.  We incorporated math and writing while learning about this important holiday. We created a soldier using only 2D shapes and brainstormed adjectives that describe veterans.

Prize Box

Our prize box is pretty depleted these days. We are in desperate need of individually wrapped candy, stickers, tattoos, small toys, etc. If you would be willing to donate any of these items, your generosity would be GREATLY appreciated!   

Headphones Needed

We are very lucky to have 5 iPads in our classroom.  Your child has access to these devices on a daily bases. Because they are used so often, we are in need of some good quality headphones that will be able to withstand being used so frequently.  If you would be willing to donate some headphones to our classroom, your generosity would be GREATLY appreciated!

Word Wall Words

Please practice reading, writing, and spelling our Word Wall Words. 

This week’s word wall words:

ball, as, be, by, & day

Last week’s word wall words:

had, they, will, too, & all

Fall Weather

Fall weather is on its way!  Please make sure your child is properly dressed for outside recess. We will go out every day as long as the weather is 32 degrees or above and the wind-chill is 25 degrees or above. There is a strong wind that blows across the playground.  Your child needs to have a jacket so they can enjoy recess comfortably!