August 22nd - August 26th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

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

Building stamina during “Read to Self”

“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)

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: the, and, to, in, & of

Digraph: “ch”

Word Family: _ab

Writing:

How does Writer’s Workshop look and sound?

Ways to pick a topic

District Narrative Writing Prompt

Math:

Math facts to 10

Word problems to 10

Theme:

Fixed vs. Growth Mindset

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!

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 is moving 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 2nd: No School

September 5th: No School

September 13th: Volunteer Training 6:00 pm

September 16th : Volunteer Training 9:00 am

September 28th: First Tiger Pride Assembly                

August 15th- August 19th

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:

What are our hopes and dreams for the year?

Writing about our hopes and dreams

Math:

What does Math Workshop look and sound like?

Writing numbers to 120

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.

Created friendship fruit salad

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.   

Special Class Schedule

Monday- Music

Tuesday- Art

Wednesday- Library

Thursday- P.E.

Friday-Computers

Volunteer Training

Parent Volunteer Training will be during the September 13th PTO meeting. Please arrive at 6:00 in the WOHE library. Training will also be held Thursday, September 15th, 9:00 am in the WOHE commons. All parent who wish to volunteer at WOHE this year need to attend one of the training sessions. The content will be the same, it's unnecessary to attend both meetings.

Dates to Remember

August 23rd: Tornado Drill

September 2nd: No School

September 5th: No School

September 13th: Volunteer Training 6:00 pm

September 16th: Volunteer Training 9:00 am

Welcome to First Grade!

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 9^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. 

School Supply List:

1 pair of scissors

1 package of post-it/sticky notes

1 small school box

1 package 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 glue bottle

1 small flashlight

Wish List Items:

Washable markers

Extra glue sticks

Extra black dry erase markers

*We do NOT need tissues, earbuds, or pocket folders with prongs! :)

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 11th.  The first bell rings at 8:20 and school officially starts at 8:40 each day. 

I also have one more bit of information to announce. My husband and I recently welcomed a new baby boy into our family just two weeks ago.  Because of this, I will be taking some time off at the beginning of the year. Don’t worry! Dr. Prevo and I selected a wonderful person to fill in for me while I’m gone.  Her name is Ms. Baker, and she has a degree in in elementary education. She will be at Meet the Teacher Night, so you will have a chance to meet her before school actually begins.  Let me know if you have any questions.  You can email me at laurahappel@willardschools.net. Thank you all for being so understanding while I take this time with my family.

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

Mrs. Happel :0)

Last Minute Details

Hello First Grade Families! Can you believe that next week is the last week of school?! This year has really flown by.  Here is a list of things to keep in mind for next week:

1) Monday is field day.  First grade will have Field Day in the morning.  This will be a really exciting day.  Coach has planned several water activities. Make sure your kiddo wears tennis shoes that can get dirty or wet.  They should also bring a change of clothes and shoes.  Your child will be pretty miserable the rest of the day if they do not bring an extra set of clothes! 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.

2) Our last Tiger Pride Assembly will be on the last day of school.  This will be a very long assembly because there are several activities planned.  Our annual Locks of Love event will happen, and we will watch all the students who participated in the Talent Show perform.

3) The last day of school is also a ½ day.  We will dismiss at 12:30.

4) We have already started cleaning out our cubbies.  Keep an eye out for items in your child’s backpack. I plan on sending home things a little at a time, so their backpacks do not get too heavy.

I hope this helps keep all the craziness of the last week of school under control.  Feel free to let me know if I missed anything!

April 25th - April 29th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Reading nonfiction text

Going back in the text to find answers to questions

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: myself, everyone, few, being, & really

Word Chunk: “oa” & “ur”

Word Family: “aw”

Writing:

Writing Realistic Fiction Stories

Fourth quarter writing prompt (this piece will be scored using a rubric and will be reflected on your child’s grade card)

Math:

Fraction review

Dividing shapes into quarters and halves

Theme:

Classifying animals (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, etc.). 

Guided Reading Books

If your child has a guided reading envelope and/or a guided reading book at home from any previous weeks, could you please return it to school as soon as possible. We are making sure our guided reading library is intact and ready for next year, and if you could help us out with making sure they are all returned, it would be greatly appreciated!

Field Day

Field Day will be Monday, May 16th. 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

•        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!

Summer School

Summer school registration forms came home in your child’s take home folder several weeks ago.  Forms have to be completed ONLINE by May 2nd.  I encourage everyone to attend summer school. Even if your child is doing well academically, summer break is very long.  Most students lose some of the progress they made during the school year.   Keep that in mind while making your summer plans.

Dates to Remember

May 5^th: Talent Show

May 16th: Field Day

May 20th: Last Day of School Dismiss at 12:30

April 18th- April 22nd

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Reading nonfiction text

Going back in the text to find answers to questions

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: everything, wouldn’t, need, kind, & different.

Word Chunk: “ee” & “ou”

Word Family: “ow”

Writing:

Writing Realistic Fiction Stories

Using quotations when our characters talk

Replacing the word “said” with fancier words

Math:

Identifying 2D shapes (square, rectangle, triangle, hexagon, and trapezoid)

Reviewing shape attributes (sides and corners)

Theme:

Classifying animals (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, etc.). 

Summer School

Summer school registration forms came home in your child’s take home folder several weeks ago.  Forms have to be completed ONLINE by May 2nd.  I encourage everyone to attend summer school. Even if your child is doing well academically, summer break is very long.  Most students lose some of the progress they made during the school year.   Keep that in mind while making your summer plans.

Read! Read! Read!

Can you believe that first grade is almost over? That means that end of the year reading assessments are right around the corner.  Willard has very high reading expectations.  Please make time to read with your child nightly. Thank you all for your support!

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!

Dates to Remember

April 27th: Tiger Pride Assembly

May 16th: Field Day

May 20th: Last Day of School

April 4th - April 8th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Good readers make predictions using evidence from the text and picture clues

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: couldn’t, either, thought, they’re, & while

Word Chunk: “ui”

Word Family: “oat”

Writing:

Writing Realistic Fiction Stories

Writing stories that have characters, a problem, and a solution

Making our characters come to life by using dialogue, describing events step by step, and describing our character feelings

Math:

Place Value

Using the 120 chart to identify numbers

Finding 10 more, 10 less, 20 more, and 20 less for a specific number using the 12o chart

Theme:

What plants need to grow

Bean experiment and observing

Nature Center Field Trip

We had such a wonderful time on our field trip this week.  Thank you all who came and enjoyed the day with us.  For those of you who were unable to make it, I have uploaded several pictures onto my classroom website (mrshappelslittleapples.blogspot.com).  Click on the Classroom Pictures tab to view them.

Reading

We only have 6 weeks of first grade left! Can you believe it? Please make reading a priority at home.  End of the year DRA testing is approaching fast.  Any additional reading practice will greatly benefit your child. 

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!

Dates to Remember

April 27th: Tiger Pride Assembly

May 16th: Field Day

May 20th: Last Day of School