February 13th - February 17th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Good readers go back in the book they are reading to find answers to questions

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: out, quit, teacher, rain, favorite

Word Chunk: “ay” and “ai”

Word Family: “_ick”

Writing:

Opinion Writing

Brainstormed topics that we can write opinions about

Adding more details to our opinion writing

Math:

Topic 9 assessment

Counting 10s to add two digit numbers

Adding 10 to any number mentally

Theme:

Who was George Washington?

Who was Abraham Lincoln?

President silhouette project

McTeacher Night

On February 28th 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!

Spring Conferences

This year Spring Conferences will be March  28th and 30th. 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 doesn’t attend. More information will go home about this when time gets closer. 

Dates to Remember

February 20th: Make Up Snow Day

February 23rd: 120th Day of School 

February 28th: McTeacher Night

March 9th: First Grade Music Program 2:30 & 7:00

March 10th: Dismiss at 12:30

March 28th & 30th: Spring Conferences

April 20th: Field Trip to the Nature Center

March 13th - 17th: Spring Break

January 30th- February 3

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Expanding vocabulary: tuning into interesting words when we read books

Collecting words from the books we read to use them in our writing

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: school, children, boy, animal, & night

Word Chunk: “ie” and “igh”

Word Family: “_ake”

Writing:

Opinion Writing

Brainstormed topics we can write opinions about

Adding more details to our opinion writing

Math:

Topic 8 assessment

Introduction to topic 9

Comparing 2 digit numbers

Theme:

Types of matter

How can matter change?

Conducted a matter experiment

Valentine’s Party

Our Valentine’s Day party will be on Friday, February 10th.  For this day, your child is invited to bring valentines to pass out, as well as a box or bag to keep their valentines safe. Your child can make a Valentine Box (or bag) at home.  They can be as simple as a decorated brown paper bag or as complicated as papier-mâché. It’s up to you!  Just make sure there is an opening for first graders to easily place their valentines into. Your child needs to bring a valentine for each child in our class. These can be store bought or homemade! A list of student names went home earlier this week.

Coin Drive

Starting February 6th, WOHE will be doing our annual coin drive to benefit Willard Children’s Charitable Foundation. Our challenge will be to use our little bit of loose change to make a BIG difference! Here is how the competition will work:

1) Each teacher will have their own jar to collect coins.

2)Only pennies should be placed in our classroom jar

3)All silver coins and dollars should be placed in other teacher’s jars. Silver coins decrease the total for our classroom.

4)The class with the highest overall total wins a PARTY!

Dates to Remember

February 6th-10th: Coin Drive

February 10th: Valentine’s Day Party

February 10th: Dismiss at 12:30

February 20th: Make Up Snow Day

February 28th: McTeacher Night

March 9th: First Grade Music Program 2:30 & 7:00

March 10th: Dismiss at 12:30

April 20th: Field Trip to the Nature Cent

January 23rd - January 27th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Expanding vocabulary: tuning into interesting words when we read books

Collecting words from the books we read to use them in our writing

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: gave, us, saw, house, & want

Word Chunk: “oa”

Word Family: “_ash”

Writing:

Opinion Writing

Using “sparkly” words in our writing

Math:

Place Value

Using tens and ones to show number values

Theme:

Goods and services

Creating a Goods and Services poster

Valentine Boxes

On Friday February 10th, we will be having our Valentine’s Day Celebration! Your student is invited to create a Valentine’s box at home and then bring it to school on that day. I will be sending more information home about the party as time gets closer.

Coin Drive

Starting February 6th, WOHE will be doing our annual coin drive to benefit Willard Children’s Charitable Foundation. Our challenge will be to use our little bit of loose change to make a BIG difference! Here is how the competition will work:

1. Each teacher will have their own jar to collect coins.

2. Only pennies should be placed in our classroom jar

3. All silver coins and dollars should be placed in other teacher’s jars. Silver coins decrease the total for our classroom.

4. The class with the highest overall total wins a PARTY!

Make Up Snow Day

February 20th is now a make up snow day.  Tell your kiddo to please stop doing snow dances!

Dates to Remember

February 2nd: Picture Day

February 6th-10th: Coin Drive

February 10th: Valentine’s Day Party

February 10th: Dismiss at 12:30

February 20th: Make Up Snow Day

February 28th: McTeacher Night

March 9th: First Grade Music Program 2:30 & 7:00

March 10th: Dismiss at 12:30

April 20th: Field Trip to the Nature Center

January 9th- January 13th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Reviewing Daily 5 routines and expectations

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: best, friend, can’t, won’t, & pretty

Word Chunk: “ea” & “ee”

Word Family: “_ame”

Writing:

Opinion Writing

Writing a topic sentence stating our opinion

Including three details in the middle

Writing an ending sentence to our opinion stories

Math:

Counting by one’s and ten’s,

Counting on from any number between 0-120

Filling in missing numbers

Adding tens and ones

Theme:

Writing New Year’s Resolutions

Creating goals to challenge ourselves

Classroom Pictures

I have uploaded even more pictures onto this classroom blog. Click on the Classroom Pictures tab to see some of the fun things that have been going on in our classroom.

Report Cards

Report cards for second quarter went home Thursday. Remember, many of these skills do not have to be mastered until the end of first grade. Feel free to ask me any questions you might have!

Make-Up Snow Day

February 20th is now a make-up snow day.  Tell your kiddo to please stop doing snow dances!

Dates to Remember

January 16th: No School

February 10th: Dismiss at 12:30

February 20th: Make Up Snow Day

March 20th: Dismiss at 12:30

April 20th: Field Trip to the Nature Center

December 12th- December 16th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

End of the quarter reading level assessment

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: come, because, here, look, & why

Contractions

Writing:

Nonfiction Writing/Teaching Books

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

Math:

Collecting and organizing data

Tally and picture graphs

Answering questions about graphs

Theme:

Maps and how we use them

Me on the Map project

Town, state, country, continent, and world

Tiger Pride Assembly

On December 21st, we will have our monthly Tiger Pride Assembly. It will be at 10:00, because we are releasing early that day.  I will give away PAWS awards to students who show PAWS behavior (P: Pay Attention, A: Act Positively, W: Work Hard, & S: Show Self-Control). I will send a secret note or email to you if your kiddo will be recognized.

Classroom Pictures

I have uploaded even more pictures onto our classroom blog. Click on the Classroom Pictures tab to see some of the fun things that have been going on in our classroom.

Winter Weather

Winter weather is here!  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!

Holiday Party

Our Holiday Party will be December 21st from 8:45-10:00. Feel free to come and enjoy the fun!

Dates to Remember

December 21st: Early Dismiss at 12:30

December 21st: Holiday Party 8:45

December 21st:  Tiger Pride Assembly 10:00

December 22nd- January 4th: Christmas Break

April 20th: Field Trip to the Nature Center

November 28th- December 2nd

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Asking questions before reading nonfiction text

Retelling facts in nonfiction text

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: after, where, very, get, little

Word Family: _all

Silent e

Writing:

Nonfiction Writing/Teaching Books

Writing sentences to end our nonfiction books

Math:

Adding 3 numbers up to 20

Word problems with 3 addends

True and false equation

Theme:

Maps and how we use them

Me on the Map project

Town, state, country, continent, and world

Ronald McDonald House

Mrs. McKinney’s class is collecting items for the Ronald McDonald House, and I want our class to help! Here is a list of items that you can donate to help this great program:

Magic Erasers        

Lysol

Small Trash Bags        

Bathroom Cleaner

Comet     

Windex

Clorox Wipes     

White Bath Towels

Disinfecting/bleach spray cleaner

Fall Weather

Fall weather is here!  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!

Holiday Party

Our Holiday Party will be December 21st from 8:45-10:00. Feel free to come and enjoy the fun!

Dates to Remember

December 21st: Early Dismiss at 12:30

December 21st: Holiday Party 8:45

December 21st:  Tiger Pride Assembly 10:00

December 22nd- January 4th: Christmas Break

April 20th: Field Trip to the Nature Center

November 14th - November 18th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Identifying and knowing the purpose of nonfiction text features: headings, table of content, glossary, captions, labels, and maps

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: made, over, did, & down

Word Family: _ug

Controlled R- ir, ur, & er

Writing:

Nonfiction Writing/Teaching Books

Writing introductions for our books

How to be a strong speller

Math:

Unit 4 review and assessment

Theme:

First Thanksgiving

Cornucopia project

Placemat project

Thanksgiving feast in classroom

Happy Thanksgiving

I am so grateful for each one of you and for the opportunity to get to work with your amazing kiddo! Have a great holiday and a great break! 

Pictures and Videos

I upload three Veteran’s Day videos of the kiddos performing on our classroom blog (see below).  I also plan on uploading pictures of our Thanksgiving feast this weekend.  Feel free to visit the blog and check them out!

Fall Weather

I know it is hard to believe, but fall weather is coming!  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!

Tiger Pride Assembly

On November 30th, we will have our third Tiger Pride Assembly. Come and enjoy the fun!

Dates to Remember

November 23rd-25th: Thanksgiving Break

December 21st: Early Dismiss at 12:30

December 2nd- January 4th: Christmas Break

April 20th: Field Trip to the Nature Center