Newsletter volume 4

In math, we had our first assessment. Students were assessed on odd and even numbers, finding the larger or smaller number, counting on from different numbers, and identifying a number using the terms 1 or 2 more and 1 or 2 less with the number line 0 to 20.

In Wilson’s Fundations, we have worked on learning the letters p, j, v, w, z, q, y, and z this week. We have now learned all of the sounds and practiced the correct letter formation for every lower case letter in the alphabet. I can’t wait to see how our handwriting improves from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. Keep up the great work!

In Daily 5, we have continued to practice building our stamina for read to self and work on writing. We have started to learn and practice different options they are going to be able to choose for work on writing. So far we have done: squiggle story, sticker story, read, make, write, and illustrate it, and write in their reflection journal.

In writing, we have been practicing telling a story across our fingers and then working on telling and writing a story across pages. This helps us to make sure we are focusing on only 1 topic and including several details and sentences related to that topic.

Important information:

- It is hot outside!!!! It might be a good idea to send a reusable water bottle to school with your child so they can take it out to recess with them.

- Homework- Please make sure your child is taking their time and doing their very best work with homework. Some assignments are being turned in sloppy and/or incomplete. Thanks for your help with this.

- Word Lists- When you child can automatically read all of the words stapled to the inside of their folder, write a note in the Home School Connection and I will test them for a new word list as soon as possible.

Homework for the week of July 30th

Math	Complete attached Math Expressions pages: 2-1 (Homework- front and Targeted Practice - back) 2-2 (Homework- front and Remembering - back)
Spelling	Sight Words this Week: all      at     but     can     in 1.      Practice writing each word 5 times in your best handwriting. (Use the blue handwriting sheet in the back of the homework folder to make sure lines are being used correctly.) 2.      Write each word in a sentence.  Remember to start your sentence with a capital letter, put spaces between your words, and end your sentence with a period (telling sentence) or question mark (asking sentence). Please underline the word you are using in a sentence . An example of a good first grade sentence using the word “go”: is: I go to the store with my family.
Reading	Read your “Book in a Bag” to Mom or Dad and parents complete the Parent Participation Sheet.  Take time to really work through the questions with your child.  Eventually they will be able to answer most of the questions without much prompting.  Your child should continue to read their “Book in a Bag” several times throughout the week. Please make sure the “Parent Participation sheet” is filled out and returned on Friday, with the book.
Wilson’s Fundations	See the yellow “Handwriting Homework” sheet for more information. You need to write each letter 5 times using the correct letter formation on the paper provided. You can use the blue paper in the back of your child’s homework folder as a resource.

Reminder:  Please return your assignments completed, including the “Book in a Bag”, in your Homework Folder on Friday morning!  J

Newsletter for the week of July 23rd

In math, we have been working on odd and even numbers. We have also been working on finding equal partners for even numbers.  For example, 8 can have equal partners because it can have the partners of 4 and 4.  But 7 and 9 cannot have equal partners. We have also been working on finding 1 more, 2 more, 1 less, and 2 less than a number between 0 and 20.

In Wilson’s Fundations, we have worked on learning the letters o, g, d, s, e, u, l, h, and k this week. Once we have learned these letters, I expect the students to form them correctly in their name as well as in their writing.  Keep up the great work!

In Daily 5, we began building our stamina for read to self and work on writing. We made an “I-chart” for each of these rotations and have talked about what the expectations are for students and for the teacher during this time. We started with 3 minutes for each of these rotations and have built our stamina up to 10 minutes so far. Our overall goal is to be able to work independently for 20 minutes.

In writing, we have been focusing on stretching out words and writing down the sounds they hear.  This is a great tool to use for homework too.  As the year goes on, we will learn more about phonemic rules and our spelling will improve, but this is a great tool to always use.  The last thing I want a student to do is stay stuck on a word.

Important information:

-Please continue to bring bus tags back.  Students need to bring those back for 10 more school day.  Thanks!

- Visit the Banks Road Art Room blog! This blog will be a place to discover interesting online activities, and fun community arts happenings, as well as show off what our Banks Road Artists have been up to! Check it out at http://banksart.blogspot.com 

- It is hot outside!!!! It might be a good idea to send a reusable water bottle to school with your child so they can take it out to recess with them.

- Lunch time on Friday- Lunch will be 11:15 to 11:45 on Friday due to the Early Release.

Homework for the week of July 23rd

Math	Complete attached Math Expressions page: 1-16 (Homework- front and Remembering- back) And complete the Journal prompt- Comparing Names in my Family sheet
Reading	Read for at least 10 minutes each night.  Write the titles and minutes on the Reading Log on the back of this assignment sheet.
Writing	Write three (3) sentences about activities you did over track out. Make sure to include details and have a capital at the beginning of the sentence and a period at the end of the complete thought. An example of a good sentence is: “I went to Wrightsville Beach with my family.”

Newsletter for the week of July 16th

Thank you to all of the parents who turned in the “Student Information sheet”. I enjoyed learning more about your child and will work very hard to ensure their first grade experience is a wonderful one!

This week in Social Studies, we worked on coming up with our class rules. And they are as followed: 1. Listen to the teacher. 2. Keep hands and feet to yourself. 3. Use your manners. 4. Say “I can do it!” and always try your best, 5.Be respectful when others are working. And 6. Be a good citizen. Together as a class we also came up with rewards and consequences and talked about how we can be good classroom citizens. That is someone who is a role model to others in our classroom and school.

In math, we have started our daily work with the money flip chart, the secret code cards, number flashes with our fingers, the number path, and number splash. Have your child tell you what we do with each of these items daily.

In Wilson’s Fundations, we have worked on learning the letters a, b, c, f, I, m, n, r, and t this week. I am already seeing improvement with handwriting!  After we have finished all of the lower case letters, we will begin emphasizing our names and writing those the best we can.  We spend so much time on handwriting at the beginning of the year so that the rest of the year they will know how to form their letters correctly.

In reading, we have been discussing how important it is to read as much as possible, because “the more we read, the better we read!”  This can be books, signs, video games, things on television, the comics, or anything else they can find.

In writing, we have been focusing on using correct spaces in our story and adding more to our story because “When we are done, we have just begun.” It’s important to go back and add more to our picture, more to our writing, and then starting another piece.

Important information:

- I would first like to thank all of the parents for bringing in so many wonderful supplies for the beginning of the year.

- We went to the library last week and had a chance to check out 2 library books each.  They are the very first students to check these books out, so please make sure to take care of the books.  I will allow students to go the library and check out new books in the morning before the bell rings and any free time throughout the day.

- Bus riders are required by Wake County to wear their bus tags for the first 20 days of school.  Please make sure your child returns their bus tag each day! We want to make sure they are getting off at the appropriate stop.

- Homework will always be due on Friday.  I will have students pull out their homework on Friday mornings, so it should stay in the folder till Friday.  I will not pull it out before then.

-Please keep the “Home-School Connection” in the homework folder.  I will collect those on Monday and keep for my records. Thanks for your understanding.

Homework for the week of July 16th

Math	Complete attached Math Expressions pages: 1-7 (Homework- front and Targeted Practice- back) 1-15 (Homework- front and Targeted Practice- back)
Writing	Writing workshop is a very important part of first grade.  We often ask our students to write about things that relate to them.  I would like for you to sit down with your child and make a collage.  The collage can consist of pictures that you have taken of family, friends, trips, sports/activities your child participates in, pets, etc…  It can also be pictures cut out of magazines that your child likes if pictures are not available to you.  When you glue the pictures on the cardstock for the collage, please use only one side and make sure the pictures fit on the cardstock.  We will use the other side for something else.  The students will be allowed to use this collage during writing workshop time to help with the writing/story telling process and refer back to it during the school year.
Reading	Read for at least 10 minutes each night.  Write the titles and minutes on the Reading Log on the back of this assignment sheet.

Reminder:  Please return your assignments, completed with name and number, in your Homework Folder on Friday morning!  J

Newsletter for the week of July 9th

Welcome to First Grade! We had a very successful first day of school!  We settled into the classroom and all the boys and girls were such great listeners as we discussed the many routines and procedures that will be a part of each school day.  This week will be coming up with our class rules and appropriate rewards and consequences for our actions.

Communication

-      Student homework for the week, will go home today, the 9^th.  There are two assignments, the first will be due Wednesday, which is their favorite book, and the second is a drawing of where in the house they will do their weekly reading homework. That will be due on Friday.  There is a pink sheet with more information pertaining to this week’s homework coming home in the homework folder today.

-      Each week there will be a new Home-School Connection that stays in the yellow Homework folders.  I will write any comments, praises, or concerns on that days box.  So make sure you check it daily and initial the box. Please leave that sheet in the folder.  I will take them out on the following Monday when the new sheet goes in.

Important information and clarifications:

-      We will have lunch from 11:25 to 11:55 for the entire school year. (Early Release lunch time will be 11:15 to 11:45.) Recess will be from 1:35 to 2:05.  Our specials for the year are as followed: Monday is Music, Tuesday is Art, Wednesday is PE, Thursday is PE, and Friday is Media.  Media will be on Fridays the 1^st and 3^rd quarter and Technology will be on Fridays the 2^nd and 4^th quarters.

-      Each day, students will have the opportunity to have a snack time. I will not provide snacks. If you so wish, please provide a healthy snack and drink for your child daily. We will not have snack time on Early Release days.

-      Volunteering- I will love to have volunteers come and help out in the classroom.  I just ask that you give us the first few weeks of school to get our procedures and routines learned and kinks worked out.  I will be sending sheets home about things you would be interested to volunteer to do in the classroom.  Be on the lookout for this sheet soon!

First and Second Homework Assignments

Learning to read and improving reading skills are some of the most important things your child will learn in first grade.  I’m sure you have already begun this journey by reading to your child at home.  Your child’s first homework assignment is to bring one of their favorite books to school tomorrow or by Wednesday at the latest.  Talk to your child about his/her memories of you reading to him/her.  Talk about books or magazines that cover a favorite topic your child is interested in.  Talk to your child about any books he/she reads, pretends to read or ones you have read to him/her.  Then have your child pick one book to bring to school to share with the class.  It is not necessary that your child is able to read the book on his/her own, but he/she should be familiar with the book.  I would like to keep these books for a week or two while we have discussions about our favorite books and how to cherish them.  I promise we will take good care of them while they are here.  Please put your child’s name on the book.  If it is a library book, put your child’s name on a post-it note inside the front cover.  Thank you so much for your participation!

Each week your child will have reading homework.  It is important for you and your child to consider where in your home is the best place to read.  Does your child need to read in a cozy spot or in an upright chair?   Do they need it to be in a quiet place or do they perform better with the “buzz” of family noise?  Have your child sketch a picture of the best place in their homes for them to read.  Then have your child label the picture.  Don’t forget to have your child put his/her name on his/her drawing.  This assignment is due on Friday.