Monday, September 27, 2010

Spelling Words:
in, pin, pig, big, dig, did, had, sat, too no

Spelling tic-tac-toe is in the homework folder tonight. Please choose at least three activities from the sheet to complete. Parents, you must sign the sheet and send back to school on Friday. Spelling words should be practiced each night to be successful on Friday's test.

Math Homework:

You will find a blue math homework sheet in your child's folder tonight. Please complete the front and back WITH your child. This is to better prepare you child for our math test tomorrow. The homework needs to be returned tomorrow (Tuesday). Thank you for all of your continued support.

FIRE DRILL!

Today we had our first fire drill of the year. We walked very quietly out of the building and lined up in the front lawn. It is important to talk to your child about fire safety at school as well as at home. Mrs. Hagen's class did a wonderful job of listening very carefully to the directions of Mrs. Swanson. Having such wonderful listening ears ensures our safety. Yeah 1-4! I am very proud of you! Keep up the good work!

Picture Day is TOMORROW! Please send your child's picture form in!

Friday, September 24, 2010

iPod Touch

Today we used the iPod Touch cart that our school has. It was sooooo neat! We were able to use apps that helped us with our math facts and word building. We can't wait to use them again. Everyone in class was respectful of the iPods and followed all directions! Mrs. Hagen was very proud of her class. It is amazing just how tech savvy first graders are!

4th Grade Buddies

Mrs. Hagen's First Graders and Mr. Picciolio's Fourth Graders have teamed up to be buddies. We met our buddies for the first time and they helped us read. It is great to listen to the older kids read us stories. We also love having our buddies there to help us when we are reading and stuck on a hard word. Thank you buddies for a great reading time! We can't wait until next time.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND! REMEMBER TO KEEP READING!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

YEAH!

We had an OUTSTANDING day! I loved being a teacher today. I saw tons of lightbulbs go on and we moved major mountains in our learning. I can not stress how wonderful it is to have a day like today. Keep up the good work and I am looking forward to another AWESOME day tomorrow!

Cheer Spelling...

Ask your child about the fun way we practiced our sight words today! We cheered all the letters in the words and had movements to go with them. When a letter is tall, we reach for the stars. When a letter is small, we put our hands on our hips. When the letter is long and goes underground, we touch the floor. Have your child demonstrate for you. We had a blast and I know you will too!

REMINDER: Spelling Test is TOMORROW! Practice, practice, practice!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!

This was our focus of today. We seem to be having a difficult time settling into the school routine. Please remind your children that their job is to learn at school. Throughout the day we are needing many reminders to stay on task, listen when the teacher is talking and be respectful of our classmates. First grade is a very important year in your child's academic career. Here is where we learn most of thephonics that lead to our reading success. I want all first graders to feel successful and happy. With a classroom full of respectful and kind students, I know this will not be a problem.

SPELLING:

Remember to continue to practice your spelling words all week. On Friday, return the tic-tac-toe sheet with a parent signature. I would also like you to mark off all the activities completed by your child. Don't feel as though you have to stop at 3 activities. Do as many as time allows. The more practice the better. If your child has CHALLENGE WORDS taped on the bottom of their pretest, please practice those words. It is important that children are challenged!

School Pictures:

Please send back your school picture form with payment as soon as possible. It is important that every student have a form for picture day, next week. I willcollect them as they come in andhold on to themuntil picture day arrives. Thank you! I can't wait to see all the smiles!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

MATH

This week in math we have been working on addition. It is important that every student understands what an addition number sentence looks like. Please review with your child that an addition number sentence looks like this:

______ + ______ =SUM

We will be having a math test on Friday. Look for the math review homework in Thursday nights Homework Folder. Math homework will always come home the night before the test. This can be your clue about test dates.

PURPLE

Today we completed the PURPLE page in our color book. Ask your child to share the PURPLE song we learned today. We also read "Harold and the Purple Crayon." This is a great book that sparks tons of imagination and creativity. It has always proven to be one of the children's favorite books.

"Short A"

All week we have been focusing on the "short a" sound. I use the visual cue of eating an apple, to spark recall. While doing the visual cue, we also recite, "a, a, apple." Have your child demonstrate for you.

A great idea for practicing "short a" is to build short a words. In class we build one word and just change a single letter to create a totally different word. This also leads into great discussions and teaching opportunities revolving around rhyming.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Testing, Testing, Testing...

Today, we had a substitute teacher all morning so that Mrs. Hagen could listen to us read. Mrs. Hagen is really impressed with all of the wonderful students that are in her room. Parents, please remember to work each night on spelling words, sight words, letters and sounds. As the year goes forward, we will be working on reading fluency (how many correct words you can read in a timed set). Thank you first graders for all of your hard work today.

Today we had media with Mrs. Williams and Art with Mrs. Olaussen. I hope everyone is enjoying sharing their library books at home with their families.

There is NO homework tonight. Please continue to practice your spelling words each night. Remember that the spelling homework is not due until Friday. Please keep the spelling at home and practice each night.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Shirley Hills Rocks!

This morning we started our day off with a special assembly. We had a blast listening to the Shirley Hills Rock Band and dancing in the dark with neon bracelets! Please ask your students to share their exciting morning with you! Each child will be bringing home a glow-in-the-dark bracelet. Please have your child keep his or her bracelet at home for safe keeping.

SpELLinG HoMewOrK

We took our first spelling pretest today! In your child's homework folder is their spelling homework for the week. Please have them work on it a little each night and then send it back to school on Friday. If your child achieved 8 or more words correct, they have 5 additional words to practice for challenge. We will be taking our spelling test on Friday morning! Have fun practicing.

BOOK ORDERS

Just a reminder to send back your books orders by Thursday, September 16th. I would like to send the order in by late Thursday afternoon. Thank you for all that have ordered. Each order earns our classroom new books!

Purple Slip Winners!

Morgan and Katie earned Purple Slips today! They did a fantastic job during partner reading. I loved listening to them read our story, "TAP." Great job girls!

Day 3

Thank you everyone for sending back the handwriting homework and homework folders. There is no homework tonight! Starting next week we will begin our regular homework routine. I think I can hear the moans from here! Thanks for a great week so far. I am looking forward to a wonderful year!

ORANGE

Today we did the second page of our color book. Today's color is ORANGE. For today's color we listed all things that are orange, we read "Spookley the Square Pumpkin," we made our own Spookley and we watched a Spookley the Square Pumpkin movie. Wow were we busy. At least we had a lot of fun. Oh, and make sure you ask your child to share the ORANGE song we learned.

I want to thank the Witte family for sending in a couple fun pics from this week. If you have any pics that you would like to share on the blog from open house or the first week of school, please email them to me and I will be glad to share them.

Just a reminder that tomorrow, Friday, September 10th is the Back To School BBQ. Please join us in the cafeteria for some socializing and great food.

Second Day

Purple Slip Winners

Today Mrs. Hagen chose 5 purple slip winners. These boys and girls followed all of the classroom expectations all day long. We are very proud of our classroom behaviors. The 5 purple slips went to..............

1. Haakon

2. Gabrielle

3. Drew

4. Eric

5. Libby

Thank you boys and girls for all of your hard work!

What we want to learn in First Grade...

"I want to learn all kinds of math" -- Drew

"I want to learn everything about science" -- Jake

"I want to make kittens in art" -- Ava

"I want to learn to count to 100" -- Morgan

"I want to learn how to play music" -- Eathon

"I want to learn about the weather" -- McKayla

"I want to learn about the Earth" -- Jacob

"I want to learn how to read books" -- Grace

First Day Of School

Welcome First Graders!

It was an exciting and eventful day. I am sure everyone was tired when they got home, I know I was! Today we made a "Getting To Know You" necklace, created classroom expectations, made our September calendar and learned how to use the SmartBoard. We sure were busy and there was a lot of new information to take in. Tomorrow we will remind ourselves of all the important information we learned today.

Below are the 10 expectations that we as a class came up with and pledge to follow:

1. No talking when the teacher is talking

2. Raise your hand when you want to share

3. No blurting

4. Walk quietly in the hallway

5. Be kind and respectful to everyone

6. Keep your hands and feet to yourself

7. Have fun

8. Do your best work

9. Listen carefully to all directions

10. Be safe

With these expectations, I know our classroom will run smoothly and be a fun place to spend our days.

Parents, please remember to meet your students in the gym if they are being picked up at the end of the day. Also, remember to sign them out in the gym. For the safety of our students, we need to know who our children are leaving with.

Thanks again for a wonderful first day. I look forward to a great year!