clayton

Newsletter for September 24-28, 2007

Language Arts

We will begin our second Reading Book this week with a new story about changes.  This story is called, "An Egg is an Egg."  Children notice how some things can change and others will always stay the same.

Math

We will continue our exploration and study of Subtraction this week.  We will work with horizontal and vertical subtraction and our problem solving skills.

CoGAT Testing

We will have CoGAT Testing for three days this week in the mornings from 8 AM to approximately 10 AM.  Please understand that this test is important since these scores will be utilized to determine Target eligibility for First Grade.  Please make sure your child gets to bed early and eats a good breakfast before coming to school.  Testing begins immediately at 8 AM, so if your child arrives late at school, they will take a makeup test with another certified staff person at a later time. Thanks for your help!

Science

On Friday we will discuss the many forms of Precipitation and read a story about "Oobleck."  If time permits this week, we will make our own "Oobleck" to bring home.  Children really enjoy investigating and using their scientific skills of observation with their "Oobleck".

Newsletter for September 17-21, 2007

Early Release - Wednesday, September 19th

Students will be released two hours early at 12:20.  Please plan accordingly and make sure your child knows how they are going home that day, in case you need to make any changes in transportation.  Thank you.

Language Arts

Our next story will be "Olmo and the Blue Butterfly."  In this story children will watch a boy as he chases a blue butterfly.  As Olmo chases his butterfly, he follows it in many ways.  Children are led to discover that they, too, should follow their dreams.                                           

Math

We will continue our study of Subtraction.  We are using strategies of drawing circles to show the total number, then crossing out the ones being taken away or subtracted.  We will also use the term, "minus".  If pictures are given for our problems, then we know we must cross out the ones being subtracted.  We have talked about these new math vocabulary words: Minus (-), difference (the answer in a subtraction problem), zero, = (is equal to) and subtraction sentences ( example: 7-5=2).  Thanks for helping with our Homework!

Fundations

We are still working on handwriting, trick words, and this week we will add the digraphs: wh, ch, sh, th, and ck.

School Bus Safety Week

We will have a visit from "Buster the Bus" on Thursday, September 20th at 11:15 AM.  Buster reviews all the safety rules that children need to know to stay safe waiting for the bus, on the bus, and exiting a bus.

Donations Needed

We need a box of Saltine crackers for those of us who sometimes forget to bring our afternoon snack.  We also need a donation of twenty miniature plastic houses (Monopoly size) to place in our "tornadoes" when we make these in a few weeks.  Thanks so much for your help with these items!

Newsletter for September 10-14

Thanks for all of your Fund Raiser orders today.  They were turned in this morning.  Yeah for the PTA!

Language Arts

We will read "The Earth and I" and discuss ways we can take care of the Earth and our own environment, both indoors and outdoors.  The students will see a special relationship between a little boy and the Earth in our story.  Please remember we will bring home our books to read and then return them the next day to school.  We go over the vocabulary words in class and write them in our "Word Journals" so help your child find the words in the story.

Fundations

We will begin Unit Two and we will learn how to write and spell many new words.  We will also practice writing dictation sentences.

Math

We are continuing to do some First of the Year Pre-Assessment in class as a whole group.  I am reading the instructions and the students are solving the problems.  However, I have instructed the students that they may not know everything on the test because we are just beginning our new math program.  This information will help guide my instruction.

Guided Reading Books

We started our official guided reading groups this week.  Sometimes I am finding I need to read on a "one-to-one" basis with the children, so as soon as this is complete, we will have more opportunities to bring books home each week.  Thank you for keeping the books in the plastic bags and returning them to class as soon as possible.  Also, thank you for completing the Reading Logs.  Any other books that you child reads can also be added to our Reading Logs and I can replace them as soon as the sheets are complete.  This is a nice record to have to show our progress over the school year.

Science

We had our first Weather video-streaming event this morning with our other First Grade friends in the Media Center.  We returned to class and shared information we learned about the weather.  On Monday I will send home our first "Science Homework" activity as we will need pictures from home to complete our charts in class.    

Have a great weekend!         

Gift Wrap Orders are due on Friday, September 7th

Please return your gift wrap orders by tomorrow or go online to place your order.  So far, our PTA reports that sales are way, way behind last year's total.  Let's support our great Sope Creek PTA!  Thank you!