Dingess

Can you believe it!!  It is almost the New Year!!!  We had sooo much FUN today and the kids really enjoyed themselves!!  THANK YOU SOOO Much for all the lovely gifts!! You are spoiling me!! I really appreciate all that you do for me.  It makes coming to work a Joy!!  Be sure to look in and around your child's backpack for a THANK YOU note from me!!  If it accidently was misplaced in all the stuff, please know that I am truly thankful for all your wonderful gifts!  I have a wonderful group of parents! 

Also, a thank you for Maggie and Nate's mom for organizing and working at the wonderful winter party!  Also thanks goes to all the parents that came out to help!  Rylan, Abby, Dominic, Sofia and Nate's dad came out to help!!! Thank you! 

Just a reminder that school is out from Friday, December 23rd through Monday, January 9th. I hope all of you have a wonderful and relaxing vacation! Happy Holiday to everyone and I will see the Dalmatian's shining faces on Jan. 10th in 2012!

  We had another exciting week at the Creek! We had a wonderful time on Tuesday hearing all about Sacagawea. Thank you to our wonderful PTA for sponsoring this "Being There" experience. Our actress was perfect and kept us enchanted for over 45 minutes with her tales of the Shoshone  woman who braved the west to guide Lewis and Clark to the Pacific Ocean. The children were her Little Pomps and she taught them folklore and fact, all with the underlying message of respect. Please ask your children what they learned about her.

In math we're working on 3d shapes and will continue that next week. We will be making 3d shapes out of toothpicks and gum drops. We'll send them home next week after we finish them.

We're looking forward to a great holiday party next Thursday the 22nd. We have some great centers planned for the children.  Thank you sooo much to Maggies's mom for being our Helper parent And Story parent this week.  The kids loved the stories and the candy canes!!!  Also, thanks goes to Liam and Jacob's parents for providing Clorox wipes for the class.  We still have kids with coughs, fevers and yucky running noses, so be sure to remind your kids about proper hygiene to stay well! Now we need some more antibacterial hand sanitizer, if you could send that in, that would be Great!! Next week, Rylan's mom as my helper parent on Tues. and no story parent due to our Party.

There will be NO homework next week. Just go on RAZ and IXL for extra practice and have your child READ a story out loud to you several times during the week!  

Have an Awesome Weekend!! I can't wait to see my Shining Dalmatian faces on Monday morning!! 

Happy Polar Express Day!!!  We all had so much FUN today riding on the Polar Express!! The students had to get their Polar Express tickets punched before they could enter the "train". Then we all had some delicious hot chocolate and cookies provided by Abby's mom...Thank You!!! They were Yummy!! Also, Mrs. Grindstaff was our special speaker to come and read the wonderful Polar Express book to us.  We discussed the main idea, characters and sequenced the story.  Also, we wore our bell necklaces and did some Polar Math too! We even had some time to watch a little of the movie provided by Maggie's mom...Thank you so much!!  

Next week, we will finish up our money chapter and begin shapes.  Be sure to practice counting the change by starting with the highest value amount first.  Also, we finish our study of our 3rd President, Thomas Jefferson, and will begin learning about Lewis and Clark and Sacagwea expeditions.  We will continue to write about our family traditions for this time of year and REad, REad , Read!  

Library day is on Wed.  Send those books back. I've told the kids that if they have finished a book at home with you, they can bring it right back to school and get a new one at 7:30am or after lunch if there is time.  Also, the media specialist put a new item on the Media BLOG off the Sope Creek website.  She taught the kids how to use it and print at home, or write it on a sheet of paper...so when your child goes to the library, they can find a book on his/her level.  Check it out!

A big thank you goes to Liam's mom for being my helper parent this week and to Sofia's mom for being the Storty parent.  Also a big Thank you goes to Alex and Rylan's mom for being the substitute while I went to my monthly teacher training!  Be sure to thank Maggie's mom and Nate's mom for planning your child's Winter Party that is coming up in 2 weeks.  If you signed up to help, we could use you!  Please let them know.  It will be a lot of FUN!! 

Next week, we have our checkpoint testing on Monday and Wednesday morning!  So be sure to get plenty of rest (10 hours is what the doctor says!), eat a healthy breakfast and drink Water!!! Also, Please have your child here On Time!  This test will tell us how much your child has learned so far and what I need to work on from now until May 24th.  It is not a long test at all, so it should not take up too much of the day.  Have a Great Weekend and GO RAIDERS!!!...maybe I'll see you at the Dome!

CogAT Scores are In

We have received first grade CogAT scores.  The vendor does not distribute individual score reports for students/parents.  If you would like a copy of your child's scores, please contact the teacher.

The CogAT measures reasoning and problem-solving skills in three different areas: verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal. Reasoning skills develop gradually throughout a person’s lifetime and at different rates for different individuals. Reasoning abilities are good predictors of success in school and are important outcomes of good schooling.   More questions?  Please download the following reference form with Frequently Asked Questions.  Download FAQ CogAT

Happy December!!!  I hope you all had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving break!  We now have 3 very important learning weeks for your first graders!  And if you saw your child's December calendar in their binder today, you would notice some special things that will be happening this month too!  Next Friday, we will be having a Pajama/Polar Express Day!!!  So many of the kids have wanted to bring in an item to share (ie..stuffed animals, etc.), so I thought next Friday, Dec. 9th, would be our "Bring your Favorite Item to share Day"...nothing big, or out of control.  I thought we could share the item and then during DEAR time, they could read to it or with it.  so have the kids dress in warm PJ's and be sure to have tennis shoes/jackets for recess.  We will have a Special Speaker read the Polar Express to us and I'd love to drink hot chocolate and eat a cookie or a donut hole. Please email me if you can volunteer to send one of those items in on Friday morning!

Sadly, we had to say Good-bye to Mrs. Keller today!  She LOVED the home-made cards you gave her and the signed and framed picture of the Dalmatian class with Mrs. Keller!! Thanks goes to Maggie's mom for coming in during lunch and having us all sign the frame and giving it to Mrs. Keller.  She Loved it!   Also, the kids Loved the Goodie bags she gave all to them.  Enjoy!   We will surely miss her and wish her well with her new class!! 

We loved making our Landform cookies today!  Thanks goes to Maggie's mom and Sofia's mom for sending in the goodies to do so.  Be sure to ask your child about the different landforms and the body motions/song for each!  Next week, we will finish that up and begin our next American hero, Thomas Jefferson.  Also, we will continue with our money chapter.  Be sure to count coins at home!  Some of the kids are struggling with counting by 1's, 5's, and 10's with the coins...Practice!!!  We will continue to read, read, read!!! :0) I love Reading!  Help your child find the main idea, and details of the beginning, middle and end of the story! Thanks goes to Nate's mom for being our helper parent And story parent this week! Next week, Liam's mom will be the helper on Tues. and Sofia's mom the story parent on Thurs.  Also, Alex and Rylan's mom will be our PVS subs for Thurs. from 11:25-1:30 for the teacher training on that day!  Thanks to all the parents for everything you do!!!

Reminder:

1.  Library day is Every Wed.

2.  Send in a healthy snack and water bottle every day!

3.  Label and wear jackets when it is cold out, so nothing gets misplaced.

4.  Try to have your child inside the classroom by 7:45 if he/she is not riding a morning bus.

5.  Read every day!!!