FIRST GRADE FOOTNOTES



Dear First Grade Families: 9/25/09
It’s been a busy week in First Grade! Our students are really getting into the routines of First Grade. The children enjoyed “Favorite Hat Day” and smiled nicely for their individual school pictures.

LOST TEETH! Two in one week! Hailey Nelson and Sophia Riccio are the first ones to lose teeth this school year. Congrats, Hailey and Sophia! I’m sure they’ll be the first of many. Make sure to check the Lost Tooth Chart outside our classroom door.

ROUTINES: Just a reminder to parents: check your child’s agenda for nightly assignments and notes, look through the blue folder for homework, and review and sign the Daily Behavior Chart. They really do need your help with these new routines and responsibilities!

MATH: This week we’ve been using tally marks, completing a monthly calendar, learning weather and temperature routines, working on number sequencing and continuing to practice writing numbers. We have also begun writing number sentences to go along with our number stories. The students have found that numbers, dates, and calendars are everywhere in their daily lives – not just at school.

LANGUAGE ARTS: Our story this week was “Sam and the Bag”. Hopefully you enjoyed hearing your child read this story to you as much as I enjoyed hearing them read it in class! We have added daily phonics and grammar work which will aide the student’s reading and writing skills.

SPELLING: I am happy to say that the results of our second Spelling test were as good as the first test! We will be adding a dictation sentence to the next week’s test. Next week’s words are short /i/: in, pin, pig, wig, win, fin, am, pan, yes, and. Bonus words: make, they, walk. Test will be on Friday.

HANDWRITING: We continue to practice our letters, focusing on shape, size, slant, and spacing of letters using “Space Man”. I have seen a great deal of improvement in writing this week! Ask your child about our chant: “Name and Date. First Graders are really great!” It’s gets them writing every time!

SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES : This week we took a Science Walk to observe things using our 5 senses. It was great to see the students quietly jotting down what they saw, heard, smelled, and touched along the way. Don’t worry, parents, we didn’t practice “taste” on our walk! We saved that for snack time! Our Social Studies work is helping us learn where we live and where NJ is on a map. We will begin to practice and memorize our addresses.

ART: Madison’s Mom and Sophia’s Dad shared a fun pumpkin craft and story with the kids. Thanks Mrs. Holtz and Mr. Riccio! The kids enjoyed the break from me! Parents: there are still a few dates left to fill. See me if you’re interested!

“SPECIALS” CLASSES: Please be aware that your child is also actively involved in Music on Mondays, Counseling on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Health on Tuesdays, Gym on Wednesdays and Fridays, and Technology on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

UPCOMING DATES:
9/29 – Back to School Night – 7 pm
10/2 – School-wide Grandparents Day
10/12 – School Closed – Columbus Day

I am enjoying getting to know and teach your children. They are eager to learn which has made my job a very pleasant one! Enjoy your weekend!

Mrs. Mahoney/Mrs. Johnson