Dear First Grade Families,

Hello! Our first grade classroom has been a busy place this week! Not only are your students getting to know a new teacher, but I am getting to know them! We have been very busy and we are already looking forward to the rest of the school year.

I hope you don’t mind if I take a moment and introduce myself. I live in Stow Creek with my mom, dad, and younger brother. For the past five years I attended Rowan University, where I studied Elementary Education and Geography. I spent a semester abroad in Granada, Spain, where I learned a lot of Spanish. I did my student teaching last fall in Millville. After I graduated last December, I taught basic skills and test prep at Stow Creek Township School and then a fourth grade class in Millville as a long term substitute. I am thrilled to be here at Elmer Borough School and look forward to meeting all of you as the year progresses.

MATH: This week we learned about clocks (to the nearest half-hour), frames and arrows, and counting on a calculator. Please continue to practice telling time on an analog clock, counting and skip counting, and basic addition and subtraction. Ask your student what time it is. Help them count by 1s, 2s, 3, 5s, and 10s.

LANGUAGE ARTS: Our story this week was “Boots for Beth.” We talked about wild animals, growing, and a few other topics. We have been working hard on the “th” sound! Many of our spelling words for the week helped us practice that important sound.

We are continuing work with both the Daily Language Review and running records. Hopefully, next week we will send home our first book bag books.

SPELLING: As I mentioned, this week we worked with words that included the “th” sound. Next week we’re going to be working with the short /u/ sound. The words are: us, bus, bug, rug, mug, must, with, then, she, and use.

SCIENCE: This week our class conducted an investigation and learned about the scientific process. We investigated fruits and discussed why it is important for fruit to have a peel. We also followed a picture story in our books about balloons and compared the weight of a full balloon versus an empty balloon.

ART: This week Mrs. Hoppe and Ms. Evans helped us make adorable handprint Santa Clause crafts! We are looking for new parent volunteers to help us with our art lessons in January! Art is held at 2:10-2:45 on Wednesday afternoons. If you can help us with this program we would appreciate it greatly! Any sort of craft or activity will do! We’ve done everything from flower arrangements to coloring pages and we’ve had a lot of fun with it all! If you’re interested in participating with our class please let me know what date you can teach!

SUPPLIES: First grade is in need of a few snacks other than pretzels. We love our pretzels but wish for a little variety, if you can help us with this need we would appreciate it greatly!

UPCOMING DATES:

12/8 – 7 pm – Public Board of Education Meeting regarding the potential “merger with Pittsgrove
12/14 – 1:00 Day and 7 pm – Holiday Music Program
12/17 - Movie Day trip to Pitman Theater. Please return permission slips!
12/18 – Report Cards
12/23 – 1:00 Day and start of Winter Recess/John Flynn Concert @ 12:00.

Thank you to all of the parents I had the opportunity to meet this week and to all who have welcomed me to the Elmer School Family. I am looking forward to the rest of the year working with your students! If you have any need to contact me at all, please call me at the school, or e-mail me at cburlingame@elmerschool.com.




Miss Burlingame
Mrs. Mahoney
Mrs. Johnson