FIRST GRADE FOOTNOTES



Dear First Grade Families: 1/22/10

Shorter week . . . shorter letter. Here’s an overview of what we’ve been doing in First Grade this week:

SUPPLIES NEEDED: Please send in as many empty paper towel (not toilet paper) rolls as you can. Each student will need one to make number scrolls in math.

MATH: As we continued our study of measurement this week, we used the 6-inch ruler, 12-inch ruler, and tape measure to measure various school objects (and elbows, wrists, hand span, ankles, etc.) in class. We also measured and compared the height of all the first graders, “wrote” our name with the straight edge of a ruler, and made designs with the geoboard. Please continue to work with your child on telling time: ask them what time it is currently, what time it will be in 30 minutes, what time they get up, what time they eat dinner, what time they go to bed, etc. Next week we will move on to telling time to the quarter hour (8:15).

READING: Our non-fiction story this week was “Fun with Fish.” READING TEST WILL BE ON TUESDAY, 1/26. This is a story filled with facts, information, and beautiful photos of fish. I hope you enjoyed listening to your child read this story to you. Upon completion of this reading test, we will complete the Posttest on this reading book and prepare ourselves for our third out of five reading books!

BOOK BAGS: These bags will be come home again on Friday and should be returned on Monday. These books are individualized to your child’s reading level. Please take the time to have them read and REREAD these books to you. They should read each book at least 2 times over the weekend and work up to reading them 4 times each.

SPELLING – SPELLING TEST WILL BE ON TUESDAY, 1/26.

This week’s spelling words are /sh/ words: ship, shop, shot, wish, dish, dash
for, more, be, try
Bonus Words (or high frequency words): away, food, funny, hide, how, many, some, their

No new spelling words for the week of 1/26/10.

ART AND/OR GUEST READERS:

This week the students enjoyed listening to the book “Mittens” read by our guest reader, Mrs. Garrison. The students then decorated mittens of their own to display in the hallway. Thanks, Mrs. Garrison!

HELP!! We have decided to open our “Art” time slot to allow for guest readers. If you have a favorite book you’d like to read to our class, please let me know. You can bring a coloring page or have the students “illustrate” a part from the story.

Our art schedule is completely open for March – June 2010 and is scheduled on Wednesdays from 2-3 pm. If you’re interested please see me, email me, stop me in the hall, etc. The students sure do enjoy the break from my teaching and love to have guests in the room!

UPCOMING DATES:

1/25 – PTA Skating Party
2/8 – PTA Gym Night
2/11 – Jump Rope for Heart (parent volunteers will be needed; details to follow)
2/12 – School Closed – President’s Weekend
2/15 – School Closed – President’s Weekend
2/24 – Appel Farm Assembly for students

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions/concerns. Feel free to catch me before/after school, send a note in the homework folder, or email me at dmahoney@elmerschool.com.

Enjoy your weekend!

Mrs. Mahoney/Mrs. Johnson