FIRST GRADE FOOTNOTES



Dear First Grade Families: 1/29/10

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

GYM REMINDER: Students must wear/bring sneakers for Physical Education (gym) which is scheduled for Wednesdays and Fridays. Wednesday’s gym is with Mr. Worthington and Friday is with me and Mrs. Johnson. We sometimes combine our Friday gym with the 3rd grade class (because they need the gym at the same time we do) and play some fun team games and relays.

CLASS LIST: A class list will be sent home today for your child to use when completing their Valentine’s Day cards. If your child chooses to send Valentine’s Day cards, please encourage them to send them to ALL of their classmates.

MATH: This week we learned to tell time to the quarter hour. This is a skill that needs to be practiced and reinforced at home. Ask your child what time it is at a quarter past the hour, half past the hour, and a quarter to the hour. We also studied timelines and began our number scrolls. Thanks for sending in all the paper towel tubes! The number scrolls will be independent work for the students to complete in class (with teacher check points along the way). They are writing numbers higher than 100 – and are being challenged to go far as they can go!

READING: We completed our reading test on “Fun With Fish,” and slightly transformed our classroom into a fishbowl with hanging fish models the children decorated!

I’m happy to report many great grades on the Posttest for our 2nd Reading Book! This shows me (and you) that the students have mastered a majority of the skills from this book. We will begin our third Reading book next week with the story “I Am A Butterfly.” Please make sure to cover these books – a paper bag cover works great!

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 – Next week’s spelling words are /ch/ words:
chip, chin, inch, itch, catch, match
wish, shop, how, many
Bonus (High Frequency Words): air, animals, around, fly, live, soon, turns

FYI: If for some reason your child doesn’t have the list of Spelling words, feel free to check the school website--First Grade class page which lists the weekly spelling words in the copy of this letter.

ART AND/OR GUEST READERS:
This week the students enjoyed making Valentine’s Day cards under the direction of Mrs. Holtz. There was a lot of “stamping”, glittering, stickering, and laughter going on. Hopefully you’ll be a recipient of one of these beautiful creations.

We have numerous other Valentine’s Day crafts scheduled for February thanks to you great parents!

UPCOMING DATES:

2/8 – PTA Gym Night
2/11 – Jump Rope for Heart – 9:30-10:30
2/11 – 1st Grade Valentine’s Day Party – 2:00
2/12 – School Closed – President’s Weekend
2/15 – School Closed – President’s Weekend
2/19 – 100th Day of School
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