FIRST GRADE FOOTNOTES



Dear First Grade Families: 3/5/10

Wow! We were actually able to complete a FULL week without any interruptions from snow! This week’s overview includes:

PTA COVERED DISH DINNER/PROGRAM: The students are busy practicing their songs and their lines for this important program on Tuesday, March 16th. Don’t forget to dress your child in beach gear (shorts, t-shirts, flip flops, crocs, etc.). Requests will be sent home next week for special “props” for your child to use during the program. You’re in for a real treat!

LOST TOOTH: Karlee Quenzel lost a tooth this week. This is the third time she’s made the “Lost Tooth” Chart. The tooth fairy certainly is busy at Karlee’s house!

MATH: This week we worked on comparison number stories – who has more money and how much more money; how much do two items weigh all together?; how much more/less does one weigh?; We also continued to work on greater than and less than number sentences, learned several turn-around facts, and began to explore estimation – is 15 closer to 10 or 20? The students are doing a great job in solving our daily math word problems. Soon we’ll be testing on Unit 5 and having our Mid-Year Math assessment. Time sure flies when you’re having fun in Math! Keep working with your child to reinforce these skills we’ve learned in class. Check out the Math links on our 1st grade posting.

READING: Our story this week was a fantasy story entitled, “On the Way to the Pond.” The students did a great job summarizing the story, describing the setting, and discussing the characters in the story. Next week’s selection is a nonfiction story entitled, “Friends Forever.”

BOOK BAGS: Pay special attention to the Book Bags. Many of our students have completed all the books in their current level and the next level books have been sent home. Please let me know how the new level books “fit” your child by completing the form in the bag. I will be asking them to read one of their book bag books to me in the next week or so.

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. Book Bags are to be returned on Mondays.

FYI: The reading goal is to have first graders be independent at Level I upon completion of first grade. Several of our students are already there or past that level!

SPELLING – Next week’s spelling words are words that end with /-le/:
middle, fiddle, wiggle, giggle, puddle, cuddle
fur, bird, were, four
Bonus (High Frequency Words):
each, great, other, place,
school, talk, together

SUPPLIES: First grade is still in need of the following items: snacks (goldfish or animal crackers would be great), large bottles of hand sanitizer, and boxes of soft, non-school-issued tissues! Thanks for making First Grade a clean, comfortable place to learn!

UPCOMING DATES:
3/16 – PTA Covered Dish Dinner and Program
(1st graders presenting on NJ Beaches)
3/17 – 1:00 Day/2nd Marking Period Conferences
3/18 – 1:00 Day/2nd Marking Period Conferences
3/19 – 1:00 Day/2nd Marking Period Conferences
3/20 – Spring Begins!!
5/21 – First Grade Class Trip (more details to follow; chaperones will be needed)

CONFERENCES
Please complete and return the yellow conference schedule form if you would like to set up a conference with me for the 2nd Marking Period. Report cards will be given out at Conferences.

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

Enjoy your weekend!

Mrs. Mahoney/Mrs. Johnson