FIRST GRADE FOOTNOTES


Dear First Grade Families: 3/12/10

Happy (almost) Spring! Here’s an overview of what we’ve been doing this week:

NEW STUDENT: We welcomed a new student, Olivia Lum, to our class this week. Although First Grade is now bursting at the seams, all the students were excited to show Olivia around and get her used to Elmer School. Welcome Olivia!

RECESS BEFORE LUNCH?!?!? Newly implemented at Elmer School this week! Ask your child how they liked having recess before lunch. Our First Grade class tally poll showed that most students liked being able to run around outside before they ate lunch. I’m happy to report that most students came back from lunch more relaxed and ready to settle in to work. Studies show this is one of the benefits of reversing the recess and lunch periods.

LOST TOOTH: It’s a First Grade first! Chloe Gerstenbacher lost 2 teeth in school in this week! Although Chloe’s great smile looks a little different now, she was excited to have her name on the Lost Tooth chart twice in the same week!

PTA COVERED DISH DINNER/PROGRAM: The students are doing an excellent job practicing their songs and their lines for our Tuesday, March 16th program. Don’t forget to dress your child in beach gear (shorts, t-shirts, flip flops, crocs, etc.) for that night. You (and the TV reporters that may be there) are in for a real treat! I am very proud of how they are performing on the stage and learning their parts.

MATH: This week we worked on learning basic addition and subtraction facts, rule and function boxes, and money comparison number stories. We reviewed for and took our Unit 5 Assessment. Next week we will review the many math skills we’ve learned so far this year and take our Mid-Year Math Assessment.

READING: Our story this week was a nonfiction story entitled, “Friends Forever.” We discussed what it means to be a good friend and what activities good friends do together.

Since next week is a short week we will not have a Reading story or test. We will use this time to read our Book Bag books, small group books, and decodable books. This will be a good week to just have fun reading and catch up on our Grammar work!!

BOOK BAGS: 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 –
Since next week is a week filled with half days, we will have a review spelling week. The words will be:

chip, chin, inch, itch, catch, match, how, many
far, farm, arm, art, cart, card, live, soon
quit, quick, quiz, whiz, which, when, who, there
sir, dirt, bird, burn, fur, her, work, grew
middle, fiddle, wiggle, giggle, puddle, cuddle, were, four

SUPPLIES: Thank you to all the parents who sent in supplies this week. We appreciate how you take care of all of us!

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)

WEDDING CONGRATULATIONS: First Grade wants to extend our congratulations to Mrs. Johnson on the wedding of her daughter Courtney this weekend. We are all missing Mrs. Johnson as she takes a few days off to get ready for the wedding, but we look forward to seeing the photos and hearing the great stories from the wedding. Congratulations Courtney and Sean!

CONFERENCES
I look forward to seeing all of you at next week’s conference and sharing your child’s progress with you.

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