FIRST GRADE FOOTNOTES

Dear First Grade Families: 6/11/10

Here’s an overview of what’s been going on in First Grade this week:

MATH: We finished up Unit 9 and completed the Assessment. The students seemed to enjoy learning about fractions and adding 2-digit numbers – and were happy to realize these are second grade skills to be further studied next year! Next week we’ll begin Unit 10 which is a review of all the First Grade Math skills. We will also squeeze in our Year-End Math Assessment before the school year ends.

READING: We began our fifth and final reading theme book this week with the fiction story, “The Story of a Blue Bird”. This will be our final reading test. For the remainder of the school year we’ll read the stories in our book and finish working in our “100 Words Kids Need to Read by 1st Grade” booklets.

BOOK BAGS: Congratulations to all the First Graders! They’ve all improved tremendously due to their hard work and your outside reading reinforcement. Thanks for being such good partners in their reading education! Since the Book Bag books needed to be inventoried and the Guided Reading Levels recorded on our reports to Pittsgrove for next year’s homeroom placement, last week was our final week of Book Bags. Look for their final Guided Reading level on their report card.

SPELLING: Next week’s spelling words will be long /a/ai, ay words:
day, say, sail, pail, pay, play, right, high, learn, join
Bonus/High Frequency Words: caught, cold, hurried, near, son, sure

Due to our busy schedule next week, Dr. B’s retirement assembly, ½ day, Field Day, etc. we will not be having a spelling test, but will just review these words and complete the workbook pages that go along with the next story, “Frog and Toad All Year.”

ART: This week we made a special “treasure” for the Dads under the direction of Mrs. Holtz. The kids enjoyed working with glitter paint in the gym and the homemade cupcakes from Mrs. Holtz. Thanks, Mrs. Holtz, you are very good to us!

SCIENCE: This past Tuesday the entire school enjoyed a Science Fair exhibition put on by the Third Graders. Our class got to walk around and see, touch, and even taste some of the experiments. Thanks, Third Grade, for sharing your scientific skills and methods with us! We learned a lot!

DR. B’S RETIREMENT ASSEMBLY: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 – 1:30; While some of this celebration is a surprise for Dr. B, we wanted to let you know that a few of the First Graders will be speaking and the class will be singing a song with Second Grade. Elmer’s long-time, favorite musician, John Flynn will be performing as well. Stop by to enjoy this time with us and our departing Principal.

SUMMER BIRTHDAYS: Reminder: Mrs. Johnson and I would like to celebrate the six First Grade summer birthdays on one day – Thursday, June 17th. If you have a child with a summer birthday and would like to send in a treat, please let us know! We’ll coordinate the celebration.

UPCOMING DATES:
6/16 – 1:30 pm - special celebration for Dr. B – parents are invited
6/17 – AM Snack Time -- Summer Birthday celebration
6/18 – 1:00 dismissal/Field Day
6/21 – 1:00 dismissal
6/22 – 1:00 dismissal/last day of school/whole school picnics

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