Mrs. Dectis's November News
Dear First Grade Families,
Who knows what type of weather Mother Nature has in store for us this year?! Please make sure that your child has the appropriate clothing items for outdoor play. As long as the weather permits us to, we will go outside for recess. It might also be a good idea to have your child bring a hat and/or gloves to school on chilly days.
Important Dates
End of Marking Period: 11/5
Picture Retakes: 11/6
Book Orders due: 11/14
Spirit Day: 11/20
Conferences: 11/25-11/26
No School for Students:
11/25-11/28
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday wishes for November go out to Megan Decker who turns 7 on the 30th!
ELA Update
We have finished theme 1/2 and are already almost halfway through theme 3! We will have a mid-theme test on Friday, November 14th. To prepare, students can just continue to practice spelling, high-frequency words, robust vocabulary, and answer comprehension questions as they read or listen to stories.
Math Update
We have completed Unit 2 and are already working through Unit 3. Please refer to the Home Links that are sent home for our Everyday Math program. As a reminder, the Home Link letters supply parents with all of the answers to the homework. Homework packets are due on the day of the test. If your child does not turn in this packet, it will be reflected on his/her report card.
Centers/Guided Reading
We have been working on ELA centers for the past several weeks. We will be starting guided reading soon as well. During this time, I will meet with a guided reading group while the rest of the class works independently completing learning centers. Science and Social Studies may also be incorporated during this time. The children were placed in guided reading groups based on their reading levels. This allows me to work on specific skills to target the needs of children reading at the same level. Our centers will take place after ELA, from 10:00-10:30.
Science and Social Studies Update
We will start off the month learning about elections, Veteran’s Day and forest animals. Later this month we will be learning about pilgrims and Thanksgiving in social studies.
Home Reader Program
Each night your child is expected to read the book in his/her envelope and record it on the reading log. You are required to sign the log each night. The level that your child is placed at should be a level that he/she is able to read independently. The books may seem easy, but that is the way it is supposed to be. The purpose of reading at your independent reading level at this age is to build fluency, a good reading rate, and to ensure that your child builds the confidence needed to begin a life-long love of reading. Remember that reading is not just being able to read the words on the page. Reading entails building meaning by comprehending what is read and being able to take that information and make inferences, predictions and connections.
If your child finishes the book and still has time left in his/her 15 minute reading time, feel free to supplement their reading with books you have at home, or have your child practice rereading the book. We developed this program to help supply parents with books that their children are capable of reading at an independent level. We hope that this helps meet this need.
Conferences
Reminders
~ Please make sure that your child has 2 sharpened pencils, 2 glue sticks, and 2 dry erase markers in their supplies at school. I do have some extras, but they are starting to run low already!
~ If you are making alternate arrangements for your child after school (different bus, parent pick-up, etc.), please make sure I have a note.
~ Please have your child practice tying his/her shoes, and zipping his/her jacket!
~ A lot of students are choosing to use sidewalk chalk out at recess. If you would be willing to donate some for 1st graders to use, we would really appreciate it. Thank you!