First Grade News
May 22 - 26, 2017
Lifework
May 22nd is Day 4 of the Encore Rotation
*We are only giving Spelling Lifework on Thursday night for the next two weeks to allow time to work on the Young Author's Day books. However, your child still needs to study the words. We will continue to have Spelling Tests each Friday.
Mon. Read 10 minutes.
Start working on Young Author's Day Books Final Draft.
Start rewriting the story using the rough draft and story map.
Use your best D'Nealian handwriting. Please do not use torn notebook paper for the final draft.
Tues. Read 10 minutes.
Write Young Author's Day Final Draft.
Wed. Read 10 minutes.
Write Young Author's Day Final Draft.
Thurs. Read 10 minutes.
Write Spelling Words 3 times Each
Plan how to put the Young Author's Day story into book form.
Fri. Read 20 minutes.
Plan how to put the Young Author's Day story into book form.
Curriculum Corner
Language Arts: Phonics: Sounds of "ang, ong, and ung." Benchmark End-of-Tear Reading Test. Writing: Personal Narrative. D'Nealian Handwriting letter Yy.
Math: Addition and Subtraction facts to 18, Counting mixed coins, Quarter, Dime, Nickel Penny. Missing addends, story problems.
Social Studies: Mapping, Cardinal Directions. symbols. Creating a map and map legend.
Young Author's Day June 5th and 6th
Young Author’s Day is a school-wide event on June 6th. The first grade students will read their stories on two days. On Monday, June 5th at 1:30pm students WITHOUT Pennington siblings will read. Students WITH Pennington siblings will read on June 6th in the morning starting at 10:00am. Every first grader will write a book and turn it in on Monday, June 5th.
We will start planning the stories at school this week. We will help your child plan an original story with a beginning, middle and end. We will start writing a rough draft in class next week. We will send home what we have accomplished at school on May 19th in the Friday folders. The final draft of the book will be written and illustrated at home. This will be part of our lifework for the two weeks from May 22nd to June 4th. The last few days should be spent practicing reading aloud and doing any “fix-it” work.
We are looking for something written and revised until it is without error. We would like colorful, original illustrations to accompany the story. Each book needs an eye-catching cover with the author and illustrator's first and last name. You should neatly bind the books together with staples, or string. You may even want to get the book bound for a minimal cost at Kinkos or have it laminated (this is NOT required, but it will make the book a keep-sake). This book should represent each student’s very best work! Parents will be invited to come hear the children read their books on Young Author’s Day. (Details will follow.)
School Pictures MUST BE PAID for or Returned
Spring portrait packages were sent home this week for parent review. Families may purchase the entire package or individual sheets. Pay online or with cash, check, or money order. Photos are not prepaid and must be returned if you decide not to purchase. All packages or payments should be returned by May 31, 2017. Questions may be directed to Mrs. Lahann lahannjl@pwcs.edu.
Field Day June 7
Award Ceremony and Picnic June 12
First and second grade classes will be having an award ceremony and end of the year picnic on Monday, June 12th from 9:30 to 12:15. Every student will be receiving an award at the 9:30 ceremony. Following awards, we will have a picnic on the patio and playground. Parents are welcome to bring chairs and blankets. We will provide pizza. Each first grade class is assigned to bring items for the picnic that will be shared among the three classrooms. Please see below for what items you can bring in. There will be a Sign Up Genius email sent out for you to sign up for picnic items.
Mrs. Buck: Fruits and veggies
Mrs. Brandt: Chips & Paper Products
Mrs. Moore: Desserts & Drinks
Sign Up Genius Link for First Grade Picnic
Please use the sign up website to volunteer and/or send in items for our end of year picnic.
Show and Tell Students, Numbers 6 - 10
Please bring your special item on Wednesday
Mrs. Brandt - Anna, Srisha, Leul, Kierrian, Isabella
Mrs. Buck - Rael, Libin, Laveen, Eliana
Mrs. Moore - Jada, Benjamin, Rohit, Giada, Sebastian
Show and Tell
Return all Library Books June 2
All books are due back in the library by Friday, June 2. Lost or damaged books must also be paid for by that date. Checks payable to Pennington or cash (exact change) are acceptable when settling student accounts. We do not charge late fines, only the replacement cost of the book. Questions may be directed to Mrs. Lahann. lahannjl@pwcs.edu
Log Student Community Service Hours and Parent Volunteer Hours by June 2nd
Student Community Service Hours need to be documented in the agenda by June 2nd. Parent volunteer hours must also be logged by June 2nd. Each first grade student needs at least 10 hours of community service. Parents need 10 hours of school volunteer service per child enrolled at Pennington. These things must be in place in order for students to participate in the end-of-year activities. If you have volunteered your time at Pennington and need to enter those hours, please log on to the volunteer website (www.v-volunteer.com, click “forgot password” and enter your volunteer email and click “submit.” The volunteer system will email logon instructions and a temporary password to you). Log your hours as soon as possible. Your hours must be entered in the system to count. If you have questions about the parent volunteer program, you may refer to your parent volunteer registration packet, your student’s agenda, the Pennington website, or contact the volunteer coordinator in the front office at 703.369.6644.
Volunteer Appreciation May 30th - All volunteers welcome!
May Poem
A Good Play
By Robert Louis Stevenson
We built a ship upon the stairs
All made of the back-bedroom chairs,
And filled it full of sofa pillows
To go a-sailing on the billows.
We took a saw and several nails,
And water in the nursery pails;
And Tom said, "Let us also take
An apple and a slice of cake";
Which was enough for Tom and me
To go a-sailing on, till tea.
We sailed along for days and days,
And had the very best of plays;
But Tom fell out and hurt his knee,
So there was no one left but me.