Ms. Parrett's Weekly Update
Volume 5 Week of 9/28/15
Check out what's happening in our classroom this week:
Reading
Once again on Friday, each student checked out a Just Right book on their level from the library. I asked the students to take the book home this weekend to read. I would like each student to take an A/R (Accelerated Reader) Test at school by Thursday of this week on their book. Please have them return their book once they have read it twice at home and let me know they are ready to take their test. Each student was also allowed to check out an On Deck book.
This week we will begin working on identifying the characters, setting, beginning, middle, end, and the central message/lesson of a story. I will read a book to the class. We will fill in a Graphic Organizer identifying these story elements.
Writing
We will continue working on writing small moment narrative stories. Last week I introduced the concept of beginning, middle, end of stories. I taught that the characters and setting should be introduced in the first few sentences of your story - beginning. This week we will talk about the contents of the middle of the story (problem or giving details about what you did), and an ending (solving the problem or wrapping up the story withe a closing).
Phonics
We have been practicing listening to the sounds in a given 3 letter word and tapping these sounds out on our fingers. We will continue this skill along with the introduction of Trick Words (Sight Words). The following Trick Words will be introduced this week: the, a, and, is, his, of. These words will be put on the Word Wall in the classroom. After each word is introduced in class, it is expected to always be spelled correctly in any assignments/writings done in class as all the Trick Words are on the Word Wall for all students to see. If you child is not already familiar with these words, please make flashcards and begin working on them each night at home. They should be able to recognize these words in isolation and in text. If your child can already read these words, the next step is to make sure he/she can spell them. New Trick Words will be introduced each week.
Math
We will continue to work on Number Sense for numbers 1-120 which includes counting, recognizing, and writing these numbers at the beginning of Math class each day. The remainder of lesson will be working on collecting data and creating Bar Graphs from the data collected.
Design Principle - Success and Failure
Design Principle for September. "Success is sweet, but mistakes are good food." We will continue talking about this principle by discussing what these words mean and how they apply to a First Grader's life at school and at home. We will read the following books and discuss how the characters responded to success and failure - Brave Irene and The Little Engine That Could
Social Studies
We have now learned about American Folk Heroes Johnny Appleseed, John Henry, Paul Bunyan, and Davy Crockett. We will finish this unit off by talking about Annie Oakley early in the week. Later in the week we will begin a unit on Historical Figures in history beginning with Thomas Jefferson, Lewis & Clark, and Sacagawea.
Homework
From my end the Reading Homework seemed to be a success last week! All book bags were returned on Friday - THANK YOU!! We will continue with the same procedure for this week. Those students that are on levels I and above will receive 4 books on Monday in a Ziploc bag. I did see the new shipment of cloth colored bags in the library on Friday. So hopefully next week all levels will have the colored cloth bags.
If you did not do so last week, please return the Reading at Home Card that was in the colored bags. Each bag comes with a card so those cards were not meant for you to keep. I apologize for not mentioning that last week.
**The Ziploc bags wii not contain a Reading at Home Card this week.
Math Homework begins this week. Your child will receive a packet of 4 worksheets pertaining to Number Sense and Graphing. The idea is to complete one sheet a night. However, I understand about extra curricular activities that occur in the evenings so complete the sheets as you see fit throughout the week. Please return the completed packet each Friday along with the colored Leveled Book Bags.
On Tuesday, I will send home a John Henry packet to be completed with your child at your discretion. You are certainly welcome to assist your child with this packet. Some students may be able to complete on their own, which is fine, but please check over it before it is returned to school. This packet is due Friday October 9th.
Information on Conferences
Parent Conference began last week. They will continue on Tuesday this week. If you have not signed up for time, simply go to our Shutterfly Website Page, click on the Volunteer Tab, click on the Parent Conferences Tab under Mystery Reader.
LOTS OF STUFF GOING ON THIS WEEK AT SCHOOL!!!
Lucky Milk Carton Contest - in honor of World School Milk Day on 9/30/15, decorate a milk carton in a fun way. Leave the milk carton on the back table in the cafeteria on Tuesday September 29th. Winners will be announced Wednesday the 30th.
Individual Picture Day - Tuesday September 29th
Pasta & Prose - Tuesday 5-7pm. An evening of Pasta, Bingo, and the Book Fair. $5.00 per person payable at the door (cash/credit/debit card).
JDRF One Walk Fundraiser - to support Charlie Thompson, a Kindergartener at WE with Type 1 Diabetes. The WE Family is supporting his team, Charlie's Angels. A detailed flyer went home about this event on Thursday 9/24. If you would like more information about this amazing opportunity to give back, I will be happy to send home another copy of the flyer with the options of how you can support Charlie and his team of Angels :)
Upcoming Dates:
October 5th-8th - 1st grade - CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test)
October 6 PTA Meeting (6:30 PM in Media Center)
October 8 DEF Boil event
October 9 International Walk & Roll to School Day
October 9 Parents' Night Out by DHS Chorus
October 10 Oakhurst Arts 5K Run (9:00 AM @ F.Ave)
October 12 - 16 CSD Homecoming
October 13 CSD Board Meeting (6:30 PM @ 125 Electric Ave.)
October 16 Homecoming Parade (5:45 PM & Football Game (7:30 PM)