First Grade News
May 16 - 20, 2016
Lifework
May16 is Day 4 of the Encore Rotation
Mon. Read 10 minutes.
Spelling 3x each
Tues. Read 10 minutes.
Math Worksheet
Wed. Read 10 minutes.
Write the Spelling Words in ABC Order
Thurs. Read 10 minutes.
Study for spelling test.
Phonics Worksheet
Fri. Read 20 minutes.
Optional Lifework: We have learned that climate is a kind of weather a place has year after year. If you could travel anywhere on Earth, where would you go? Write 5 sentences describing the climate there. How would you dress? What are some of the activities that you might do there? What would you eat? What kind of building would you stay in?
Curriculum Corner
Langauge Arts: GATES Reading Test. Phonics: Sounds of "aw," "au." Writing: Begin planning for Young Author's Day Story. D'Nealian Handwriting letter Xx.
Math: Addition and Subtraction facts to 18, Counting mixed coins, Quarter, Dime, Nickel Penny. Missing addends.
Social Studies: Mapping, Cardinal Directions. symbols. Creating a map and map legend. Tentative test date: Friday, May 20th
Young Author's Day June 16th
Young Author’s Day is a school-wide event on June 16th. Every first grader will write a book and turn it in on Friday, June 10th.
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 27th 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 30th to June 9th. 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.)
Show and Tell Students, Numbers 11 - 15
Please bring your special item on Wednesday
Mrs. Brandt - Fable, Alicia, Mustafa, Reed, Ram
Mrs. Buck - Valerie, Zaara, Jaxon, Preston, Swarnim
Mrs. Moore - Sebastian, Myra, Cassie, Gabriella, Clarissa
Show and Tell
GATES Reading Test this week
Spring Fling Class Baskets items are DUE!
Our Spring Festival is May 21st. Each class puts together a themed gift basket to be auctioned off during the fling. These baskets are amazing and elaborate, and raise a ton of money for the school! We are once again asking for your help with class baskets. All items are now due for the classroom baskets. Thank you for your donations.
Spring Fling May 21st 10:00 A.M. -2:00 P.M.
Log Student Community Service Hours and Parent Volunteer Hours by May 31st
Student Community Service Hours need to be documented in the agenda by May 31st. Parent volunteer hours must also be logged by May 31st. 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.
Need More Volunteer Hours? Bake for the Spring Fling!
The Spring Fling needs Cakes and Pies for the Cake Walk and Cookies for the Bake Sale. You can earn 1 parent volunteer hour for 2 cakes or pie, or 2 dozen cookies (2 volunteer hours maximum). Please send in your cakes, pies, and/or cookies by 10:00 a. m. on Saturday, May 21st. Go to the Signup Genius for more volunteer opportunities!
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.