Mrs. Snook’s 1st Grade News

Week of March 26th

Dear Parents,                        

Here it is the last week before Spring Break!!!  The kids are so excited with the warmer weather that it is hard to get them in after recess!  Let's hope this beautiful weather continues for all of us as we go into a week of vacation.

On Thursday, March 29th, I will be sending home pre-registration forms for each child.  These will be due back to me by Wednesday, April 11, 2007.  If your child is not returning to Garrison Mill for the 2007- 2008 school year, please return the packet to me with a note attached as to when you will be leaving our school.  Also, on Friday, March 30th, your child's March Reading Log will be due.  I will send home a new one for April that day.

I'd like to welcome a new student to our classroom on Monday, the 26th...his name is Seth Allred and he comes to us from the far west---the state of Washington.  We all look forward to him joining our class and making him feel welcomed.

This week we will have Laptops on Tuesday and we will be practicing the CRCT sessions that are on the Garrison Mill website.  Please continue to do this with your child at home as it is such good practice for the real CRCT to be given April 16, 17, and 18.  Also, this week we will be going to the library on Thursday, so, make sure you turned in any book that you have at home or at school.  I'm not sure yet of Mrs. Haas's policy of check-out over Spring Break.  We'll find out on Thursday.

Curriculum News:

Math - we are having a chapter test on Monday covering Chapter 8.  We will then skip ahead to chapter 11 and 12 to cover larger numbers addition and subtraction as well as 2 digit addition and subtraction with no regrouping.  We have already done chapters 9 and 10 on measurement - time, money, inches, etc.  We will introduce 2 digit addition with regrouping to those students that are capable of doing it.  The one major hurdle that comes into play with 2 digit addition or subtraction is where to begin... please help us emphasize that you MUST start adding or subtracting in the one's column, then move left to the ten's column. If they understand this, it will make it so much easier for them in 2nd grade.

Reading:  I continue to work on reading comprehension in all three reading groups.  We talk about different ways for them to find the answers to questions if they don't remember it from the reading passage.  Please go back to last week's Blog for those strategies that you can be using at home, too.

Phonics:  We will work on the /r/ sound written as "wr" as in write.  Also, I will introduce the prefix "un" for an opposite as in happy/unhappy.  We have talked about endings/suffixes such as "ing", "s", "es, "ed", but never has a prefix been mentioned.  The last skill will be the hard and soft "g" as in goat or giant.  This past week we were working on the "aw" sound and I asked them to write the word jaw....most of them spelled it gaw, so this should be a good lesson for that.

Writing:  We have done our "sloppy copy" on Spring writing.  The class will be rewriting their final copy and watercoloring a beautiful spring picture to go with it.  They should enjoy that very much.  I should have them in the hall by the end of the week.

    Here's hoping that each of you have a WONDERFUL Spring Break and come back safe and sound on April 9th.  Enjoy yourselves!!!!

Sincerely,  Peggy Snook

Week of March 19, 2007

Dear Parents,

What a fun-filled week we had last week with all the lepreechaun activities we did!   My thanks to Mary Fisher, Lynne Mayer, Teisha Moseley, Jodi Smith, Claudia Pavlovic, and Kristen Carder for the great St. Patrick's Day activities we did on Friday.....enjoyed by all!!  I hope that you have heard stories by now about our leprechaun visit on Friday.  All of them were so excited to see what he had done...lots of fun.

Upcoming  dates and events to remember:  Wed., 3/21--report cards are sent home;  Thursday, 3/22--Carvel spirit event from 3 - 5pm...ice cream;  Friday, 3/23 the Relay for Life Bake Sale for students in the cafeteria before school, and the following week on Wed., 3/28 is Kindergarten registration.  Thanks for the donations sent in for the 1st Grade Relay for Life basket that will be put together.

Curriculum News:

Reading:  All of my groups for the next two weeks will be working on reading short paragraph stories and working on strategies to answer comprehension question...these would include looking back in the text to find the answers, reading the questions first to know what you will be looking to answer, and finding key words in the text to help you.  This practice will help in getting ready for the CRCT which will be April 16, 17, and 18.  I hope that all of you have been able to get your child on the Garrison Mil Website to do the CRCT practice.  If you have lost your child's login number, please send me a note and I will give you the number.  The password is education.

Phonics:  This week we will be reviewing compound words, rules for changing "y" to "i" and add "es" as in baby = babies, practicing "aw" words as in paw, claw, straw, and working with adding "ed" as an ending/suffix.  Most words we just add "ed" as in jumped, talked, shouted, but in some words with a consonant, vowel, consonant pattern (CVC), the consonant at the end of the word has to be doubled before adding "ed" as in nap = napped, jog = jogged, and stop = stopped.  This last one is a hard concept for many children to understand, so, please point this out in their nightly reading as reinforcement to this rule.   Thanks!

Math:  We continue in the chapter that works on bigger numbers in both addition and subtraction and fact families.  Also, we are working on reinforcing that addition is the opposite of subtraction and working on doubles +1 and -1 as strategies.  Please continue to do flashcards at home with your child.  The Dollar Store has packs of Addition and Subtraction flashcards for $1.00 each.

Science:  We have been working on understanding the Water Cycle and how rain evaporates from puddles, ponds, lakes, rivers, etc. and goes upward into the sky to make the clouds, then the clouds get too heavy and we have condensation in the form or rain or precipitation that returns the water to the earth from the clouds.  Each of them has made a Water Cycle wheel in Literacy Centers to help with this understanding.  We will also be writing about it in class.

Health:  Since this is Health and Nutrition Week, we have introduced the food groups and what makes a good meal either for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  In Literacy Centers, using a chart of the food groups, each one is to draw a good/balanced meal on this place setting master we have.  We also talk about what "junk food" is and why it isn't the best choice for them.

                              

That's about it for the classroom news.  With report cards going out this Wednesday, and no scheduled conferences have been planned, please contact me with a note if you feel we need to meet.  I have already contacted parents that I have some area of concern with their child.

Hope the weather truly will go back to being Spring-like this week since Spring officially comes on Tuesday, March 20th!!   Have a great week.

                  Sincerely,  Peggy Snook

FYI  ---   Mrs. Harrison had Charlie on Friday afternoon, March 16th, at 4:35.  His weight was 7 pds. and 12 oz. and 21 inches long.  Mother and child are doing well and hope to come home from the hospital on Sunday.

Week of March 12th

Dear Parents,

It is hard to believe that Spring Break is just three weeks away!!  I know that all of us are looking forward to more and more warm weather.  Please help me keep your child focused on daily activities and homework.  Also, AR reading is coming along with students trying more and more comprehension tests. GOOD JOB!!!  Wih all the Dr. Suess books that your child read during the week of his birthday, I have been surprised that not a lot of his books have been tried for AR points.  Continue to encourage your child to read more.  Many of my students have invited a lunch guest by earning 4 or 5 out of 5 on 5 AR tests.  If their score is 3 out of 5 or less, it DOES NOT count towards a guest for lunch.   HAVE FUN READING AND PUT THE BOOKS ON YOUR MARCH READING LOG.

February Reading stickers sheets were sent home last week and here are the results:

1st Place with 49 stickers - Aleksandra Lezaj;  2nd Place with 46 stickers - Milan Pavlovic;  3rd Place with 45 stickers - Nathan Fritz;  Honorable Mention with 42 stickers - Anna Mosely and with 41 stickers - Juliana Basal.   CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU FOR READING EVERY NIGHT AND MORE!!  All of my students -- keep up the good reading at home.

This week we will have some fun with cooperative groups of 3 - 4 children building Leprechaun Traps.  A note goes home on the homework sheet today about items that your child can bring by Wednesday or Thursday at the latest, as we will build traps Thursday afternoon.  March Parent Centers will be on Friday, the 16th, from 9:30 - 10:30.  Mrs. Fisher has mentioned some great center ideas....should be fun!!!  There are also some new February class pictures in the hall.  This week I will send home for CRCT practice two packets - one in Language Arts and the other in Math.  These will be for your use only and do not need to be returned to me.  Please take the time to go over these packets together with your child as these are similar to the type questions and problems they will have on the CRCT in mid April after Spring Break.....thank you.

CURRICULUM NEWS:

Math - we are starting a new chapter on reviewing and teaching how addition is the opposite of subtraction....this will also include reviewing fact families.  What I have seen on pretest given in class is many of the children don't know their bigger subtraction facts such as 15 - 8, 18 - 9, 17 - 8, etc.  Please practice on these at home with flashcards as well as keeping sharp on bigger addition problems, too --  7 + 8, 9 + 5, 8 + 9....also, please reinforce doubles (7 + 7) + 1 or minus 1.  This can be a great help to learning the facts.  There is a website for flashcards both 1st and 2nd grade would be appropriate in addition and subtraction.  It is:  www.mathfactcafe.com   We have this site bookmarked on the class computer and it is good practice for all of them.

Phonics:  This week will include the /n/ sound spelled with a kn as in knife, knight.  Along these lines we will work on homophones such as knight/night and knew/new.  Also, we will work with the /oi/ and /oy/ sounds as in boil and toys.

Reading:  One of my groups is reading a book on how different trees are homes to all kinds of animals.  It takes us to Australia for the koala bear and to the desert for owls living in a hollowed out cactus tree.  Many other areas are visited, too.  My other two groups are reading about a special friend....a girl and her dog and how they have grown up together.  With each book, we work on characters, setting, main ideas, and being able to retell the story.

Social Studies:  We are finishing up our study of Canada with writing about what we have learned of our neighbor to the north of the United States.  We have colored a Canadian flag, talked about the maple leaf that is on it, colored maps of the Canadian provinces, and done a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting  what is the same and what is different between the USA and Canada.  We have found some interesting facts and their writing will be from these Venn diagrams and what they have learned about Canada.  I hope to have all of the above mentioned items displayed in the hall later this week for us to share.

Jan Brett books have been a big hit in my classroom.  We have read about 10 of her wonderfully written and illustrated book.  Since the hedgehog, Hedgie, is one of her main characters in many of her books, we cut out a hedgehog shaped book and paper and each one got to write about his/her favorite Jan Brett book.   WHAT FUN WE HAD!!  They are in the hall on display.

This should be a fun week coming up for all the children.  They are so excited about building their leprechaun traps that I have even heard some of them talking about drawing plans on what they want to build!!!  Other activities going on this week include:  Exceptional Children's Week--a packet was sent home on Friday and there is one that PTA is asking that you return filled out.  On Friday, March 16th, there will be Munch and Learn at 11 am, Relay for Life Bake Sale before school, and Bingo Night at Garrison Miil at 6 pm.  Have a great week and enjoy this warm weather!

        HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY ON MARCH 17TH!!!!

Sincerely,  Peggy Snook

Week of March 5th

Dear Parents,

What a busy week we had in our classroom!!  We finished our George Washington and Abraham Lincoln writings and they are in the hall along with the Double- Bubble Map we used to compare and contrast the two presidents.  We shared on Friday our Dr. Seuss reports on one of his books that your child chose.  Many of these books are on the AR list, so, I hope that your child will take advantage of doing a test on one of his books.  These reports are also posted in the hall.  We also have read several of Jan Brett books this week....The Hat, Hedgie's Surprise, and Berlioz the Bear.  I introduced my students to my stuffed hedgehog animal that I have as Jan Brett uses Hedgie in many of her stories.  Since Jan Brett is both the author and the illustrator, I have pointed out to the students how beautiful her pictures are.  We will continue to enjoy other books by her and learn more about her stories in the next two weeks.  She has a wonderful website @ www.janbrett.com  Check it out as the kids do/will love it.      

With all of the above done this past week, we will finally start Canada, our neighbor to the north, on Monday.  The two required areas of study in the 1st grade Social Studies curriculum are Canada and Mexico.  We will study Mexico towards the end of the year near Cinqo do Mayo.

Dates and events coming up this week:   Wednesday, March 7th/Early Release @ 12:20;  Thursday, March 8th /Curriculum Night along with PTA at 6:30.  The focus that night in the classroom will be Math and there will be two sessions beginning at 7:15 - 7:35 and another one from 7:40 - 8:00.  The Book Fair will be this entire week in the Media Center and it will be open on Thursday night for you to visit after the classroom.

Report cards are just around the corner - March 21st.  There will be NO scheduled conference this month as in years past.  This was a county decision.  If there is a need for a conference with you about concerns that I have, I will be contacting you or if you feel the need for one, please let me know after report cards go home.  I have already contacted several parents in January and February with concerns I had.

Curriculum News:

Math - we continue with measurement - reviewing time, money, inches and centimeters.  This next week we will be weighing ourselves in pounds using a scale....should be fun!  In reviewing money  this past week, I see that this is an area that needs some help at home.  We still have the bag of coins at school to practice with, but I feel more practice can be done letting your child count your change or pretend to buy something around the house and they have to count out that much money.  The hardest part is getting them to add on coins to each other---starting with the largest valued coin.  They know what a dollar is, but we've practiced cents from 1 cent to 99 cents.  Your help will be appreciated.

Reading - groups have just swapped between Mrs. Harrison and me.  Lisa is due anytime with her baby boy, Charlie, and she will have a supply teacher in her room until the end of the year.  Will tell you more about reading groups next week, but I do want you to know how delighted I am with the AR tests that your children are taking.   Many have already invited a guest to have lunch with them and that IS GREAT!  Keep up the good work!!! March Literacy Centers will be introduced by mid-week with activities including synonyms, Leprechaun wordsearch, Pot of Gold story, estimation jar, art activity, listening center activity, March Math, math flashcards, AW word wheel, Poem of the Week-"I'm a Little Leprechaun", and we will be introducing the water cycle in a weather activity. 

***FYI---We will be making Leprechaun traps in the classroom on Thursday, March 15th.  Please let your child be thinking about items (not huge things)to bring in to help build their trap.  They will be in groups of 3-4 students and will have to work together cooperatively to construct a trap of some kind.  Last year, my students brought in shoeboxes, small pots, etc.  *****

Don't forget early release this Wednesday and I look forward to seeing you at Curriculum Night on Thursday.   Have a great week!!

Sincerely,  Peggy Snook