White's World

September 29-October 3

Wow, this year is just flying by. I can't believe it is already October this week. The chill is in the air and the excitement is in your children's eyes and smiles. Speaking of chill, it was a little on the chilly side this morning and your little ones get a little cool at walk-fit. Please remember that mornings can be cool and your children need to have on a sweater or jacket. 

Snacks... Please remember to send a snack to school with your children everyday. I do keep some for the occasional ..."opps I forgot mine this morning" or "Mom forgot to pack it." Last week I handed out 3to 5 snacks and that could get costly.  I just won't be able to keep them on hand if this becomes the typical.

Permission Slips... Needed... High Touch High Tech... The children will not be allowed to attend without the permission slips returned and signed giving permission. I just don't want anyone to miss out on these performances.

Curriculum News:

Math... We are continuing to tackle subtraction and they are doing a great job at it too! The children are working on learning their math vocabulary, how to read and make a graph, word problems, telling time, tens and ones, and much more. We might even carve a pumpkin, estimate the seeds, and then roast them later this month.

Phonics... We will continue working on our digraphs. This week we will work on the letter "M" and the vowel "E". We will also learn the "ck" rule at the end of a word. The children are starting to learn when to read and spell with "c", "k" and now this week "ck". Hint... when a word is spelled with a ci, ce, or cy.... the c sounds like a "s". Examples... city, cent, cycle... Notice the word cycle has two c's. The first "c" has a "y" after it and sounds like "s" and the other "c" is followed by another letter other then e, i, or y and it makes the "k" sound. So... when "c" is followed my any other letter it most likely will make the "k" sound. Examples... cat, car, cap... When the children start to reconize this rule they will be able to sound out words easier.

Reading... wow... those reading logs are looking  GREAT!!! They are due Wednesday and new logs will come home Wednesday for the month of October! Keep up the Outstanding Job!!!

Handwriting

We will work on the letters r, n, m, and p. Thank you for helping your children practice at home. I notice it in their homework.

Computer... We did our final assessment for our Technology Standards. If you are up at school this week I have put them outside my room by the door. They are Fabulous!!!

Science... We are now learning about the Water Cycle. They started on Friday and are learning the causes and effects of precipitation, condensation, and evaporation. Ask your children what they are learning.

Character Word for the Week... Justice/Fairness

Have a wonderful week! I hope to see you all at the Fall Festival this Friday from 5:00 to 8:00.

Mrs. White

September 29-October 3

September 29th- October 3rd...

• Monday September 29th Reflections due
• Tuesday September 30th First graders will have their Hearing and Vision tested
• October 3rd Friday... Fall Festival  and Fun Run 5:00 to 8:00

...School Spirit Day... Wear your Garrison Mill class T-shirt and come enjoy the festival.

• October 9th Parenting Workshop 10:00
• October 14th Picture Day
• October 15th Early Release
• October 17th ... Last day for Box Tops! 

September 22-26th

   

         Fall offically arrives this week and isn't it beautiful? October is just around the corner and that means lots of fun at the Fall Festival too! Don't forget to pre-order your tickets. I can't wait to see you all again. It is on my calendar to attend!   

Reminder....

Reading parent this week is Molly Bower.

Copy parent this week is Tony Wilkie.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

First grade is an important year to build indepence, self confidence, and responsibility in your child. They need to remember to bring their snacks, folders, homework, library books, etc. Try to take time to work with your children by asking them do you have everything you need for school? Yes, as parents it is often easier to do it ourselves but are we really helping them. :-) Another way to build independence and confidence is to have your child come to class on their own. I really do encourage my parents to let their children ride the bus or if they are a car rider just drop them off at the door and let them be on their way. :-)

Field Trip information is coming home on Monday! Please check your child's folder for the information.

Don't forget about sending in your child's Performing Arts permission slip. All donations are greatly appreciated but the permission slip needs to be turned in if you would like for your child to attend. I still have a couple out!

CoGAT Testing for 1st Grade... The Cognitive Abilities Test...This is a  multiple-choice test that measures student performance on abilities related to success in school subjects. As always, test only give us one look at a child's ability. We finished our test this past Friday. YEAH!!!

Curriculum News:

Math: We will continue to work on sums to10, place value (tens and ones), fair trade to 30 cents, subtration, fact families, and problem solving. This weeks homework is addition facts to the sum of 10. Make your flash cards and have a parent check your answers on the back. Keep them at home and practice nightly!

Standards:

• Exchange equivalent quantities of coins by making fair trades involving combinations of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters, and count out a combination needed to purchase items less than 30 cents.
• Determine to which multiple of ten a given number is nearest using tools such as a sequential number line or hundreds chart to assist in estimating.
• Understand addition and subtraction number combinations using strategies such as counting on, counting back, doubles, and making tens.

Reading... The children are working hard and doing a great job at it too! Remember when they bring a book in a baggie home, they are to read it with a parent and send it back the next day. Add these books to your child's reading log too. READING LOGS ARE DUE Next Wednesday! October 1st!

Standards: here are just a few...

• Orally blends two to four phonemes into recognizable and/or nonsense words.
• Applies knowledge of letter-sound correspondence to decode new words.
• Applies learned phonics skills when reading and writing words, sentences, and stories
• Identifies syllables (word parts) in multi-syllable words.
• Automatically recognizes additional high frequency and familiar words within texts.

Handwriting... Keep working on the correct formation at home. Now is the time to build good habits. Please make sure your children are neat with their homework!

Writing: The children are writing all the time at school. It may be in a Math Journal, Science Lesson, Social Studies Lesson, Mini Writing lesson, etc. Here are a just a few of the Standards...

• Writes texts of a length appropriate to address a topic and tell a story, including self-selected ideas (e.g., prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing/polishing).
• Describes an experience in writing.
• Prints with appropriate spacing between words and sentences.
• Writes in complete sentences with correct subject-verb agreement.
• Rereads writing to self and others, revises to add details, and edits to make corrections.
• Uses appropriate end punctuation (period and question mark) and correct capitalization of initial words and common proper nouns (e.g., personal names, months).

Social Studies: Map skills and landforms...

• Map and globe skills
• Use cardinal directions.
• Use intermediate directions.
• The student will identify and locate his/her city, county, state, nation, and continent on a simple map or a globe.
• Locate all of the continents: North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Antarctica, and Australia.
• Locate the major oceans: Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian.
• Identify and describe landforms (mountains, deserts, valleys, plains, plateaus, and coasts). 

Character Word of the Week...

Self-Control... What a GREAT WORD... Nobody can do it for you! We have to teach our children that they are in control and have the power to exercise control over their behavior and attitude.

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. White

September 22-26th

Important Dates:

• Sept. 22nd... Wee Deliver Begins and it's the first day of Fall
• Sept.23rd... Paws Online
• Sept. 25th... spirit Day-Carvel's 3:00
• Sept. 26th...Homework due

September 15th-19th

 

              We are begining our 6th week of school and your children are growing and learning everyday! I am so proud of their hard work!!!

Curriculum News:

Math... One of the first grade goals for the children is that they are able to calculate 48-50 addition problems to 18 in 5 minutes by the end of the year. I will send home soon in homework flashcards for your child to make and study nightly. These flash cards are addition facts to 10. Later in the year I will send home addition facts to 18. I will give timed tests every so often to test the children to see how they are coming along. Help your child study these flash cards nightly. It will take studying at home along with working and studying at school in order for your child to master the goal. Look for them next week!

Phonics... We will continue our study of letter sounds, short vowels, blends, and the suffix 's'.

If you are working on vowel sounds with your child here are a few strategies to help them make the correct sound.

   short a...place hand under the chin and drop your jaw

   short e...have the children smile, or pull back on the sides of their mouth

   short i...scrunch up nose

   short o...circle your mouth with your finger

   short u... give the  thumbs up signal for "up"

I will also be sending home a handout stating the rules that we have learned.

Reading... Keep up the good work on those reading logs. They  will be due October 1st. Remember any book I send home to read at night can be written down on the log. Also, if I send home a list of words for reading practice, the amount of time you spend reading the list can be counted.

Books in the Baggies... These are books I have asked your child to take home and read for the night. Please return the book and the baggie the next day. Your child will most likely get a new one the next day in reading group.

Handwriting... Our list of letters is growing. Remember that I sent home a copy of the letter descriptions and how each is made. This will help you to reinforce the letter formation while doing homework. The letters we have covered are... a, d, o, g, c, e, s, f, b, l, t, k, h, i, and u.

This week at computer lab we worked on Kid Pixs. They are learning to navigate the mouse and draw pictures of different types of weather and seasons we have studied.

Also, this is a fun site to work on place value that we are working on in Math. Just click on this link Rainforest Place Value.

We have begun our new unit in Social Studies. Our Earth and Our Country: Home, Sweet Home. If your child does not know their address, please help them at home to learn it. We will be working on the following standards this week.

Students will be able to recall the names of their city, county, state, nation and continent and locate them on a map or globe.

Students will be able to locate all continents and oceans on a map or globe.

Students will be able to describe mountains, deserts, valleys, plains, plateaus, and coasts.

Last we the class went to Google Earth to find our school. They had so much fun and wanted to google at home their houses. Just click on the Google Earth above and it should take you there.

Don't forget to keep sending in your BOX TOPS!

YEAH Anna, she sold the most Sally Foster wrapping paper in our class!!! She will be going with all the other class winners to a "Pump It Up" party. Way to go!!

Character Word for the week.........  "Trustworthiness"

Have a Wonderful Week!!!

Mrs. White

September 15th-19th

Important dates for this week...

Sept. 16th Tuesday...Early Release Day (dismissal at 12:30)

Sept. 17th Wednesday COGAT (testing)

Sept. 18th Thursday COGAT (testing)

Sept. 19th Friday COGAT (testing) and specials is "Music"

Testing Tips:

• Be sure your child gets a good nights rest!
• Feed them a healthy breakfast!
• Have your child put on his or her thinking cap!
• Get them to School on time!
• Send them off happy!

September 8-12

          Wow... What a fun 4 day week we had!!! The children are about to earn their second SPECIAL TREAT!!! Then we ended it with "Movie Night" on Friday! Mrs. Anderson and I enjoyed seeing everyone who made it. My husband had a blast too meeting some of you!!!!

Curriculum News:

Math... We will be working on addition strategies ( adding with zero, counting on, doubles and problem solving).

Math Standard:

Understand addition and subtraction number combinations using strategies such as counting on, counting back, doubles, and making tens.

Phonics... Remember to complete your phonics homework sheet every night and return it the following morning. We are working on blends and letters h, g, and r. When your children are reading encourage them to sound out and use the sounds they are learning. The same with when they are writing. They need to write the sounds they hear. I will be sending a copy of terms that we are using in the Saxon Phonics program.

Phonics Standards:

Isolates beginning, middle, and ending sounds in single-syllable words.

Reads words containing consonant blends and digraphs.

Applies knowledge of letter-sound correspondence to decode new words.

Writing... When they are given a written assignment, they are to give me at least 3 "good" sentences. A "good" sentence is a group of meaningful words that begins with a capital and ends with punctuation. We are heavily working on complete sentences, capitals, and punctuation.

Writing Standard:

Demonstrates an understanding that punctuation and capitalization are used in all written sentences.

Reading... We have started our Guided Reading groups! The children now come to me for a small reading group. While I am in reading group the children have independent seat work and center work. Their independent work is all curriculum based and reinforcement of skills I have taught. Your child have started bringing home a book to read and a coupon to sign that they have read the book with you. Yes, this book can go on their monthly reading log!!!

Reading Standards: ( I will keep adding to this list)

Applies knowledge of letter-sound correspondence to decode new words.

Applies learned phonics skills when reading and writing words, sentences, and stories.

Reads and listens to a variety of texts for information and pleasure.Reads and listens to a variety of texts for information and pleasure.

Retells stories read independently or with a partner.

Handwriting... We have already practiced the following letters... (a, d, o, c, e, s, f, b, l and t). Please help your children and encourage them to use the correct formation.

Science and Social Studies... We have just finished our unit on Weather and Seasons for Science. This week we will start our unit on communities, jobs, and map skills. I intergrate these topics into my reading and writing blocks. The children need to know their address also and we could your help at home. Review their street address, city, and state.

Science Standards:

Identify different types of weather and the characteristics of each type

Investigate weather by observing, measuring with simple weather instruments (thermometer, wind vane, rain gauge), and recording weather data (temperature, precipitation, sky conditions, and weather events) in a periodic journal or on a calendar seasonally.

Correlate weather data (temperature, precipitation, sky conditions, and weather events) to seasonal changes.

Social Studies Standards:

The student will identify and locate his/her city, county, state, nation, and continent on a simple map or a globe.

Technology... Last time we went to computer lab we use Kidpicks. The children had great fun learning to create a picture.

Technology Standards:  

The student uses computer-drawing programs to create illustrations and/or picture stories. (Examples might include using KidPix, Paint, etc.)

Character Word:  This week's character word is "Honesty" !

Have a Wonderful Week!

September 8-12

Important dates for the next week...

Sept. 8th Monday..."Reading Night" 6:00-8:00

Sept. 9th Tuesday...Paws online

Sept. 11th Thursday...Patriotic Day: Wear Red, White, and Blue

Sept. 12th Friday... We will go to the Media Center for Check Out Only. We also go to the computer lab at 1:10!

September 2nd-5th

   

It's hard to believe it is September already! I hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

We went to the computer lab last Friday and had a GREAT time. We will be going every other Friday from 1:10 to 2:10. Two of our Technology Standards we are working on at the moment are:

1.The student uses computer-drawing programs to create illustrations and/or picture stories. (Examples might include using KidPix, Paint, etc.)

2.The student performs basic hardware operating functions. (Examples might include power on/off, use mouse and keyboard).

Friday was just a busy day for us at school. We also went to the media center, found out the rules, and checked out books. We will go again this Friday for Story Time, return our books, and check out new ones. I will try my best to keep us singed up on Friday as our regular day. Your September remember reading log will come home today too. Don't forget to  READ!       

It still may be hot outside but our room is not always the warmest. Please send your children with a sweater or sweat shirt if they are complaining about being cold. I just try to think positive and have layers to peel off or put on.

Last week we started our centers and Guided Reading Groups. The children always seem to enjoy center time. My first grade centers are fun and curriculum driven. It is an independent time in which they get to choose the center they would like to complete and enjoy working with a friend. I do expect them to produce quality work along with working quietly. While they are at centers or completing seat work I pull students for guided reading groups. These groups are not set in stone. As children develop I change groups to meet each of their needs.

       Yes..... It is time for HOMEWORK!

Try to set a time and place each day to help your child complete their homework. Homework is a review, it is not a new skill they have not been taught. I try to balance the amount not to exceed 30 minutes a day. Typically, I send home a math sheet per night, a language art sheet per night and weekly vocabulay words to review nightly. Your child needs to read to you for 10 minutes every night and have you sign their reading log. I can not stress how IMPORTANT it is to help teach your child study skills while they are young. A homework packet will come home on the first day of the week and should be returned on Friday. Their Phonics homework will come home nightly separately from the homework packet. Please return it the following day. It will take them just a couple of minutes to do it. I want to Thank You ahead of time for your help and time with homework.

Science: We have been studing the Weather for the last week or two. The standards that we have been working on are listed below. As the seasons change through the year we will continue to reinforce what we have already learned.

1.Identify different types of weather and the characteristics of each type.

2.Investigate weather by observing, measuring with simple weather instruments (thermometer, wind vane, rain gauge), and recording weather data (temperature, precipitation, sky conditions, and weather events) in a periodic journal or on a calendar seasonally.Investigate weather by observing, measuring with simple weather instruments (thermometer, wind vane, rain gauge), and recording weather data (temperature, precipitation, sky conditions, and weather events) in a periodic journal or on a calendar seasonally.

3.Correlate weather data (temperature, precipitation, sky conditions, and weather events) to seasonal changes.

Phonics: We are learning beginning, medial, and final sounds when we hear and read words. The children are learning to code their words too. They will bring a worksheet home nightly. We will have done the front side and they are to complete the other side for homework and return it the next day. Here are the standards we are working on in class.

1.Distinguishes between long and short vowel sounds in spoken, one syllable words

That's all for this week! Let's enjoy our 4 day week. It will be a while before we have another. :-)

2.Isolates beginning, middle, and ending of sounds in single-syllable words

3.Blends two to four phonemes into recognizable words

We are learning to add and subtract to 10. We are also very busy with our Calendar Math everyday too. A few of our math standards are:

1. Understanding addition and subtraction strategies to 10.

2. Comparing sets (greater then, less then or equal to)

3. Using tally marks, making fair trade with $, working with the number line

All of the standards I have listed today will be worked on this entire first nine weeks. I will continue to add to these standards weekly.

I would also like to welcome Miguel to our class. He joined us last week and is a real pleasure to have in class.

Math:

September 2nd-5th

What's happening this week...

September 5th... We meet with our Buddy Class!

September 5th... Scholastic Book orders are due. I am making my order. :-)

September 5th... Garrison Mill Spirit Day (wear you GM spirit wear)

September 5th... Media Center (bring your book back so you can check out a new one)

September 5th... Sally Foster Sale ENDS! Place those orders this week.

September 5th... DINNER AND MOVIE NIGHT! My husband and I plan on attending and we can't wait to see you all!