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: