Week 3

This week we are reading a non fiction story called "Ants." The phonics focus sound this week is short i as in the word fin. The vocabulary words are:

make

they

walk

Spelling words for this week are:

in

pin

pig

wig

win

fin

am

pan

yes

and

Math this week consists of finishing number 1-20, testing that concept, and introducing addition. We are also counting to 50 by 1's and 5's. Counting by 5's isn't as automatic as I had hoped it would be. You might check if your child is successful doing that.

I am impressed that nearly everyone is doing homework every night. This puts your child at such an advantage. Things that only take 10-20 minutes make such a difference in his/her success.

In the SMART Book, please remove the letter and focus page weekly. That notebook isn't very big and will get full very quickly. If you do this for one child it keeps me from having to do it for 25. Time is a big thing with very little aide time and so many kids. I'd like you to also remove the homework page that has been filled up. You may want to keep it so you can see the growth of your child over the year. It is pretty amazing the steps they will take.

Remember there is no school on Labor Day. Have a great long weekend.

Week 2

Week 2

We are entering our second full week of school. We are working on establishing routines and quiet work habits. I am still trying to assess all the children and get them into reading material at their level. I know that "Sam and the Bag" is not challenging for some students. We will be moving into more appropriate reading material this week. The first two reading books are pretty phonetic and pretty easy. The reading difficulty takes a big jump in book 3. Be prepared!

We are still reviewing the 23 sight words from kindergarten and focusing on short a.

This week our new vocabulary words are:

and

in

oh

yes

The spelling words for the week are:

am

ham

had

bad

bag

rag

cap

mad

up

go

In math we will be reviewing the number to 20. The teen numbers seem to be the hardest. I have already seen several children confusing 12 and 20 and 13 and 30. Please take a look at your child's work when it comes home. You may see some problems that you can help remediate.

The air conditioning is on. If your child complains of being cold, please send an old sweatshirt or sweater that they can leave at school. They can keep it in their cubbie and get it when they need to.

If you have not returned your Blog Permission form please do. I really can't post any pictures until I have it. I have some pretty cute ones of Hat Day that I would love to share.

Thanks for keeping up in the SMART Books. Hopefully we are getting better at getting them and their reading material home after school. Routines take a while to learn. We work on those everyday. But once we learn them things will b much freer in the classroom.

Studies show that children that spend more than 2 hours engaged in video media, are 50% more likely to have attention difficulties.

Have a great week!

Week 1

We will be starting our first week in the reading series. The story is called "The Hat". We will be working on the short a sound (the sound in the middle of cat) and the -at word family. We will continue to review the words learned in Kindergarten and will add these three new words:

down

got

up

We will also take the first spelling test on Friday. They are all short a words that each child should be able to use phonics skills to sound out. We will practice in class but you might want to practice at home also. The words are:

at

hat

cat

can

cap

tap

map

mad

a

the

We will be using the spelling tests that come with the reading program for the first 8-9 weeks. Then we will go into individual spelling. Those lists are the ones listed on the blog. I will list the first ones weekly in my update.

There will be homework every night this week. Each night there will be something to read and a question to answer in the SMART Book. Please sign in the box when homework has been completed.

In an effort to save paper, I will be using this blog for communication. I will send paper copies to those without internet access. Please sign and return the blog permission form. If you need another one please send me a note or call and I will send one with your child.

If you have any questions, please call 333-6536 (room) or 333-4529 (home). My husband gets up very early for work (3:30 a.m.) so please don't call the house after 8 p.m. We are early to bed and early to rise people.

Remember Parents' Night is August 16 at 6:30. Come to the classroom. I will be explaining my procedures and expectations for this school year. Bring your questions. Hopefully this meeting will make things much easier for all of us.

I could use another mom of Thursday afternoon if someone could come in. If you can, let me know!! Thanks.

2

Have a great week!!!

Another Freebie

Cole's Little Pups is having a give away. Pop over to her site to join.

Great Giveaway!!!

Teacher friends and blogging friends Finally in First is having a great giveaway at her blog!!! Go check it out!