Week 16

The story this week is "On the Way to the Pond." The phonics skill is the /er/ sound made by er, ir, and ur. The new vocabulary words are:

find,

follow

found

four

full

these

way

were

We have been doing money and measurement in math. This will continue this week. Please help your child with money. Several children still don't know the names of the coins or the value of them. We have worked on pennies, nickels, and dimes. The quarter will be introduced soon. We are using IXL math to practice money.

Questions of the Week

Monday - Tell me 5 things you see that let you know that Christmas is coming.

Tuesday - Tell me 5 things you hear that let you know that Christmas is coming.

Wednesday - Tell me 5 things you taste that let you know that Christmas is coming.

Thursday - Tell me 5 things you smell that let you know that Christmas is coming.

Friday - Tell me 5 things you touch that let you know that Christmas is coming.

We have started having lunch detention in first grade. Many children are not coming in from recess in a timely manner and are being disrespectful to the aides on the playground. There is also a lot of hitting and punching. These behaviors will earn you a day in lunch detention. We have only been doing it for one week but we are seeing changes in behavior already. Hopefully they will learn to think before they react.

One of my former students is stationed in Iraq. I would like to send him a box of goodies sometime after the first of the year. Anything you would like to send to contribute to this box would be appreciated. He said that anything that you would take on an extended camping trip would be useful. Also magazines and things that can be given to the children. The preschool is doing Shaymon's dad so I thought this former student could be someone we helped out.

Is there anyone who could make us some tree shaped sugar cookies for our Christmas party??? Please give me a call if you can help.

Have a great week.

Week 16

I guess I'm getting like the kids. . .I started vacation. . .or at least forgot to update for this week.  We are reading a fantasy story called "On the Way to the Pond"  The sound we are working on is the /er/ sound made by er, ir, and ur.   The new vocabulary is:

find

follow

found

four

full

these

way

were

I'm a little bothered that there are 5 new words that start with the letter 'f'.  It sure doesn't help the kids discriminate.

In math we are closing out our book for the first semester.  We will finish mid next week.  Most of this week is working on math facts.  The kids continue to take a math facts tests on the computer every day.  Some are progressing quite well.  Some are having social time at the computer.

I forgot to send a note, but TOMORROW IS MONSTER SANDWICH DAY!  Your child will not need a lunch.

We will be taking next week off from the reading series.  We will spend some time enjoying  good Christmas literature and doing fun projects that go with the season.

We will have our Christmas Party on Friday, Dec. 19, starting at about 12:10.  This gives us time after the last recess to get cleaned up and ready to start the new year in great shape.  I am planning a game and am making Christmas tree shaped cupcakes for the kids to decorate.  I need other food items. . . candy, cookies, carrots, celery, ranch, etc.  Any ideas???  Also something to drink.  I also need paper goods, preferably seasonal.  If you are willing to send any of this please call me.  

I hope you all have a great holiday! Be safe, if you are traveling. You are carrying some great cargo!  I am looking forward to staying home this year, even though it means that Rick and I will be alone.  The kids are too far away and job constraints (which we are eternally grateful for) will not allow us to be together.  At least I get a Christmas tree!!!