Week 25

This week we are reading a non fiction story called "On the Job with Dr. Martha Smith". This story is written in an interview style to gain information about her job at an animal shelter. The sound this week is /ou/ (what you would say if I pinched you) made by the letters ou and ow. The new vocabulary words are:

any

Dr.

busy

care

eight

took

Most of this week in math will be spent on money. We will review coins and add the dollar. We will learn the dollar sign and writing dollar notation. Keep counting at home!!!

Lots of kids are working hard on spelling and AR. I am seeing lots of progress for many. It is an exciting thing to watch.

We will be doing the writing portion of homework in class. I am working on handwriting, neatness, capitalization, and punctuation. We are practicing being second graders. This will give you more time for reading, math, and spelling.

From now on we will be asking you to return the paper copied books. We are sharing them with all the other first grade classes. Paper is an issue. We are still not sure what the legislature is going to require of us, so we are cutting every corner we can right now. Thanks for being understanding.

Remember Friday is Early Release. Have a great week.

DANG

I had captions on each post.  I finally learned to do that.  They didn't come through and I am disappointed.  Let's see if I can add names to the pictures and make some sense out of this.  Dariun Barreras got his watch for passing 100 AR tests.  

Kaden Padilla got his shirt for 50 tests.  He gave up lots of recesses to stay in and take tests.  I am so proud that he was willing to do that.

The girls are Lauren Storms (dark hair) and Bailee Phillips (blonde).  They also stayed in and took lots of tests.  They are both already asking how many more to a watch!!

We will have a great lunch tomorrow.  

AR STARS

Here are our latest AR Stars

Week 24

This week we will be reading "My Robot".  It is a science fiction story by Eve Bunting.  The new vocabulary words are:

almost

always

does

even

once

pretty

say

sound

In math this week, we will be reviewing many concepts, such as shapes, geometric figures, fact families, frames and arrows, time, and place value.  We will also be introducing the quarter.  Most of us have learned to count pennies, dimes, and nickels. I hope the quarter doesn't send us into orbit.  Money is soooooo hard!!!

Spelling is going well.  Most everyone is passing at least one test per week.  That is my goal.  

Interest in AR has been piqued a bit since there are now 5 people with shirts and one with a watch.  Congratulations Dariun!!!  He has passed 100 AR tests.  That is remarkable.

I am posting new pictures of AR Stars!!!  Visit the blog.

Have a great week!

Week 23

This week's story is a fiction story called "Tell Me a Story."  It is about a little girl who likes to listen to her Abuelita (grandma) tell her stories of times gone by.  The new vocabulary is:

because

cook

front

listen

most

picture

why

young

Math continues to be shapes, time, and money.  I have been using recess time after PE to do interventions in math.  Right now we are working on counting money.  I have chosen not to introduce the quarter until most of the kids can count dimes, pennies, and nickels.  We have plenty of time so I am not hurrying.  We will go back later and do all the money pages.  

I gave away 2 more AR shirts this week.  Lauren Storms and Kaden Padilla both earned shirts.  I will get pictures posted soon.

Spelling is progressing better.  I am not sending practice sheets anymore.  The budget crunch has hit.  We are not spending any more money so hopefully you have paper, a chalkboard, a whiteboard, whatever, that your child can practice on.  You will be asked to send more school supplies as needed this year and probably next.  Be sure to watch for the back to school sales next summer.  

The legislature is asking for a $133 million budget cut this year and about $1 billion next year.  We are certainly going to feel the difference in what we have at school. Who knows how this will all wash out.  We are all really looking at better use of our supplies.  The kids love to paint but we are about out of colors so that will have to end.  

Remember the Valentine Party will be Friday afternoon.  It will have to be at 1:30 because of PE.  If the weather is nasty and they cancel PE, I will do it earlier, then we have time for clean up.  Be prepared for a switch in times depending on the weather. If you are sending something for the party, please send it early so we can adjust party time to our flexible schedule.  

Week 22

SORRY!!!  The Super Bowl preempted my blogging.  Lots of friends and lots of food.  Wish the game could have ended 2 minutes sooner!!  

This week we are reading a nonfiction story called "At Home Around the World".  The vocabulary words are:

above

different

hold

old

warm

water

years

Math is totally geometry this week.  We will be doing shapes, shapes, shapes. Oh and did I mention shapes! The math boxes at the end of each lesson offer review of other concepts.  We have started taking timed tests on math facts.  They can miss one and move to the next level.  They get 2 minutes to do 42 problems.  

I'm sure all of you have heard the woes of the economy in the state of Arizona.  This is deeply effecting the schools.  I have been trying to instill a sense of caring and responsibility in the kids. Children who lose things or deliberately ruin things will have to do without.  A pencil may have to be replaced with a crayon, if the pencil is ruined on purpose.  Monster sandwiches will have to be stopped unless parents can jump in. I am willing to buy the meat if others will volunteer to send other things.  It won't be much per person but I also don't want to put anyone in a bad position.  Times are tough and I understand that not all can happen.  

The valentine party will be coming on the 13th.  I will attach a list of names.  Please have your child do the writing.  This is a skill they need to learn.  If you start early it won't be as traumatic.

PE seems to be going well and the kids enjoy it!!!

Have a good week!