Week two! 8/19- 8/23

Week one of first grade has gone very well.  My students are beginning to learn a routine as am I.  A few reminders come to mind:  please remind your child to use the restroom and get a drink on their break times.  Many come in first thing in the morning having to use the restroom.  Please remind them before leaving the house to use the restroom or when they get to school use the restroom in the auditorium.  Also I have 5 rules that should be followed in the classroom:

1.  Follow directions quickly and quietly

2.  Raise your hand to talk

3.  Raise your hand to leave your seat

4.  Make smart choices-  thinking before they do things is something they will learn

5.  Make your dear teacher happy-  following rules will do this 

Please review these rules at home. 

Hot lunch service begins this week.  If your child is getting hot lunch be sure to buy lunch tickets and milk tickets if needed.  We will let you know when your child is in need of more cards. ( 1 lunch card is $10 and is good for 5 lunches, 1 milk card is $2.50 and is good for 5 milks). We do not offer milk at snack time so you are responsible for providing a drink( if they want one )  and a snack for morning recess.  A small snack is all that is needed for morning recess.  Some students are coming with lunch sized snacks.  This is taking them so long to eat that they don't get much of a recess by the time they are done.  

Important events happening this week:

Tuesday night 8/20 is a safe environment meeting at 6 pm in the auditorium.  If you did not take the class last year, you will need to go to the meeting ( now its every 3 years) if you want to attend and drive for any trip or to help in the classroom.  Many parents like to participate in this capacity so this is required before you can help out.  

Sunday 8/25 from 11-1 is Open House at school.  I hope you can stop by to see some of things we have been up to !

Vocabulary words this week: 

Rain

Sunken

White

It

Get

To 

Color

Do 

Have

*****remember these are not the spelling words. Students should just be able to read them.  We won't be doing spelling for a few weeks.

We will begin reading our first reader this week.  They will be bringing the book home Thursday night for homework.  Please have them read it to you.  

So far things are going well.  Students should continue practicing the kindergarten sight words as well as color and number words.  I can tell some of you have been doing this because they are really able to read what they are given at this point.  Please understand that knowing and practicing these sight words and the weekly vocabulary words is crucial for what they will be reading in class.  Thank you for your extra support in this matter.

Other things to note:  you should have begun practicing basic addition facts with your child. Please practice the basic facts up to the sum of ten.  We will begin taking timed tests in a couple of weeks.  I want them to be ready for the challenge, thank you for your support in this matter .  

Remember I am always available if you have any questions or concerns.  Please feel free to come by after school or you can make an appointment if you can't be there after school.  My door is always open.  

I am sure your child has been talking about our sock monkey friends.  These monkeys are travelers who will be going home with the students at some point.  It has been a really good motivational tool to remind them to work hard and to follow the rules in and out of the classroom.  Please remind them that when they work hard and follow the rules, they will get to take a monkey home.  ( I am keeping track so that each child will get the chance to take one home.  However, when they misbehave or have to sit out for behavior or for not doing / returning homework the monkey can not go home). Hopefully this will help them to remember the rules and become responsible learners at school and at home!