First week of September 2014

We have four new monkeys that have joined our first grade family :). I think they heard how much fun they will be able to have!! They love kids and can't wait to travel home with my students!!!!

Things to add to your calendar for the month:

If you'd like to work in the classroom or take field trips with the class, you must be fingerprinted and have attended the safe environment training. If you are new to the school, you will need to get your fingerprints done and attend the safe environment training- this training will be this Tuesday night 9-2-14, at 6 PM in the school's auditorium.  Remember you will not be able to work in the classroom or attend any trips with the class unless you complete both your fingerprints and safe environment training.  Our first trip will be to the pumpkin patch on October 15th!

ITBS TESTING will begin the week of September 15 and continue all week.  Please DO NOT schedule appts for your child unless it's during the afternoon that week.  This is one of the tools we use to identify your child's strengths and weaknesses. I find these scores helpful in planning curriculum in my classroom. I thank you for your support :). I encourage you to make sure your child gets plenty of rest and has a good breakfast each morning. I plan, with my room parents , to provide my students with a healthy snack each day of testing, as well as a treat for the end of the week!! Please talk to your child about doing the best job they can on these tests. Thanks again !

This week I will begin giving timed math tests. I will begin with the basic addition facts up to the sum of 10. The tests are 25 problems, and they will be given 5 minutes. They are not used for a grade. But to provide them practice to learn these basic facts quickly and accurately. This is essential in building a strong foundation in mathematics. All concepts are built on the foundation of the basic facts. 

Please continue to practice these basic facts. We will move to sums of 18, then move on to subtraction facts.  

Vocabulary this week:

found

going

am

for

under

across

bad

good

so

draw

are

look

I want to thank the parents who provided for our first birthday celebration for summer birthdays!  My students loved all the treats and goodie bags. Your sincere generosity was so appreciated ! :). Each of the birthday students felt special! Our September birthday celebration will be Friday, September 26, 2014. 

Just a note-

Each week a packet of graded work goes home.  Please go through these packets to see your child's progress on a variety of subjects. Go over the mistakes with your child to help them better understand the concepts being taught.  This is another great way to foster the importance of education. Also, please remember to come see me if you have any concerns.  I'm here to help you educate your child :). Open communication is crucial to the success of your child this year!  

Love,

Mrs. M

Week of August 25-29

It was so wonderful to see so many of you at Open House!! I enjoyed seeing each of you and your children. I was thrilled to see some of the sock monkeys too!! We are off to an EXCELLENT start to the year. My students are settling in to the high standards in my classroom :). They are working very hard, and have shown responsibility with doing their best in the classroom as well as completing the work that is assigned each night.  Thank you parents for doing your part as well.  It's our partnership that will help your child be a success this year!!

This week:

Wednesday, August 27- will be our picture day

Friday, August 29-

---Free Dress for $1 to be donated to the SPCA.

---First grade is responsible for bring in a St Vincent lunch for the homeless in our community.

---Summer birthday celebration. If you would like, please sign up if your child's birthday was in the summer. I will have a sign up sheet in front of the classroom Monday. 

Vocabulary this week:

1 over

2 out

3 said

4 and

5 little

6 copy

7 far

8 away

9 come 

10 here

11 new

12 in

13 want

14 bear

Please be sure to check and sign your child's planner everyday, including Fridays. 

Thank you and God Bless :)

Week 8/18

WECOME BACK TO THE SECOND WEEK OF FIRST GRADE!!!!!!!!!!

We are off to a successful start to the school year :). Everyone seems to be settling in to the class rules and procedures. Again please make sure to remind your child to bring home his/her planner and "Home" folder EACH night. This is important because usually there will be homework and / or important info that goes home each night.  Also you must check and sign the planner EVERY night including Fridays. If the planner isn't signed or homework isn't done or returned, your child will lose some of his/her recess.  Thank you for your support in this matter. 

So far most students have been following this procedure each day!! Yeah, GO FIRST GRADERS!!

7:50 am ----is when your child should be at school EACH day. This is very important because they need to get unpacked before the 8:00 bell. We also start filling out the planner in this time. This helps them get ready for the day.... Rushing to get ready creates unneeded stress on your child :). I would appreciate your help on this. Thank you. 

Unpacking---- please allow your child to unpack and get ready on there own. This builds needed independance that they need in the first grade. They learn listening skills , also a must, this year.  When you allow them to be responsible for tasks like this, you will see the independance and responsibility, at home :). 

Upcoming info :

Sunday, August, 24 11:00-1:00 is Open House 

Please come by and visit your child's classroom and buy a delicious Tri-tip/ rigatoni lunch!! Hope to see everyone there!

Vocabulary words this week: 

1 rain

2 sun

3 on

4 white

5 it

6 get

7 to

8 color

9 do

10 have

***** you should be practicing vocabulary words each night!

***** Also, please practice addition facts with your child. Math apps or flash cards are a great way to learn them. Our ultimate goal is that your child leard these basic facts without using their fingers. We will begin taking timed math facts tests in a couple of weeks. Start with the facts with sums up to ten - example 7+3=10, 6+4= 10 etc. 

Please feel free to come to me, if you have concerns or questions if/when they arise. I'm always open to listen and help you.  Remember we are a TEAM :)

God Bless!

Welcome to First Grade 2014-2015

Welcome students and parents to Mrs M's first grade class !!!

If you're reading this today, you read my parent letter and came to "Meet the Teacher" night last Tuesday! Please remember to read my blog on Sunday evenings each week.  Here is where I will post important info about the week coming up :)

This will be a busy week for my students.  I will be reviewing concepts, and going over rules and procedures all week.  Please have your child at school on time.  Our day begins at 7:50.  Right away we get unpacked and start writing in our planners.  Typically we do this before we go to prayer each morning.  I like the kids to be unpacked, organized, and at least starting to fill in there planner before prayer.  When we get back from prayer, I will take roll, and take lunch & milk count.  Please make sure to let your child know whether he/she will have a hot lunch and/or milk, or if they will eat a cold lunch.  This helps Tremendously!  This way we can get started with our academic time. 

On the first day many forms, letters permissions slips, and medical forms go home. Please sure to sign and return these forms ASAP.  The office needs all updated info each year!! That is "Your Homework"! 

******Please bring in ALL supplies LABELED.  Put only a few pencils, a pink eraser, glue stick, scissors, and 1 box/ 8-pack "true colors" crayons in your child's box.  The rest of the labeled supplies should come in a LARGE, LABELED ZIPLOC BAG. Thank you .  This REALLY helps with organization in the classroom!  When your child runs out of something, I will have it at school and will hand out what they need. 

When dropping off your child, please do not come in and unpack their things.  I will help them. This will teach them responsibility. ALSO this helps with some off them that have separation struggles.  TRUST me they will be fine, they will grow to become an independent student and child- that's a BIG goal for first grade.  When a parent lingers or stays in the classroom, the child will be more concerned about his/her parent, and won't follow morning procedures.  DO NOT unpack for them, get planners out , or get them their chair.  They can do/ should do these things on their own. This is all part of encouraging independence :). They can do it!! Thanks for your support on this matter :)

Remember both Monday and Friday are Mass days this week.  Boys and girls should be dressed in full uniform.  Girls in their jumpers, and boys in their pants. On other days until October girls and boys may wear uniform navy shorts . Please refer to the parent handbook for uniform policy.  Make sure to follow ALL uniform rules- shoes, laces, and hair and hair accessories have strict guidelines. Thank you !

HOMEWORK:  we will start having homework this week. Your child will have homework each night- no more than 10-15 min. Please let me know if it is taking your child is struggling with it.  I'm here to help :) Please encourage them to bring you the planner to sign each day- including Fridays.  Please check their homework as well. If you get them in a regular routine, your child should remember to bring you their planner and homework on their own.  Putting this responsibility on them, help build responsibility and independence!! 

Again, please know that I am very open and willing to help with any and all issues that may arise.  We are partners in your child's education!! My position is much more than a job, it's my ministry :). 

SEE YOU AND YOUR CHILD TOMORROW MORNING!!!