Last week in October 2014

********THERE WILL NOT BE CENTERS THIS WEEK******** we have many activities this week.  Next week we will have centers. We will be making thanksgiving dinner table decorations and I'll need parent help on that day :)

This week is RED RIBBON WEEK!!  

Things to know for the week:

Tuesday - Red and White Free dress

Friday - Halloween!! Students can wear their costumes- there will be a costume parade in the morning.

We will have our Halloween party at 1:15. Please contact room parents if you want to bring in something, come to help with the party etc. please contact them to sign up so you can help!

Other important info:

Wednesday is our September/October birthday party- I have posted a sign up for parents of birthday students. We will start at 12:45. We have an all- school dance party at 1:45 - Red Ribbon Week -activity. 

Vocab this week: words are getting more difficult. Please practice each day!

any

animals

trouble

kind

gave

there

thing

nice

thought

answered

belongs

asked

Spelling this week: long o sound-

not

pot

hot

cot

dot

on

box

pop

top

stop

I enjoyed meeting with each of you last week at our conference!  Please remember that we are a team, and I that I am here to help you in the education of your child :) !!!

October 20th- Conference week & Book Fair!

Happy Sunday!!!

Upcoming events to look forward to :)

- We are performing in the Annual Thanksgiving Program on Thursday, November 13, 2014 @ 6:30 PM.  We will be performing the all too famous "Spoons"( a Mrs. Mill's favorite :)) and a Native American rhythm dance. We will be making shirts for the Indian Dance. I'll be asking you to send the shirt in soon. I will need parent helpers on the day we do this activity ( making the shirts) at school. I'll post the date and time on my blog :). I'll ask Janie to post it on the class Facebook page as well--- it's a fun way to earn hours!!!

- At the end of this month- Wednesday, October, 29 @ 1:30 we will be celebrating our September and October birthdays!  If your child had a birthday during this time, please sign up to bring something. Remember you don't have to just bring in food items. You may bring in a pencil, eraser, bubbles etc.  please don't feel obligated to bring something expensive or an entire goodie bag. It's just so your child may hand out something to their classmates at their birthday party. :). Our last celebration was a blast- we had treats and played games at the end of the day- like a real birthday party :). They loved it !  It made our birthday students feel so special :). I will post a sign up sheet this week!

Because this week is conference week, we will be having 12:30 dismissal all week. Please make sure you know your time so that you'll be here. Our conferences are only 15 min. So you'll want to have your full 15 min.  If you're the first conference, we start at 1:15 PM. I can't wait to see each of you!!!

Packets weren't sent home last week, because that will give us an example of your child's daily work.  

********PLEASE, it is very important that you return your child's signed report card with your child MONDAY AM. This is an important part for your conference, thank you for supporting this request:) 

Vocab this week:

knows

warm

goes

brothers

sister

about

together 

ears

eyes

body

legs

nose

Spelling this week:

big

and

map

did

the

fin

ran

jig

had

it

We have just begun to discuss Native Americans in Social Studies.  If you have items, resources, or are a Native American, please let me know. It's wonderful when parents can come in to speak to the class.  

If you would like to come in to share or have resources that you can discuss with the class, please come in--- this is another great way to earn hours !!!!  Thanks :)

******Just as a resource, here are a few ways you can work with your child at home:

Read to your child-- ask them questions about the story 

Contraction words

Compound words

Short vowels words

Rhyming words

Practice handwriting

Basic Math facts/ addition

Using the internet:

Talk to them about various saints you might know

Native Americans - plains Indians 

Like I've said on many occasions, we are partners in the education of your child.  I appreciate the fact that many of you have come to talk to me.  I have loved all the positive feedback that I've received.  I also appreciate when parents have come to me when there are questions or concerns, instead of other parents first.  When parents don't come in to see me, but discuss the situation with others, it's very counter productive. So remember,  my door is always open :). We're in this together!

******* Morning drop off. Please do not come to the classroom with your child if the bell hasn't rung, even if the bell is about to ring.  You must go to the auditorium with your child.  We have had an increasing amount of children wandering around before school instead of going to the auditorium where they will be safely supervised. This rule is about safety. The office staff has asked teachers to remind parents of this rule.  Thank you for your support in this matter! 

10/6 to 10/9: short week---- Friday10/10 OFF!

Important information for this week: 

* Due to the short week, we will not :

1. No new spelling words

2. No centers on Wednesday 10/8- sorry for the inconvenience. 

Other:

* the end of the first quarter is this Thursday, October 9th.  If you child has been absent, you need to make sure all work is picked up and completed by this Thursday...... There are no exceptions.  Any missing work will be zeros.  REPORT CARDS WILL GO HOME NEXT FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17th. Remember they must be signed and returned the following Monday, October 20th.  If it isn't signed and /or returned on that day, your child will have to sit out 5 min- with an additional 5 for each day after that.  We need these report cards for that week of conferences. Thank you fir your understanding and support in this matter :)

** A permission slip will go home this Tuesday for our exciting field trip to Hunter Farms Pumpkin Patch next Wednesday, October 15th.  Please mark your calendars. If you can drive( have fingerprints, safe environment training completed, and this year's car registration/ insurance info turned into Carnation ) please let me know!! We will be leaving OLM by 8:30 and will be returning by lunch that day. ***** remember no siblings are allowed to attend the trip with us. It is an insurance liability.  

*** If you are a room mom, or assistant, we will need to plan a snack and a drink to have there during a break. It's a long morning to not have something to eat or drink.  They have promised a wonderful and exciting trip for our class. Each child will also be able to choose a pumpkin to take home :). FUN, FUN, FUN day!!!!!

DO NOT FORGET TO BRING YOUR CHILD'S BOOSTER SEAT that morning!! If they do not bring one, they will not be able to attend the trip with us. 

**** please watch for the permission slip to come home on Tuesday. It will need to be SIGNED AND RETURNED THE FOLLOWING DAY!! 

********* I thank all the parents in advance for helping in some way to make this trip one to remember!!!!*********

Other dates/events to add to your calendar : 

1. Class mass with 8th grade -Thursday, October 17th at 8:15 in our school's Chapel.  Some students will be reading petitions.  If your child is reading a petition, I will staple reading into their planner for them to practice at home.  Please, join us if you'd like :)

2. We are performing in this year's fall Thanksgiving program.  The program will be November 13th.  More info to follow :)

VOCABULARY THIS WEEK :

some

may

more

mother

tell

when

again

long

he

she

surprise

was

grow

NO SPELLING WORDS THIS WEEK :) Three-day weekend coming up! :)

If you haven't already, buy Octoberfest tickets!!! It is such a fun night!!! This is our technology fundraiser.  I hope everyone is planning to attend:)

Is your child a MATH MASTER??? We are up to our 4th level of addition tests!! Some students are math masters in all 3 levels so far........ I can tell most have been working on the facts at home.  Remember we are working on memorizing the facts, so that students aren't relying on manipulatives ( fingers , beads etc)....... This is a school-wide goal!! However,  I still have a couple who haven't passed the first test :(. I have a chart in the classroom, please come to see how well your child is doing..... I want for every one of my students to be masters!!! This will take practice at home :). Please, help your child be successful :) I want all my students to master the addition facts by December!  I will plan a special treat along with scheduling a "Fun Friday" for the same afternoon :).  LET' GO FIRST GRADERS---- YOU CAN DO THIS :)!!!!!!!

ARE YOU A FIRST GRADE MATH MASTER ???????

I am trying something new to help students to control their talking/ no talking in the classroom. Please ask them after school about their "Quiet Buddy". Their reward for keeping their quiet buddy 4 out if the 5 days in a week- will allow a sock monkey to go home in Fridays :).