March 10 to March 12- Short Week!!!

Some of you are very good about checking the blog each week.  The blog is very important because that is where I list upcoming dates/events that you need to be aware of.  I also use the blog to give information about what we are studying in class and suggestions about what to work on with your child. So as an experiment to see who is checking the blog, bring in an apple to give to me.  This will let me know who is indeed checking the blog.   Thank you for your help :)

We will be having a test in math.  The test is on counting coins.  We have been going over this every day for a while.  Your child should not only be able to identify each coin as well as the value of the coins. We are working on pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters only.  They must be able to count on according to the value of each coin.  For example:

Q+Q+D+N+N+P+P=

25, 50,60,65,70,71,72= 72 cents

We will begin telling time next week hour and half hour, on a regular clock.   I highly suggest you review this each day as well because telling time can be a difficult concept for first graders. Thank you for your support :). 

We are in the season of Lent in the church and have begun discussing the Stations of the Cross.  

Reading at home should be a regular activity whether I send home a reader or not.  Students know the vocabulary , but need lots of work in fluency.  Reading and then rereading a story again helps to build good reading fluency.  Practice, Practice, Practice makes perfect!! :)

I am working on encouraging good behavior in the classroom .  Students know the regular routine and the classroom rules.  I should not have to continue to remind them of such things.  I will begin Fun Frudays where students who do what they are suppose to do and follow rules in and outside the classroom will be able to participate in fun Friday.  Each child has a sticker reward chart on their desk where there will earn stickers for doing the things they need to do without constant reminding.  If your child has to be reminded too often( where they don't earn stickers) or has to sit out more than twice in a week, they will not be able to participate in the fun Friday activity.  I will start the chart this week.  Because it's a short week, we will go until next Friday for our fun Friday activity.  Please encourage your child to work on following routine and following the rules.  Thanks for the support!

There will not be any new vocabulary words this week.  There will spelling words given out on Monday with the final test on Wednesday.  Please start studying Monday night for the test on Wednesday. Here are the words:

see

feet

steep

keep

green

bees

sleep

sheep

speed

meet

First week of March 2014!!!!! Thank God for the RAIN!!!!!!!

  Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and the first grade is responsible for planning the Mass. We have been learning about the parts of the mass.  We have been making a mass book.  Go over it with your child.  I have assigned some students to read and bring up the gifts during the offertory procession. Our biggest job is to sing with the choir.  We will sing various songs during the mass. Mrs. Poole has been working with my students so that they know the responses as well as the songs.  If your child has received a reading part, they will need practice, practice, practice!!!  If they're practicing at school and at home- they will read with beautiful fluency =) Thank you for

your support.  The mass begins at 8:15 AM, in the auditorium. Hope to see you there!!!

Friday 3/14: 

Stations of the Cross@ 8:15 AM- please join us for this important day in the church!

Friday is a 12:30 dismissal. All students must be picked  up at that time or they will go to extended care.

Vocabulary this week

breakfast

decorate

birthday

party

basket

fruit 

secret

collect

curl

sound

Spelling this week

smile

side

pipe

ripe

bride

bite

tide

line

mile

tile

pile

Last week of February 2014 !!!

This week should be a normal week...... Whatever that means, right !! :)

Vocabulary

present

against

board

push

toward

happen

ground

gathered

crowd

Spelling this week

We are moving at a good pace, but learning many new concepts.

We have been working on writing good sentences- The "3" w's - A sentence that has a who, what, and a where.  For example, Jon rode a bus to school.  Please encourage such sentences when writing their spelling sentences for homework.

In math we are working on counting on many seem to struggle with this concept.  

1. They must know how to count on by 5s, 10s, and 25 s.  ( nickels, dimes, and quarters) 

2.  Practice counting real money- all kids like this. 

In religion, we are learning about the parts of the mass.  And discussing Lent, which is coming up, starting on Ash Wednesday with our Mass next Wednesday, March 5 th.  

***** a reminder about homework and planners:  planners MUST be signed daily, including Fridays.  Some homework , like reading their reading worksheets ( on some Mondays ) and their readers ( in the envelopes) must too be signed. If they are not signed, they will have to sit out.  When your child does their homework and leaves it home for example, they will have to do the assignment at recess.  Thank you for your support.  This is the beginning step to learning responsibility.  :). ALSO. All progress reports and report cards must be returned signed on the day they return.  I have to keep such notes for my records.  Thanks for your help in this as well. 

2/18-2/21

February 18- February 21, 2014

Hope everyone enjoyed their much needed and deserved 4 day weekend!!!!

I was very impressed by the 3rd Quarter progress reports!  My students work very hard each day, and that sure shows in their grades!!! Go First Graders :-)

Upcoming information to note:

- Friday is a Spirit Free Dress!! Yeah- however in order to be in free dress that day they MUST be in NAVY BLUE and WHITE!  An OLM shirt is great:-). If your child doesn't have NAVY BLUE attire they need to wear their uniform. Thank you .

- Next Sunday is our OLM mass at 1:00.  Please attend its a great way to show the parish how proud that  attend OLM School :-). Please be in proper OLMuniform. Thank you. 

There will not be centers this week due to the short week.  Thanks to, Mrs. McParland, Mrs. Diaz, Mrs. Zambelli, and Mr. Evans. I really couldn't do it without you!  The kids love it too! :-)

*** There will still be vocabulary and spelling words this week.  Practice test will be Thursday with the Final spelling test on Friday.  Just a reminder , when your child misses the Friday final test, they can't make it up.  Their practice test score will count as their final score. Thank you.

****** I will begin the third set of vocabulary word assessments this week.  As a reminder, it is a great idea to continue to practice all words from the year, consistently. This is what builds their vocabulary base, and helps them become stronger, more fluent readers !! :)

Ash Wednesday Mass is March 5th at 8:15.  The first graders will be in charge of all parts of the Mass.  If your child is chosen to read , I will send home the reading to practice . Thank you in advance for your support !- We will be learning all about the Mass , and why each part is important.  This will build that foundation they will need for next year when they make First Penance, and First Holy Communion.  We will be making a Mass book that they can read to reinforce what they have learned.  

Vocabulary this week:

package

bright

letter

string

another

everyone

right

shoes

inside

perhaps

grown

around

collected

night

present

Spelling this week:

cry

fly

tie

dime

slice

pie

why

kind

try

drive  

**** a helpful hint about dictation-  please practice at home, I always make sentences using the week's spelling words.  Also I will use past spelling words, contractions, and mark sentences wrong if they do not capitalize the first word, or use the proper punctuation.  Remember when you practice spelling practice giving them sentences too.  :-) 

February 10 to February 13!!!!- long weekend off

P

Here are three new members to our Sock Monkey family.  With Merida from. Left to right are the twins, Mindy and Marty.  Mikey is the baby!! We have such a beautiful family :)

Very important info about International Night :

Tuesday, February 11-Volunteers are needed to help set up beginning at 1:30 in the auditorium with Mrs. Diaz. We'd like to decorate early.

Also I will need volunteers beginning at 6:00 PM-  We need help at the booth and help to hand out food samples.  Please let me know if and when you'll be able to be there thanks so very much... 

Vocabulary:

tasty

pulled

eaten

finally

guess

pictures

turned

crayons

spread

watch

listen

frankly

Spelling:   Because it's a short week, our practice test will be on Wednesday and the final spelling test will be on Thursday .

ride

bike

time

like

five

hide

slide

chime

nine

two

Catholic Schools' Week 2014

This will be a busy , but fun-filled week!

Monday 1/27- all school movie at 1:00 PM

Tuesday 1/28-this is a full day-

 Spirit blue/ white free dress,

Buddy Day - your child needs to bring a gift for their buddy- your child's buddy is their 8th grader in their faith family, AND bring a cold lunch!!

Wednesday 1/29-we will be performing "Spoons" at the Cherish Luncheon! They must bring in cold lunch on this day too!!

Thursday 1/30- Students  bring in a canned food for Catholic Charities, Faith Family Feud Game after morning prayer.

Friday 1/31- Catholic Schools' Week Mass-you will drop your child off at St. Patrick's Church by 7:50. They will be transported back to school by parent volunteers. They will need to bring their Labeled booster seat.  

*********We are in need of more drivers!!! We do not have enough at this time!! Please contact me if you can drive ( you must be fingerprinted, have taken safe environment , and have ALL required paperwork turned in For the new year. Please , if you can, PLEASE volunteer!!!!!********

There will not be new vocabulary words, but there will still be spelling : long vowel a spelled "ay":

day

say

may

play

way

stay

tray

very

has

could

We have two of our classmates getting baptized on Friday :). Congratulations to Alexandra and Sienna!!!  We will be have a treat that day when we get back.  Please congratulate them when you see them !! :)

January 21- January 24

Timed math tests:

We will begin subtraction timed tests.  They will begin 12 and lower for example: 12-5=7.

****please practice basic facts , both addition up to sum of 18, and subtraction starting with 12 and lower. I can tell the students who have been practicing and those who have not.......

Behavior:

There have been concerning behaviors occurring again.  Talking , blurting out is one of the big ones. Also not paying attention or following directions.  This is Very Distracting to the teacher because I am having to stop the lesson to talk to or redirect these students.  I have so many students who are excited to learn, and this really isn't fair to them.  The other day when stopping the lesson because of this repeated behavior of a student, a few of the classmates let out a sigh!!! It is truly affecting the other students who are wanting to learn.  Please discuss this issue with your child/children .  Thank you for your support! 

Math- new concepts in basic Geometry:

An info sheet was sent home Friday that explains new vocabulary/concepts we will be covering this chapter.  Please go over/ review these concepts so it reinforces what's being taught in class.  This will help significantly come time for the test.  Thank you .

Readers sent home:

Readers will be sent home three to four times a week.  Although some may seem too easy for your child, part of learning to read is learning to read fluently. 

Book reports:

We have begun doing book reports at school.  They will be done in class .  We are going over the basic elements of a story: title, author, setting, character, plot, problem, and solution. When reading their nightly readers, it would be great to reinforce these concepts with the story.  Just a suggestion :)

Science:

We are studying the seasons

S.S.

We have begun learning about our country : Chile.

Vocabulary this week:

world

quiet

forever

family

share

attic

toys

window

climbed 

empty

bored

million

Spelling words this week:  We will begin the long vowel a.  This week they will follow the  a _ e pattern.

shake

make

take

gave

shape

flame

came

name

game

chase