March 31st to April 4 2014

A few reminders:  

* Don't forget to send in $10 for the class auction item

* If you're going to sign up your child for the summer enrichment program that I'm doing , please send in the deposit ASAP.  Sessions are filling up :) thank you

* We are doing the live stations of the cross with the eighth grade. We are going to need drivers for the 9th and the 11th to get the kids to the various retirement homes. Some slips have come in, but very little volunteers to drive so far. Remember volunteer hours!!! 

* Food fight - we are in need of boxes and cans of food!! Remember it is a good cause !  Also....... It is a contest too :). First graders really want to win,  hint, hint, hint !!!!

* This Friday is a 12:30 dismissal 

Vocabulary- I will be sending the entire list of this year's vocabulary for practice. I will be doing a final assessment sometime the end of April.  I have decided to continue to send home vocabulary many of which are words from the Fry list ( common words in academic literature). This is to build their vocabulary to get ready for second grade.  

This week:

other

these

more

been

sentence

picture

change

between

below

above

example

often

Spelling this week:

only

or

told

bone

home

about

hope

stone

some

rode

Spring Conference Week 3/24to 3/28

This is the beginning of the 4th quarter....... I can't even believe it!!! As a note I am transitioning from dependent to a more independent style.  Students are now being asked to read directions ( some) on their own and complete the assignment independently.  A few will struggling due to the fact that they are not strong on their reading or vocabulary foundation. Please practice vocabulary and reading each night or every other night to strengthen this foundation.  Also I have begun to move a little faster. Many students are doing well because they are listening to the teacher.  When a child needs to be redirected often, the rest if the class has to wait.  To truly be ready for 2nd grade they will need to be able to keep up and pay attention. To practice this skill at home, give your child multi-step directions to complete tasks.  With practice this will help them to listen completely to what is being said.  

Also it has come to my attention that parents clean out their child's backpacks and take out planners to sign them when the child is already in bed.  This will not help to build responsibility.  Please have your child bring you the planner to be signed.  Also you should really go through backpacks together.  Some items have gotten lost because" mom cleaned out my backpack".  Your child knows what they need to save to bring back to school.  This reinforces open communication with your child about what they are doing in school .  This is a very valuable time where your child can learn to be responsible for their learning.  Yes, this too takes time, but it is so worth it!! This helps to give them a sense that they are in charge of something.  This also builds confidence in being a successful learner !!  That us our ultimate goal , right ??? :)

This is spring conference week as well as the spring book fair. We have 12:30 dismissal all week.  As we begin the fourth quarter, I have seen so much growth. I look forward to seeing you at your child's conference.  This is a really exciting time of year because the students have come so far academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually!! Please be on time for your conference so we can spend the full time- 15 minutes.  Thank you.  

This Tuesday and next Tuesday the first grade is in charge of leading the morning Lenten reflection.

Coming up the first graders will be joining the 8th graders for a Stations of the Cross presentation.  Not only will we be presenting the live version of the Stations of the Cross, we will presenting them for several retirement homes.  This will take drivers :). The dates are April 9th and the 11th. Times aren't.  set yet, but I'm putting it out there for parents to plan to drive. A permission will be going out this week.  Please let me know if you will be able to drive as soon as you can!! Thanks :)

I have noticed that some students are struggling with reading vocabulary. Please be going over new and past vocabulary consistently. Much of what they do now in the 4th quarter they will read on their own. This will really be a challenge if they are not practicing the vocabulary.  This is in addition to nightly homework.  Yes , this takes more time out of your day, but isn't your child's academic success important??? Just a thought :)

In math we have begun clocks/ time. In first we work on the hour and half hour. Some students are struggling with the half hour.  A few are struggling on which hand is minute or hour. Please practice this at home .  

Vocabulary this week

envelope

writing

special

inviting

stamp

wish

should

caught

blew

peering

thought

Spelling this week- long "o"

rose

nose

rope

cone

note

hole

is

are

were 

was

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