We started some new routines this week, including our spelling routine!
This afternoon we read Fall is Not Easy by New Boston's own Marty Kelly, and we created beautiful watercolor tree pictures, inspired by the book!
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ~ Dr. Seuss |
Check your child's folder for some awesome at-home learning opportunities!
We started some new routines this week, including our spelling routine! This afternoon we read Fall is Not Easy by New Boston's own Marty Kelly, and we created beautiful watercolor tree pictures, inspired by the book!
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Today we were formally introduced to the Cardboard Challenge by Mrs. Charles in the library. She showed the students a video that tells the inspiring story of a boy who created his own arcade out of cardboard! You can check out the 10 minute video here if you'd like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faIFNkdq96U The students can't wait to build with cardboard next Wednesday during our Art class! REMINDER: Monday is Picture Day! Your child has a Family Contact List in his or her folder today. If there's anything on that list that needs to be fixed or changed, please let me know.
Also in the folder is paperwork for Picture Day, which is Monday, September 30th! Our class is scheduled to get pictures taken at 9:15 on Monday. SAVE THE DATE! The Readiness and First Grade classes will have an Artist in Residence time, celebrating cultures around the world through art, singing, dancing, and drumming, the first week in November. We will have an Open House and performance to showcase our work on Thursday, November 7th, starting at 6:00 pm. Next Wednesday during our art class, we will participate in the Global Cardboard Challenge! Students will be creating all kinds of awesome stuff with cardboard and masking tape. We are asking for donations! If you have cardboard that is small enough for a backpack, your child can bring it in (if you have bigger boxes that you would like to donate, please deliver if you can), and if you have masking tape, we will need LOTS of it! Thank you! Students are really enjoying our fairy village area at recess time, but our building supplies end up quickly diminishing. If you would like to send in bunches of natural building supplies (small sticks, cool stones, shells, acorns, etc), we would appreciate it! Thank you! Today was Math Storytelling Day! So we read Ten Apples Up On Top, and we told and solved number stories of our own. We are learning to use tools, like the number line, to help us solve number stories. We also celebrated a birthday today, making a beautiful birthday book for Avery!
Today we harvested and tasted the pea shoot microgreens that we started just 2 weeks ago! It was so fun to chop them - like giving a haircut! And washing them in a salad spinner was fun too. Students could try eating some if they chose to, and they could even dip their greens in ranch dressing. Yum! We started our reading group routines this week, and the students are doing an excellent job in their small groups!! Happy Fall! Today we read, watched, shared, and discussed what the Fall season is all about. Do you have special traditions for your family in the Fall?
We came in to find that some painted lady butterflies hatched over the weekend! We are working on keeping our hands to ourselves and keeping our voices at a "just right" level. :) This morning we had a fire drill, and I was very proud of the Transformer Turtles' behavior during the drill! We also had the kick-off to our magazine drive. Students went home with information about this PTA fundraiser in their folders.
Today we learned about using tally marks in math. We sorted animals and used tally marks to keep track. Some students are still working on making sets of 5 with their tallies (1, 2, 3, 4, and then 5 can close the door!)
We are all learning the letters of the alphabet in sign-language so we can add movement as we practice letter sounds. Ask your child if he or she remembers how to sign some letters! Today was Constitution Day and Citizenship Day! We read our first Scholastic News magazine of the year, all about being a good school citizen. We also learned about the Constitution, using the online resource PebbleGo.
During our literacy time today, we practiced making and reading words on magnet boards. After gym today, we observed the painted lady chrysalides, and we enjoyed the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Today all of our Painted Lady Caterpillars formed chrysalides! Now we wait while the magic happens...
We played Bunny Hop in math today, practicing to count while "hopping" up and down the number line. We also read a fun story called Making Friends is an Art! Today we read about having different kinds of smarts, and the students completed a Multiple Intelligence Inventory with their 5th grade learning buddies. We will be graphing the results and learning how to use the smarts that are a strength for us and grow the smarts that do not come as naturally.
The students were able to watch another butterfly hatch today! It was magical! This afternoon we planted tons of moss in Fairy Village, and we spent time making fairy houses with our friends. We played Top-It in math today! It's just like "War" - partners flip a number card at the same time, and then the student with the card that has a greater value gets to keep both cards. It was a fun way to practice comparing numbers!
We had Social Skills time with Ms. Brown today, and she sent home some information in your child's folder. It was an indoor recess day, so we made the most of it and had fun in the classroom! Ask your child what he or she did at recess time today! Today we learned a new math game - Penny Dice! Put a pile of pennies in between 2 partners. Take turns rolling a die and take the number of pennies that you rolled. When the pennies run out, see who has more! It's great counting practice!
We had some magic happen today... two Monarch butterflies hatched! We set them free in the school garden. Thank you to everyone who came to Back to School Night yesterday! Now that I know your children, it's so nice to match them to their parents and get to know everyone!
Today we learned how to play Monster Squeeze in math. We read the story The Three Billy Goats Gruff. We practiced reading the sight words: do, I, like, to, you. Your children brought home a paper book that they can read to you, as well as a caterpillar sight word bracelet. We started our peas today! We are hoping to harvest pea shoots in a couple of weeks! I'm looking forward to seeing you at Back to School Night tonight at 6:05 in our classroom! I will go through the ins and outs of first grade and answer any questions you may have.
We voted on a class name today... We are the Transformer Turtles! We also had our first music class, and we started observing painted lady caterpillars! Today we celebrated our first birthday of the school year. Happy Birthday, Grady! We also had library time with Mrs. Charles, and we met our 5th Grade Learning Buddies from Ms. Lydon's class! Enjoy the weekend!
Today was fantastic! We read the book Chrysanthemum and created "name slides" (which were sent home in folders). We partnered up and tried each other's slides, spelling each other's names and counting how many letters each name had. It was fun!
We also started knitting this afternoon! Knitting helps first graders to strengthen their fingers in preparation for lots of writing, and it also gives them a calm and quiet activity to do when they finish their work. Thank you to everyone for sending in all those forms in a timely manner!! Today was another good day. We had Art class with Mrs. Chalson for the first time. We read The Kissing Hand and How Full is Your Bucket. We learned how to be scientists, observing worms and how they move!
Our first day of first grade was awesome! We learned a lot about the routines and rules in our classroom and around the school, and we even had some time to play! We read Pete the Cat - Rocking in My School Shoes and First Day Jitters. Everything was smooth on this end, but please don't hesitate to let me know if you or your child have any worries or concerns. I want everyone to start the year with a happy heart!
Your students were sent home with lots of paperwork in their folders! There are two things for your child to do at home (and then send in during the next week) that will help us get to know each other. The rest is YOUR homework. Please fill in any missing information on the emergency contact sheet and complete all of the paperwork as soon as possible and send it back to school in your child's folder. Thank you! |
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