Wednesday, February 19, 2014

New Dismissal Procedure

Attention Parents
In an effort to keep all of my first grade friends safe we will be doing the following at the end of the day:

* Return to the classroom at the end of the day
* Pack up (just like we always have)
*Line up INSIDE of the classroom
* Travel to the Gym TOGETHER as a class in a line
* Sit TOGETHER in the Gym as a class until pick up

I will be helping the children pack up, line up, go up, and sit together. 

As a result, I will not be available for conversation or conferencing directly at the end of the school day. :(  I would happy to chat with any parent at 3:30 after my dismissal duties are done for the day on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I tutor students Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
I am always available via email :).  I also have planning times during the day where I can meet with you and would be happy to do so.


Emergent Reader Class 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders

Writers Workshop
Emergent Reader Class
Informative Writing

Your student is authoring an INFORMATIVE WRITING piece in our Emergent Reader class.  They have become “experts” on their topic of choice!  They chose picked 3-4 facts about their topic at Guided Reading last week to include in their book. They are now ready to create their Informative BOOK. 

To complete their book they will need images or pictures for the cover and each page of their book (5-6 images).  The images will need to be no bigger than 3x3.

Please send your student to school on Monday, February 24th with images they have researched online at home.  The images will need to go with the facts they chose to include in their book.
Please watch your email for details about your child’s facts so appropriate images can be found.


Thank you for your support!

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

First Grade Science

The Solar System!
In Science we are learning about the Solar System.  Next week on Wednesday, 2/28 we will be creating the Solar System as a class.  Please send your child in with a replica of his/her planet to add the the below Model that will be constructed during Science.

Each student picked a planet to represent this month.  We have been finding facts about our planets through internet research (bobthealien.com), watching planet documentaries, and reading books.

Here is a list of students and their planets:
Hannah - Neptune
Ceilidh - Venus
Zion - Jupiter
Ivan - Mars
Joey - Sun (the center of our solar system)
Aislynn - Earth
Israel - Mercury
Aden - Uranus
Mia - Saturn

Please feel free to be as creative or simple with your planet as time permits.  Below are examples of planet sizes and colors.


Solar System Model

This is a model of our Solar System, picturing the Sun and the eight planets and dwarf planet that orbit it: MercuryVenusEarthMarsJupiterSaturnUranus,Neptune
Supplies needed:
  • A round piece of cardboard about 1 ft across (the cardboard from a frozen pizza works well)
  • Lots of colors of oak tag (or construction paper)
  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • String
  • Pencil, crayons, or markers
  • A compass (for making circles)
Find the center of the large cardboard circle by drawing a line from top to bottom and a line from right to left. Where these two lines meet is the center of the circle. This will be the position of the Sun.
Using a compass, draw the orbits of the 9 planets (draw circles around the center of the piece of cardboard).The first 4 planets orbit relatively close to the Sun, then there is a gap (this is where the asteroids orbit). Then the last 5 planets orbit very far from the Sun.
Using an awl, the sharp point of scissors, or a large nail, punch a series of holes in the cardboard. First punch a hole in the center (this is where the Sun will hang). Then punch one hole somewhere on each circle (orbit); a planet will hang from each hole.If you want an accurate picture of where the planets actually are today, click here.
Cut circles from oak tag to represent the Sun and each of the planets. Since the range in size of the Sun and the planets is far too large to represent accurately, just make the Sun the biggest. Make Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune a bit smaller than the Sun. Make the remainder of the planets much smaller. Saturn has beautiful rings.Write the name of each planet on its back.
Tape a length of string to each planet (and the Sun).Lace the other end of each string through the correct hole in the large cardboard circle (Mercury goes in the inner orbit, Venus goes in the second orbit, Earth goes in the third, etc.). Tape the end of the string to the top side of the cardboard.After all the planets (and the Sun) are attached, adjust the length of the strings so that the planets (and Sun) all lie in a plane.
To hang your model, tie three pieces of string to the top of the cardboard - then tie these three together. Tie them to a longer string (from which you'll hang your model).You now have a model of our solar system.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Valentine's Day!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!
Our Fantastic First Graders will be having a Valentine Party on
Friday, February 14th at 2:30
Here is a list of the name of our first grade friends:
Israel
Zion
Mia
Hannah
Ivan
Joey
Ceilidh
Aislynn
Aeden
Ms.M&M J



Please send in a BOX (the size of a tissue box) for your child to decorate and use as their “Valentine Mailbox”.


Thank you!

100th Day of School

THE 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL!
Can you believe it is the 100th day of school??!!
Our Emergent Readers are going to celebrate the 100th DAY OF SCHOOL by reading for 100 minutes straight!
Please send your child to school with his/her favorite book(s), a pillow/blanket, a favorite stuffed animal and don’t forget to wear
COMFY PAJAMAS!
ITS PJ DAY ON THE 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL in our

Emergent Reader Class!!!!

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Sight Word Cumulative Test on TUESDAY


Don't Forget to Study for our Cumulative Test on Tuesday.

Your student has had the opportunity to learn
60 Sight Words!

On Tuesday they will be tested on 20 out of the 60 words.

as  ask  any  after  an  all  again  always  around  because  by  could  did  end  every  from  fly  give  going  him  her  has  had  his  how  just  know  left  little  live  let  may  next  open  once  of  old  over  open  put  right  read  round  some  stop  then  they  them  think  thank  take  when  walk  with  were  wish  would  write  work  yes  your