Welcome to Conference Week. Tuesday-Friday are Early Dismissal days with pick-up time being 1:20.
Report card envelopes should be signed and returned. You may keep the progress report.
Your child will be bringing home 2 letters today. These letters are about our class holiday activities. One is a Cookie Exchange which will take place on Thursday, December 17th. The other letter explains our class Grab Bag gift exchange which will take place at our class holiday breakfast party on Monday, December 21st. Details are in the letters so please read and keep them for future reference. I will post reminders here on the blog as the date gets closer.
Reading Workshop: This week we will be working on having "Book Talks" with a partner. While reading is an activity you do on your own, my goal is for my students to be able to have a (brief) conversation with a partner. In order to do this, I will be modeling the ways I think and talk about books. We will have a chance to practice staying on topic (not making recess plans when we should be having a 'book talk') and also learning the language readers use to share their thoughts and ideas. The phrases we will be using are "I notice..." and "I wonder..." and "I think..." It would be great to start using these same phrases with your child when he/she is reading to you at home.
Writing Workshop: We will be finishing up our unit of study on snapshots. This week we will have a chance to select 1 snapshot to 'fancy' up by adding some details (revising) and also editing for grammar and spelling.
Spelling/Phonics: Long a combinations (ai, ay, a): rain, mail, play, away, acorn
Math: We will be starting unit 4 which focuses on comparing and ordering numbers and also looks at number patterns.
Homework
Monday 11/30
1. Read for at least 15 minutes.
2. Long a purple spelling sheet
Tuesday 12/1
1. Read for at least 15 minutes
2. Word Work: Compound Words
Wednesday 12/2
1. Read for at least 15 minutes
2. Math: Basic Addition Facts
Thursday 12/3
1. Read for at least 15 minutes
2. Study for spelling test
Have a great week!
I hope everyone enjoys a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday weekend with their families and friends. I am so thankful to have a great class.
See you back at school on the 30th!
The school lunch menu calendar will no longer be sent home at the beginning of each month.
You can access the lunch menu on the web:
http://www.darienps.org/lunchmenu/ There is also a link on the sidebar under 'School Sites' heading.
Happy Thanksgiving Week!
RP will be the captain during this very short week.
We will have a class Pie Party on Tuesday.
Wednesday will be an Early Dismissal day.
There is no school on Thursday and Friday in honor of Thanksgiving.
We will do some Thanksgiving related reading and writing this week.
There will not be a spelling list this week.
There will not be any homework or spelling list this week. Enjoy the extra time preparing for the upcoming holiday with your family and friends.
CN was a good captain. She read the morning checklist very well. (Miss D.)
We are having our cranberry and pumpkin tasting event this afternoon. It is going to be fun. (CP)
Today there is no Mystery Reader because we are having our cranberry and pumpkin party. (EB)
We had a spelling test on words with a long a silent e. (KG)
Today we will play bingo. (CVI)
We had gym outside and inside this week. We played Dr. Dodgeball and Capture the Football. (PR)
We are finishing our snapshot unit in Writing Workshop. (KG)
In Reading Workshop we made little booklets that were like Eric Carles' bear books. They have a word pattern. (CM)
For Fun Friday math, we learned how to play the card game Solitaire. First we played online on the Smartboard. Then we played with real cards. The challenge was to follow the pattern of red/black/red/black while making sure the numbers went down. (JMN and class)
In library Mrs. B told us that an author is coming to visit our class next week. (AD)
We didn't have centers this week because we are changing our Reading Workshop schedule. We are going to have partner work soon. (DS and class)
In library we got to pick our own spots to read our books. We could go anywhere we wanted like the couch, under bookshelves or in beanbags or the computer chairs. (KR)
We finished reading a chapter book called Turkey Trouble. It was a short and funny book. (RP)
Mrs. B. showed us the new books that she just got for the library. She let some kids check them out. (CD)
We read a big book for math about kids who were trying to trick their aunt and confuse her. We used this book to make our own mini bunk bed counters. (OS)
We printed our pictures in art. (TB)
We read a book called A Plump and Perky Turkey. It's about a turkey who is a model for artists. (MA)
We had our 7th spelling test. (TM) Everyone has been doing a really good job. (Miss D.)
The annual UBS Parade Spectacular will take place this Sunday, November 22nd at noon in downtown Stamford. You can also see the balloons being inflated the night before. For more information and details visit:
http://www.stamford-downtown.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=126
We have been studying Eric Carle books as a part of our November unit of study. Many of his books follow patterns. We also visited his website and watched a short video clip which shows how he makes his original illustrations. In the video clip we also got to see his musuem. It looks like a great place for a short trip. We went on Mapquest to see how far away Amherst is. It is 2 hours away, so it looks like this would make a great family field trip.
http://www.ericcarle.com/
Oops, we are very behind in our birthdays. Belated birthday wishes to TM, KG, PR, CN and FH. They all had fall birthdays.
CN is this week's captain.
This Friday we will celebrate the fall season at our Pumpkin and Cranberry Tasting party. Thank you to all the families who have signed up to bake and/or bring in some delicious items. It should be a delicious day.
The Scholastic Book order form was sent home with your child last Tuesday. If you are ordering, please return the order slip with your check by this Wednesday, November 18th.
I will send an email at the end of this week or early next week with the December conference schedule attached. I had already sent this out last week, but it will serve as a reminder.
Reading Workshop: We will be enjoying some Thanksgiving/autumn books this week. We will continue to study the patterns authors use in their writing.
Writing Workshop: We continue our 'snapshot' unit on descriptive writing. We have written snapshots of people and of a scarecrow. Our scarecrow snapshots are on display on the hallway bulleting board outside of our classroom.
Phonics/Spelling: We finished the short vowels and will now start to focus on the long vowels. This week's spelling pattern is long a words that end with a silent (or "sneaky") e: make, gave, ate, take, came.
Math: We took our third math assessment last Friday. The math assessments will be shared with parents at the December conferences.
Homework
Monday 11/16
1. Read for at least 10 minutes
2. Math: Something to Crow About
Tuesday 11/17
1. Read for at least 10 minutes
2. Writing: Scarecrow Story (at least 3 complete sentences)
Wednesday 11/18
1. Read for at least 10 minutes
2. Falling for a Good Book (reader response)
Thursday 11/19
1. Read for at least 10 minutes
2. Study for spelling test: make, ate, take, gave, came
Have a great week!
CN's dad surprised her and the class when he came in to read two great books to our class.
Our new bulletin board is up! Stop by and check out our scarecrows and read our snapshots.
JMN was the captain this week. He did a great job lining up the class for specials. (Miss D)
We learned about how Stong Readers notice patterns in a book. Our Mystery Reader brought a book with a pattern. (EB & RP)
We made mini-scarecrows. We wrote a description about them. This is called a snapshot. (KG & DS)
We did our math test on topic 3. It was a little easy and a little tricky. (AD)
We had a spelling test. It was on all 5 short vowels. (RP & TB)
For Fun Friday math, we made and played a game called the Indian Stick Game. It was a fun way to practice using tally marks. (CD & EB & class)
We picked funny books at library. (CVI)
We went outside to the flag pole and sang songs for Veterans' Day. (TM & PR)
Some people got 'Looker Books' at library. (OS)
We got to pick out chapter books at library. (JMN & EB)
JMN was a really good captain. (CP)
We read a book called The Lonely Scarecrow. We also read a book called Hello Mr. Scarecrow. (MA)
We started a new movie in indoor recess called Babe. It's about a pig who lives on a farm and misses his family. (DS & CM)
We finished a chapter book called Chocolate Fever at snack time. It was funny. (OS & KR)
In art we printed our musical pictures. After we printed them, we got to put another paper on it and smooth it out like a baby's back. We took it off and made a copy. (CN & JMN & class)
Lunch Bunch started this week! Some friends went and had a really fun time. (Miss Allison)
Some kids had photo retakes this week. (RP & MA)
Our class joined the rest of the school outside at the flag pole to say the Pledge of Allegiance and sing a few patriotic songs.
Back in the classroom we watched a short documentary about the armed forces. We learned that there are 5 branches: army, navy, air force, marines and coast guard.
FH was surprised that is was her mom's turn to be the Mystery Reader. Mrs. H read a great book called "Grandfather for Sale".
This week's captain is JMN. JMN is our 11th captain. The year is really flying by!
Seussical was a great show. Thank you to OS and TB's moms for chaperoning on our first trip.
Picture retakes are on Monday.
Please send in the field trip money for next month's Maritime Center trip.
Last week I emailed the December Conference schedule. Please let me know if you need a date or time change. I will resend this as the date gets closer.
Reading Workshop: We will continue to look for patterns in books. It has been interesting to notice how a single book can have a lot of patterns. I hope my first graders are noticing and explaining a pattern they find in their home reading. Wednesday night's homework is all about patterns.
Writing Workshop: We are continuing to write descriptions called "snapshots". Brainstorming adjectives will be a big part of this unit.
Phonics/Spelling: Short vowel review: fast, went, this, stop, jump
Math: We will be (hopefully) finishing Topic 3 in math which is on counting coins, telling time to the hour and an introduction to measurement. We will have an assessment on Friday.
Homework
Monday 11/9
1. Read for at least 10 minutes
2. Purple Spelling Sheet
Tuesday 11/10
1. Read for at least 10 minutes
2. Reading Pattern Activity
Wednesday 11/11
1. Read for at least 10 minutes
2. Math: Ice Cream Treats
Thursday 11/12
1. Read for at least 10 minutes
2. Study for spelling test: fast, went, this, stop, jump
Have a great week!
Our classroom library grew this week with lots of great books donated by some families. Thank you for the great books from the Book Fair. (Miss D.)
TM was the captain. He was very good and very nice. (JMN and AD)
We celebrated my birthday. (KG)
We practiced looking for patterns in books. (PR)
We started a new chapter book called "Chocolate Fever". It's about a boy named Henry Green who LOVES chocolate SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much. He ate it every day until he got brown spots all over his body. (EB and DS)
Most of us finished illustrating our Small Moments stories. A few kids will finish next week. (RP)
FH's mom came in to be the Mystery Reader. (CN)
We had a Fun Friday math day. (TB)
We switched seats for the new month of November. (CD)
We had our first game day. EB and CP and TM's parents came in to run the games. (AD and class)
For Fun Friday we will play Bingo. (CP)
We had our 5th spelling test on short u words. (TM and JMN)
KG will have her real birthday tomorrow. (OS)
There was no school on Tuesday because it was Election Day. (class)
We went on our first field trip of the year. It was to a show called "Seussical the Musical". (MA)
Photo retakes will be on Monday, November 9th in the morning. Please send in a note if you want your child's picture redone.
Hootie had a great Halloween weekend at TB's house. Hootie is now spending time at RP's house.
Happy November to all!
I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween weekend. This week is a 4-day week. There is no school for students on Tuesday, November 3rd (Election Day).
Please send in the field trip money for our Maritime Center adventure.
We will go on our first trip tomorrow, Monday, November 2nd. We will be leaving by 9:10 so please make sure you are on time to school. We will be back in time to eat lunch at school. Thank you to OS and TB's moms for chaperoning.
Reading Workshop: We spent most of September and October working on decoding strategies and learning our center routines. We also did some 'Reader Responses' which is when we write about our reading. This month's focus is on noticing and recognizing the patterns in books and using these patterns to help us read with accuracy, fluency, and comprehension. We will be reading books where there is a word pattern (for example, in Brown Bear, Brown Bear the pattern is a question and then an answer). We will look at other books and notice that in some books a certain sequence happens over and over. Goldilocks is an example of a book that follows this pattern. Goldilocks tries 3 bowls of porrige, 3 chairs and 3 beds. We will also continue an author study of Robert Munsch books. Many of his books have a pattern of a simple problem which gets worse, then worse and then gets solved. His humor comes from the problem growing bigger and bigger and bigger. Patterns are fun to notice and your child will start comparing new books to favorites ("Hey, this book is just like ___ because...").
Writing Workshop: We are finishing up our Small Moment Personal Narrative stories. They will be displayed on the bulletin board outside of our room. During the next couple of weeks we will be writing 'Snapshots'. A snapshot is a short piece of writing that describes a person, place or thing. We will be learning how to incorporate adjectives into our writing. We call it a snapshot because our written words are making a picture in the reader's brain.
Math: We started Topic 3 this past week which is on time, money and measurement. We will be using coins to find different combinations to make amounts.
Spelling/Phonics: short u: up, under, jump, run, but
Homework
Monday 11/2
1. Read for at least 15 minutes
2. Spelling Sheet
Wednesday11/3
1. Read for at least 15 minutes
2. Math: Counting Coins
Thursday 11/4
1. Read for at least 15 minutes
2. Study for tomorrow's spelling test (up, under, jump, run, but)
Have a great week!
