Stay Informed: Read this letter
Happy New Year!
Dear Parents,
May the New Year bring with it good health and many happy times to all of you and your dear families! The boys and girls did a terrific job on their Winter Break “Stay Smart” Packet by completing both First in Math and Reading Activities that were sent home in our last packet. Special CONGRATULATIONS go to:
Ryan A, Gabriel, Ryan B, Breanna, Monique, Annalise, Jason, Joy, Cameron, David, Gabe, Charlie, Lana, Ariana, Kalia, and Jasmine.
As you know, our pacing is quick, testing is demanding, and anything you can do to help support your child’s learning is greatly appreciated. These students have received recognition in class, a special award and a treat. Three weeks off is a long vacation for our brain J and keeping it academically stimulated and challenged, certainly helps to restart our academic year! Thank you for your support!
A special thank you from your child for the reinforcements of folders, crayons, colored pencils, red pens and highlighters. Some of these items were looking a little shabby and it’s always nice to start anew.
Homework Changes:
v ABC order-Students are to alphabetize the first 15 words.
v Comprehension paper- The Comprehension and Vocabulary packet looks different. We did #5 together and I am including it for you see how your child should do their homework. Your child has highlighted the information in context that shows where they found the answer. Please use this for future homework responses.
RT= Right There
The answer is in one place in the text
TS= Think and Search
The answer is in several places in the text
AY= The answer is not in the text. Think about how what you
know and what is in the text fit together.
OMO= On My Own
The answer is not in the text. Think about what you know
and make a connection.
We are reading about Amazing Animals in Theme 4 of our literature series. We will also be learning about the life cycle of animals in science. To help support and enrich this topic, we will be writing a BOOK REPORT (not internet research) on animals. Our culminating activity will be a trip to the San Diego Zoo in February. Attached to this packet is information about the Animal Book Report. Book reports are due Monday, January 30th. Field trip information to the zoo will go home next week. Your child has had the opportunity of choosing an animal book from our school library HOWEVER, you may be able to find a more suited or interesting book at the public library. If your child chooses a book from the public library, please have them return the book they checked out at school.
I have a request. Would you please ask your child on a regular basis what color behavior card they received during the day? This helps support what is happening in the classroom. Our emphasis is to try using our best effort. By doing this we are making good choices by following the classroom rules, completing homework and being a good citizen. This is a wonderful class and they are doing a great job, however, this step does help DEVELOP RESPONSIBILITY and ACCOUNTABILITY. These are all learned behaviors. If your child got a card changed, we do talk about it at the end of the day when they receive their card to take home. Green is great and yellow means they needed a reminder, which is ok. For those children who have a difficult time accepting they aren’t perfect and had a card changed, it is a step to understand that there is always room for improvement and the world does NOT fall apart. This too is a learning experience. However, receiving white or blue cards are not acceptable. If a card was changed during the day, we always talk about how we can make improvements for the following day. As always, your support is greatly appreciated!!
Please continue to have your child practice their addition and subtraction facts. It is very important that your child master these facts to help build a strong foundation. Mastery of addition and subtraction facts is a FIRST GRADE standard. A fourth of our class is on multiplication.
Our class will begin reading the novel Charlotte’s Web. If your child has the book at home, they may bring it to school and keep it in their desk to read when we read it as a class. I have a class set of these novels, but sometimes it’s fun to read from your own book. I will let you know if the book clubs offer Charlotte’s Web in the near future.
Keep reading, writing and practicing those math facts. All your efforts will pay off. Thanks for being the wonderful parents you are!!!
Here’s to a great 2012!
Susie Sexton
Reminders
· Alphabetize spelling words 1-15
(an increase of 5 words)
· Practice Telling Time to the 5 minutes
· Practice counting money
· Wear tennis shoes Mon and Tues for PE
· Animal Book Reports are due
Monday, January 30th
