Weekend Update

This past week we finished our first book in Reading Streets. The kids easily read through the last story and are ready for more challenges. This coming week will be a review and testing week. We begin our next unit and book next week. On Friday afternoon we paired up with students in Ms. Garon's third grade to share books. Everyone enjoyed reading to their buddy, and we hope to make this a weekly event. Not this week, though. This week is the Halloween parade! What will you be for Halloween is a hot discussion and writing topic. If the weather allows, we will take our first walk to Sarette Field. The children will have to be careful observers to find signs of the rapidly changing season.

Weekend Update

Hi, everyone - fall has certainly arrived this weekend! On Monday I will send home a permission slip so that we can take occasional nature walks to Sarette Field behind the school. We tried listening for sounds of nature on school grounds, but all we heard were cars!
As you know from the math homework, we are now studying nickels and pennies. The children have been bringing in 5 nickels, we will use these and other coins to understand the value of money. I purchased some cool Halloween erasers today, and the children will pretend to buy them from me. They will get to keep the erasers and the money - a real deal! This week, watch for the children's writing books to come home. They picked out their favorite or "best" story, and after editing them for some spelling and punctuation marks, they will bring them home. Make sure to have your child read these stories to you - you may recognize the events described. Their spelling at this point in first grade is a sign of their knowledge of phonics. We do have spelling expectations in first grade, and these will increase as the year goes on.

Update/Library Reminder

I have included a copy of the October newsletter below, and also several pictures from writing and center time. The kids have asked me to remind you that Friday is library day. There were some disappointed first graders last Friday when they could not check out a new book. I will remind them Thursday as well.

September Scenes

As the Month Turns

I was hoping to have a slide show up and running, on this site, but technical glitches are causing a delay. Stay tuned. Meanwhile... the children all brought books home this week from their reading groups. I hope you have had time to listen to them read to you. This extra practice will really accelerate their reading progress. Please send the books back the next day in the bags provided. Thank you for all the treasures you sent in for our Discovery Center. Logan's deer skull, and Paige's starfish were especially popular. This week I have various leaves for the kids to examine and identify. Everyone successfully logged on to the Everyday Math website and played a game or two. I will be sending home those passwords and your child can access this site at home as well. In writing the children chose a character from one of three versions of the Henny Penny story. Their choices were Henny Penny, Chicken Little, or Chicken Big. Chicken Big is a new version of this old story - he eats acorns rather than panicking when one falls on this head!