26 September 2010
We've almost completed our first month of school, and we're on our way with our new Reading Program: Reading Street! The students have been so motivated to learn about animals from our new Theme: Animals, Tame and Wild Animal Friends. Please begin exploring the Pearson Links for this week's Story: Pig in a Wig.
Here are the skills covered for the week:
Phonics: short i and final x
Grammar: Naming Parts of Sentences
Vocabulary: Descriptive Words
Comprehension Skill: Realism and Fantasy
Comprehension Strategy: Summarize
Writing Trait: Conventions: Caption, Sentences, & Story Response
We will also enjoy a new spelling list and AMAZING WORDS to enrich our vocabulary to help us learn how people can help animals! Perhaps we'll all grow up to veterinarians!!!
In math, we'll be working on a Problem Solving bulletin board to show how we're working on number relationships and reasoning through our mathematical solutions. Sounds like pretty 'big' stuff, doesn't it. It's all part of our Continuous School Improvement goals here at our school. We'll be collecting data and making different kinds of graphs, then writing about our solutions.
Most of us have adjusted to the later lunch schedule and the water bottles have helped, as well. Please remember to include breakfast in your morning routine.
Progress reports will be forthcoming and all in all, we're looking more and more like a group of 1st graders with our work production elevating each day.
Please send the Spelling folders back to school on Monday, after reviewing the results of the 1st test. I am only 'grading' the spelling word in each of the 12 sentences, but will continue with the dictation, in order to see their progression in wriing high frequency words, and those other words that have predictable spelling patterns that we work on in school.
Keep sending those notes in if your child is going to be picked up at the end of the day. Some of you have given me a note for a longer period of time, and that's great too!
Stay tuned for more news, and keep those kids working on reading their Pig in a Wig poster, the fast-read of the High Frequency Words on the back and the soon to be sent home Story Booklet for the Unit 1 stories. These will be found in their reading bag.
Thanks for all your support! Have a great week, too.
Mrs. Petty
Monday, September 20, 2010
There's a new log-in for Sight Words with Samson!
Click on the new Samson link and you'll find a new directory. USE the class access code: AES1 where it says QUICK LAUNCH CODE. Next it takes you to my home page, then click on your child's 1st initial of their last name, and then click on their initials to guide you to the sights. Both of the Sights: Spelling with Samson and Sight Words with Samson can be accessed this way. Disregard the UN and PW for SSWS from now on.
Hope this doesn't cause too much confusion!
I sent home the Spelling Folders today. You will be able to see how the students performed on their pre-test. We will have our spelling pre-tests on Thursday for the next week's story unit. There will always be 12 words on their test. Please initial in the folder and send back the next day. I will begin scoring their post-tests, also. Our spelling tests will be on Thursday, also. The post test will test all 12 words, but they will be in a dictation sentence format. You will see it when it comes home this Friday. The dictation sentence testing format gives us a chance to see how they are spelling their Sight Words and how their connecting the classroom instruction in phonics and writing conventions in their independent writing efforts. Thank you for assisting your child with further success in reading, writing and spelling!
Click on the new Samson link and you'll find a new directory. USE the class access code: AES1 where it says QUICK LAUNCH CODE. Next it takes you to my home page, then click on your child's 1st initial of their last name, and then click on their initials to guide you to the sights. Both of the Sights: Spelling with Samson and Sight Words with Samson can be accessed this way. Disregard the UN and PW for SSWS from now on.
Hope this doesn't cause too much confusion!
I sent home the Spelling Folders today. You will be able to see how the students performed on their pre-test. We will have our spelling pre-tests on Thursday for the next week's story unit. There will always be 12 words on their test. Please initial in the folder and send back the next day. I will begin scoring their post-tests, also. Our spelling tests will be on Thursday, also. The post test will test all 12 words, but they will be in a dictation sentence format. You will see it when it comes home this Friday. The dictation sentence testing format gives us a chance to see how they are spelling their Sight Words and how their connecting the classroom instruction in phonics and writing conventions in their independent writing efforts. Thank you for assisting your child with further success in reading, writing and spelling!
Monday, September 13, 2010
12-18 September 2010
Welcome Back to a new week in 1st Grade!
We're entering our last pre-assessment week and the first week of on-line homework. Tonight, you'll receive your child's Usernames and Passwords to the 'must-do' homework links listed. The links not being used this week are the PEARSON Reading, Sight Words w/Samson, and IXL Math links. We'll add a few each week, so you're not overwhelmed! Remember to encourage independence in the Reading and any quizzes on the on-line books they may be taking after reading the selection. The RAZ-kids site is set to roll into the next level, after ALL activities are completed in their currently assigned level.
Please begin your child's participation with this LINK this week: (Just click on the link and it takes you to where you need to go). You're also welcome to establish the links on your home computer as favorites for your child's convenience.
RAZ-Kids Reading
For those of you who may not have internet connectivity at this time, the reading bag and the books inside will serve as their only homework for the week. Remember to read with your child, and try the parent prompts and suggestions on the enclosures to the reading bag, addressed to parents.
Some of you may be wondering about some traditional homework, as well. I'll introduce that a bit later in the 9 weeks, after teaching the students 'how' to do their homework at school, including formatting and expectations on 'how it looks' and what to do.
All in all, our 1st two weeks have gone well. We welcomed our last 2 students to our class a week ago today, so all 20 are aboard. Thank you to those parents who have returned the Star of the Week and Parent/Child information forms to school. These are important documents as I plan their 'special week' beginning in November. I will send home a schedule that will indicate your child's week, where they will 'star' as themselves and we become more familiar with their lives up to now.
Please note the P.E. special, as appropriate shoes and clothes for these active class are requested. Ms. P, our P.E. coach really appreciates your attention to this each class period. I'm still encouraging water bottles, as it shortens our line for drinks after active periods of time, especially recess that occurs right after lunch.
As you've probably already noticed, I do not send homework folders home every evening. I will be sending home student artifacts when we pick up the pace of daily, in-school, assignments. These will be coming home in their Wednesday folders weekly. Please sign and return the folder on Thursday. A lot of their daily work will be done in specific folders, and their primary composition book "My Learning Log".
Please watch for their Homework Passwords Card this evening, as you will post this near your computer, for use later. The first few weeks of on-line homework are usually spent with the parents assisting the child on how to access the links and entering UN and PW. It eventually becomes automatic, as they learn to use them on their own. Many thanks to your support during this transition time.
Have a wonderful week, and I look forward to beginning guided reading next week, where your child will receive reading instruction based on their personal independent and instructional level of reading. Please begin using the reading bags tonight and signing the Reading log and reading the information enclosed in their colored book bag. PLEASE return all books and enclosures in the bag to school everyday, as we use them each morning for SSR (Sustained Silent Reading)! It's best to read 'with' your child and then return them (in the colored bag) to their backpack immediately afterward. Then ,they're never left behind at home.
More to come............Thanks for all your support!
Have a wonderful week.
Mrs. Petty
Welcome Back to a new week in 1st Grade!
We're entering our last pre-assessment week and the first week of on-line homework. Tonight, you'll receive your child's Usernames and Passwords to the 'must-do' homework links listed. The links not being used this week are the PEARSON Reading, Sight Words w/Samson, and IXL Math links. We'll add a few each week, so you're not overwhelmed! Remember to encourage independence in the Reading and any quizzes on the on-line books they may be taking after reading the selection. The RAZ-kids site is set to roll into the next level, after ALL activities are completed in their currently assigned level.
Please begin your child's participation with this LINK this week: (Just click on the link and it takes you to where you need to go). You're also welcome to establish the links on your home computer as favorites for your child's convenience.
RAZ-Kids Reading
For those of you who may not have internet connectivity at this time, the reading bag and the books inside will serve as their only homework for the week. Remember to read with your child, and try the parent prompts and suggestions on the enclosures to the reading bag, addressed to parents.
Some of you may be wondering about some traditional homework, as well. I'll introduce that a bit later in the 9 weeks, after teaching the students 'how' to do their homework at school, including formatting and expectations on 'how it looks' and what to do.
All in all, our 1st two weeks have gone well. We welcomed our last 2 students to our class a week ago today, so all 20 are aboard. Thank you to those parents who have returned the Star of the Week and Parent/Child information forms to school. These are important documents as I plan their 'special week' beginning in November. I will send home a schedule that will indicate your child's week, where they will 'star' as themselves and we become more familiar with their lives up to now.
Please note the P.E. special, as appropriate shoes and clothes for these active class are requested. Ms. P, our P.E. coach really appreciates your attention to this each class period. I'm still encouraging water bottles, as it shortens our line for drinks after active periods of time, especially recess that occurs right after lunch.
As you've probably already noticed, I do not send homework folders home every evening. I will be sending home student artifacts when we pick up the pace of daily, in-school, assignments. These will be coming home in their Wednesday folders weekly. Please sign and return the folder on Thursday. A lot of their daily work will be done in specific folders, and their primary composition book "My Learning Log".
Please watch for their Homework Passwords Card this evening, as you will post this near your computer, for use later. The first few weeks of on-line homework are usually spent with the parents assisting the child on how to access the links and entering UN and PW. It eventually becomes automatic, as they learn to use them on their own. Many thanks to your support during this transition time.
Have a wonderful week, and I look forward to beginning guided reading next week, where your child will receive reading instruction based on their personal independent and instructional level of reading. Please begin using the reading bags tonight and signing the Reading log and reading the information enclosed in their colored book bag. PLEASE return all books and enclosures in the bag to school everyday, as we use them each morning for SSR (Sustained Silent Reading)! It's best to read 'with' your child and then return them (in the colored bag) to their backpack immediately afterward. Then ,they're never left behind at home.
More to come............Thanks for all your support!
Have a wonderful week.
Mrs. Petty
Sunday, September 05, 2010
4 September 2010
Week's Special Schedule:
Tuesday: Host Nation
Wednesday: Art
Thursday: Host Nation
Friday: P.E.
A huge 'thank you' to all the parents and other family members who attended our Open House on Friday afternoon! It was a pleasure to meet the Most Important People in my students' lives. Wouldn't you agree that your child was a most amazing tour guide?
First Grade is magical and one that begins their journey to independence and greater learning with scaffolded success. We have 20 students who've begun to form a community of learners with great expectations and group norms that allow all of us to progress. It should be a great year together.
This blog serves as the communication for our classroom. My weekly post will occur, most weekends, and will contain important information about the internal workings of our classroom. You will also assist your child in the first weeks with accessing their homework by using the links listed on this page. Soon, I will send home all their usernames and passwords in order that you can get started. Students will also have some written homework scheduled during the week by using their "Reader's Response Log". Directions for that homework will be sent home in the reading bag.
All of the above will occur after we attend the Parent Orientation meeting at 3 p.m., on this Wednesday, the 8th of September in our AES classroom, E-89. Plan on about an hour, where we'll review the academic expectations, class procedures, homework instructions, and answer any questions that may come up. I will also review the specialists' schedules, so that you understand when P.E. is. Please remember to dress your child with appropriate clothing for movement and activity on that day. The correct
shoes are important for safety and success on P.E. day!
This week we will complete the pre-assessments for reading and math. Most of these are administered on a 1 to 1 basis, so you can understand why it takes a few days! These assessments give us an individualized starting point for learning and will allow for more formative instruction, progress and evaluation when meeting grade level benchmarks.
Once again, I'm very happy to have your child in my class.
Please get your Scholastic Book Orders completed, save those Box Tops for Education (you can send them in by just trimming and placing them in a zip-loc. May I please encourage all families to join the PTA at our school? For a minimal, $5 membership, we receive amazing support from this organization and it builds our school community, as well.
I am also looking for a parent (sponsor or dependent) to serve on the Continuous School Improvement this year. This involves representing yourself as a stakeholder in the academic progress of all students. We need your voice. I'd even love to see parents (mom & dad) share in this responsibility as a team. It makes it easier if we have two to work together, when one is not able to attend. There are a few meetings and we'd love to have your expertise, opinion, and feedback throughout the year. Please let me know if your interested and I'll send your names forward to the CSI Co-Chairs. Get on Board!
In closing, I have to say that this school year had the most efficient beginning of any school I've taught at. We have amazing, supportive administrators, and wonderful support professionals. When you walk into our school, you'll see order, learning, and an environment that supports teachers, individual students and meets the needs of everyone in our AES community. Thanks for being a part of it with us!
Let's have a great week this week. See you on Wednesday at 3 o'clock in our classroom. Remember that we have limited space.
P.S. If your child is being picked up or you have a change with how your student departs from school, is absent due to a family trip, medical/dental appt, etc. you are required to send a note to the teacher. This helps our attendance remain accurate. If your child only 'says' that they are to go home another way than their bus or AYP, but I don't have a note, they will be delivered to the bus at departure time. Thank you for your attention to this.
Mrs. Petty
Week's Special Schedule:
Tuesday: Host Nation
Wednesday: Art
Thursday: Host Nation
Friday: P.E.
A huge 'thank you' to all the parents and other family members who attended our Open House on Friday afternoon! It was a pleasure to meet the Most Important People in my students' lives. Wouldn't you agree that your child was a most amazing tour guide?
First Grade is magical and one that begins their journey to independence and greater learning with scaffolded success. We have 20 students who've begun to form a community of learners with great expectations and group norms that allow all of us to progress. It should be a great year together.
This blog serves as the communication for our classroom. My weekly post will occur, most weekends, and will contain important information about the internal workings of our classroom. You will also assist your child in the first weeks with accessing their homework by using the links listed on this page. Soon, I will send home all their usernames and passwords in order that you can get started. Students will also have some written homework scheduled during the week by using their "Reader's Response Log". Directions for that homework will be sent home in the reading bag.
All of the above will occur after we attend the Parent Orientation meeting at 3 p.m., on this Wednesday, the 8th of September in our AES classroom, E-89. Plan on about an hour, where we'll review the academic expectations, class procedures, homework instructions, and answer any questions that may come up. I will also review the specialists' schedules, so that you understand when P.E. is. Please remember to dress your child with appropriate clothing for movement and activity on that day. The correct
shoes are important for safety and success on P.E. day!
This week we will complete the pre-assessments for reading and math. Most of these are administered on a 1 to 1 basis, so you can understand why it takes a few days! These assessments give us an individualized starting point for learning and will allow for more formative instruction, progress and evaluation when meeting grade level benchmarks.
Once again, I'm very happy to have your child in my class.
Please get your Scholastic Book Orders completed, save those Box Tops for Education (you can send them in by just trimming and placing them in a zip-loc. May I please encourage all families to join the PTA at our school? For a minimal, $5 membership, we receive amazing support from this organization and it builds our school community, as well.
I am also looking for a parent (sponsor or dependent) to serve on the Continuous School Improvement this year. This involves representing yourself as a stakeholder in the academic progress of all students. We need your voice. I'd even love to see parents (mom & dad) share in this responsibility as a team. It makes it easier if we have two to work together, when one is not able to attend. There are a few meetings and we'd love to have your expertise, opinion, and feedback throughout the year. Please let me know if your interested and I'll send your names forward to the CSI Co-Chairs. Get on Board!
In closing, I have to say that this school year had the most efficient beginning of any school I've taught at. We have amazing, supportive administrators, and wonderful support professionals. When you walk into our school, you'll see order, learning, and an environment that supports teachers, individual students and meets the needs of everyone in our AES community. Thanks for being a part of it with us!
Let's have a great week this week. See you on Wednesday at 3 o'clock in our classroom. Remember that we have limited space.
P.S. If your child is being picked up or you have a change with how your student departs from school, is absent due to a family trip, medical/dental appt, etc. you are required to send a note to the teacher. This helps our attendance remain accurate. If your child only 'says' that they are to go home another way than their bus or AYP, but I don't have a note, they will be delivered to the bus at departure time. Thank you for your attention to this.
Mrs. Petty
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