November 26-30

Be sure to check Family Access at this link https://skyweb.msd134.org/ to check your child's progress this quarter.  If you have any questions or concerns, please email me and I will schedule a time to sit down and talk.  Some assessments and grades will not be posted until Friday.

We have 4 full weeks before our Christmas break!  It is so hard to believe it is that close.  We will be working hard these next 4 weeks to prepare for the winter IRI and meeting our first grade fluency goal of 30 wpm by January.  It is an exciting and busy time, not just for the students, but for us adults as well.  Please help your child to remain focused in school by making homework a priority, adequate sleep at night and daily attendance and punctuality.  I will try my best to keep the room a positive learning environment with high learning expectations during this exciting season.

We have finished Unit 3 in our reading curriculum so your child should have brought home a bundle of their books from their bookring.  Please add these to your child's shoebox library and look forward to new books on their bookring.  Don't forget to review the old books, especially if your child is having difficulty reading the new books.  I encourage you to participate in the BINGO homework.  If your child does one square a night and is working towards a BINGO, they will have practiced reading, math, spelling, sight words, and a family activity that week.  That is my goal each week for homework!

Math skills this month is geometry, fractions and addition.  The students will be working on math facts to 10, adding 1 more to any number, using tools such as counting on, the number line and part-part-whole mats. Our number focus is 0-60:  rote counting, identify numbers, ordering numbers and counting objects.

Thank you to the many parents that have stepped up since conferences and volunteered their time in the classroom.  This month I will grow to depend on volunteers more as we prepare for the state IRI and do many Christmas projects.  If you have time and are able to help, please email me or better yet, just come on in!

Our school will begin their annual food drive.  Please send in a canned food item that will be donated to the local food bank, if you are able.  Also, if your family is in need of assistance this time of year please contact our school counselor, Mrs. Davis to discuss help that is available.

There is a list of items we will be needing for our Christmas projects to the right of the blog.  Check it weekly because I often forget of things we need until I get ready to do it.  If you can make a donation it would help to offset the costs that I spend each year to give the students opportunities to make ornaments and gifts for their families.

November 12-16

I can't believe we have one week and two days of school left before Thanksgiving!  My how time flies when you are having fun.  Since Thanksgiving is so early this year, I am having a hard time getting everything in before the Holiday.  I really appreciate the extra hands that came in and volunteered this week giving me opportunity to do more as a class and still meet the individual needs of students.  If you are available to come in and help please let me know...or just show up!  I will always have work for you to do.

Monday is Veterans Day, we are celebrating by wearing RED, WHITE, AND BLUE.

Book rings are coming back!  WAHOO!  I am so "Thankful" for the responsibility the students are showing by returning them daily.  We spend at least 15 minutes a day reading and reviewing these books.  Please be sure to listen to your child read nightly.  The 2nd quarter reading expectations are 26 wpm. There are 95 sight words for this quarter.  Please review 10-25 of these each night.  Work on those your child is struggling with.

Thank you for the huge support in cookie dough sales!  Our school had a record high and our class took 4th place in top sales.  We earned $50 cash prize.  I will let you know what we decide to do with our cash prize.

I am in need of colored comics from the newspaper for a Thanksgiving art project we will be doing next Monday.  Please send in any colored comics you have this week.  Thank you.

November 5-9

Please don’t forget to have your child return their bookring EVERY day!  This is so critical to our reading time in class.  If they do not have it they will not have anything to read and they will have a consequence of staying in from recess.  I have discussed with the students their responsibility in keeping it in their backpack.

I encourage you to take some time each night to do an activity on your child’s homework BINGO.  If you do 5 in a row, you will be practicing spelling, reading, math, sight words and a family activity.  For each BINGO your child gets, they will get a homework star.  After 5 stars, they get a prize from the treasure chest.  A blackout gives them a prize!  Return the October Book It calendar for a FREE personal pan pizza.  Students who participate in all 6 months will be invited to a Pizza party in the classroom in April.
 
It is not too late to become a PTA member or Grandparent Booster Club member! Forms are available on our website if you wish to sign up. Becoming a PTA member will allow you to vote on issues that directly affect your child(ren) and their school. The fall fundraiser is over and soon PTA members will be voting on how they can best support our school with the profits.
For our Grandparent Booster Club, students/parents first give us their mailing addresses if you think you have any Grandparents interested. We then mail them an application. To join this group, grandparents return the application with any donation. Grandparent Booster donations are then used for buying books for our students and our library.

I am still in need of parent/grandparent volunteers in the classroom.  I had many confirmations at conferences, but still have many time slots available.  Your help is greatly appreciated.  Please let me know if you can set apart an hour a week to work with students in the class.

October 15-19

I am very sad.  I had the wrong dates and  this will be Ms. Yurek's last week in our classroom.  She has done an amazing job in first grade and we wish her the best as she transitions into a 4th grade class.  I have encouraged the students to write letters or make cards that we could present her with on Friday.  We will celebrate her time with us on Friday the 19th with a class party.  If you would like to include a note of encouragement, I know it would mean a lot to her.

We have a lady bringing in an owl and hawk from the Birds of Prey on Wednesday.  This is always and exciting day for the children.  We will be learning facts about owls, creating a pastel art drawing, writing what we have learned and disecting owl pellets this week. 

We have completed our 2nd Unit in reading.  I will be sending home ALL of their books off their bookring this week.  If your child has brought in a shoebox, they will decorate it to keep their books in at home.  This will be their "Shoebox Library".  I encourage you to keep all the books at the end of each unit to review.  This gives them books that they can read independently.  When we complete a unit, I will send home the books rubber banded together.

Our math skills for the remainder of this quarter is still focusing on counting to 120, reading and writing the numbers and identifying greater and less than numbers.  We are also focusing on all the combinations that make 10 and problem solving.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for Parent Teacher Conferences October 24th and 25th.  I only have 15 minutes with each family to review your child's progress.  Please respect other families by being on time and prepared with any questions you may have.  If we need more time to cover any specific concerns, we may need to schedule another conference time.  There will be no school on Friday, October 26th.

Our Halloween Party will be on Wednesday, October 31st. I will allow the children to change into their costumes after PE (1:00)  we will begin around 1:15.  Please let me know if you would like to help with the food and games.

October 8-12

It's getting chilly!  I think fall has finally arrived.  It is my favorite season.  Be sure to send jackets to school with your children.  It is helpful to write their name on the label in case they leave it outside.  Fall brings lots of fun activities into our classroom.  We will be learning about spiders, nocturnal animals, pumpkins and Columbus...and that's just this month!  I can sure use some extra adults in the room. If you can volunteer once a week it would help us through this busy month.

Thursday is picture day!  Please send in your payment (if you are planning on purchasing them) before Thursday.  Everyone will get photographed, so be sure your child has on a clean shirt, has brushed their teeth and hair and is wearing a smile!  Those missing front teeth are too adorable to miss.

I hope Homework BINGO is working out for you and your child. First graders should only spend 10 minutes a night doing homework.  Choose one activity that your child needs the extra practice on and work on it together.  Many of the activities you can do while you are out and about.  The key skills for homework is spelling, reading and math. 

We will be getting a visit from the Middleton Fire Department this Friday.  We are so grateful that they take time to come and visit with the students about fire safety.  I know as a parent this is one thing that I would not have discussed with my children if it had not been for the schools.  Please take time to discuss a safe exit route and meeting place...and don't forget to check those smoke detectors!

I believe we have a family getting the class pumpkins!  Thank you to Mrs. Sargent for her connections and generosity.  We are still in need of some owl pellets. I will be checking with some other resources, but if you have owls in your yard, please  begin collecting them for us.  We will be getting a visit from a live owl (Birds of Prey) next week and would love to follow up with dissecting owl pellets.  The kids love this hands on activity!

October 1-5

I was so excited to see all the cookie dough orders come in today!  Thank you for your support.  Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

This is a short week.  There is no school Thursday and Friday due to teacher in service.  We will be learning more about our new state common core standards.  I am excited at how this will enhance my teaching. 

I am sending home a BINGO homework sheet.  The spelling words will be continued into next week because of the short week, so your child will have extra time to practice.  Please make sure your child is returning their bookring every day.  We use these daily for our silent reading time and those without them do not have anything to read.

If you have not checked Family Access to see your child's progress this year, please take time to do so.  If you do not have Internet access, let me know so I can send home a copy of their progress report. 

By the end of First quarter your child should be able to:

• read 13 words per minute
• know 42 sight words
• count objects 120
• write numbers to 30
• compare and order numbers to 30
• find parts of ten
• all letters written correctly
• use of capitals, punctuation and spacing when writing sentences

First grade teachers are wanting several owl pellets for our students to explore.  If you have any owls nesting nearby and you would be willing to collect them, our students would love the experience of finding bones.  We will be having a live owl visit this month!   I am also looking for any parents who have connections to a class supply of pumpkins, my connection has fallen through this year.  Please let me know if you can help in either of these areas.

I am still uncertain of what our first grade team is doing for Halloween.  I will let you know as soon as possible so that you can plan costumes accordingly. I will be contacting parents who signed up at Open House to help plan and organize the party once I have confirmation of what we are doing as a grade level.

October kicks off our Book It program sponsored by Pizza Hut.  To qualify, students must read 15 minutes 5 times a week.  Log the days they read on the calendar provided.  I do not require you to track minutes, just mark the days your child reads.  Return the calendar at the end of the month to receive a FREE personal pan pizza coupon.  This promotion goes from October through March.  Those that participate each month will be invited to a class Pizza Party in April.  I will provide a reading calendar each month.

September 24-28

I hope you have been able to assist your child in selling cookie dough this week.  All orders and money are due on October 1st.  Thanks to the last couple years, our students are enjoying a rock wall in the gym and safety lights for the crosswalk from the funds raised.  I am excited to see what PTA will be supporting this year for our students. I encourage every family to participate.

Spelling will begin this week.  We will be working on the a sound.  Please take time to practice these words each night.  We only have about 10 minutes a day to review them in class. The words are posted in left column of the blog.

All orders for Mill Creek Spirit shirts or sweatshirts are due in the office by Friday.  Adult sizes are available also.

PTA is a wonderful way to connect with other families in the community and school.  We had an amazing turn out at our first PTA meeting of the year.  I am so excited, and Mill Creek is so blessed, to have such an awesome group of parents.  As teachers, we are so thankful for what they contribute to our school.  I would highly recommend becoming a part of PTA this year.  You can  pick up forms at the office.

I am still setting up schedules for parent volunteers. I am in need of parents to help check in and prepare homework folders, work with small groups and tutor individuals.  Please email me if you would like to come in and help in the classroom. 

Remember to check out Skyward Family Access to check your child’s grades on a regular basis.  Mid terms will not be sent home unless you do not have Internet access.       https://skyweb.msd134.org/

September 17-21

This week we kicked off our school wide fundraiser.  The funds that are generated from this fundraiser helps to offset the costs of field trips, technology, art, playground equipment, assemblies and many other opportunities that your child may not otherwise have.  Please be an active participant in this fundraiser by taking your child to family and friends' home and encouraging those relationships to support your child’s education.  You can also take the order form to work with you and collect orders for your child.  I encourage every family to participate.  If you or others do not want to purchase the product, ask for a small donation.  The class with the highest sales will be rewarded $150.

The spelling list I sent home Monday has been postponed to next week.  However, you can begin practicing them this week.  Spelling words will always be posted on my blog.  All words must be spelled correctly with correct letter formation and proper use of capital/lowercase letters.   Next week’s focus is short a words and recognizing a as a special word.  We also have 4 sight words.  This week we will review both capital and lower case letters.  Remember to use the lines as guides and use proper letter formation.

Please email me soon so that I can create a parent email folder to keep you informed of what is happening in class.  Also, let me know if you check my blog regularly.  You can click the Follow Me button on the right to get emails when I update the blog.  All feedback is helpful in providing the best communication that I can with parents.

Remember to check out Skyward Family Access to check your child’s grades on a regular basis.  Mid terms will not be sent home unless you do not have Internet access.       https://skyweb.msd134.org/

Sept. 10-14

This week we will begin our Patriotic Unit. We will be learning the Pledge of Allegiance, the symbols of our country and the purpose of the Constitution. I welcome any military family members to visit our class to share our patriotism. Tuesday is Patriotic Day...wear your Red, White and Blue!

Our reading intervention is looking a little different this quarter. There will only be a few students moving to other reading teachers. As the skills and fluency increases our intervention may change. If you have any questions or would like to commit to helping in this area, please let me know. I started sending home the bookrings last week. It is very important that your child return these bookrings every day! We review the books during our 15 minute silent reading time and add books regularly. Your child will not be able to bring home any new books unless it is on their ring.

I am excited about our math this year. I have decided to do Math Workshops 4 days a week. During these math workshops students will be spending 10-15 minutes at 4 different stations.
They consist of: fluency practice, direct instruction, seatwork and hands on activities. Two days the class will be mixed groups, two days will be ability groups. I am hoping that this will give me more opportunities to help those who need the extra support and extend the lesson for those who need more challenges.

Sept. 4-7

This week Ms. Yurek will begin assuming teaching responsibilities.  She will begin with our Health curriculum and small math and reading groups.  I am so excited for this transition.  She has made a positive connection with the children the first two weeks of school and the students are responding to her teaching role in the classroom with excitement.

We will have our first "Spelling Test" on Friday.  I use the first few weeks of school to establish proper handwriting skills and expect the children to continue with this throughout the year.  On Friday I will assess all the capital letters.  If a letter is not formed correctly or within the lines, the letter will be marked wrong.  This criteria will continue in ALL of their spelling assessments.

We will begin our "Patriotic Unit" this week.  We will learn the meaning of the pledge, study the Constitution, and discuss the symbols of our nation.  If you or any member of your family is in the military I would love to hear from you.  Please call to schedule a visit to our class or send in their address so we can correspond.

First grade is still collecting and evaluating student data.  We hope to begin our Reading Intervention groups on Thursday.  These reading groups are 40 minutes, four times a week.  They are "fluid" groups, which means that a child can move to different groups throughout the year depending on what skills they are needing help on.

Homework looks different this year.  These skills should be reviewed nightly:  sight words (5-10), reading (bookrings), spelling words and counting.  I will send home suggested activities for you and your child to participate in.  Please don't expect your child to "sit" down to homework for more than 15 minutes.  Be creative in reviewing these skills, i.e. write spelling words in the bathtub with shaving cream, place sticky notes with sight words around the house, read in the car on the way to practice or the store, count out food items or silverware while preparing dinner.  Homework can be fun!!  Finish the night by playing a game with the family and snuggling together for a bedtime story.

Thank you for those parents that have offered to help in the classroom.  If you have not been contacted and would like to help, please call and leave me a message or email me.  I would love to have you in the classroom. 

First Week!

We had such a successful first week.  We spent a lot of time discussing and practicing school expectations and classroom procedures.  We will continue to review these expectations daily for the first few weeks of school.  Our school has agreed to focus on three major expectations:

Make responsible choices.

Maintain the right to learn.

Show respect to others.

All of my class procedures and expectations will adhere to these three choices.  If a child is having difficulty with these, we will have a "teach to" moment.  If the problem persists, we will have a private conversation.  Unfortunately, sometimes this does not resolve the problem, in which case a consequence will follow with documentation.  If it is a serious infraction or a repetitive problem, parents will be notified.  I look forward to a positive classroom environment and great school year.  Please encourage your child to practice these positive behaviors throughout their day.

This week we will begin our district curriculum in both math and reading.  I encourage you to read and listen to your child read nightly.  Talk with them about the story and discuss vocabulary.  Encourage discussion around the dinner table about their day in school!  Take time to let them explore math concepts at home, in the store and throughout the evenings and weekends.  Math is all around us.  SPEND TIME WITH YOUR CHILD!  Play games, go on nature walks and TALK!  You really are your child's primary teacher.

I look forward to having parents/grandparents in the classroom.  Please take time to fill out the volunteer form in your child's folder and return to school so that I can create a schedule that would most benefit you and the students.  I have many opportunities for you to work with individuals and small groups, as well as preparing activities and taking home projects.  As a team we can accomplish much this year!!!

I encourage you to send in a water bottle for your child.  We are still having temperatures in the 90's and they need to have plenty of liquids.  Do not fill it with anything but WATER.  Please label it with their name. They can keep it here all week and bring it home on Friday to wash if they choose.  Try to send one in with a "pop up" top vs. a "screw-off" lid.  We will have fewer spills this way.

If your child has any allergies of any kind, please let me know.  Sometimes those are overlooked when I get a new "crop" of students.  We often use food in lessons, as rewards, and for parties and it is important for me to be aware of any restrictions.  If a parent does not send in a personal note, I expect children to at least try the item. 

Be sure to mark the "follow by email" button to the right of my blog so that you will get an email reminder when I post new things.  I try to update my blog on Sundays for the coming week.

Wow!  I need to go to bed we have a full week ahead of us.  I am so excited for this year and look forward to working with each of you and your child.

Welcome!

I am so excited for this new year!  I have an amazing group of students.  We are off to a great start with positive behavior and attitudes.  I appreciate meeting all the parents at Open House and look forward to working closely with you this year as we strive to challenge your child.  I post my news, updates, events, etc. on my blog on Sunday evenings for the week.  Please check it weekly to keep you informed of what we are doing in class.
All the supplies brought in will be put in a community supply box for all to share.  I do not send home any supplies at the end of the year.  If you have not purchased and brought in your supplies, please DON"T .  We have plenty to get us through the year.  We may run low on glue in the spring so you may want to pick up some extra bottles (runny glue) while it is cheap to have on hand.
We celebrate birthdays!  Let me know if you plan on bringing in refreshments for your child's birthday.  We have some food allergies and diet limitations, so I would like to be sensitive to those students.  If your student is one of them, please send me a list of foods that I can recommend to parents and/or an alternative snack to have on hand for those moments.
Homework will look a little different this year as our school is making some changes so that families will be having more opportunities to focus on "family time".  This may take me some time to process, so be patient with changes, explanations and new ideas.
It is very warm outside!  Your child is encouraged to bring a water bottle to school.  It takes way too long for 22 students to get drinks after recess.  Please label the water bottle with their name and only fill it with water.  NO juice, power aid or any colored liquids.
I love volunteers!  I will begin calling those who signed up and would like to help out in the classroom.  Please email me a preferred day and time. kplatt@msd134.org
We welcome Ms. Yurek in our school.  She comes to us from BSU and will be working closely with me for the first few weeks and then transition into full time teaching as she is persuing her teaching degree.  I had the privilege of working with her last spring, and she is awesome!  I am so excited to have her.
Please know that I am always available!  I believe in the importance of communication for your child's success.  You can reach me through the school during school hours, email me or call me at home.   I look forward to a great year!

April 30- May 4

It's almost here...the last day of school!  We are still busy finishing our units and meeting our grade level goals, even though we are counting the days.
 
We have completed the IRI testing, and I am proud to say that the class was amazing!  I am so proud of them.  Please review their sight words, as I will be testing ALL of the sight words given throughout the year, a total of 243!!!  We will be doing one more fluency test for the final grade on their report card.
They should have their math facts "fluent" up to 10, meaning that they can do 40 mixed addition/subtraction problems in 4 minutes to the number 10.  Please practice these facts with your child nightly.  Many are still below this expectation.
No spelling this week!
Check your child's room, car, backpack and all those "hidding" places for misplaced library books.  Our school has a record number still missing!  I want our class to have a 100% return!!  All books need to be in by May 10th.

Our field trip is on Tuesday.  We will be leaving the school at 8:30, so please make sure your child is here at 8:00.  We need this 30 minutes, before loading, to review expectations, assign parent helpers, check lunches and go to the bathroom.  Any child not here when we load the bus will be left behind and need to be picked back up to go home.  If you have not sent back a lunchroom order form and plan on ordering a sack lunch from the school, please send a note or email to school with your child on Monday.  These lunch counts needed to be turned in last Friday!  If I have not recieved a lunch order from you, I am assuming you will be providing a sack lunch for your child.  We will be attending the Idaho Botanical Gardens and the MK Nature Center and having lunch at the Municipal Park next to the MK Nature Center.  We will be back at the school by 2:30 for students to catch their regular bus home.

Don't forget Moms and Muffins! Thurdsay, May 3rd at 7:00 in the cafeteria.  This is an important event for the children.  They were so excited when I announced it last week.  If mom can't make it, bring another "mom" role model.  Everyone is welcome!!

PLEASE VOTE ON MAY 15TH!  Supplemental Levy MSD#134  Do you have any questions?  Are all the facts you are hearing correct?  Please take time to make an educated decision concerning this vote.  Call the school if you have any questions or concerns or visit our website:  http://www.msd134.org/ 

Luau Fun Day! May 14th 8:30-2:30  This is a school wide celebration for positive behavior and a great school year!  We are in need of parent volunteers to help put this together.  Please call and sign up at the office.

April 9-13

I hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend. The weather was beautiful! I am so excited for Spring and the nice warmer weather. I think the kids are too!

This week was off to a rocky start with children distracted and unable to focus in the classroom. I appreciate the parent support from those whom I spoke with. I am looking forward to a great week and getting much accomplished.

It is hard to believe that there is roughly 5 weeks left!! My how time has flown. We have much to do this final leg of the relay ;) Our focus is to get every child reading 60 words per minute. The IRI (state testing) will begin the week of the 24th. Your child is required to read 53 words per minute to be at grade level by the end of first grade. We are also focusing on addition and subtraction strategies. I am excited to say that our first grade team has decided to offer math learning groups on Fridays to help differentiate instruction for our first graders. We would love to have parents available to help with these learning groups. If you are available on Friday afternoons, please let us know.

We are pressing forward with our play. It has been a challenge, but many students have been working very hard to earn this opportunity. We will be presenting it this Thursday, April 12th. There are two times. However, your child will not be performing in both plays. Please note the time your child will be performing so you don't miss it. It will last approximately 15 minutes. You are invited to attend, but it is a simple presentation that I choose to do each year for the Kindergarten classes to introduce first grade to them. It gets them excited for reading and the first grade experience. Please help your child practice their lines this week. If they can memorize it, great! If not, it is not a problem, they can read their parts.

Have a great SPRING week! I am very excited for the warm weather.

April 2-6

I hope you had an enjoyable spring break, despite the weather! It is always nice to have time with family but good to get back on a schedule as well. It is hard to believe that we only have 6 weeks left of school!

We will hit the ground running this week. We have so much to accomplish and so little time. I am very pleased with the students reading fluency and am excited to be able to go beyond our fluency drills this last quarter and enjoy some of our literature in more depth. I am planning on having our class play based on our story "The Great Ball Game". I have it scheduled for Thursday, May 12th. Times will be announced once I have confirmed Kindergarten's availability. I always love to invite them to this play! This is a great opportunity for the children to practice reading with expression and performing in front of others.

I am still needing parent volunteers to help with those who need a little extra help these last few weeks. I also have a few students that need more challenge in both reading and math, but I am unable to provide this without some adult assistance. If you can help in the classroom once a week it would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you are available.

The Middleton School District School Board Members and District Administration would like an opportunity to answer any questions regarding our supplemental levy election on May 15, 2012. We have added the Supplemental Levy Financial presentation on the left sidebar on the Middleton School District main homepage (http://www.msd134.org/). Please send any additional questions and comments to Mrs. Berg.

March 19-22

Thank you for coming to Parent Teacher conferences. We had a great turnout and this shows your child the importance of their education. For any parents that may have missed this opportunity, please drop by any day after school next week. I would love to visit with you!

Roaring Springs reading log is due on Monday. This is a reading log of 600 additional minutes your child has read outside of school. They will be receiving a day pass at Roaring Springs for completing this task. THERE IS A DEADLINE FOR US TO SUBMIT THIS, SO PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND THIS TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY!!

Book orders are also due on Monday, so that your child can have their books here when they return from Spring Break.

I discussed the possibility of your child performing in a mini-play next week. I will be postponing this until we return from Spring Break to allow more time to prepare. I am planning on Thursday, April 5th. I will send home a note in their red homework folders Monday, April 2nd letting you know the scheduled time and date. Thank you for being flexible and understanding that we want this to be a GREAT performance.

Homework this week is reviewing sight word spellings and reading! Listen to your child read nightly!! There are 28 sight words that we have had on our spelling tests. This week we will only be focusing on these words for spelling. Most do not follow a spelling pattern, so they will need to review these nightly. I will only score the spelling as 20 points, however, those who get all 28 correct will receive a special reward.

Have a great Spring Break, and if you are traveling be safe!! Enjoy your time with family and friends.

March 12-16

Parent Teacher Conferences are this Tuesday and Thursday from 3:45-7:15. I hope to see every parent this week. This is a great opportunity to discuss your child's progress and where they need to be for second grade. Tuesday times are appointed, but Thursday times are flexible. Please let me know if you need to make any changes or need a private conference time.

Roaring Springs reading log is due before spring break. Your child must have read 600 additional minutes to qualify for a day pass at Roaring Springs. I will accept any reading log you have kept, if you have lost the one I sent home.

We are still in need of glue for our classroom. Please bring in one bottle of Elmer's glue and one glue stick when you come to conferences.

Homework
Spelling words are from our Open Court stories. Please review these words nightly so that your child will be successful on their spelling test on Friday.

Reading homework is to READ! I am sending home our 4th quarter sight words, some phonics skills practice sheets and some fluency reads. Spend 10-15 minutes a night listening to your child read.
Games is our new unit topic. I encourage you to play one game this week with your child (outside, card or board games). We will be discussing different games and how to play them. We may even create our own game! If all goes well this week and next, we will be performing a mini play called "The Great Ball Game" next Thursday. I will send home more information next Monday.

Math skills to be working on are making numbers, finding all the combinations for numbers 5-9; addition facts and story problems. Many games are great for practicing math skills. Continue to practice skip counting and counting to 120, starting at any given number.

March 5-9

This week we will be doing many of our assessments to prepare for report cards and Parent Teacher Conferences. Please help your child be prepared by giving them plenty of sleep, a nutrious breakfast and bringing them to school on time.

Parent Teacher Conferences will be next Tuesday and Thursday from 3:45-7:00. If you have a Tuesday time, please respect your scheduled time. Thursday is more flexible and you are welcome to come by any time that is convienent for you.

This week will be Ms. Yurek's last week with our class. She will be moving to Mrs. Smith's class in third grade. She has been an assest to our class and students. She will be missed. I look forward to having her back next fall for another 9 weeks.

I am still in need of parent volunteers to commit one day a week for the remainder of the year. There are many students that need extra support that only you can provide. I would greatly appreciate any time you have to offer.

Roaring Springs Day Pass-
Don't forget to keep a log of any additional reading your child is doing. They need to have 600 minutes to earn a day pass at Roaring Springs. This is reading beyond the required homework. These are due before Spring Break!

Homework:
Spelling: This is our last spelling test before report cards. Please spend time practicing these words at home.
Reading: Continue to encourage your child to read books of their interest. Keep a reading log as their homework. They should be reading 10-15 minutes a night. As I tell my students, "the way to become better at something is to practice!"
Some students will be receiving additional reading homework that reviews the days phonics lesson from our curriculum. Also look for next quarters list of sight words to start practicing. Reading fluency for this quarter is 39 wpm. By the end of first grade your child should be reading 57 wpm.
Math: We are focusing on addition and subtraction for the remainder of the year. Work with your child on these facts. They need to be fluent in both addition and subtraction facts to 10 by the end of first grade and have an understanding of facts to 20.

February 27-March 2

It's hard to believe we are approaching the end of our 3rd quarter! Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, March 13 and Thursday, March 15 from 4-7pm. Tuesday will be by teacher invitation or parent request. If you do not have any concerns, Thursday will be open for you and your child to come by the classroom at your convenience. They will share with you some of their work, as I share with you their progress and goals for second grade. Look for more information in their homework folders.

Friday is Dr. Seuss' birthday and Read Across America. We will be honoring Dr. Seuss by having a variety of reading activities going on throughout the day. If you would like to help with some of the activities or drop by to read, please let me know. We would love to have you! Your child is invited to wear a Dr. Seuss hat or dress up as their favorite character.

I am in need of parent volunteers. Due to a variety of circumstances, the volunteers I have had the first half of the year have been unable to continue their services. I would love to have a parent every day from 8:15-9:45 to help with small groups and individuals with their reading. These students benefit greatly from the additional support. Please call me if you can commit to helping in the classroom once a week.

We are in need of a few supplies to finish out our year. Our Elmer's glue (the liquid bottles) are getting low. If you are able to send in one bottle before Spring Break, it would be greatly appreciated. We could also use a few additional dry erase markers. As St. Patrick's Day draws near, a box of Lucky Charms would come in handy for our math lessons.

Homework:
Spelling: These words are from our literature in our reading curriculum. Please take time every night to review these words. Find a common spelling pattern, identify the vowel sounds and how they are spelled, listen for the beginning, middle and ends sounds. Read it, spell it, write it, read it. Test on Friday!
Math: I will be sending home some games to play. They ask for blue and red squares. I will send home some paper scraps to cut apart. It also asks for number cards. Keep these in a small Ziploc bag for any future homework.
Reading: I am sending home a reading log for this weeks reading homework, along with a review of the daily lessons. Please encourage your child to read independently for 10 minutes each night. It can include the books in their shoebox library, their school library book or a book from their own bookshelf. This reading can also be recorded on their monthly calendar for the Book It Pizza Hut coupon. February calendar is due next week and March calendar is in the homework folder.
However, if you are participating in the Roaring Springs Reading Incentive, your child will be required to read additional minutes. Homework cannot be recorded on that reading log.

Just a reminder of our School Wide Positive Behavior Incentive System. We are encouraging students in their positive behavior. I hope you are seeing the "Shine" tickets coming home and asking your child what they did to earn it. It focuses on our M&M's expectations: Maintain the right to learn, Make responsible choices, and Show respect to all. After they collect 10, they get a prize from our classroom treasure chest. When they deposit them in our school barrel, they get a chance for a Mystery Friday drawing. Keep up the good work!

February 13-17

I am so excited and pleased with our BSU intern, Ms. Yurek. She is doing a fabulous job working with small groups and teaching lessons throughout the week. She even took my class the day I was so sick. I am looking forward to her opportunity to take my class again this week, as I will be traveling with our first grade team to Portland on Friday to get further training in math instruction. Ms. Yurek has a passion for teaching and a love for the students. We are blessed to have her in our class!

We will be celebrating Valentine's Day on Tuesday at 1:30. Please let me know if you can bring anything for the party. We are in need of cookies or cupcakes, sliced fruit, and apple juice. Some Valentine plates, cups and napkins would be nice also. Your child can bring in their Valentine's Monday or Tuesday to pass out.

Roaring Springs information will be sent home soon. Please follow the directions and expectations for your child to earn a day pass at Roaring Springs. I have high expectations for this reward and expect parents and children to meet the requirements in full. These are due back to me by March 31st.

Class pictures are scheduled for Thursday, February 23rd. If you plan on purchasing them, you must send in payment prior to Feb. 23rd. Individual pictures are optional. Your child will not get individual pictures unless you prepay for them. Picture packets will be in their homework folder this week.

Homework:
We are beginning to use our basal readers in our reading this week, which means that there will be less decodable books coming home on their bookrings. It is very important that you continue to have your child read nightly! If your child is struggling in reading, pull the books that you have put in their library shoebox and review those. If your child is fluent and meeting the first grade fluency expectations (39-60 wpm), then encourage them to begin reading books of their choice. Be sure the books are at their reading level and not at a frustration level. One way to check is to have them read a page, if they miss less than 3 words, it is at their independent level.

We are continuing to work on number sense in math, using the 100's chart. These are the skills you can continue to reinforce at home: skip counting (by 2's, 5's, 10's), finding numbers 10 more and 10 less, 1 more and 1 less, comparing numbers (using > < =,) place value, and addition/subtraction facts (starting at 5).

Spelling test is on Friday. Please take time to practice the words nightly. Some fun activities is using shaving cream in the bath tub, writing on the mirror with dry erase markers, using spaghetti noodles, or playing the dice game (I will try to remember to send home a copy of this in their homework folder).

February 6-10

It's hard to believe that we have been in school 100 DAYS!! Monday is a fun day celebrating the number 100. We will be reading, writing, drawing, counting, eating and weighing anything that has 100 in it!!

Don't forget Dad's and Donuts on Thursday, from 7-7:45am. I would love to see everyone there!

Check Family Access this week for your child's progress this quarter. I will still be entering current grades Monday evening, but should have them all current and posted by Tuesday morning. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.

Check homework folders for February Book It calendar and our class list for Valentine's. Your child can bring in their Valentine's any day after Wednesday. We will be having a Valentine's party on Tuesday, February 14th at 1:30. Please let me know if you would like to help by volunteering or donating items.

Homework this week.
Review those 3rd quarter sight words. Listen to your child read for 10-15 minutes a night. Practice, practice, practice!! Our goal for fluency is 39 words per minute by the end of 3rd quarter. Check to see where your child is and adjust homework accordingly.
Spelling test is on Friday and we are reviewing the different spelling patterns for Unit 6. These will be difficult words, so please spend some time practicing them this week.
We have begun our timed math facts. We do a 4 minute timed test (40 problems) on mixed facts on Wednesday. Every student begins with all the facts (+/-) for 5 and as they pass, they move on to the next number. Homework for math will be having your child show all the ways to make the number 5 and the number 6. Counting will be the emphasis this week. I have noticed that many students are still struggling with number sense. Have your child count objects to 120, by ones, then grouping them by 10's and then 5's.

January 30-February 3

Next week we will be celebrating our 100th DAY in SCHOOL!! We will be having an all day celebration focusing on the number 100. If you would like to come in and help with some activities, we could sure use the extra hands.
Please have your child count 100 small items that will fit in a sandwich baggie and send to school by Friday.
We will also need one box/bag of any of the following items:

1. chocolate chips


2. M&Ms


3. pretzels


4. small marshmallows


5. peanuts


6. raisins


7. Chex cereal


8. popcorn (popped)


9. gold fish crackers


10. almonds

Our Valentine's Day party will be on Tuesday, February 14th. We will begin activities at 1:30. I will be sending home a class list to begin addressing Valentine's.

Homework: Reading every night!!! Please practice the spelling words, it is evident those who are not practicing at home. Math practice sheets are also being sent home this week. Don't forget to review 3rd quarter sight words 3-4 times a week. Remember to spend 10 minutes reading, and another 10 doing math and spelling. If you are spending more than 20 minutes on homework, it is too much...adapt!

January 22-27

What an exciting week we had with all the different weather conditions! It was perfect for our study of Weather. We will be concluding this unit this week and moving into our Social Studies unit on Maps.

Homework this week:
Read every night! Review the bookrings every night. If your child is struggling with the current books, review some of the previous books that are in their shoebox library. Also encourage them to read books they bring home from the library and those that are in their personal library at home. Help them find their interest so they are enjoying their reading experience.
Math skills: We are continuing with skip counting and using the hundreds chart to find patterns. This will make our formal transition into addition and place value more meaningful. First grade students are required to count to 120, count on from any given number, read, write and recognize numbers to 120.
Spelling test is on Friday! Please practice these words with your child at home. Our spelling rule is the /oo/ sound as in book, sight words and present/past tense words.

This week we will be having many guest "teachers" in our classroom. Officer Warren will be visiting us on Tuesday to teach a health lesson on his role in the community and how to handle emergencies. Mrs. Davis, our school counselor, will visit us on Wednesday to reinforce our monthly virtue of Honor. We will also be joining Ms. Kalafatic's class Tuesday morning for a lesson on dental health.

Please mark your calendar for this Tuesday. PTA will be having a meeting from 7-8:30. This is a great way to get involved with the school, your child's' education, upcoming events and network with other parents. This group of officers and members are amazing!! They have done so much for our school, students, community and staff. I encourage every family to attend at least one meeting each year.

January 17-20

I want to welcome Ms. Yurek as our new BSU intern. I am excited to have her in our classroom and the opportunity to provide her with experience in a great school! She will be here on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for the first nine weeks of this semester. Please feel free to come by and introduce yourself. She will be assisting with small groups, one-on-one tutoring and some group lessons.

This week we will be kicking off our SWPBIS. The school will be having an assembly on Thursday at 2:00. I invite you to attend to have a better understanding of the changes you will be seeing and hearing about.

Homework:
Reading is the emphasis! Be sure to listen to your child read every night. I want to see them beginning to read books of their choice in addition to their bookrings. This week they will be getting about 8 new books. Take time to review them. We are also starting a new unit, so their current books on their ring will be removed and sent home in their Homework Folders to be put in their shoeboxes.
Math concepts this week is on number patterns.

• Work on counting by 2's, 5's, and 10's and seeing the patterns on a number chart.



• Can they begin skip counting at any given number?



• Identify odd/even numbers?



• Read and write numbers to 100?



• Group objects in sets of 10 to count

We are still developing weather concepts in Science and will be moving into maps next week for Social Studies.
Encourage your child in the virtue of the month: Honor
Let me know what they have done this week to demonstrate honor.

Parent volunteers are always welcome. Please let me know if you would like to come in and help with small groups, individuals or office work. Thank you for the opportunity to train your child.

January 9-13

Happy New Year!
I hope the long vacation has provided rest and plenty of quality time with family. As I approach the New Year I am filled with anticipation! I look forward to the last half of the year, it seems this is the time we see so much growth in the children.

Our class will be seeing a new face this semester. We will be welcoming a student teacher for one of the two quarters. I am anxious to meet her on Monday and will fill you in on her schooling and schedule as I find out more. Please welcome her and discuss with your child the importance of continuing their daily schedule as taught from the beginning of the year and their respect to ALL adults in the building. This will make the transition much easier for her and your child.

I am excited for the decision of the school to participate in a School Wide Positive Behavior Intervention Support (SWPBIS). It provides positive behavior expectations for students that focus on being safe, responsible, respectful and cooperative. Students will be recognized regularly and for those that continue to exhibit these behaviors on a daily basis could be nominated for other recognition events. We have high expectations for all our students and enjoy being able to reward those that continually strive for excellence. What a great time to make positive changes!

Homework will be sent home on Monday. There will be two activities a night. If time is tight, remember that the most important thing you can do is listen to your child read. New sight words will be sent home for this quarter. In math we will be moving into the concept of 10's. You can reinforce this skill by counting by 10's, putting objects in groups of 10 to count, counting on from 10 and talking about how a number is 10 and some more. Understanding this concept will prepare the children to move into addition. Our science topic this month is weather. When you get ready in the mornings discuss the weather and how to dress appropriately. At the end of the day talk about how the weather changed throughout the day. Remember to practice spelling every night. This week there are only 10 words.

I am looking forward to seeing all the students this week and am excited to get back on a schedule, both at work and with my family. I am sure you are ready as well. I would love to get parents back on schedule with classroom help, too ! I will be contacting many of you to see if we can schedule a time to volunteer in the class that works for you.

Happy New Year!