Classroom Update

Celebrating

Chinese New Year

Classroom Update

We have begun our “How-To” unit in Reading and Writing Workshop. The Scholars are very excited! The unit focuses on nonfiction text features in how –to- books such as: a list of materials, sequential steps, pictures, and other expository text features.

The Scholars are learning all about the importance of using nonfiction text to expand their schema, learning how to follow explicit directions, and how to write their own How –to- books.

Homework

Authors are blooming!

I am very pleased with the Scholars writing. They are using their writer’s manners and including lots of details in their stories.

The expectation is that their stories have a beginning, middle and an end. A grabbing lead not a yawner! Sentences should begin with a capital letter and have an end mark. In addition, proper nouns should be capitalized; no run away sentences and no-excuse words are spelled correctly.

Whew! This may sound like a lot;however, the Scholars have been practicing all of the above in class and are becoming EXPERTS!

Please help reinforce correct spelling. Often Scholars can spell no-excuse words during a spelling test; however, the consistent transferring into their writing is not always demonstrated.

Practice Makes Better!

EVERYDAY MATH

Please continue to practice place value, counting coins and exchanging coins for the same amount with fewer coins, more than and less than, telling time to the half hour, quarter-to and quarter pass hour, addition and subtraction.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

· January 31^st – Arvada Arts Center to see How I Became a Pirate

· February 6^th- Our 100^th Day of School!

· February 16^th – Museum of Nature and Science

Character Education Assembly

On Thursday, January 12^th at 10:45 am in the gym to celebrate December Creek Kids.

Field Trip -

Change of Date

We’re Going on a Field Trip!

Where: Arvada Center

When: Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Why: To see How I Became A Pirate

How:School bus

Cost: $8 per student and adult chaperone

Time: Departure time is 10:30. Return time is 1:30

We will have an EARLY lunch. Please pack a hearty lunch and drink for your child along with a snack to eat when we return.

Please sign the permission slip below and have your child return it by Thursday, January 12. All money will be due by Tuesday, January 18th.

I need at least two chaperones (sorry, no siblings). If you would like to accompany us, please return as soon as possible.

REACH FOR A BOOK

We are participating in the Karl Mecklenburg Reach for a Book reading program. The students read for a minimum of 100 minutes per week. Students are expected to keep track of their reading minutes ( along with their parent's assistance) and parents are asked to initial the weekly reading log.

Please make sure your child returns their initialed reading log in their homework folder every Thursday.

Incentives will be given to all participants every two weeks. The top readers and their parents will be invited to a special luncheon with host Karl Mecklenburg. Where they will receive a gift bag and a book.

All Scholars are expected to participate!

The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” - Dr. Seuss, "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!" HOMEWORK I will no longer be sending spelling home for homework. Spelling will be completed in class during our Skills Block. Also, I have changed our weekly reading log to help you and your Scholar monitor the number of minutes they read each night. This will help as they strive to read 100 minutes each week -- or more! I have added writing along with a weekly writing prompt. I have included the writing rubric that we use in class to help us become better writers. The writing rubric is a tool which can be used to help your Scholar take ownership of their work, set writing goals, and think about their writing from beginning to end. On the back of the rubric is a graphic organizer. Before your Scholar begins writing, they should use their graphic organizer to help them plan their writing like real authors. The graphic organizer helps to activate their schema and organize their ideas, and thinking. It’s a visual organizer and like the writing rubric it helps the Scholars think about their writing from the beginning to the end. The Art Room Needs Your Help!! What? Please bring in toilet paper rolls and SMALL boxes (i.e. mac and cheese boxes, butter boxes, spaghetti boxes). NO CEREAL BOXES PLEASE! Why? 1st grade students will be beginning a sculpture unit after spring break and we need your help to collect materials When? Now! Where? There will be a box in our classroom that will be used to collect materials as they come in

Happy New Year! The start of the New Year is a time when I like to reflect upon the things that brought me joy and there were many! I am so grateful for my children who always make me laugh and life lessons learned . . . thank goodness for do-overs! Life is bliss as it is truly about being appreciative for the small moments.

I wish you'll EVERYTHING GOOD!

Field Trip

On January 26th, we will be going to the Arvada Arts Center to see the play How I Became a Pirate. The cost is $8.00 per Scholar and adult. We need 2 parent volunteers. If you are interested, please let me know. Please turn in your $$ no later than January 20^th.

TIDBITS

This week, we will review EDM Unit 4 and have a Math Progress Check on Friday. The Scholars will continue to work on completing their Small Moment Narratives ** editing, revising, and publishing. In addition, we will resume our Investigating Animals and Their Needs study and focusing on using reading strategies to help us better comprehend text. Next week, we will learn all about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thank You!

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your wonderful gifts. I loved Everything! I wore my lovely necklaces during the holiday and enjoyed having a glass of “milk” while watching movies and entertaining my friends. Again, your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated.