Thank You!

Dear Scholars and Parents,

I would like to express my gratitude for the lovely flowers and the heartfelt cards of appreciation. I can’t wait to use my TJ Maxx gift cards to get some new outfits! I am thinking Maxi Dresses!

Again, your kindness and awesome generosity is deeply appreciated.

Warm regards,

Val

Classroom Update - April 30th

Wow! We have less than a month of school left. I can’t believe how the year has flown by. We still have lots of learning to do along with some fun well deserved end of the year activities. Please remind your child to continue to put forth their personal best in their classroom work and their behavior.

We have completed our “All About” nonfiction unit and beginning our Mem Fox Author study unit. In addition, we are continuing to explore poetry.

On Thursday, the Scholars will have their EDM end of the year assessment. We will practice and review EDM concepts to prepare for the assessment. It is important to practice at home as well.

The next few weeks include a whirlwind of events. Please note the dates below. As always, please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Have a Fabulous week!

Important Dates to Remember

5/1 Field Day Hot Dog Lunch order forms due

5/3 Creek Kid Assembly at 9:15am

5/4 No School- Assessment Day

5/9 1^st Grade Musical Performance” Go Fish” at 6:30pm

Scholars should wear either a plain blue or green shirt.

5/11 Mother’s Day Tea at 2:30pm

5/15 WCE Spelling Bee at 1:00pm

5/17 All library books and fines are due in order to participate in Field Day.

5/17 1^stGrade End of the Year Open House from 4:00pm – 7:00pm (SlyReply coming this week)

5/18 WCE Field Day

5/25 The last day of school

A HUGE Thank You HUG goes out to Mrs. Smith (Carter’s mom) for volunteering to teach Junior Achievement. During the week of fun interactive lessons the Scholars learned all about: community helpers, jobs, families and their responsibilities, and money (needs and wants).

Copy Paper

Needed!!

Thank You!

Scholastic News Flower Power

• BEFORE READING make a K-W-L chart on the back of your non-fiction graphic organizer paper.
• Complete what you Know and Wonder – use the title and picture clues on the cover to activate your schema.
• Enjoy reading the article Flower Power *** remember to read two times and during your second reading highlight or underline important facts, new vocabulary, questions or wonderings, and information that YOU find to be most interesting.
• Revisit your K-W- L ** after reading Flower Power do you have more questions / wonderings?
• What did you Learn – Expanding your Schema!
• Complete your graphic organizer – Please use your Writer’s Manners.

Everyday Math

The Scholars have been busy learning all about money and fractions. They have learned how to express dollar amounts using the dollar and cents notation. We are practicing solving and writing money number stories, making change by counting up, and exploring fractional parts of a whole.

Next week, we will continue to learn all about fractions and how to write a fraction notation.

Lastly, please continue to practice the following at home: basic math concepts (addition and subtraction), counting coins and exchanging for equivalent amounts (Scholars should recognize coins and their value), telling time, identifying polygons and their attributes.

Classroom Update

The Scholars have been busy learning how to use a variety of nonfiction reading comprehension strategies to help them better understand nonfiction texts.

Non-fiction Reading Strategies:

Using their schema – activating prior knowledge

Wondering/ questioning

Visualizing

Determining importance of information

Using the text features (table of contents, captions, labeled diagrams, etc.)

Understanding the difference between fact and opinion

Making connections (text-to-text, text-to-self and text-to world)

Organizing new information for understanding – learning and practicing using graphic organizers

Making inferences (still practicing)

Discussing what they learned or wonder with a buddy or parent

The Westerly Creek Second Annual Spelling Bee will be held on Tuesday, May 15^th. Students are not required to participate. The top four spellers from my class will compete amongst the other first grade classes.

Next week, we will have our own class spelling bee to determine the top four spellers who will represent our class. The following link has a list of words your child can practice for the spelling bee.

Snack Calendar

Note: Please try to bring dry snacks, avoiding fruit cups or applesauce.

All snacks must be store bought.

Please bring snacks for 21 children.

Apr/May 2012

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
April 9 Eli	April 10 Pedro	April 11 Diego	April 12 Adithi	April 13 Max
April 16 Gabi	April 17 Chase	April 18 Nick	April 19 Maci	April 20 Julian
April 23 Isaac	April 24 Elia	April 25 Juliet	April 26 Grace	April 27 Faisal
April 30 Carter	May 1 Kimora	May 2 Juena	May 3 Ryan	May 4 Holiday
May 7 Frank	May 8 Eli	May 9 Pedro	May 10 Diego	May 11 Adithi
May 14 Max	May 15 Gabi	May 16 Chase	May 17 Nick	May 18 Maci
May 21 Julian	May 22 Isaac	May 23 Elia	May 24 Juliet	May 25 Grace