PJ Day

Pajama Day for grades K-2 on Thursday!!

December Holiday Celebrations around the World

We will be having our Holiday Celebrations Festival on Thursday, December 22nd from 8:20-10:10. The high school classes will be providing snack.

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday!

Classroom Wishlist

We are running short on a few classroom supplies:

Glue sticks
Dry Erase Markers
Markers

Thanks for keeping us in mind!!

Holiday Concert

The Holiday Concert it tomorrow night (the 20th). Please bring your child to the classroom at 6:15 so we can prepare for the show.

December Math Goals

We have just added dimes to counting money. I encourage families to practice counting real coins at home. The kids are getting really good at this skill!

We are also practicing the "tens" facts (combinations that make 10)

This week we will be focusing on measurement and reading thermometers.

December POA

The POA testing for December has begun! I have been testing students on letter identification, word identification, and the dictated sentence this week. On Wednesday, December 7th, I will be taking the day to assess the students' reading levels. You can expect a report of the results in your child's Friday folder by the end of December.

Update on December Holiday Traditions Celebration

Dear Families,

On Thursday, December 22nd the kindergarten through 2nd grade classes will be participating in our first December Holiday Traditions celebration. The children will have the opportunity to learn about other countries and how they celebrate winter holidays.

Our format will be similar to the Fall Festival event that happened on October 31st. Each child will experience two of the events with a snack in the middle. Our snack will be provided by various high school classes that are eager to help us out and learn about foods from different countries.

We are looking for parent volunteers to help make this day a success. We need parents to lead activities and assist in activities. If you are able to help us out on the 22nd, please indicate so below.

Also, during the afternoon of the 22nd, the kindergarten through 2nd grade classes will be watching a movie together in the auditorium. The children are welcome to wear pajamas and bring pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals on this day.

A Message from Noah Noyes

Hello Parents and Families,

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. It has come to my attention that there was a glitch on the 1st grade report cards. Under the personal responsibility category, two standards were incorrectly inserted: Completes Class Work and Participates Actively and Appropriately. When these standards appeared in the incorrect location, the default value of "R" for Rarely appeared as the entered score. This was a glitch in the construction of the report cards and then a miscommunication between myself and the office about the mailing. Please accept my sincere apologies for the mistake and the incorrect information, I take full responsibility for missing this before the report cards were mailed.

I will be running a new, corrected batch that I will submit to classroom teachers for final inspection before mailing. In the meantime, please let me know if you have questions or concerns. Again, please accept my apologies for the mistake and any stress it may have caused you.

Sincerely,

Noah Noyes

Class Jigsaw Puzzle

12 Turkeys

Mark Your Calendar!

We will be having another festival on December 22nd to celebrate winter. The day will run much like last time (8:15-10:00). More information will be available after Thanksgiving break. Please let me know if you are interested in offering an activity or assisting with an activity.

Happy Thanksgiving

From my favorite turkeys!!

Except for the Turkey

This is a song that our Learning Buddies shared with us yesterday. I have been playing the first minute for them!

PTG Request

The PTG would like to hold their annual bake sale at the Winter Concert, but a coordinator is needed. The coordinator just needs to make phone calls to other parents and get them committed to bake something, and to find someone to run the table and take money the night of the concert.

Please let me know if you are interested, or contact Vanessa Koch. Thanks for your consideration!!

Words to Practice (Reading and Writing)

A copy of these words will be sent home in the Friday folders. PLEASE practice reading and writing these words with your child. Some of them will be review and some of them have just been introduced. Thanks!

Math Update

We are currently working on the following concepts in math class:
-Identifying odd and even numbers
-Adding and subtracting using a number line
-Working with frames and arrows to look at number patterns
-Telling time to the half hour
-Counting money with pennies, nickels, and dimes (dimes start next week)

We are still reviewing:
-Counting on and backward from a given number 0-100
-Counting coins with nickels and pennies
-Making tally marks
-Skip counting by 2's, 3's, 5's, and 10's

Today's Writing Lesson

We Are Very Thankful

Today the kids wrote sentences about things for which they are thankful. I think that they're great and are worth sharing!

Normand:
I am very thankful for my mom and dad and pets because they are nice.

Maren:
I am very thankful for my friends because they make me happy. I am very thankful for my family because they love me.

Talyn:
I am very thankful for my family because I love them.

Garett:
I am thankful for my dog because I love her. I am thankful for my mom and dad.

Zachary:
I am very thankful for my mom and dad and dog and Lily because I love them.

Porter:
I am very thankful for my dog because I love her.

Lilli:
I am very thankful for Max because he makes a good pillow. I am thankful for my family because they love me.

Noah:
I am thankful for my pets because they are soft.

Cameron:
I am very thankful for my cat because he is very soft. I am very thankful for my friends because they are nice to me.

Liam:
I am very thankful for my toys.

Maggie:
I am thankful for my friends.

PTG Fundraisers

Don't forget to send in any of the following (stuff) that is being collected by the PTG.

-juice bags (Capri Sun and other similar aluminum bags)
-box tops
-Campbell's Soup labels

November Dates to Remember

17th- PTG Meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria
18th- Report Cards Mailed Home
23-25- Thanksgiving Break

First Quarter Report Cards

The elementary report cards will be mailed out on Monday, November 21st. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

The Turkey Invasion

We are all ready for the Thanksgiving Feast!

Calling All Volunteers!

We are looking for volunteers to work in the classroom any day of the week from 12:15 to 12:45 during our guided reading time. You would read with children and help run literacy centers. Please let me know if you are interested!

I am also looking for an assistant for the Drink Pouch Brigade. This person would collect the pouches from the classrooms once a week (at the beginning or end of the day). I will do all of the other necessary cleaning/packaging.

THANKS for you consideration!

Thank you

A very special thank you to all of the volunteers who helped make our Fall Festival a great success! The kids had a blast and we look forward to doing something similar this winter.

Pictures will be coming soon!

Fairbanks Museum

We will be going to the Fairbanks Museum on Friday, October 28th. We will be studying soil.

Worm Song

Ms. Robb introduced our class to a very funny song. The kids just love it, so I promised to share it with their parents.

Worms
A Traditional Song- Adapted by Robert A. McCracken

Nobody likes me.
Everybody hates me.
Think I'll go eat worms.
Big fat juicy ones.
Eeny, weeny, squeemy ones.
See how they wiggle and squirm.

Chop off their heads,
Squeeze out the juice,
And throw the tails away.
Nobody knows how I survive,
Worms three times a day.

Stuffed or poached worms
Baked or roast worms
Barbecued or fricasseed

Diced or sliced worms
On bread or toast worms
Anyway pleases me.

Red and brown worms
Green and squirming words
Night crawlers, green and gray
Anyone can see that I've survived
Worms three times a day.

Spanish Blog

Check out Senora Lam's new Spanish blog!

http://senoralam.blogspot.com/

Learning Buddies

We will begin working with Mrs. Boucher's class next week! We are VERY excited!!

Kid Pics

Our Favorite Chart

The Candy Corn Bandit

I found this on my favorite blog (The Inspired Apple) and wanted to share it.

Scholastic Book Fair

The book fair will still be running on Monday. If you send your child to school with money, I will make sure that he/she will get an opportunity to go before it closes.

$ Money $

We have just started counting pennies and nickels. We played a game today where we rolled a die, took the number in pennies, and eventually exchanged the pennies for nickels. This is something that you could try at home. Another idea is to find out how much change is in your pockets. This ties in well with tallies and counting on from a given number.

We will be working with dimes next week.

Charlotte's Web

Did your child tell you that we are reading Charlotte's Web? We are focusing on visualization strategies and making pictures in our heads. The kids are thoroughly enjoying the book!

Mid-October Literacy Goals

We have been working on phonograms ("chunks") in spelling and phonics this week. Students were told, "You can see patterns or parts in words." and "The parts in words will help you read and write them."

Here are some phonograms that we are currently working on: -ad, -and, -ag, -an, -am, -at

We have been focusing on the following words in spelling: play, and, not, little, with, here, his, can, like, got, you, big. Please help your child learn to read and spell these words.

Please let me know if your child has not been bringing home his/her book bag at night. I will make sure that it makes its way home.

Co-Teaching Course

Tomorrow is my LAST co-teaching class. Hooray!!

Volunteering Opportunity

The K-2 team is having a Fall Festival on Monday, October 31st in the morning. We are looking for volunteers to assist with the classroom stations and/or the preparation of materials. If you are interested, please contact me via email. THANKS!!

Here's the Schedule:
8:15-9:00 Session #1
9:00-9:20 Snack
9:25-10:10 Session #2

Book Bags and Math Update

It is my goal to have your child's book bag sent home on Monday-Thursday nights. We have done our best to change the books daily. I'm trying to have students learn to select "just-right" books. The goal is to find books that aren't too easy, or too challenging, but do provide the practice that is needed to improve. You may discover that some of the selections may be too hard or too easy. It's okay! We are learning... feel free to read the overly challenging books to your child and send a note in with any necessary feedback. :)

Here are some quick math activities that you could do with your child to reinforce our weekly math goals (they are quick!):

-practice counting by 5s to 100.
-practice counting by 10s starting at random numbers (4,8,25, etc.)
-practice telling time to the hour and half hour (we are just starting with the half hour)
-practice making tally marks and reading tally marks
-practice counting on from any given number
-have your child practice writing and reading numbers from 0-100

October Author Study

We will be reading the "If You Give a..." books over the next couple of weeks. The mini-unit will conclude with students creating their own version. Ask your child if he/she knows what it means to be a circular text!

Fairbanks Museum

We loved our first trip to the museum!!

Math Update

We finished Unit 1 in the Everyday Math program and students were assessed on Friday. We will be starting Unit 2 on Monday. For more details on Unit 2, click on the Math Goals tab to the right of this post.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

(Please note: A paper copy of this is going home on Monday)
Dear Parents,
Our school year has been off to a great start and I am very excited to meet with you to discuss your child’s progress in the first grade! I had our parent-teacher sign-up available at the Open House and some parents have already signed up. Below you will find the times that are still available. Please kindly sign-up for three conference times that would work best for you. You will receive a reminder next week of your time. If these times and/or dates are inconvenient for you, I will do my best to find a time that accommodates your schedule. I am also willing to hold a conference over the phone if that works best for you. Please contact me at school or e-mail me (egreaves@danvillek12vt.us) if you have any questions.
I look forward to meeting with you to discuss your amazing child!


Monday, October 17th
3:20
3:40
4:20
4:40
6:20

Thursday, October 20th
8:20
8:40
9:00
9:20
9:40
10:00
10:20

Drink Pouch Brigade

I have volunteered to collect drink pouches (Drink Pouch Brigade) for the PTG this year. The company TerraCycle accepts any kind of drink pouch (Capri Sun, Kool Aid, Honest Kids, etc.). The PTG would greatly appreciate your participation in this endeavor. Please send in drink pouches with your child and have him/her pass them in to me. No washing is required- just remove the straw.

For more information about the Drink Pouch Brigade, visit http://www.teracycle.net.

Thanks for your support!
Emily

Fluoride

Fluoride begins on Wednesday! What's your favorite flavor?

We Have New Names!

Well.... the kids have each been assigned a sight word so we can learn them rapidly! The goal is to change the list every two weeks or so. Here are the words that we are working on right now. If you get a chance, see how many your child can read and spell!

on
the
see
look
have
some
for
said
they
here
we
one
are
come

Fairbanks Museum

We have our first trip to the museum on Friday, September 30th at 8:45! We will be learning about spider webs.

My Favorite Blogs

These are a few of the blogs that I've been following. Some of the ideas around my room have come from these very talented bloggers!


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POA Results

I am planning on sharing the results of the POA testing with you at our parent-teacher conference in October. If you would like the results now, please email me and I will send them home with your child in his/her Friday folder.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Many of you signed up for a conference time at the Open House. I will be sending out a notice closer to the conference date along with reminders for those of you who have already signed up.

Thank you for coming out to the Open House and Carnival. The kids were very excited to show their families all that we have accomplished!

Jenks Photos

Our class will be having pictures taken on Thursday, September 22nd at 10:20.

PTG Carnival & Open House

We hope to see you tomorrow! The Carnival runs from 5:00-7:00 and the Open House is from 6:00-7:00.

POA Testing

All students will be tested on Monday, September 12th. This data will be analyzed and I will begin working with my guided reading groups on specific goals on Wednesday, September 14th. Book bags will start on the 14th as well.

I Can Relate... And I love every minute!

You Know You’re a First Grade Teacher When…">

Fabulous First Grade Reading Log

Fabulous First Grade Reading Log">

PTG Meeting

Sorry for the late notice! There will be a PTG meeting tonight in the cafeteria at 7:00. I will try to let you know sooner next time!

Our Schedule

First Grade Schedule

Open House/ PTG Carnival

The date of the Open House has been set for September 15th. The carnival will begin at 5:00 and the classrooms will be open at 6:00. We hope to see you all there!

Class Rules

Daily/Weekly Routines

Classroom Blog

I will be using our classroom Blog to share learning goals, student work, websites that we are visiting in class, reminders about upcoming events, etc.  http://msgreaves.blogspot.com

Snack

We will have a morning snack and a “working” snack in the afternoon.  The “working” snack should be something that is easy to eat (i.e., pretzels, popcorn, carrot sticks, etc.).  We may not always have time to fit in an afternoon snack, but we will certainly try to sneak one in.

Spanish

Students in grades K-2 will have Spanish for 90 minutes a week.  For the first half of the year, we will have Spanish during our Morning Meeting time.  For the second half of the year, we will have Spanish integrated into our literacy block.

Friday Folders

With the exception of this week, the red Friday folders will be sent home with your child every Friday.  Please kindly return them on Mondays. 

Book Bags

Students will start to bring home book bags on September 12^th.  Please encourage your child to read his/her book 2-3 times that night.  The reading should take no more than 10-15 minutes.

Volunteers

If you are interested in volunteering, please let me know.  There are a variety of ways in which you can be involved.

Everyday Math Unit 1 Goals

Establishing Routines

Students will…

·      Practice counting up on a number line.

·      Practice counting a number that is one more or one less.

·      Practice comparing pairs of numbers.

·      Investigate equal-chance events.

·      Record the day’s weather and approximate weather.

·      Learn how a themometer works.

·      Practice telling and solving number stories.

Welcome Letter

Dear First Graders,

       I am very excited to be your first grade teacher this year!

       We will begin our year with a study of monarch butterflies and an author study of Kevin Henkes.  Have you ever read any of his books?  He is one of my favorite authors!

       We will have Physical Education on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. We will have Music on Tuesdays, Art on Thursdays, and Library on Fridays.  I will send a detailed schedule home for you and your family by the end of the first week of school.

       I have been working diligently in our classroom getting it ready for the first day of school.  You are welcome to come in and visit before school starts.  I will be in the classroom on Thursday (8/24) from 3:00-4:00 PM and on Friday (8/25) from 8:00-9:00 AM. 

       I am greatly looking forward to seeing you on Monday!  I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer vacation.

Sincerely,

Ms. Greaves