Theme: Christmas Traditions

Monday: Spelling number words; Christmas Favorites; PE.
Tuesday: Pairs; Christmas Giving; Computers.
Wednesday: Graphing and coloring a design; Library.
Thursday: Writing money amounts and paying for items using dimes and pennies; My senses at Christmas Time; PE.
Friday: Polar Express Day! Kids can wear their pajamas and bring a pillow and blanket to school! We still have the spelling test and Art. We will also have a school sing with Christmas songs.

Spelling Words: red, pink, black, brown, blue, green, yellow, orange, white, purple

Announcements: Please don't take your child out early on Friday. We have things planned until the last minute! Also, keep your child reading over the Christmas break. They still need 400 minutes to participate in the reading activity!

Theme: Christmas Traditions

Monday: Identifying the odd numbers; PE.
Tuesday: Covering a design with pattern blocks; Sorting, ordering, and graphing pattern blocks; Computers.
Wednesday: Library; Adding 2 to a number(8+2); Early Out.
Thursday: Comparing and ordering objects by length; Measuring length using nonstandard units; PE.
Friday: Looking for a pattern to solve a problem; Math/Spelling Test; Holiday Traditions; Art.

Spelling Words: where, friend, put, at, get, it, be, Thursday

White Christmas: Monday all the students that read a minimum of 20 minutes per night will walk to Canyon View High School to see a shortened version of White Christmas. Please make sure to dress your child properly for the weather AND walking!

Holiday Traditions: This week we will be talking about family traditions. Please share ONE favorite holiday tradition with your child. On Friday we will be drawing pictures of them. They need to know WHY it's considered a tradition.

Theme: Thanksgiving

Monday: Drawing a line of symmetry; Adjectives, Being Thankful, PE.
Tuesday: Giving Thanks Book; Assembly, Computers.
Wednesday - Sunday: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Announcements: NO spelling this week. Have a great vacation!

Theme: The First Thanksgiving

Monday - Capacity; Pilgrims; PE.
Tuesday - Even Numbers; Virtual field trip to Plymoth; Computers.
Wednesday - Identifying numbers on the 100's chart; Library; Santa Art project; Pilgrims first winter.
Thursday - Counting dimes and pennies; Comparing Pilgrim and Indian Homes; PE.
Friday - Spelling and Math test; The Feast; Art; Book order DUE.

Spelling Words - good, have, read, any, did, or, too, Tuesday

Upcoming Events: I'm sending the last book order before Christmas this Friday. If you want anything to be a secret, please let me know!

Theme: Rocks

Monday - Counting dimes; metamorphic rocks; PE; McDonalds Fundraiser 6:00 - 8:00.
Tuesday - Counting by 2's; Sorting rocks; Computers; Fire safety puppet show.
Wednesday - Fossils; Telling time to the hour; Paper plate pilgrims; Library.
Thursday - Subtracting 0 and subtracting a number from itself; Rock Book; PE.
Friday - Spelling test; Math Test; Finish Rock Book; Then and Now; Art.

Spelling Words: keep, ran, if, away, can't, this, on, Monday.

Theme: ROCKS!

Monday: Adding 0; PE;
Tuesday: Covering a design in different ways; Rock Collecting; Computers
Wednesday: Field Trip to see the dress rehersal of Cedar High's The Wizard of Oz! Counting by 10's to 100.
Thursday: Subtracting 1 from a number; Sedimentary Rocks; October home reading award - walking to Arctic Circle; PE.
Friday: Subtracting 1; Fact Test; Spelling Test; Art

Spelling Words: work, ride, help, there, find, Sunday

Thanks to all the moms that helped with our Halloween Party! It was "Swash Buckling Good!"

Theme: FALL/Red Ribbon Week

Tuesday: Sorting items and creating a graph; Four Seasons; Fall Book; Computers; "Turn your back on clothes" - wear your clothes backwards.
Wednesday: Weighing with non-standard units; Library; "It's hot not to use drugs" - wear as much red as possible.
Thursday: Finding a sum by counting on; Indian Corn art; Autumn book; PE; "Put a cap on drugs" - wear a hat.
Friday: Math Assessment; School Holiday Sing; Halloween Party; Art; Say "BOO" to drugs - wear your Halloween costume to school.

Upcoming Events:

• NO Spelling test this week. We are reviewing the words we've learned so far. There is homework. I copied the words for you to cut apart and use for the games.
• Please turn in the "Interesting Words" bag I sent home for writing. We need it on Tuesday.
  

Theme: FALL

Monday: Adding one to a number; Fall poems; Adding details to your writing; P.E.
Tuesday: Adding one to a number; Tissue paper leaves; Collecting words for writing; Computers.
Wednesday: Library; Measuring length with nonstandard units; Writing question marks.

NO Spelling this week! Have a great long weekend. See ya Tuesday!

Theme: Pumpkins
Spelling Words: house, let, no, in, said, come

Monday: Ordering numbers 1 -20 and adding 1 to a number; Will a pumpkin sink or float? P.E.
Tuesday: Writing addition sentences and creating subtraction stories; growing cycle of a pumpkin; Computers
Wednesday: Library; Counting backwards from 10 -1.
Thursday: Identifying morning, afternoon, evening, and night; Counting pumpkin seeds; P.E.
Friday: Math Assessment; Measuring length; Field Trip to the pumpkin patch; Fun activities with the pumpkins; Art

Upcoming Events: Don't forget to check the weather for Friday and dress your child accordingly. Good shoes are a must! Fall Break - October 20 - 25. It was great to talk to you about your wonderful kids at SEP's last week! Thanks for being so supportive. I got 100%!

Theme: Columbus/Maps

Spelling Words: call, what, see, jump, my, us

Monday: Double addition facts; Columbus; P.E.

Tuesday: Using a balance to identify lighter and heavier; Globes; Computers.

Wednesday: Library; Double addition facts.

Thursday: Covering designs with pattern blocks; Compass Rose and Cardinal Directions; P.E.

Friday: Written Math Assessment; Spelling test; Art; Maps.

Things You Need To Know: Home Reading Reward for September is a fun game day on Wednesday. Your child needs to turn in the September reading calendar by Monday in order to go. Please get the Bedroom Map done by Friday. We are doing a fun map activity that day. Remember SEP's this week! I can't wait to brag about how wonderful your children are! We get out at 2:30 all week, even on Wednesday!

Peek The Week:

Theme: Apples

Monday: Identifying a Rectangle, Identifying the Number of Sides and Angles of a Rectangle; P.E.
Tuesday: Writing Number Sentences for "Some, Some More" Stories, Creating Addition Problem Situations; Computers
Wednesday: Library; Creating and Reading a Repeating Pattern; Early Out (dismiss at 1:30)
Thursday: Addition Facts: Doubles with Sums to 18; P.E.
Friday: Identifying the Attributes of Pattern Blocks; Math Test; Spelling Test; Art

Spelling Words: pretty, am, me, make, will

SEP's are next week. Please send home the slip as soon as you can. I'll try to accomodate everyone.

September Home Reading Calendars are due on Friday. The children that return them and have read 20 minutes each night will get to play Minute to Win It!

Theme: Friends/Pets

Monday: In math we will be counting from 0 - 23. We will do a Friends in School name graph for social studies. We will also learn the last Daily 5 called "Listen to Reading." Today is P.E.

Tuesday: In math we will write addition number sentences. In social studies we will make "Friend Coupons."

Wednesday: In math we will identify ordinal number positions to the sixth place. We also have Library today!

Thursday: In math we will learn our first Math Facts. They're called the "Doubles." We will just be learning sums to 10. Today is P.E. For social studies we will talk about Pets and pet care.

Friday: We have a spelling and a math test today.

Spelling Words: she, are, he, funny, with

I've sure enjoyed these kids! Home reading books should start coming home soon. Please get your pledge money in from the Walk-a-thon this week!

A lot is happening in First Grade! The kids are doing sooooo well! Here's what will be happening next:

Theme: Families

Monday - Pennies, families.
Tuesday - Identifying a number between 2 numbers, families work and play together.
Wednesday - using apples to divide a shape in half, library.
Thursday- Walk-a-Thon! We walk at, graphing a picture on a pictograph.
Friday - DIBELS testing, Sorting by one attribute, written math assessment, spelling test, relative booklets.

Upcoming Events: I will be gone for a few days(family emergency) but am leaving the children in GREAT hands with Mrs. Cindy Davidson. She is wonderful and a good friend of mine.

Here's a "Peek" at the next First Grade Week!

Theme: One of a Kind

Math: On Tuesday we will be acting out some - some went away(subtraction) and some - some more(addition) Math Stories. On Wednesday we will be Identifying a Triangle and sorting shapes by one attribute. On Thursday we will make shapes on a "Geoboard." On Friday we will be drawing pictures for addition and subtraction stories.

Spelling Words: the, not, do, want, you.

Daily 5: We are building our stamina on Read to Self and Work on Writing. We are also learning how to do Work on Words!

Upcoming Events: Flag Ceremony Friday at 9:00. Keep working on the Walk-a-thon pledges. Library is Wednesday.

Theme: One of a Kind

Important Dates: 9/2- Picture Day, 9/6- Labor Day (No School)

Peek at Next Week:
Monday: Writing the Numbers 0, 6, 8, and 9; P.E.
Tuesday: Ordering Sets from Smallest to Largest; Computers; Assembly
Wednesday: Matching a Number to a Set; Library; Early Out (dismiss at 1:30)
Thursday: Identifying: Morning, Afternoon, First, Last, Between, Middle, Second, and Third; P.E.
Friday: Identifying the Steps in the Problem Solving Process; Math Test; Art; Spelling Test

Spelling Words: like, cat, to, and, dog

Please check your child's homework folder each night. Take out papers in the stay home side, and help your child complete their homework.

Spelling homework comes home each Monday and is due the Following Friday.

Reading calendars for September are now in your child's homework folder. I slid them in the back pocket so they would be easy for you to take in and out. Please read 20 minutes per night, either to your child or with your child. We have fun activities to reward students that read and turn in the monthly calendars.

Sight word lists have been sent home. Please read through these each night until your child can read them automatically. They should be able to instantly recognize the word without sounding it out. Sign the form and send back to school to get the next list. I try to test for sight words on Wednesdays.

I sure had a terrific week with your children. They are all wonderful and make me happy each day! Keep up the good work!

Well we completed 2 very successful days in first grade! Your children were wonderful and made me love my job and be excited about starting another year! Here's what's coming up next week:

MATH: Reviewing Numbers(graphing and writing). Circles, Squares, and Angles.
Social Studies: We alternate Social studies with Science topics. This week we are learning about Rules/Consequences at home, at school, and in the community.
Daily 5: We are learning the 3 ways to read a book and we are building our "Stamina" for Read to self.
Spelling: We start spelling this week! The words are: we, a, can, run, I,and play. I will send the homework on Monday. There are four pages. You can do one a day, or do them all and turn them in before Friday.

Have a Great Weekend,

I enjoyed meeting all of you last night. It looks like we'll have a great year! Your kids are all really cute and as excited as I am! I forgot to tell some of you that the label inside the folder I gave you contains your loin information to check your child's grades online. Please get all of the papers back to me (that you needed to sign) on Thursday.

Mrs. Esplin discovered this fun blog: Imagination Soup. There are many great things on this site, but my favorite is the Top 7 1/2 Summer Books to Read for Kids post (there is a reason for the 1/2, read to find the post to find out why). What a fun way to start the summer off! Maybe you and your child can sit down together and make your own list of books they would like to read throughout the summer. I know I have a growing list of my own.

Happy Reading!

Scholastic has created a great way for you to determine if the books they are reading at home are a "Good Fit Book." Just type the name of the book you are wondering about in the widget found at the bottom of this page and it will redirect you to the Scholastic web site. In the top right hand corner of the page make sure you select the "Guided Reading Level" radial button and then click set. If Scholastic has that book in their system, it will tell you the guided reading level of that particular book.


Our goal is to have all our first graders reading at an "G" by January, and an "I" or "J" reading level by the end of first grade. I would be happy to share with you your child's reading level at school to help you in your endeavors.