September Newsletter

1H News: September Edition

Dates on Deck:

Wednesday, September 2nd - 1:00 Dismiss, Teacher Professional Development

Monday, September 7th - NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)

Wednesday, September 9th - 6:30pm Parent Partnership Night @ Keystone Elementary

Tuesday, September 15th - 2:30pm Foam Finger Decorating 

Friday, September 18th - HOMECOMING!

Wednesday, September 16th - 1:00 Dismiss, Teacher Professional Development

Monday, September 21st - NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional Development)

Saturday, September 26th - Bobcat Dash

News:

Sharing - On your child's snack day, s/he may bring a small object to show to the class.  This can be a photograph or some other object.  We have discussed NOT bringing electronics or animals, as well as anything very expensive, and they MUST have permission from you first! :)  This is optional, but I find it helps keep kids from bringing random toys on a consistent basis if they know they'll get a chance to share in the future!  (They also never forget their snack days!)

Snack Day Reminder - Your child will receive a yellow (kind of orange...) pawprint in his/her folder the day prior to your snack day.  Just leave it in the folder to return to school the next day, and I'll give it to the next family as a reminder.

Water Bottles - Just a quick reminder about water bottles.  We have a water bottle filler here at school.  Your child will be responsible for filling his/her water bottle here each morning.  Periodically, your child will bring it home to be washed and returned.  Please make sure your child's name is on the water bottle somewhere.  (Water bottles are not required, but are a good idea if you have one handy to send.)

Headphones - Please make sure your child has headphones here at school.  They can be the "over the ear" kind or ear buds, whichever your child prefers.  We use them daily during literacy and math stations, as well as during our scheduled technology time.

Foam Finger Decorating - Your child will have a yellow informational sheet about foam finger decorating in his/her folder tonight.  This is a tradition of Ms. Upah's and mine.  Please send $4 to cover the cost of a foam finger.  We will be decorating these for the Homecoming parade and pep rally on September 18th.  Decorating will take place September 15th at 2:30pm.  If you are interested in helping us decorate, please sign and return the bottom portion of the yellow note.  The kids LOVE this activity and it's a great way to show their Bobcat Pride :)

Take Home Books and Journals - Your child will be receiving a daily take home book and journal.  This will be considered "homework" in the sense that your child will be asked to read the book and write in the journal nightly, then return it to school the next day.  It will not be "graded" but it is great practice to teach responsibility as well as to use the skills learned in literacy.  Look for these to come home soon!

What We're Learning:

Reading - As part of our "First 20 Days", we are learning classroom routines when we come together for Readers' Workshop.  We have time at the carpet together learning about a new skill as I model it for them first, practicing that skill with a partner, and then independent and small group learning time to practice the skill in stations involving literacy.  During that time, I will be meeting with small reading groups.  We do what's called "The Daily 5", where students are rotating through stations called Word Work, Work on Writing, Read to Self, Read to Someone, and Listen to Reading.  So far, we have practiced Read to Self and Work on Writing.

Writing - This component of our day is also within the "First 20 Days" framework.  We have been discussing where to sit, where to find the tools necessary to write independently, when it is ok to share our work, what the teacher will be doing, etc.  The format is much the same in that we will start with a small writing lesson at the carpet, I will model for them a phonics skill as well as a writing skill, and then they will have independent writing time to practice that skill independently.  During this time, as students are writing, I will be conferencing with students about their writing.

Math - We will be learning all about measuring length in our first math unit.  In first grade, we learn about nonstandard units, which means we'll be using a lot of paperclips, erasers, and lengths of yarn to help us measure different objects in our classroom and around the school.

Science - We are taking full advantage of Keystone Elementary's Outdoor Learning Space.  So far, we have observed different plants and insects in the space, writing our observations in our scientific notebook.  We will also be experimenting and creating in our new MakerSpace in the Keystone Elementary Library.  Stay tuned for posts highlighting our learning!

If you have questions about anything, please let me know!

Mrs. Happel