Week 10 (Nov. 7-10)

* Report Cards will be sent home with children on Monday, Nov. 14. Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on the evening of Monday, Nov. 21 and the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 22.  Please sign up with the instructions from the office.  We have a half day on Wednesday, Nov. 23 and No School Nov. 24-25. 

 *Our virtue for the month is GRATITUDE.  Each Monday, we celebrate "Moral Focus Monday" with lessons devoted to our school virtue.  Vanderbilt will also be collecting food for those in need in our area over the coming weeks. 
*Spelling is now a part of our weekly routine.  Words are introduced each Monday and the students are tested on Fridays.  Please take time to review these ten words throughout the week for mastery.
*Agendas should go home and back each day. FRIDAY folders will go home with papers for the week.  

I do feel strongly in reading daily.   I truly believe that the more kids read (or are read to), the better readers they become.  Exposure to print, story elements, and spelling patterns are all so important at this level and help to create a love of reading and learning.  Please take time throughout the week to read with your child.  If your child is an independent reader, they may want to journal about what they are reading or discuss it with a family member to gain a deeper understanding. 

Here are some potential learning activities to replace homework time if you so choose:
1. FrontRow- each student has a login with their first name and last name initial.  Code:hulstr
2. MAP Math/MAP Reading (these sites have activities and games geared to student individual RIT levels- I will share these at conferences in a couple weeks)
3. Spelling Practice (chalk, finger paint, shaving cream, computer practice, creative sentences using words...)
4. Visit a library and check out some new books
5. Read!  :)
.
*Big THANKS to Kate Irvin for copying for our classroom! :)
*Thanks to all the volunteers that are helping to make our VIP/Harvest a success!

Friday, November 11: No School, Teacher PD Day

Monday, November 14-Thursday, Dec. 1: Swim Lessons (No lessons 11/18 or 11/23) 9:45-10:30 at the Holland Aquatic Center- you are welcome to watch from the bleachers!    
Monday, November 21: Full Day of School, Conferences in the Evening
Tuesday, November 22: Full Day of School, Conferences in the Evening
Wednesday, November 23: Dismissal at 11:30 for the Break- Off the rest of the week.  Back on 11/28. 

December 22- Jan. 2: OFF for Holiday Break

MATH next Week (Nov. 7-10)
Unit 3: Explore Unknowns, Problems with Unknown Partners, Solve Equations with Unknown Partners.

READING next Week (Nov. 7-10)
Amazing Words: observe, wild, screech, reserve, parent, canopy, million, native

High-Frequency Words: eat, five, four, her, this, too

**Spelling Words: sit, sits, win, wins, fit, fits, hit, hits, nap, naps ** TEST ON THURSDAY! 

Characters, Setting, Plot - A Fox and a Kit

Declarative Sentences

EBLI Lessons

Social Studies: This week we will focus on the election before moving into our science topic on Earth in Space! 

Our star this week!

Monster Teeth Cookies!

Thanks for visiting our classroom VIPs!

Week 9 (Oct. 31-Nov. 4)

Reminders: 

*Our virtue for the month of November is GRATITUDE.  Each Monday, we celebrate "Moral Focus Monday" with lessons devoted to our school virtue.  Vanderbilt will also be collecting food for those in need in our area over the coming weeks.
*Spelling is now a part of our weekly routine.  Words are introduced each Monday and the students are tested on Fridays.  Please take time to review these ten words throughout the week for mastery.
*Agendas go home daily and Friday Folders go home with all papers for your review over the weekend.
*BOOK-IT Program- Please return October BOOK-IT calendars if you documented reading minutes.  November calendars are going home in Friday folders.  I do feel strongly in reading daily.   I truly believe that the more kids read (or are read to), the better readers they become.  Exposure to print, story elements, and spelling patterns are all so important at this level and help to create a love of reading and learning.  Please take time throughout the week to read with your child.  If your child is an independent reader, they may want to journal about what they are reading or discuss it with a family member to gain a deeper understanding.

Here are some potential learning activities to replace homework time if you so choose:
1. FrontRow- Each student has a login with First name and Last initial.  Code is hulstr

2. MAP Math/MAP Reading (these sites have activities and games geared to student individual RIT levels- I will share these at conferences in a couple weeks)
3. Spelling Practice (chalk, finger paint, shaving cream, computer practice, creative sentences using words...)
4. Visit a library and check out some new books
5. Read!  :)

*Oct. 31-Nov. 4 is the final week of the marking period. Quarter 2 begins on Nov. 7.
*Big THANKS to Kate Irvin for copying for our classroom!
*Thanks to all the volunteers that are helping to make our VIP/Harvest a success!
  *Friday, Nov. 11: No School (Staff PD Day)

MATH
Relate Addition and Subtraction, Mixed Practice with Equations, Problem Solving Strategies

READING
Spelling for Oct. 31-Nov. 4: hot, hop, pot, pop, ox, lock, mop, got, rock, mom

Amazing Words: past, produce, danger, snuggle, powerful, present, transportation, serve, enormous

Characters, Setting, Plot: The Big Blue Ox

Predicates of a Sentence

Social Studies:  We are wrapping up Patriotic Symbols and spending some time on Elections.  

Our star this week!

Week 8 (Oct. 24-28)

Reminders: 

*Our virtue for the month is WISDOM.  We have been spending time focusing on the importance of taking responsibility at home and at school.   Each Monday, we celebrate "Moral Focus Monday" with lessons devoted to our school virtue.
*Spelling is added in Unit 1 for our students.  Words can be found here on the blog.  Students are tested on Fridays.  Please take time to review these ten words throughout the week for mastery!
*Agendas go home and back each day. Friday Folders go home on Fridays and are emptied over the weekend.
*Big THANKS to Kate Irvin for copying for our classroom!
*VIP Day is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 28 from 8:10-8:50.  Our classroom has limited space, so please choose 1 (or at most 2) special guest for the time frame.  Thank you to all the parents who have volunteered to bring something in for our special day!  BIG THANKS to our all parents that helped with donations!!
*Friday, Nov. 4: End of Quarter 1
*Friday, Nov. 11: No School (Staff PD Day)

MATH
Subtraction with Drawings & Equations, Subtraction Practice, Generate Subtraction Problems

READING
Spelling for Oct. 24-28: Short i: six, wig, mix, fix, lip, it, sit, in, did, pin

Amazing Words: career, tool, sloppy, comfort, service, scrub, exercise, search

Plot, Summarizing: Pig in a Wig 

Subjects of the Sentence

EBLI Lessons

Social Studies: We are continuing to learn about PATRIOTIC symbols and their importance to our country.  

Our star this week!

Our Behavior Chart

This is our daily chart.  All students begin on the top GREEN.  They may move down to bottom GREEN after reminders.  If they move down again to YELLOW they take a break and complete a reflection sheet.  If they move down again to BLUE then I complete a behavior report and contact parents through e-mail.  On the bright side, if students move up to ROLE MODEL they earn a brag note home.  A ROLE MODEL is an amazing accomplishment because it means they are going above and beyond the daily expectations!  :)

Holland Farmers Market Oct. 12- THANK you volunteers!!

Week 7 (Oct. 17-21)

Reminders: 

*Our virtue for the month is Wisdom.  We have been spending time focusing on the importance of taking responsibility at home and at school.  We have also role-played how to show responsibility.  We have "Moral Focus Monday" in our weekly routine to intentionally teach our virtues.
 *Spelling is being added in Unit 1 for our students.  Words can be found on the blog and the students are tested on Fridays.  Please take time to review these ten words at home throughout the week!  Our first test will be on Friday, Oct. 21.  
*Agendas go home daily, and papers go home weekly in Friday folders.
*Big THANKS to Kate Irvin for copying for our classroom!  Also, BIG thanks to all our volunteers for the Market trip!
*VIP Day is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 28 from 8:10-8:50.  Our classroom has limited space, so please choose 1 (or at most 2) special guest for the time frame.  Thank you!
*Friday, Nov. 4: End of Quarter 1
*Friday, Nov. 11: No School (Staff PD Day)

MATH
 Addition Game: Unknown Totals, Practice Counting On, Represent Subtraction

READING
Spelling Words: Short a: can, cat, back, dad, am, bat, mad, ran, sack, at

Amazing Words: needs, responsibility, shelter, cuddle, tickle, faithful, fetch, heel

High-Frequency Words: come, in, my, on, way

Plot, Setting- Sam, Come Back! 

Nouns, Verbs, & Adjectives in Complete Sentences

EBLI Lessons

Social Studies: Patriotic Symbols

Our star this week!

First graders know how to be WISE!

Our star this week!

Week 6 (Oct. 10-14)

Reminders:

*Our virtue for the month is WISDOM.  We have been spending time focusing on the importance of taking responsibility at home and at school.  We have also role-played how to show wisdom in our lives.
*Agendas go home daily.  Home folders go home with lots of papers on Friday.  Please empty them over the weekend and send the folders back in on Monday.
*Big THANKS to Kate Irvin for copying for our classroom!  Also, THANK YOU to all the parents that volunteered for our field trip: Amanda Scraver, Marci Smit, Sonja Salas, Eunice Chico, Nancy Rendon, Kate Irvin, and Crystal Charles.
*FYI- I will have a SUB on Tuesday, Oct. 18 because I will be attending a GVSU workshop.
*Friday, Nov. 4: End of Quarter 1
*Friday, Nov. 11: No School (Staff PD Day)

MATH
Explore Solution Methods, Addition Strategies: Counting On, Count on from the Greater Number

READING
Amazing Words: bargain, bustling, fact, customer, browse, library, cost, scale

High-Frequency Words: for, me, go, where, here

Plot, Setting- Farmer's Market

Nouns, Verbs, & Adjectives

EBLI Lessons

Social Studies: We will be learning about Patriotic Symbols.  

Pom-Pom Fred is full! We earned our first reward! Stuffed animal day on Wednesday, Oct. 5!