Day 20 and going strong...

Hello First Grade Families,

I love the feeling of fall. Do you?  We certainly have had amazing weather.

We have survived 20 days and the first graders are really getting into a routine!  I know I can be tough at times, especially with routines, but I promise that it will help our first graders be successful in the classroom, especially during reading instruction time.  I am really proud of how well they are doing and how much better they are with structure and routine.

Math: Last Friday, students took their first unit math test. I am amazed how well they did.  Please look for an envelope in their take home folder.  I like to keep tests for my records. I made copies of the test to send home for those who may have missed a few.  Otherwise, if you do not get a copy of the math test, that means your child got 100% on the test.  Well done! In Unit 2, we will really begin to focus on addition.

Language Arts:  Students are working very hard on preparing for Language Arts stations.  Next week, I hope to start Guided Reading Groups.  Students must do stations efficiently for me to teach guided reading groups. We will keep practicing! They are doing a great job. 

*** I will try my best to send home read-at-home books this week, at least two times.  Please make sure that you record the book on the log and please send the envelope, log and book back.  It's important to not lose these books, as they are school property.  Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

This weeks sight words:     his   had   were  her  are

Thank you parent volunteers! I appreciate everything you do. I will be in touch very soon with parents regarding volunteering in the next few weeks.

Also, thank you so much for our grandparents that came on Grandparents Day.  Please express to them how much I enjoyed meeting them. I hope it is a day they will not forget.

Coming up...

Apples Unit and Plants Unit:  We plan on making applesauce in the classroom on Sept. 28th.

Picture Retakes: October 16th *tentatively. Please check Wed. Word for dates.

A First Grade Tour...

 Math Station                                        Good Buddy Reading

Reading to Self

                                                                    Word Study Station

 We know how to eat at lunch politely!

                                                   First Grade Expectations Meeting

Wow! Great listeners!

 Reading Garden... Still beautiful and lush!

 Math center and mail station
                                                                          Word Study    
                                                                           Sorting Station

Carpet area

Guided Reading Area and Word Wall

                                                                             Writing Station

We are a Common Core Classroom!

                                                                      Individual Reading
                                                                      Tubs

 Working hard on our sight word sticker book!

                                                               We <3 our stuffies!

Perfect buddy reading!

Hello, September!

Hello all!

Today is the 14th day of school and I told the kids that this was their best day ever!!  They listened, they got their work done, and they seemed way more focused today. A long weekend does everybody good! I hope you all had a safe, fun holiday weekend.

Here are some academic updates:

• Sight Words: I forgot that even though it was a short week, I had originally planned on doing 5 sight words like normal.  This will be tricky to fit in the next two days but I really want to keep on schedule.  Today and tomorrow we will be practicing:

                                                   for     it    with    as    on

             **I will assess last weeks words and the words above next week. Thanks for practicing at 

                  home!

• Math:  We have focused on digits 1-6.  Ask your child what 5 partners and 6 partners are. The Unit 1 test will be on Thursday, September 14th or Friday, September 15th.  Students are doing well on quizzes and they did exceptionally well on the beginning of year assessment, which was a review of everything taught in Kindergarten. Great job kindergarten teachers!
• Reading:  I will start sending home books next week.  I will send an information sheet in the reading folder to help you with reading at home.
• Families/Communities:  We are going to start studying families and communities tomorrow. Please remember Grandparents Day is on Monday, September 10th. Information will go home tomorrow on this.  Our class is extremely diverse and I truly want to learn more about our families.  From now until the holidays, I really want to focus on culture, families, and communities. I hope before the holidays to do a Culture Unit, which will all students to do a presentation to the class about their heritage/culture. I did this in Hawaii and it was so interesting. For now, if you can have your child bring any special pictures of their family to share, I would truly appreciate it!

That's it for now!  I am going to post another blog of just pics!  Thanks for turning in your permission slips.

Ciao!

Sarah Nieder