What's happening in first grade?

Wise’s Newsletter

Feb. 21, 2012

Reading

Just a reminder to please not read my books around food or drinks.  Some of them come back a little worse for the wear and they are my personal books!  If anything does happen, please buy a new one for our classroom. Thank you.

Penguin Open House

When:  Monday, Feb. 27

Time:  11:30-12:45 (Remember, come anytime during this time…just give yourself at least 45 minutes, if not an hour with your child.) 

Who:  Parents, grandparents, younger siblings are ok!

Penguin Math Homework

Please do the math problems on the back.  Make sure you draw a picture (circles are fine), write an equation, and explain your thinking using words.  I want to KNOW how you solved the problem! Did you use your fingers to count?  Did you count by 2’s?  What?  Tell me!

Word Work Homework

We are going to keep our same word wall words, as we only had a 4 day week and have been so busy learning about penguins!  Please practice spelling them as your drive, eat breakfast, etc.  Make a game out of it!

for                               because

with                             they

one

100^th Day of School!

Our 100^th day of school is this thurs, Feb. 23.  We will be celebrating at school by counting to 100 by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s. We will be counting a variety of things at school and working on a number packet.  It is a celebration that is done with the kids…so…no parents please!  Of course, if it is your day to read, then come on in!  As part of this celebration, we have breakfast together.  Please count out 100 pieces of your favorite cereal and send it in.  I will supply the milk.  Send in your cereal on Thurs, our 100^th day of school!

Penguin Movies

Do you have any penguin movies we can borrow?  As we near the end of our penguin unit, we like to celebrate with a penguin movie. If you have Happy Feet 1 or 2, or March of the Penguins, then can we please borrow it?  In VCR form, please. Thank you!

Upcoming Dates

Thursday, Feb. 23:  100^th day of school!  Please send in 100 pieces of your favorite cereal.

Monday, Feb. 27:  Penguin Open House

Tues., Feb. 28, Wed., Feb. 29 and Th. and Fri., March 1

Conferences. 

Thurs. and Fri. March 1 and 2.  No school for kids.  Conferences on Thurs. March 1

Wed. March 14:  12:10 Early Release Day.

March 16:  Fieldtrip to the Zoo

March 24-April 1:  Spring Break

Wise’s Newsletter

Feb. 13, 2012

Blog

On my blog, which is on the school website, I’ve added a ton of new things such as spelling games, math games and penguin websites and games.  Check it out with your kids!

Show them how to access these great sites from your home computer!

Reading

Remember,  if you need to keep a book more than one day, that is OK!  The kids are reading books that are longer now and that is great!  It is a chapter book, write each chapter down on the list that is sent home with my books from the classroom (not the home reading books, please).  Thank you! 

Science

The very last penguin we will be learning about is the Humboldt penguin.  It is the penguin that we have at the Oregon zoo and will be visiting March 16.  Ask your kids where they live.  Perhaps go online and read more about them!

                       Height           Weight

Humboldt       26 in.            6-11 pounds

Penguin Day

Every year first grade hosts the parents and siblings to celebrate our study of penguins.  It is an open house.  Plan on spending at least 45 minutes to an hour with your child.  Please do not come when there is only 15 minutes left, but give yourself plenty of time for your child to teach you all about penguins!  Questions? Just email me!

Penguin Open House

When:  Monday, Feb. 27

Time:  11:30-12:45 (Remember, come anytime during this time…just give yourself at least 45 minutes, if not an hour with your child.) 

Who:  Parents, grandparents, younger siblings are ok!

Homework

We are writing penguin story problems here at school.  For HW, your child will solve a couple of their peers problems.  Please remember to write the equation, draw a picture (dots and circles are fine), and write words on how your solved the problem.  I want to know what you are thinking!  The problems are on the back of this newsletter.  Send in by Friday please!  Thank you.

Word Work Homework

Make sure and write the word wall words on your at home word wall.  Practice spelling all of your word wall words off of your “at home spelling” folder, as your child is spelling them with parent helpers!

for                                because

with                              they

one

Valentine’s Day Party

Our party is tomorrow, Feb. 14 from 9:15 to 10:15.  If you are volunteering, please arrive by 9:00 to help put paper on tables and set up.  Thank you!

Conference sign ups

Tomorrow, Feb., 14, you may sign up on line for a conference with me.  Go to:

http://www2.wlwv.k12.or.us/wiki/index.php/Stafford

The username is:  Stafford

Password:  Tigers

Do NOT delete anything except the

“-“ where you will write in your child’s name.  There are directions on the website as well.

Upcoming Dates

Tuesday, Feb. 14:  Valentine’s Day Party.  9:15-10:30. 

Friday, Feb. 17:  No school.  Teacher In-service Day.

Monday, Feb. 20:  No School.  Holiday.  President’s day.

Thursday, Feb. 23:  100^th day of school!

Monday, Feb. 27:  Penguin Open House

Tues., Feb. 28, Wed., Feb. 29 and Th. and Fri., March 1

Conferences. 

Thurs. and Fri. March 1 and 2.  No school for kids.  Conferences on Thurs. March 1

Wed. March 14:  12:10 Early Release Day.

March 16:  Fieldtrip to the Zoo

March 24-April 1:  Spring Break

Wise’s Newsletter

Feb. 6, 2012

Reading

In reading, we’ve been talking about fiction versus non-fiction books, especially with our penguin unit in math.  Have a discussion with your kids about this please!

Writing

Periods go with capital letters of course! We are reviewing where periods, question marks and exclamation marks go.  Whenever your child is reading, have them take a breath at the punctuation mark.  When they are reading their own writing, have them stop at their punctuation, or if no punctuation is there, have them put it in!

Science

Ask your kids about the penguins we’ve been learning about.  Compare and contrast the height and weight.  What is the difference?  These are just a few facts, but they know tons more!  Ask them to tell you about the color of their beak, feet and special features.

                       Height           Weight

Little Blue      16 in.         2-3 pounds

Gentoo           30 in.         13 pounds

Chinstrap       28 in.          9 pounds

Emperor         45 in.         80-100 pounds

Word Work Homework

Make sure and write the word wall words on your at home word wall.  Practice spelling all of your word wall words off of your “at home spelling” folder, as your child is spelling them with parent helpers!

look                      want

ten                        zoo

him

Valentine’s Day Shoeboxes needed

We are still needing about 5 more shoeboxes.  If you have any extras, please send them in for those that may need them.  We are going to decorate them sometime this week after everyone has one to decorate.  We will deliver them on Monday and open them on Tuesday during our party.  Please send in your valentines when you are done writing them.  A list is on the back of this newsletter.  Notice that we do have a new student:  Brandon Loomis!

Art

We learned about Juan Miro last week during art literacy.  Ask your kids what they did and what they learned about this artist.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

The Magic School Bus play was about our climate and how we can help save it.  It talked about the polar bears and how the ice caps are melting.  This is happening at the South Pole where many penguins live as well.  What can we do to help our Earth and animals that live here?  We can all do our part, no matter how small, we learned.

Upcoming Dates

Wed. Feb. 8:  Early release day.  12:10 release.

Monday, Feb. 13:  Send in Valentine’s today.

Tuesday, Feb. 14:  Valentine’s Day Party.  9:15-10:30. 

Friday, Feb. 17:  No school.  Teacher In-service Day.

Monday, Feb. 20:  No School.  Holiday.  President’s day.

Thursday and Fri., March 1 and 2: 

No School.  Conferences. 

Wed. March 14:  12:10 Early Release Day.

March 16:  Fieldtrip to the Zoo

March 24-April 1:  Spring Break

Wise’s Newsletter

January 30, 2012

Health

We do have a virus going around our school.  We had a huge throw up in the classroom today with projectile vomit hitting shoes, sweaters, papers and books (all parents were called whose clothing had vomit on it).  The room was cleaned thoroughly by our custodian, but we still eat at the same tables where sneezes and coughs are done.  As much as we wash our hands, they do get dirty with germs.  Please have a discussion with your child about them covering their mouth when they cough and sneeze. Also, we discussed the issue of cleanliness when we eat.  We do wipe the tables before and after we eat, but again, it is the same tables as where we work throughout the day.  Please send in a cloth napkin to put your child’s food on.  I am sure you do not want it sitting on the tables where we work!  This is a safety issue, so please, please discuss all of the above with your kids.  Thank you.

Math and homework

Attached is a math assessment we did in class.  Please look at it with your child and go over it.  The first part is a pattern assessment.  The children all did what would come next.  Look to see if they got it right.  If they did not, talk about it with them and work on patterning.  I would like for you to have your child do the 5^th pattern:  what would come next?  How about the sixth pattern?  If your child gets the sixth pattern easily, let them do a 7^th and 8^th.  Look at the counting by 5’s and 10’s at the bottom.  Did they do it?  How far did they get?  Have them write by 5’s and 10’s to 100 on a scrap piece of paper.  Look at the back of the paper where there is a story problem.  Did they write an equation?  Did they draw a picture?  Was it too easy?  Write a different problem using more difficult numbers and send this in by Friday.  Just reuse a scrap piece of paper or the back of this newsletter.

Word Work Homework

Make sure and write the word wall words on your at home word wall.  Practice spelling all of your word wall words off of your “at home spelling” folder, as your child is spelling them with parent helpers!

boy                                          as

good                                        I’m

made

Needed:

Please send in your old shoeboxes! We need them for a Valentine day project!  Also, there is a list of everyone’s name on the back of this newsletter.  If you are making valentines, everyone needs one.  Just send them in when you are finished making them.  We will pass them out on Monday, Feb. 13 and open them on Feb. 14^th during our party.  Thank you!

Upcoming Dates

Wed., Feb. 1:  Fieldtrip to Portland to see the play “The Magic School Bus”.

Wed. Feb. 8:  Early release day.  12:10 release.

Tuesday, Feb. 14:  Valentine’s Day Party.  9:15-10:30. 

Friday, Feb. 17:  No school.  Teacher In-service Day.

Monday, Feb. 20:  No School.  Holiday.  President’s day.

Thursday and Fri., March 1 and 2: 

No School.  Conferences. 

March 16:  Fieldtrip to the Zoo

March 24-April 1:  Spring Break

Wise’s Newsletter

January 23, 2012

Science Fair

Bob Carlson from CREST came and talked with the kids about the science fair.  If your child was interested in doing an experiment, they brought home a green sheet on Friday.  This info is on the Stafford website too.  We did our own experiment in class discussing the water temperature off of Antarctica where penguins live and comparing it to the water off of Oregon.

Scientific Experiment:  Ice and Temperature

We did a scientific experiment last week and this is what we learned!

Question:  How can we change water temperature?

Research:  We have been learning about penguins in class.  We know that the water in Antarctica, where lots of penguins live, is around 30 degrees right now and the water at the coast of Oregon is 50 degrees.

Hypothesis:   Here is what some of the children said:                          

We could mix water and ice.                                      

Put a little bit of cold water, ice and hot water together.                                   

Take cold and hot water and put a cube or two of ice in it.                                      

Mix the two waters together.                           

Mix lots of cold water and one cube of ice and a little bit of hot water.                                      

Add a little bit of ice and cold water.                            

Put in lots of hot and a few cubes of ice.                                                 

Experiment:  We had a tub with a cup of hot tap water, a cup of regular tap water, and a cup of ice in it.  We had a thermometer to measure the temperature.  The regular tap water was our “constant”.  We added cold water and ice to make the temperature drop from 70 degrees to 60, 50, then finally 30 degrees.  (The Pacific ocean January water temperature is 50 degrees and the January water temperature in Antarctica is 30 degrees.)  If time, we made other temperatures of water from around the globe, using our penguin booklets as a guide.

Conclusion:  The temperature of water can be changed by adding ice and by adding hot water.  With time we can also change the temperature of water using other methods.

Scholastic News

Scholastic book orders are due Jan. 26. If you wish to order books, please send a check in made out to Scholastic.

Word Work Homework

Make sure and write the word wall words on your at home word wall.  Practice spelling all of your word wall words off of your “at home spelling” folder, as your child is spelling them with parent helpers!

bug                   what

come                        six

has

Needed:

Please send in your old shoeboxes! We need them for a Valentine day project!  Also, there is a list of everyone’s name on the back of this newsletter.  If you are making valentines, everyone needs one.  Just send them in when you are finished making them.  We will pass them out on Monday, Feb. 13 and open them on Feb. 14^th during our party.  Thank you!

Upcoming Dates

Wed., Feb. 1:  Fieldtrip to Portland to see the play “The Magic School Bus”.

Wed. Feb. 8:  Early release day.  12:10 release.

Tuesday, Feb. 14:  Valentine’s Day Party.  9:15-10:30. 

Friday, Feb. 17:  No school.  Teacher In-service Day.

Monday, Feb. 20:  No School.  Holiday.  President’s day.

Thursday and Fri., March 1 and 2: 

No School.  Conferences. 

March 16:  Fieldtrip to the Zoo

March 24-April 1:  Spring Break

Wise’s Newsletter

January 17, 2012

Hi there!

I hope all of you had a great 3 day weekend!  We’ve been talking and reading books about Martin Luther King, Jr. and why we were out of school yesterday.  Please have a conversation about fairness, equality, treating all people with kindness and respect no matter what they look like.  We want our kids to have great character traits and be the best they can be!

Thank you!

Math and Science

In math and science we are learning about measuring by studying penguins!  We are learning about the height and weight and comparing and contrasting them to different types of penguins.  We are learning about Antarctica and how it is extremely cold, it is summer there now, and light all day long in the Winter!  Talk to your child about the differences between the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.  Also, quiz them on some penguin facts.  So far, we have learned about the Rockhopper penguin last week and will learn about the King penguin this week:

           Rockhopper        King

Height:      18 in.                    36 in.

Weight       6 pounds            30 pounds

For homework this week, please measure the height of people in your family and compare.  Just write the height on a scrap piece of paper.  Compare the tallest and shortest.  How much taller is the taller person?  How much shorter is the shorter person? This would also be a great time to go on-line and do some Penguin Research together!  It is on the Library Website and on my blog!

Play

We are going to see “The Magic School Bus” on Feb. 1.  The parents who are going are:  Molly Hemsley, Jessica Young,

Nathalie Poche, Kelsey Staats, Tiffany Edmondson, and Holly Hunsucker. Please send in your check for $7.75 made out to Stafford Primary School as soon as you can!  Thank you.

Word Work Homework

big                    when

girl                    keep

old

Helper Schedule

On the back!

Upcoming Dates

Wed., Feb. 1:  Fieldtrip to Portland to see the play “The Magic School Bus”.

Wed. Feb. 8:  Early release day.  12:10 release.

Friday, Feb. 17:  No school.  Teacher Inservice Day.

Monday, Feb. 20:  No School.  Holiday.  President’s day.

Thursday and Fri., March 1 and 2: 

No School.  Conferences. 

March 16:  Fieldtrip to the Zoo

March 24-April 1:  Spring Break

Wise’s Newsletter

January 17, 2012

Hi there!

I hope all of you had a great 3 day weekend!  We’ve been talking and reading books about Martin Luther King, Jr. and why we were out of school yesterday.  Please have a conversation about fairness, equality, treating all people with kindness and respect no matter what they look like.  We want our kids to have great character traits and be the best they can be!

Thank you!

Math and Science

In math and science we are learning about measuring by studying penguins!  We are learning about the height and weight and comparing and contrasting them to different types of penguins.  We are learning about Antarctica and how it is extremely cold, it is summer there now, and light all day long in the Winter!  Talk to your child about the differences between the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.  Also, quiz them on some penguin facts.  So far, we have learned about the Rockhopper penguin last week and will learn about the King penguin this week:

           Rockhopper        King

Height:      18 in.                    36 in.

Weight       6 pounds            30 pounds

For homework this week, please measure the height of people in your family and compare.  Just write the height on a scrap piece of paper.  Compare the tallest and shortest.  How much taller is the taller person?  How much shorter is the shorter person? This would also be a great time to go on-line and do some Penguin Research together!  It is on the Library Website and on my blog!

Play

We are going to see “The Magic School Bus” on Feb. 1.  The parents who are going are:  Molly Hemsley, Jessica Young,

Nathalie Poche, Kelsey Staats, Tiffany Edmondson, and Holly Hunsucker. Please send in your check for $7.75 made out to Stafford Primary School as soon as you can!  Thank you.

Word Work Homework

big                    when

girl                    keep

old

Upcoming Dates

Wed., Feb. 1:  Fieldtrip to Portland to see the play “The Magic School Bus”.

Wed. Feb. 8:  Early release day.  12:10 release.

Friday, Feb. 17:  No school.  Teacher Inservice Day.

Monday, Feb. 20:  No School.  Holiday.  President’s day.

Thursday and Fri., March 1 and 2: 

No School.  Conferences. 

March 16:  Fieldtrip to the Zoo

March 24-April 1:  Spring Break

Wise’s Newsletter

January 9, 2012

Spelling and reading helpers

We have begun a new program where the parents are giving the children a spelling test on word wall words.  It is OK if you only get to a few children at a time.  If there are two parent helpers, one can read while the other is doing spelling with the kids.  If there is only one helper, then of course, do reading first and spelling if there is time.  Some days, you may only get to a few kids on spelling.  That is fine!  Thank you again for all of your help!

Math and Science

In math and science we are learning about measuring by studying penguins!  We weighed and measured ourselves last week.  Throughout the next few weeks, we will be learning about the height and weight of penguins.  We will compare and contrast our weight and height with penguins…yes…some penguins are the same height as the kids!  We also made measuring strips in class. We are measuring things around the room.  Later this week, the measuring strips will come home along with a homework paper for your child to measure some items at home.  You may keep the measuring strip at home and use it to measure things around your house!

During our study of penguins, we are going to learn aboutAntarctica, the weather and the animals that live there. We will learn that it is summer inAntarcticanow, and light all day long!  Talk with your child about the differences between the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.  This would be a great time to go on-line and do some Penguin Research together!

Fieldtrip

We are going to see the play “Magic School Bus” on Wed. Feb. 1.  Please read the info. on the back of this sheet.  If you would like to attend, please send in the sheet.  Of course, those that have not attended a fieldtrip get first dibs.  Please let me know if you have not attended a fieldtrip…just write it on the actual from on the back.  Please, do not send any money until I let you know who is going.  Thank you.

Scholastic Book Orders

Book orders were sent home last week.  They are due Wed.  What a great, inexpensive way to order Just Right books for your child!

Word Wall Words

Please begin to quiz your child on how to spell these words, as they will begin to get tested on them by the parent helpers!

big                     when

girl                     keep

old

Upcoming Dates:

Wed., Jan. 11:  Early release day.  12:10 release.  Book orders due

Monday, Jan. 16:  No school.  Holiday.  MLK day.

Wed., Feb. 1:  Fieldtrip to Portland to see play “ Magic School Bus”.

Wed. Feb. 8:  Early release day.  12:10 release.

Friday, Feb. 17:  No school.  Teacher Inservice Day.

Monday, Feb. 20:  No School.  Holiday.  President’s day.

Thursday and Fri., March 1 and 2: 

No School.  Conferences. 

Wed. March 14:  Early release day.  12:10 release.

Wise’s Newsletter

January 3, 2012

Happy New Year!

I hope all of you had a wonderful break!  I know it was nice to energize and get ready for the New Year.  I love January-on in first grade.  I can’t wait until conferences to show you how much your child has learned.  They are like sponges! 

Spelling

This week, we will be starting a spelling program with our word wall words.  The students will be asked to read and spell words after they finish reading with the parent home reading helpers.  If you are a home reading helper, I have a sheet explaining the system.  Please read over it and ask if you have any questions.  The goal is to do this with each child after reading, everyday.  I will send home a current word wall list next week for you to practice at home.

Homework

January Homework is on the back of this newsletter.  Do as many as you can and send in at the end of the month.  Please change the numbers around to make it meet the level of your child.  For example, if the math problems are too easy, add a 1 or a 2 in front to make it more difficult.  You get the idea!

Word Wall Words

Please begin to quiz your child on how to spell these words, as they will begin to get tested on them by the parent helpers!

see                     that

fun                     so

very

Needed:

Please send in your old magazines or clothing advertisements!  We have a project that we need them for!

Upcoming Dates:

Monday, Jan. 16:  No school.  Holiday.  MLK day.

Wed., Jan. 11:  Early release day.  12:10 release.

Wed. Feb. 8:  Early release day.  12:10 release.

Friday, Feb. 17:  No school.  Teacher Inservice Day.

Monday, Feb. 20:  No School.  Holiday.  President’s day.

Monday, Feb. 27:  Fieldtrip to Portland to see play “ Mother Nature’s Garden.”

Thursday and Fri., March 1 and 2: 

No School.  Conferences. 

Wed. March 14:  Early release day.  12:10 release.

Wise’s Newsletter

December 12, 2011

Student’ Council’s Spirit Day

Student Council’s first spirit day will be “Pajama Day” this Friday, December 16th!   We trust that these spirit days will not be an interruption to our daily learning.  Instead, they are a means of building school community and our collective sense of place. Your child may wear pajamas all day today! The children may also bring a special stuffed animal or blanket to keep with them this day as well. You may want to bring extra snack too!  This will make our reading workshop so much fun!

Word Wall Words

We are going to keep the same word wall words this week as last week. I know that it is an extremely busy time of year and the evenings are rather busy.  Try to do some games with the word wall words and definitely have your child spell them to you when you are driving in the car! Thank you!

got                 her

if                   are

make

Parent Helpers for January

Please check the schedule on the back!  Again, thank you so much for all you do!  In January, the reading parent helpers will begin doing some spelling work with each student as well as reading.  It’s very important to be here on your scheduled day.  If for some reason you cannot make it, please find someone who can sub for you.  Thank you!

Report card

Please return the yellow folder, signed that the report card came in.  We will reuse it.  Thank you!

Published stories

Your child is writing stories!  They are writing stories with a beginning, middle and ending, then revising, editing, conferencing, then illustrating.  The kids bring the books home to read to you, then they come back to stay on our bookshelf for all of the kids to read.  So, please return the published books!

Thank you.

Wanted!

We’ve read several versions of The Nutcracker and are coming different versions.  If you have a copy, please send it in for us to read.  Also, we would like to see this great story in move format.  If you have it, can we please borrow it?  Thank you so much!

Reading

I found a couple of great reading sites on-line for you to peruse over the holidays.  Check out:

www.speakaboos.com   and

storylineonline.com

They are great!

Upcoming Dates:

Dec. 15, Thurs.:  Winter Party 9:15-10:30 (Come at 9:00 if you are volunteering!)

Dec. 16, Fri.:  1:15:  School wide assembly in the gym.  We will be singing the “Hippopotamus” song sometime during the assembly.  Perhaps you want to send a note and pick up your child after the assembly?!

Dec.  17-Jan. 2:  Winter Break

Jan. 2, Monday:  Teacher Workday

Jan. 3, Tuesday:  First Day back for kids in 2012!