August 29-September 2, 2016

We had a great start to the new school year! We learned about many school and classroom procedures, rules and expectations. Throughout the week, we reviewed expectations for the cafeteria, bathroom, playground, hallway and more!

In first grade we often include "Growth Mindset" lessons in our daily activities.  We want the children to understand and believe that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. This mindset creates a love of learning that is essential for great achievements.  We are learning that there are things that we can do very well and things that we may not be able to do YET.  We know by being persistent and working hard, we will be able to accomplish anything.  We will work to change our words in order to change our mindset.

This week…
READING
We will learn how to read independently to ourselves for a few minutes at a time. Each day we read for a little longer period to build up our stamina. We will learn that strong readers read every day. As a reader, we can read the pictures, read the words, and retell the story as we read books.  We will talk about our favorite reading memory, when reading felt so good to us.  The children will practice using the classroom library correctly and responsibly.

WRITING
We will learn to be first grade writers, by learning about writing tools (papers, pencils, markers, crayons, tape, glue, scissors) and resources around the room that help us write (alphabet charts, first grade words, the print around the classroom). I will first model how to brainstorm, sketch, and write about my story... something that I know and care about. The children will then begin writing a true story about themselves...something that they have experienced.

MATH
This week we will count and represent quantities to 20.  We will work on recognizing instantly the quantity of structured arrangements and use concrete and pictorial models to compose and decompose numbers up to 20. We will think in groups of ones and groups of tens.  We will use objects, pictures, and expanded and standard forms to represent numbers up to 20.

SOCIAL STUDIES
Last week we explained the purpose of rules and laws in our community.  We have rules and laws to stay safe, establish order, and manage conflict. We also identified the characteristics of good citizenship in the classroom and our school.  These include being respectful, responsible, safe and kind. This week we will continue to review these characteristics and traits and evaluate actions that show good, or poor citizenship.  We will learn that good citizens have responsibilities to help each other and be part of the community.

* The daily Agenda has been delivered, but…they are so flimsy!  They will all be torn in a matter weeks (if not days)!  I am putting them in braded folders and will send them home sometime this week.  I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but I want them to last!

I thank you all for your help and support, trusting your children with me, and being a partner in their education.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
*Tuesday folders come home.  Please return the folders the next day.

*Snack:  Please send a healthy snack with your child every day.

*PE:  We have PE on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Please make sure your kiddo is wearing tennis shoes (for sure) on these days.

       

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Sept. 5:  Labor Day- No School

Sept. 8:  Parent Orientation Night @ 6:30-7:00 pm

Sept. 15:  Riata Roundup @ 6:00-7:00 pm

Sept. 28:  Early Release Day.  Dismissal @ 12:00

Oct. 5:  Bike and Walk to School Day

Oct. 10:  Columbus Day- No School

            Parent/Teacher Conferences

Oct. 13:  Science Night @ 6:00-8:00 pm

Oct. 22:  Harvest Festival @ 4:00-7:00 pm

Oct. 26:  Early Release Day.  Dismissal @ 12:00

Nov. 11:  Veteran’s Day Program @ 8:00 am

Nov. 21-25:  Thanksgiving Break- No School

Nov. 30:  Skate Night @ 6:00-8:00 pm

Dec. 1:  Family Art Night @ 6:00-7:30 pm

Dec. 5-9:  Book Fair

Dec. 8:  International Festival @ 6:00-8:00pm

Dec. 15:  Winter Parties/Last Day of 1^st Semester

Dec. 16-Jan 2:  Winter Break

Jan. 3:  1^st Day of 2^nd Semester

August 29-September 2, 2016

We had a great start to the new school year! We learned about many school and classroom procedures, rules and expectations. Throughout the week, we reviewed expectations for the cafeteria, bathroom, playground, hallway and more!

In first grade we often include "Growth Mindset" lessons in our daily activities.  We want the children to understand and believe that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. This mindset creates a love of learning that is essential for great achievements.  We are learning that there are things that we can do very well and things that we may not be able to do YET.  We know by being persistent and working hard, we will be able to accomplish anything.  We will work to change our words in order to change our mindset.

This week…
READING
We will learn how to read independently to ourselves for a few minutes at a time. Each day we read for a little longer period to build up our stamina. We will learn that strong readers read every day. As a reader, we can read the pictures, read the words, and retell the story as we read books.  We will talk about our favorite reading memory, when reading felt so good to us.  The children will practice using the classroom library correctly and responsibly.

WRITING
We will learn to be first grade writers, by learning about writing tools (papers, pencils, markers, crayons, tape, glue, scissors) and resources around the room that help us write (alphabet charts, first grade words, the print around the classroom). I will first model how to brainstorm, sketch, and write about my story... something that I know and care about. The children will then begin writing a true story about themselves...something that they have experienced.

MATH
This week we will count and represent quantities to 20.  We will work on recognizing instantly the quantity of structured arrangements and use concrete and pictorial models to compose and decompose numbers up to 20. We will think in groups of ones and groups of tens.  We will use objects, pictures, and expanded and standard forms to represent numbers up to 20.

SOCIAL STUDIES
Last week we explained the purpose of rules and laws in our community.  We have rules and laws to stay safe, establish order, and manage conflict. We also identified the characteristics of good citizenship in the classroom and our school.  These include being respectful, responsible, safe and kind. This week we will continue to review these characteristics and traits and evaluate actions that show good, or poor citizenship.  We will learn that good citizens have responsibilities to help each other and be part of the community.

* The daily Agenda has been delivered, but…they are so flimsy!  They will all be torn in a matter weeks (if not days)!  I am putting them in braded folders and will send them home sometime this week.  I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but I want them to last!

I thank you all for your help and support, trusting your children with me, and being a partner in their education.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
*Tuesday folders come home.  Please return the folders the next day.

*Snack:  Please send a healthy snack with your child every day.

*PE:  We have PE on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Please make sure your kiddo is wearing tennis shoes (for sure) on these days.

       

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Sept. 5:  Labor Day- No School

Sept. 8:  Parent Orientation Night @ 6:30-7:00 pm

Sept. 15:  Riata Roundup @ 6:00-7:00 pm

Sept. 28:  Early Release Day.  Dismissal @ 12:00

Oct. 5:  Bike and Walk to School Day

Oct. 10:  Columbus Day- No School

            Parent/Teacher Conferences

Oct. 13:  Science Night @ 6:00-8:00 pm

Oct. 22:  Harvest Festival @ 4:00-7:00 pm

Oct. 26:  Early Release Day.  Dismissal @ 12:00

Nov. 11:  Veteran’s Day Program @ 8:00 am

Nov. 21-25:  Thanksgiving Break- No School

Nov. 30:  Skate Night @ 6:00-8:00 pm

Dec. 1:  Family Art Night @ 6:00-7:30 pm

Dec. 5-9:  Book Fair

Dec. 8:  International Festival @ 6:00-8:00pm

Dec. 15:  Winter Parties/Last Day of 1^st Semester

Dec. 16-Jan 2:  Winter Break

Jan. 3:  1^st Day of 2^nd Semester

August 23-26, 2016

Yay for the 1^st Day!

We had an amazing day in First Grade!  We read books, we talked about our feelings, we learned about rules and what the classroom rules are, and we were artists! 

Here are a few reminders for this week:

* Please put your child to bed early each night (between 7:30-8:00) in order for them to adjust to their daily school schedule. School starts at 7:30 and work begins promptly at 7:40. Please allow time in the morning for your child to have a nutritious breakfast and use the bathroom before coming to school. We take a few bathroom breaks during the day but it is still important that they enter the room prepared and ready to go.

* Please have your child wear comfortable clothing. Kiddos must wear comfortable shoes as well. Please avoid flip-flops, sandals, or high heels. Your child will not be able to play, run or have fun on the playground if he/she is wearing uncomfortable shoes.  Tennis shoes are REQUIRED on Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we have PE on those days.

* Your child needs to bring a medium sized backpack, large enough to hold the folders that will be sent home and small enough to fit in our cubbies. Each child shares a cubby with another child, so please avoid getting a very large back pack. Also, please avoid backpacks with wheels as they are not very safe and might cause other children to trip and fall.

* Please send a nutritious snack daily. Examples include: cut up pieces of apples, carrots, crackers and cheese or anything they like as long as it is healthy and nutritious. Please avoid sending chips, cupcakes or cookies. We eat snack mid-morning.

* Our Lunch time is @ 11:30. If you're packing lunch for your child, please let them know that they have lunch and won't be buying from cafeteria. If you choose to buy lunch from cafeteria, there are two ways to pay for lunch: one way is to pay directly to the cafeteria (Debra Parks-cafeteria manager  512-464-5519) and the other way is to pay online at  MySchoolBucks.com.  You can also send the lunch money to me but please put the money in an envelope or a plastic bag with your child's name and my name on it. This way the cafeteria manager knows to whom the money belongs to.

* If you choose, you can also send a small water bottle with your child's name on it. They will keep it in their cubbie but can drink from it throughout the day.  I do ask that water bottles have a flip lid or a straw in order to deter spills. This is optional as we take quite a few bathroom and water breaks during the day.

* Please avoid sending toys and stuffed animals in your child's backpack. This is distracting to children's learning and unfortunately I have to take it away from your child and return it to you if I see one. Thank you!

* Each Tuesday afternoon your child will bring home a "Tuesday Folder" containing all of the graded work for the previous week.  Please take time to look over your child's papers with him/her and make any corrections.  Folders should be returned on the following day.

* The daily Agenda with the communication log is still at Printshop.  I am hoping for it to be here by the end of the week.  They are swamped right now with print jobs and they simply got backed up.  Thank you for understanding!

* And last but not the least: Your precious kiddos have been home with you for the last couple of months during the summer. Coming to school early in the morning and saying goodbye to you might be difficult for some of them. Please help me to help your child to make this transition as smooth and as successful as possible.  For this reason please make your goodbye short and sweet and don't linger at the door too long. Be confident that your child is going to have a great day and she or he is in excellent hands!

I thank you all for your help and support, trusting your children with me, and being a partner in their education.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
*Tuesday folders come home.  Please return the folders the next day.

*Snack:  Please send a healthy snack with your child every day.

*PE:  We have PE on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Please make sure your kiddo is wearing tennis shoes (for sure) on these days.

       

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Sept. 5:  Labor Day- No School

Sept. 8:  Parent Orientation Night @ 6:30-7:00 pm

Sept. 15:  Riata Roundup @ 6:00-7:00 pm

Sept. 28:  Early Release Day.  Dismissal @ 12:00

Oct. 5:  Bike and Walk to School Day

Oct. 10:  Columbus Day- No School

            Parent/Teacher Conferences

Oct. 13:  Science Night @ 6:00-8:00 pm

Oct. 22:  Harvest Festival @ 4:00-7:00 pm

Oct. 26:  Early Release Day.  Dismissal @ 12:00

Nov. 11:  Veteran’s Day Program @ 8:00 am

Nov. 21-25:  Thanksgiving Break- No School

Nov. 30:  Skate Night @ 6:00-8:00 pm

Dec. 1:  Family Art Night @ 6:00-7:30 pm

Dec. 5-9:  Book Fair

Dec. 8:  International Festival @ 6:00-8:00pm

Dec. 15:  Winter Parties/Last Day of 1^st Semester

Dec. 16-Jan 2:  Winter Break

Jan. 3:  1^st Day of 2^nd Semester