May 31st Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This week in reading we will continue our author study by reading Arthur books written by Marc Brown.  We are going to be looking at the sounds oi and oy as in the words words boil and boy.  The first graders will be writing to the kindergartners to tell them all about first grade.  We plan to finish up our memory books either late this week or early next week, so look for those to come home soon.

In math, we will be reviewing concepts learned throughout the school year.  No homework will be assigned this week in math.  Please continue practicing addition and subtraction facts over the summer, as well as all of the other important math concepts the children learned in first grade.

Please send a brown grocery bag to school by this Friday.  The children will be cleaning out their desks next week.

Special Points of Interest

• Our Take-Home book program has ended.  Please make sure your child returns their book if they haven't already.
• Field Day is this Friday - Please look for more information in the Thursday folders.

May 23rd Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This week and next week in reading we will be doing an author study.  We will be reading Arthur books written by Marc Brown.  The students will be completing comprehension sheets. They will be predicting before and answering questions after reading some of the stories.  This week will be our last week of new spelling words.  We are also going to begin creating a first grade memories book.  This memory book will include some of our favorite things about first grade.

This week in math we will be creating our own graphs and asking questions related to the data.  We will also be taking a closer look at hundreds charts.  The students will be completing number puzzles and creating some of their own.  Look for Home Link 10.7 and a family letter to come home this week.  These will be the final math sheets for the remainder of the school year.

Thursday, May 26th will be the last day the take-home reading books will be assigned.  We'd appreciate having all books returned by Tuesday, May 31st so that we can catalog our collection and finalize our records.  Thank you!

Special Points of Interest

• Our final check out day in IMC is this week.  Please remember to have your child return their IMC book as soon as possible next week.
• Field Day is coming up - Please look for information in the Thursday folder.
• Riveredge will be coming to Thorson on May 31st to present a  program about bird adaptations. We will be outside for a few hours. Please have your child dress for the weather.

Thank You for a Wonderful Year!!

With my last day being tomorrow, I just wanted to say an early goodbye and THANK YOU to all of the wonderful families that I got to work with this year.  I feel so fortunate to work with so many amazing and thoughtful families!  Thank you for all of your support this school year.


I hope you have a great end of the school year (Mrs. Bradburn will be a great replacement!) and summer and I look forward to seeing you all next school year!  Please stop by and say hi!  Thanks again!

May 16th Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This week in reading we will be revisiting comparing and contrasting.  We will also be taking a look at how animals are alike and different throughout their life cycle.  Additionally, we are going to be looking at the sounds aw and au as in the words crawl and taught.  We will be continuing our animal reports and integrating our science unit into our reading and writing.

In math, we are going to review identifying and classifying shapes.  Additionally, the students will be creating their own graphs.  We will also be revisiting how to read a thermometer and comparing temperatures.  Look for Home Links 10.5 and 10.6 to come home this week.

This week in science we will be focusing on parts of a plant and the life cycle of plants.  We will also continue studying animal groups, which goes along with our animal reports.

Special Points of Interest

• We hope you enjoyed the Spring Music Program!  The kids had a lot of fun preparing for it.  Many thank to Mrs. Plaster!
• May 30th - No school - Memorial Day

Globall Giving

Each year the Student Council chooses a fundraising project.    This year they chose Globall Giving.  There will be a buy a sneaker day on Friday, May 13, a stuffed animal day on Monday, May 16, equipment collection from May 16-20, and a hat day on Friday, May 20.

We watched a presentation today that talked all about what this organization is and why it is so important.  Please ask your child about Globall Giving or feel free to research it more online.

Events

1.  Friday, May 13- Buy a Sneaker for $1.  Sneakers will be placed on the bulletin board outside of Mrs. Kikkert's office.  One lucky winner who purchased a sneaker will get to throw out the first pitch at the Chinooks game we are going to at the end of the school year!

2.  During the week of May 16-20 there will be an equipment drive.  The school's goal is to collect 100 items.

3.  Friday, May 20- Hat Day- Students can pay $1 to wear a hat to school on Friday.

Thank you for your support of this fundraising project.  We appreciate your help!

May 9th Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This week we will be reading books about Australia and Australian animals.  We will be concentrating on the animals characteristics and special adaptations.  Additionally, we will begin our animal report writing.  Your child will choose an animal to write their reports on.  They will be using a book as well as online resources to help them research important information about their animals.  We will be doing our animal reports for the next few weeks.

In math, we are going to work on two digit addition without regrouping and making change up to one dollar.  We will also be revisiting fractions.  Additionally, we will be creating our own story problems and solving them in multiple ways.  Look for Home Link 10.4 and a two digit addition practice sheet to come home this week.

This week we will be learning about animal adaptations and creating and writing about an imaginary animal that has the characteristics of a certain type of animal.  We will also begin a new science unit about plant and animal life cycles.  We will be learning about plants and animals for the remainder of fourth quarter. 


If your child has a summer birthday, they will be bringing home a note with information and a date that we will be celebrating their birthday.  Please look for it to come home soon!

Special Points of Interest

• We will begin taking our Reading MAP test this week on Monday and Wednesday.  We will be taking our Math MAP test next week on Tuesday and Wednesday.
• Our first grade music program is this Friday, May 13th at 2:00 in the Thorson gym.  We hope you can make it!
• THANK YOU again for all of the wonderful and thoughtful gifts for Teacher Appreciation last week.  I felt very appreciated!  THANK YOU also for the wonderful Baby Shower!  The kids and I had a lot of fun.  Our little boy is spoiled already!

May 2nd Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This week in reading we are going to focus on making predictions by reflecting on life experiences to help us predict what we think is going to happen next in the stories that we read.  The students will also be learning about the past, present, and future tenses.  We will also be focusing on the sounds -oo as in foot and -ight as in night.  The kids have been enjoying creating and sharing their original writer’s workshop stories/projects in class.

In math we will be working on solving number stories dealing with money.  Additionally, we will continue to work on making change for amounts up to one dollar.  Example:  Have your child draw their favorite snack.  Tell them it costs any amount under one dollar and have them draw the coins they would need to buy the snack.  Next, tell your child that they have one dollar to spend on their snack.  Ask them how much change they would get back.  We are teaching them to count up from the amount they spend to a dollar.  Counting with real money is encouraged.  Look for Home Link 10.3 and a double sided problem solving sheet to come home this week.

This week we will continue to learn about different types of animals.  We will learn about amphibians and birds, then we will be doing activities and writing about all of the different types of animals that we have learned about.

We will be doing our spring PALS test this week.  I will be testing the children individually on Thursday and will have a substitute for the day.

Special Points of Interest

• First grade music program is next Friday, May 13th in the Thorson gym
• Our final Scholastic Book Order of the year is due this Friday, May 6th. Shop Online: scholastic.com/readingclub Class Activation Code: JBVLX

Happy Mother's Day to all of you wonderful mothers!