May 30th Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful Memorial Weekend like we did!  This week we will be finishing up writing projects and doing some fun art projects too!  We will create summer reading lists and enjoy as many fun, interactive read alouds as we can before the very end!  Of course it is very important to keep reading to your child over the summer and have them continue to read at least 5-10 minutes as close to daily as possible.  Summer is a time for relaxing, and when your child sees you relaxing with a good book, it sends the message that you really do value and enjoy reading.  I've been urging all my friends to read "Wonder" before they see the movie; if you haven't read it, it would be a perfect summer read!  

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 taking home their things 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 and Lunch on the Lawn is this Thursday - Please look for more information in the Thursday folders.

May 22nd Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Last week we invited Mr. Hartling's 5th grade class in to meet our tadpoles and today they came!  Our students had a great time telling our 5th grade friends (and siblings) all about the tadpoles.  We shared what we've learned about the life cycle of a frog and some other interesting facts too!  

This week we will finish up our letter writing unit and have some free choice writing time.  Students can choose their project for writer's workshop from any of the genres we've learned about this year: narrative/small moment, narrative/fiction, opinion, informational, or even a book or toy review!  Lots of the students writing samples will be coming home this week and next.  

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 25th will be the last day the take-home reading books will be assigned.  We'd appreciate having all books returned by Tuesday, May 30th so that we can catalog our collection and finalize our records.  Thank you!

Please return the two field trip permission slips that were sent home last week if you haven't already!  The kids are looking forward to walking to Lion's park on Friday!  Make sure your child bring a cold lunch and something to drink!

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.
• We hope you enjoyed the Spring Music Program!  The kids had a lot of fun preparing for it.  Many thank to Mrs. Plaster!

All My Friends Playground - Student Council Fundraiser

Each year the Student Council chooses a fundraising project.  This spring they chose All My Friends Playground as the beneficiary of their fundraising efforts this spring.  This playground will be in the heart of Ozaukee County, and it will be a place where all kids can play.

We watched a presentation today that talked all about what this organization is and why it is so improtant.  Please ask your child about All My Friends Playground or feel free to research it online.

Events

1. Friday, May 19- Buy a Butterfly for $1.  Butterflies will be placed on the bulletin board outside of Mrs. Kikkert's office.

2. Stuffed Animal Day- Monday, May 22

3. Friday, May 26- Hat Day- Students can pay $1 to wear a hat to school on Friday. 

Our fundraising goal is to raise $650 through these three activities. The homeroom that raises the most money will get a pizza party.  If we reach our goal the top two homerooms will help decide the fate of Mr. Lubbers' hairstyle.  Thanks to Mr. Lubbers who is willing to shave/dye his hair to the style that is voted on by the top two homerooms.

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

Scholastic Book Order Extension!

Shop Online: scholastic.com/readingclub
One-Time Class Activation Code: JBVLX

Dear Families,

Please remember to place your Reading Club orders by Friday, May 19th.

You can shop and submit your order online or return the order form with payment directly to me. No matter how you order, every purchase you make earns FREE Books and educational supplies for our classroom.

The arrival of the book box is always a highlight - thanks for making it happen!

Happy reading,

Mrs. Majinski

Ordering online is fast and easy:

• REGISTER at scholastic.com/readingclub
• ENTER the Class Activation Code at the top of this letter
• CHOOSE from thousands of print titles, value packs, and Storia eBooks
• SUBMIT the order to me by the due date at the top of this letter
• EARN FREE Books for our classroom too!

May 15th Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Last week we sent home the letter your child wrote to Ms. Pam about the tadpoles.  This week, watch for a Seesaw notice as we will post some videos of our new friends for you to see!  We'll even explain a bit about the life cycle of a frog.  This week we'll continue on learning about how to write friendly letters.  We are focusing on the structure (date, greeting, body and closing) but also the kinds of thinking that might be included.  For example, we may write about events or activities in our lives, we might be thanking the person for something, we might be asking some questions of the person we're writing to, or possibly trying to make some summer plans!  You may see letters come home that are written to various friends or family members.  It would be wonderful if you could extend your child's experience by helping them through the process of mailing the letters.  Hopefully your child will even get a response!  

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.

Special Points of Interest

• Our first grade music program is Friday, May 19th in the Thorson gym.  We hope you can make it!
• Our final Scholastic Book Order of the year is due this Friday, May 19th. Shop Online: scholastic.com/readingclub Class Activation Code: JBVLX
• May 29th - No school - Memorial Day

May 8th Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Today we welcomed a new student to our class!  His name is Julian and he is already fitting in so well with our first grade friends.  Everyone has been very inviting and friendly to him!

This week in literacy we are having fun with letters!  People can write letters for lots of different reasons, as we are learning.  We might write a letter to inform someone of some news, to invite them to a party, or to thank them for something.  As we explore the reasons more, and learn the structure, you may see letters coming home in your child's folder from writing workshop or from the writing center.  If you child has written to a friend or relative and you have a moment to help them address it, and add a stamp, please do!  The kids would love it, and maybe they'll receive some mail too!

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.

Special Points of Interest

• Our first grade music program is Friday, May 19th 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!
• Our final Scholastic Book Order of the year is due this Friday, May 13th. Shop Online: scholastic.com/readingclub Class Activation Code: JBVLX

May 1st Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Wow!  We were so surprised to see our fabulously decorated door this morning!  We definitely feel appreciated!  Thank you so much to Mrs. Meldman.  We also saw lots of red and received many high fives from our favorite first graders!  

As our texts get more and more challenging at this level, we are starting to see students face some new challenges with reading at this point of the year.  As words become less regular and are made up of more syllables, they also tend to be words that aren't in our first graders' vocabularies.  The good news is that reading is one really great way to build that vocabulary.  

Our students need to know what to do when they either don't know the meaning of the word, or they can't even tell what the word is.  First, they need to slow down and think about it, and the context of the sentence or the paragraph.  Pictures or photographs can often be helpful.  Thinking about what is going on is also very helpful.  If the book has a glossary, checking that is a great idea!  Looking for a familiar part of the word, or even the base or root word helps a lot.  Lastly, sometimes asking an adult, or even a sibling/friend can work.  We always want to emphasize that the point of reading is to understand the author's message.  This week, we are working hard on noticing when something doesn't look right, sound right or make sense, and then what to do about it!   

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.

Special Points of Interest

• First grade music program is Friday, May 19th in the Thorson gym
• Our final Scholastic Book Order of the year is due this Friday, May 13th. Shop Online: scholastic.com/readingclub Class Activation Code: JBVLX