Make-a-Wish Foundation

The second semester Student Council members decided to have the Make-a-Wish Foundation as the beneficiary of their fundraising efforts this spring.  Special events will be taking place throughout the next two weeks.

Events:
1. Friday, May 15 - Buy a Star for $1.  Stars will be placed on the bulletin board outside of Mrs. Kikkert's office.
2.  During the week of May 18-22 - Coin Drive.  The winning grade will be getting an ice cream treat and an extra recess.
3.  Friday, May 22 - 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 11th Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This week we will be reading books about 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.

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 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.

Mrs. Lechter is looking for brown paper grocery bags.  If you have any extras you'd be willing to send to school, she would greatly appreciate it.  She will be sending art projects home with the children soon.

Special Points of Interest

• We will begin taking our Math MAPS test this week on Thursday.
• Our first grade music program is this Friday, May 9th in the Thorson gym starting at 2:45
• Our last Scholastic Book Orders are due this Friday, May 15th. Shop Online: scholastic.com/readingclub Class Activation Code: JBVLX
• THANK YOU again for all of the wonderful and thoughtful gifts last week.  I felt very appreciated!

May 4th 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 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. 

Special Points of Interest

• First grade music program is next Friday, May 15th in the Thorson gym
• Our last Scholastic Book Order is due next Friday, May 15th. Shop Online: scholastic.com/readingclub Class Activation Code: JBVLX
• Early Release this Friday at 11:35 a.m.

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

April 27th Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This week in reading we are going to focus on using illustrations as we read stories.  The students will be learning how author’s use illustrations to help the reader make inferences.  Additionally, we will be doing activities with the ou and ow sound as in the words shout and gown.  In writer's workshop, the students will learn about autobiographies and informational pieces.  This quarter, we will be doing a lot of informational writing on animals.

In math, we will be learning how to make a graph from a set of data.  We will also continue to work on telling time to the half hour and introduce the students to elapsed time.  The Unit 10 Family Letter will be coming home this week along with Home Links 10.1 and 10.2.

This week we will continue learning about and classifying animals.  The students have already learned about mammals and fish.  Ask your children to tell you characteristics of the different types of animals.

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

I am starting to create my summer tutoring schedule and it is filling up quickly.  Please contact me for additional information and availability.

Special Points of Interest

• Muffins with Mom is tomorrow, April 28th starting at 7:30 a.m.
• Friday, May 8th is a half day, the students will be released at 11:35 a.m.
• The first grade spring musical is on Friday, May 15th at 2:45 p.m.

April 20th Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This week in reading we are going to be learning how to classify and categorize objects.  We will be working on r-controlled vowel words with the er, ir, and ur sound.  We will be completing activities throughout the week that involve the r-controlled vowel words, or "bossy-r."  In writer's workshop we will be writing letters and poems.  We will also continue to add to our classroom journals.  The students love having so many options to write about!

In math, we will be focusing on fractions.  The students will be comparing fractions and continuing to learn about equivalent fractions.  Look for Home Links 9.6, 9.7, and 9.8 to come home this week.  Please continue to work on addition and subtraction facts to help with fact fluency.  This quarter, our addition and subtraction facts go all the way up to 20.

This week we will be learning about different types of weather.  We will talk about the seasons and what type of weather we typically see during each of the seasons.  We will also be learning about recycling and how important it is to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Special Points of Interest

• Fine Arts Night is this Thursday, April 23rd from 6:00-7:30
• Walk to School day is this Friday, April 24th.  Meet at 8:20 at one of the three starting points.
• Muffins with Mom is on Tuesday, April 28th starting at 7:30 a.m.

Field Trip Reminder

The first graders will be going to Riveredge Nature Center tomorrow.  We will be leaving school at 9:00 a.m.  Please make sure your child is at school on time so that we can load the bus immediately after school begins.  Also, please make sure your child dresses for the weather.  We will be outside most of the day.  We will return before lunchtime, so your child can take hot lunch or milk if needed.  Thank you in advance for all of your support!

April 13th Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This week in reading we will be working on asking questions and making inferences about the stories that we read.  We will also be working on the sound of or as in fork.  Additionally, we will be creating class journals that the students can write in during writer's workshop.  Make sure to ask your child what they have been working on during writer’s workshop.

In math, we will be learning how to order numbers on a number grid.  We will also be using a number grid to add and subtract.  Look for Home Links 9.2, 9.3, and 9.5 to come home this week.

We will be going to Riveredge this Thursday.  We will be eating lunch at school like normal since we will be returning prior to our lunch time.  The students will be able to take hot lunch if needed.  Please return the green permission slip as soon as possible if you haven't already.  Thank you in advance!

Special Points of Interest 

• Just a reminder to send appropriate clothing and boots for your children due to the conditions on the playground.
• Scholastic Book Orders are due this Friday, April 17th. Shop Online: scholastic.com/readingclub Class Activation Code: JBVLX
• Fine Arts Night is on Thursday, April 23th from 6:00-7:30
• I hope you had a great spring break and enjoyed spending time with your children!