Update January 1st

Happy 2019!  I've spent every last minute of vacation enjoying my time with friends and family.  Our girls, Arya and Kit had a great Christmas this year!

*We will not have spelling homework this week.  I will send math homework on Wednesday and Thursday.

*In Math, we will begin unit 5.  Our focus this week will be on place value in numbers.  Students will learn about the ones and tens place.  They will explore numbers and begin to understand that numbers like 23 are made up for 2 tens and 3 ones.

*We will begin our Science unit focusing on Light and Sound this week.  This week's lesson will explore the question "How does light help you see?"  We will talk about different sources of light.

*The week before break, we began to explore using the educational app Seesaw in class.  I sent out an email with directions for log in.  I hope to continue to add student work to the app.  You are only able to see you own child's work and I have to grant parents permission to join.  I also oversee all student entries before they go live to parents.

If you haven't signed up yet, here is more information:

This year we are using Seesaw to share and communicate with families! Your child will post to Seesaw to share their learning. I'll also use Seesaw to send you messages and reminders. Seesaw is private; you'll only see posts created by your child.

Please Sign Up Now

1. Click on this link: https://app.seesaw.me/s/854-285-390
2. Choose your child from the list
3. Create your account
4. Once I approve you, you can see content from your child

After you sign up, download the free Seesaw Family app and sign in. You can also access Seesaw from a computer at https://app.seesaw.me.

If you used Seesaw last year or have more than one child using Seesaw, follow the link above, then click the 'Sign in' tab at the top of the screen. You do not need to create a new account.

Looking Ahead:

January 8th- School Store- don't forget your coupons from me!

January 18th- Book Buddies at Robinson

January 21 & 22- No School MLK JR Day and Professional Development

Update December 16th

*Last week, our class filled our Pom Pom Jar another time!  Students earned pom poms individually or by displaying whole class expected behaviors.  The class voted on a prize for filling the jar and have decided to have another "Bring Your Stuffed Animal to School Day" this Tuesday, December 18th.  They should bring one stuffed animal from home and it should be small enough to fit in their backpack.  I hope they'll bring a different stuffed animals than the last time.  

*Last week I sent home a holiday tradition homework sheet.  I'd like to use this  homework to help the students write a story about their family's favorite holiday tradition on Thursday.  Here is another copy of the assignment if your student did not complete it. I can also send a hard copy home tomorrow if needed.  It would be great if everyone could send it back in by Thursday to help with writing ideas.  Thanks. 

*Friday will be pajama day at Robinson.  Students (and winter party volunteers) are welcome to wear their pajamas to school.  Students can bring slippers to wear in class, but must have regular shoes for recess and to get to and from school.  We will also have a school wide holiday sing-along in the morning.

*On Friday, we will have our Winter Party.  Thank you for all the volunteers and donations of food and beverages.  The party is from 12:45-1:30.  Volunteers should arrive around 12:30 and donations can be dropped off anytime before 12:30.  Thanks!

*In Math, we will finish up Unit 4 and the students will have a math assessment on Tuesday.

*We will have spelling homework this week and a check-in on Friday.  The week after holiday break we will not have spelling since it is a short week.

*We will learn about holiday traditions celebrated around the week this week.  Students will learn about Las Posadas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Chinese New Year, Kwanzaa and Christmas.

Looking Ahead-

Holiday Break- No School December 24th-January 1st- We will return to school on Wednesday, January 2nd.

Monday, January 21st and Tuesday, January 22nd- No School- MLK Day and Professional Development Day

Update December 9th

*This week we will finish Unit 4 of Everyday Math.  Our focus is on making combinations of 10 (addition facts) and adding 3 numbers.  Last week we learned to play Fishing for 10.  This game can be played at home with a regular deck of cards by taking out the Jacks, Queens and Kings.

*Mr. Middlemiss will come in on Wednesday to read our next Care To Read book called, Ricky, the Rock That Couldn't Roll.

*Savanah will be our Star of the Week this Friday.  We can't wait to learn more about her!

*We will finally finish our Non-Fiction All About Me books!  I hope to send them home this week.

Update December 2nd

*On Tuesday morning, we have School Store for first grade.  This might be a good opportunity for your child to pick up a small gift for a sibling, cousin or friend at school store for the holidays.

*This Thursday, December 6th is an 12:20pm Early Dismissal Day.  We will have snack in the morning.  Please send a note if your child's dismissal plans are changed for the day.

*We will travel to Crisafulli on Friday from 9:45-11:00 to visit our 4th Grade Book Buddies!  Please dress students for the weather, boots are probably best for the trail.

*Please continue to spend in water bottles to school with your child.  We take frequent water breaks to refuel our body and mind for learning.

*The Turkey Trot on Thursday was a great success!  The students enjoyed running, walking and dancing throughout the course.

*Last week, the students did a great job creating goods to sell at the businesses.  They are all anxious to now sell what they've made.  On Wednesday, the students will take turns "buying" from their classmates businesses.  They do not need to bring money from home, we will use play money to "buy" our goods.

*In Math, we will focus on collecting data, using tally charts and bar graphs.  We will also practice addition facts.

*In reading groups, we will focus on character's feelings.  Students will write about how the character is feeling in their reading response journal.

*In Writing, our focus is using transition words and "fancy" words in our writing.

*Our Winter Party is scheduled for Friday, December 21st from 12:45-1:30.  I will send out an email shortly to check in with donations and parent volunteers.  Thanks!

Update November 25th

*I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  It was nice to meet with all of you last week to discuss your child's progress in first grade.  Thank you for taking the time to come in and meet with me!  We picked out a Christmas tree this weekend with our extended family, a tradition of ours each Thanksgiving weekend. 

*On Thursday morning, we will have our Turkey Trot.  Thank you for sending in donations to support our school and our students.

*Over the next several weeks, we will begin to learn about Fall/Winter holidays. The holidays we will focus on throughout our time are:

Diwali

Hanukkah

Las Posadas

Kwanzaa

Christmas
If there is a winter holiday your family celebrates that's not on this list please let me know.  I would love to add a holiday your family celebrates to our list to learn about!

*In Math, we will begin Unit 4.  Unit 4's focus is on measurement.  We will make estimates and measure objects with standard and non-standard units of measurement.

*In Spelling this week, we will continue to practice writing words with and King-ed at the end. 

*In Writing, we will work on our end of unit Writing Prompt.   I will look for students to use all of the elements of writing we've talked about since the beginning of the year.  Students will be expected to: 

*Use best handwriting- with spaces between words

*Capital letters at beginning of sentences and for names

*Periods or exclamation points at end of sentences

*At least 3 sentences

*Lots of details

*Outside and Inside Feelings

*In Social Studies, we will finally begin to make our products for our businesses.  Thank you for sending in donations!

*We will finish our Non-Fiction Features book this week.  

Looking Ahead:

December 4th- School Store
December 6th- 12:20pm Early Release
December 7th-Book Buddies @ Crisafulli

Update November 9th

*There is no school on Monday, November 12th in observance of Veteran's Day.  Thank you to all of those who have served in the military to keep us protected!

*The last day to sign up for conferences online is Tuesday, November 13th by 3:30pm.  You can follow the link to sign up: http://signup.com/go/UqvJGAv

*I will be out on Wednesday at Jury Duty.  Please remind students of using expected behavior at school!

*On Thursday, students will have the chance to go to the Book Fair.  They will be able to shop or create a wishlist for parents.  A flyer with more information about Book Fair went home yesterday.

*On Friday, we will welcome author and illustrator, Emilie Boon to our school.  Each first grade will meet with Emilie individually and learn about the process she takes to make a book.  Students will also practice Emilie's technique for her illustrations by creating their own book.  I am need of one parent volunteer for this event.  I will need someone that can help set up, stay for the presentation and help Emilie clean up at the end.  The total time needed is from 12:15-1:45 on Friday, November 16th.  Please send me an email if you're able to help!

*On Friday, we will walk the Robifulli trail to Crisafulli to visit with our 4th grade Book Buddies. We will be out of our building from 9:45-11:00.  Please dress students for the weather!

*In Math, we will finish up our Unit 3 Assessment and begin Unit 4.  The focus for Unit 4 in math is standard and non-standard units of measurement.

*In Writing, we are working on adding transition words (next, last, after that) and fancy words to our writing.

*We will not be sending home a spelling list for the next two weeks.  We will focus on reviewing the words already taught, especially king-ed words and students will work to write the power words we've learned so far.

*We hope to begin creating goods for our classroom businesses on Tuesday afternoon.  Please send in any donations of business materials to school by Tuesday. Thank you!


Looking Ahead:
November 11th- No School (Veteran's Day observed)
November 13th- Last Day for Conference Sign Up Online

November 14th- Mrs. Conway has Jury Duty

November 16th- Author Visit- Emile Boon

November 19th- No School, Afternoon Parent/Teacher Conferences

November 20th- 2 Hour Delay- Morning Parent/Teacher Conferences 

November 21st- Turkey Trot
12:20pm Early Release

November 22 & 23- No School

Update November 2nd

 *To sign up for Parent/Teacher conferences, please use the online conference sign-up.  The link for sign-up will be available here http://signup.com/go/UqvJGAv
starting Tuesday, November 6th at 3:30pm until Tuesday, November 13th at 3:30pm.  

*On Tuesday, it will be School Store for first grade.  We suggest that you send in no more than $2 for students to spend at School Store.

*On Wednesday, we will welcome Author and Illustrator, Salina Yoon to our school.  Salina will be visiting from California.  She is the author of such books as "Found," Be A Friend" and the Penguin series books.  We've enjoyed reading her books as a class and getting to know her characters.

*We will continue writing our Non-Fiction books "All About Me."  This week, the students will illustrate a picture of their home and find the Robinson School on a map.

*This week in Spelling, we will focus on words that end with e.  We call these words King Ed words.  King Ed sits at the end of the word telling the vowel before him to "say your name."  For Example kit becomes kite with King Ed at the end.

*In Math, we will learn about frames and arrows, which will help us practice addition and subtraction facts. We will also practice using a calculator to help with skip counting.

*In Economics, students will work creating a business.  They will work in teams to decide on a business they can create (paper fans, jewelry, holiday decorations, etc.)  Once students create a business plan with their team, I will send home a list of items we're asking to be donated to help build our businesses.  Students will then work on their products over the next few weeks.  Finally, we'll sell our items to the other "businesses" in our classroom.

*In handwriting, we will continue to work on our lowercase letters.  I'm encouraging students to begin using lowercase letters when appropriate.

*The class once again filled the pom pom jar from showing expected behavior in our classroom.   They voted today and ask to see one of my world famous headstands!  

Looking Ahead:
November 6th- Conference Sign Up Online

November 6th- School Store

November 7th- Author Visit- Salina Yoon

November 11th- No School (Veteran's Day observed)

November 14th- Mrs. Conway has Jury Duty

November 16th- Author Visit- Emile Boon

November 19th- No School, 2-8pm Parent/Teacher Conferences

November 20th- 2 Hour Delay- 8:30-10:45 Parent/Teacher Conferences 

November 21st- 12:20pm Early Release

November 22 & 23- No School