December 23

Dear Families,
What a great way to end the 2016 year! Our party was a great success! 
Thanks to our room moms, Theresa Broome and Dina Stonberg for all your help in coordinating our party! Also thanks to Mr. Kollar and Mrs. Santore for volunteering to help!
It has been such a great "start" to first grade and I'm excited to see all the ways our kids will continue to grow in 2017!  This class is truly special. 
Thank you also for all the gifts and cards you have given me over the last few days. Your generosity is so appreciated.
I hope you and your families have a happy and safe holiday break! 
Happy Holidays!

FYI:
On Tuesday 1/3 when we return, I will send home a field trip permission slip to attend MLK activities at Strath Haven Middle School. It will need to be returned 1/4. No chaperones will be needed.

December 22

Dear Families,
We got to go to 2 other first grade classes to make winter crafts. (Dallin)
We made the first letter of our name out of tens and ones in math. (Griffin)
We went to Music. (Alyssa)
We got to go out for extra recess! (Nick)
Tomorrow is our winter party! (Miriam)
Remember it is pajama day and early dismissal!
Since our collections were brought to school, I'm starting to see "toys" at school. They are starting to "show up" at the carpet during instruction. Our class has had talks about not bringing these to school. Thank you for your help reminding our kids to leave toys at home.
Have a great afternoon!

December 21

Dear Families,
We read the story The Biggest Snowball Fight and talked about winter!
We are working on publishing our first finished opinion story.
We took our math test. (Justin)
We went to PE. (Isabel)
We went to an assembly this afternoon! (Magda)
Have a great afternoon!

Note:
I'm starting to assess reading levels again. I hope to finish the week we return from winter break. If you see your child coming home with a new level this is why!

December 20

Dear Families,
Today we read a story called Zoomer's Summer Snowstorm! We talked about the characters and setting! 
We made a hot chocolate mug and decorated it with pretend "marshmallows"!
Then we wrote if we liked hot chocolate or not. It was a fun way to practice opinion writing!
We reviewed for our math test tomorrow!
We went to Mrs. Gerahty's class and made winter mittens!
It was a good day!

December 19

Dear Families,
We went to an assembly this morning about weather by the Franklin Institute. 
In writing workshop we worked on being more convincing when giving others our opinions!
We practiced comparing numbers in math.
This afternoon we talked about Germany and Chriskindmarkt!

Reminders:
Please go to the December's Weekly Newsletters tab above to read about this week!
The other first grade classes are making Friday a pajama day so we are too! Wear pajamas Friday!

December 16

Dear Families,
This morning we went to the Tech Lab! (Jasmin)
We used our collections in writing workshop. (Chance)
We worked on ordering numbers by making number patterns in math. (Journi)
We had a visit from author Timothy Young! (Addie)
It was neat to hear about his writing!
We did not go to Music or Hootenanny due to the assembly.
Have a great weekend!

December 15

Dear Families,
We practiced how we can disagree and agree appropriately to others opinions in writing workshop. (Timmy)
In math we worked on comparing numbers. (Dallin)
We went to PE. (Griffin)
We talked about China and Chinese New Year. (Robby)
Have a great evening!

December 14

Dear Families,
We used the story "The Big Circle" to do a story sort. 
In writing workshop we got a checklist to help us see how we are writing our opinions. (Jasmin)
We went to recess. (Justin)
We went to Art. (Addie)
We talked about Italy and La Befana! (Magda)

December 13

Dear Families,
We talked about contractions today! We practiced breaking a contraction into its 2 words!
We read the story The Big Circle about a community of dinosaurs that protected their babies. (Isabel)
We wrote more about our favorite item in our collection! (Jack)
We went to Library. (Nick)
We finished talking about Mexico and Los Posadas! (Shubham)
It was a good day!

December 12

Dear Families,
Right before dismissal we got to shop at the holiday shop. It took a lot longer than expected! For this reason, our afternoon was extremely hectic. We ran out of time and did not get to eat our snack or write our email together!
It did give me another opportunity to talk with the class on how we have to be flexible! 
*Please click on the December's Weekly Newsletters tab above for homework/reminders!
*We used our collections today in writing workshop. Half of our kids did not have a collection. Feel free to send a 5-6 collection in a bag if you have not done so already.

December 9

Dear Families,
We looked at a map of a neighborhood and talked about important features on maps.
We debated whether we felt a dog or cat was the best pet and shared our reasons for our opinion before writing in writing workshop! (Journi)
We played a tens and one game in math! (Travis)
We went to PE. (Malcom)
We went to Hootenanny! (Chance)

Notes:
*Our winter party will be from 10:30-11:30 on the 23rd! Please go to this link for more information! 
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0948a4ae2aa31-mrs1
*Please send collections of 5-6 items in a small bag with your child's name on it by Monday. 
*Our day to shop at the Holiday Gift Shop is Monday. 
*Traveling Teddy is an ongoing project! I hope you are having fun with your Teddy!

December 8

Dear Families,
We did a story sort on the story Who Works Here?
We got to write more about our opinions in writing workshop! (Elvis)
We started talking about tens and ones in math! (Alyssa)
We went to Art. (Timmy)
We talked about Israel and Hanukkah! (Matilda)

Notes:
*Winter Party CORRECTION: The party will be from 10:30-11:30! More information is coming tomorrow!
*Please send collections of 5-6 items in a small bag with your child's name on it by Monday. Please think of things your child collects naturally (rocks, leaves, stickers, bracelets, cards, superhero figures, Legos, cars, dinosaurs, dolls, etc.We will keep the collection in the classroom for a couple of weeks so please send only items that your child can part with for that period of time!
*Check folders for information on the Holiday Gift Shop. Our day to shop will be Monday. 
*Traveling Teddy is an ongoing project! We will do this for the rest of the school year! I hope you are having fun with your Teddy!

December 7

Dear Families,
We read the story Who Works Here?. (Journi)
It was about people that work in a community!
We got to go outside for recess today! (Jack)
We had our math test on ordinal and position words. (Julien)
We got to go to the book fair at library today. (Addie)
We talked about Africa and the holiday Kwanzaa. (Chance)

Note:
*I showed our kids their math homework for tonight because it looks different than the work they normally do. Please be on the lookout for a page that says Positional Words on the top right.

December 6

Dear Families,
We did Code of Honor at the Tech Lab! (Travis)
We studied for our math test tomorrow over position and ordinal words! (Miriam)
We went to Music. (Justin)
We talked about India and Diwali! (Dallin) 
Our kids were so excited to talk about India and get their first passport stamp! We were lucky that Shubham could share other Indian customs and facts with our class!

Reminders:
*Check backpacks/folders for your child's ID from the picture company!
*Send money tomorrow if you want your child to buy books at the book fair during Library!
*2nd grade healthy snack sale is Thursday! Snacks cost $1!

December 5

Dear Families,
This week our new spelling words have a long i sound. (Alyssa)
We wrote our first opinion story today! (Shubham)
We practiced position words in math.
We went to PE. (Matilda)
We made a suitcase that we will use to help us learn about Holidays Around the World! (Elvis)

Notes:
*Click on the December's Weekly Newsletter tab above to see this weeks newsletter!
*We are starting our new writing unit on Opinions this week! To help us start this unit, please have your child bring to school one small collection of related items that can be stored in a small paper bag. Please think of things children collect naturally (rocks, leaves, stickers, bracelets, cards, superhero figures, Legos, cars, dinosaurs, dolls, etc. Please limit the collection to 5-6 items. We will keep the collection in the classroom for a couple of weeks so please send only items that your child can part with for that period of time!
*Wednesday, during our library time, students will have the opportunity to visit the book fair. If you would like your child to purchase books, please send money by Wednesday!

December 2

Dear Families,
We read a story called Helping Hands at 4-H. (Magda) 
It was about a group of kids working together to take care of farm animals.
We wrote about something we want in writing workshop!
We went to recess. (Isabel)
We went to Art. (Timmy)
We had Hootenanny this afternoon. (Nick)

*Reminder: Book Fair starts next Monday! 

December 1

Dear Families,
We read a story called Iris and Walter. It was about two friends that are going to be in a school play!
We wrote about something we need to survive in writing workshop. (Jasmin)
We talked more about position words in math. (Malcolm)
We went to Library. (Elvis)
We did a needs and wants sort. (Griffin)