December 6 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

December 6, 2013

Review of our week:

         We have been doing some fun Christmas things.  In math we have been working on counting on, doubles, doubles plus and minus one.  We have been reading some fun Christmas stories with comprehension questions in reading.    For writing we wrote letters to Santa, filled out an application to be one.

Homework:

         I know this time of year is very busy.  Remember to have your child keep reading.  Please encourage your child to fill out a tree right after they are finished reading, so you don’t have to try and remember at the end of the week how many days they read. Over the break please take the time to review the words we have had so far with your child.  Some are still having a hard time reading some of them. We will not have spelling words when we come back.  I want to take that week to really review our words.

         I am sending home a math worksheet for homework.  It is due back by next Friday.

FYI:

·      Please make sure your child is coming with a warm coat on.  If the weather is below freezing we won’t go out.  Other wise, we go out to recess.  If there is snow on the ground, they need to have snow boots on to be out in the snow.

* We could use 1 more parent to help with the Christmas party.

* I only have 1 mom coming in to help with the Gingerbread Houses.  If you would like to come we could use the help.  Also, if you would like to donate something, please have it here by Thursday the 12^th. 

        

Upcoming Events:

·      Monday, December 9 – Celebrate Jordan’s Birthday

·      Friday, December 13 – Make Gingerbread Houses

·      Thursday, December 19 – Celebrate Dylan’s Birthday

·      Friday, December 20 – Christmas Party

·      Monday, January 6 – First Day Back

·      Monday, January 6 – Celebrate Gwen’s Birthday

·      Friday, January 10 – End of 2^nd Quarter

·      Friday, January 10 – Family Fun Day

November 22 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

November 22, 2013

Review of our week:

         This week in Math we have been working on counting on, adding doubles, doubles plus 1 and doubles minus 1.  We have also done some fun Thanksgiving writings. I have been able to move many students over the last couple of weeks in my reading groups.  I can really tell those students who are doing their reading every night.  If your child has lost their take home book, please take sometime and help them find it.  If you can’t find it, you can send $5 and they will get a new one.   

Homework:

         I know this time of year is very busy. Please encourage your child to fill out their reading record right after they are finished reading, so you don’t have to try and remember at the end of the week how many days they read.

         There are several students who are not bringing their take home books back every day.  This is a great resource and some are not taking advantage of it.  Please make sure your child reads their book every night and brings it back, so they can get a new one the next day. 

         I have included 2 math homework sheets.  Your child needs to ask 10 different people what their favorite Thanksgiving food is and make a table with the information.  I would really like them to do the Brainwork activity.  Please make sure your child reads over the Thanksgiving Break.  We will not have spelling words next week.  I am going to review all of the words we have done so far.  The spelling words I am sending home, are for the week after Thanksgiving.

Gingerbread Houses:

         We are going to be making gingerbread houses on Friday, December 13 at 1:00.  If you could donate a small bag of candy or a container of white frosting, I would really appreciate it.  The candy can be M&M’s, small candy canes, peppermints or anything else you think would look nice on a gingerbread house.  I also need 2-3 parents to come in and help with the gingerbread houses.  If you would like to help please let me know.  If you can donate something please have it here by Thursday, December 12, so I will know how much candy and frosting I will need to get.

        

Book Orders:

         I am sending home the December Book Orders.  I have included several Book Clubs.  There are some really fun books.  If you would like to order some for Christmas, please let me know and I will keep them for you.  The orders are due by Thursday, December 5.  You can also order online. If your child has a birthday or half birthday in December I am sending the paper to get a book from me.

FYI’S

·      Now that it is getting cold, please make sure your child is wearing a coat to school.  We will be going out to recess unless it is snowing.  When there is snow on the ground, only the students who have snow boots on can be out in the snow, otherwise they have to stay where it has been plowed. 

·      If you would like to do a Family Fun Day, in the next couple of months just let me know.

Upcoming Events:

·      November 27-29 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)

·      Thursday, December 5 – Celebrate Kristian’s

·      Friday, December 6 – Celebrate Camden’s Birthday

·      Friday, December 6 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, December 9 – Celebrate Jordan’s Birthday

·      Friday, December 13 – Make Gingerbread Houses

·      Thursday, December 19 – Celebrate Dylan’s Birthday

·      Friday, December 20 – Christmas Party

·      Monday, January 6 – First Day Back

·      Monday, January 6 – Celebrate Gwen’s Birthday

·      Friday, January 10 – End of 2^nd Quarter

·      Friday, January 10 – Family Fun Day

November 15 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

November 15, 2013

Review of our week:

         We have done a lot this week.  In math we are working on addition facts, time and graphing.  We learned how to count on and double addition problems.  I sent home a copy of some addition flashcards, please take some time to help your child practice these. You can also purchase a set from Walmart for just a few dollars. In writing we learned how to write notes, so if your child writes you a note please try and write back to them.  We also wrote about what we were thankful for.

         Thank you for those of you who sent information about your veterans.  We learned some really neat things.  If you have not sent the information in, you can still do it next week.

        

Homework:

         I got a little bit behind recording reading records and homework.  I only had 10 kids meet the reading goal for the month of October.  That means, they turned in all of their reading records and read 20 minutes at least 5 nights a week.  I had a couple of students, who missed it by 1 or 2 nights.  I can’t stress to you enough how important it is that your child is reading every night.  Your child should be reading the full 20 minutes by now.  They are doing it in class, so I know they can do it at home also.  I also have several students who are not practicing their sight words.  This really holds them back from advancing in their reading.

         I still don’t have the fluency pages ready to go.  I am waiting on 1 more paper.  I will try and get them out next week.

 

Box Tops:

         As you are doing your baking and cooking for the Holidays, make sure you are keeping your Box Tops.

Upcoming Events:

·      Friday, November 22 – Family Fun Day

·      November 27-29 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)

·      Thursday, December 5 – Celebrate Kristian’s

·      Friday, December 6 – Celebrate Camden’s Birthday

·      Friday, December 6 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, December 9 – Celebrate Jordan’s Birthday

·      Friday, December 13 – Make Gingerbread Houses

·      Thursday, December 19 – Celebrate Dylan’s Birthday

·      Friday, December 20 – Christmas Party

·      Monday, January 6 – First Day Back

·      Monday, January 6 – Celebrate Gwen’s Birthday

·      Friday, January 10 – End of 2^nd Quarter

·      Friday, January 10 – Family Fun Day

November 8 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

November 8, 2013

Review of our week:

In Math we took our Chapter 2 test.  We started chapter 3, Adding Strategies.  In this chapter we will be learning to add doubles, doubles plus 1, adding 3 numbers and other strategies.  I have made a copy of flashcards.  I would really like you to take the time to practice these with your child.   We only had 1 person bring information about a Veteran.  If you still have some you have not sent, you can do it next week.  We also had Smokey Bear come for an assembly.

F.Y.I’s:

*Please make sure your child is brining at least a jacket if not a coat everyday.  It has been pretty cold this week.  We go out to recess 3 times a day.  They need something to keep them warm.

* Library is on Thursday for our class.  The last couple of weeks several in our class has not brought their books back.  The reason we go to library is to get new books to read at home.  Please make sure your child has their books back on Thursday.

* I only had a couple of moms sign up to help with the Christmas Party.  If you would like to help with that, please let me know.  It will be on Friday, December 20^st at 1:00.

* As I was checking to see who met the reading goal in October, I noticed that I had A LOT of students who are not turning in their reading records and homework. 

* I am sending home a fluency paper for homework.  We have done a couple of these pages in class.  I will send it back home after I check it off, so they can practice at home.  In January when we do Dibels, one of the assessments is reading fluency.  The benchmark goal is 23 words per minute.  I do talk to my classs about how reading fluently is more than reading fast.  I am going to start sending home some passages to practice fluency next week.  I need to get a copy from my mom.

* If your child is absent you need to call the office and excuse them.  If the school has not heard from you by 10:00, somebody will be calling you.  Please take the time to call or send an email.  If you send a note to me, please let the office know as well.  I don’t always get notes in time.

Upcoming Events:

·      Thursday, November 14 – Celebrate Emmy’s Birthday

·      Friday, November 15 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, November 22 – Family Fun Day

·      November 27-29 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)

·      Thursday, December 5 – Celebrate Kristian’s

·      Friday, December 6 – Celebrate Camden’s Birthday

·      Friday, December 6 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, December 9 – Celebrate Jordan’s Birthday

·      Friday, December 13 – Make Gingerbread Houses

·      Thursday, December 19 – Celebrate Dylan’s Birthday

·      Friday, December 20 – Christmas Party

·      Monday, January 6 – First Day Back

·      Monday, January 6 – Celebrate Gwen’s Birthday

·      Friday, January 10 – End of 2^nd Quarter

·      Friday, January 10 – Family Fun Day

October 25 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

October 25, 2013

Review of our week:

         Things are going well in our class.  In math we are working subtraction concepts.  We will soon be ready for our next test.  We wrote about what we are going to be for Halloween. We did some really fun ghost pictures and stories.  I just wanted to thank all of you for your help and support.  I really do appreciate it. You are all so wonderful.

Homework:

         I am sending home a black paper I would like your child to observe the moon and draw a picture of it.  I am also sending home a Halloween Math homework page.  Also, make sure they are doing their reading.

Sight Words:

         I have a lot of students who have not brought their paper back saying they are ready to pass them off.  This is holding your child back from moving on in their reading.  I really need you to practice those words with your child.  If you don’t know where the list is please let me know and I can get you a new one.  I do have 3 who has worked really hard and passed all of them off, since I sent the first list home.

Carving Pumpkins:

      I only have 1 dad who is coming to carve pumpkins.  I would really like to have about 4-5 more.  We will do it on Thursday at 10:30.  If you can and would like to come and help us, please let me know.  Thanks

FYI’s:

·      I am sending home Progress Reports next week.  There are not a lot of things marked for this quarter.  It doesn’t mean your child can’t do those things, I just haven’t assessed it yet.  On the counting if they were able to count by 1’s to 100 I circled 1’s. If they were not able to do it, I wrote at the bottom what number they were able to count to. Please look over this, sign the bottom and send it back the strip at the bottom.

Upcoming Events:

·      Thursday, October 31 – Halloween Party

·      Thursday, October 31 – Carve Pumpkins (Dads)

·      Friday, November 1 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, November 8 – Family Fun Day

·      Thursday, November 14 – Celebrate Emmy’s Birthday

·      Friday, November 15 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, November 22 – Family Fun Day

·      November 27-29 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)

·      Thursday, December 5 – Celebrate Kristian’s

·      Friday, December 6 – Celebrate Camden’s Birthday

·      Friday, December 6 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, December 9 – Celebrate Jordan’s Birthday

        

        

October 11 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

October 11, 2013

Review of our week:

         I just wanted to thank everybody for coming to SEP’s.  Things are going well.  Our Daily 5 and Guided reading are going well.  In math we are working on subtraction.  This week we did some activities about spiders and talked about Fall.  We finished up our unit on rocks and are going to start a unit on the moon.

I just wanted to thank all of you who have cut things out for me.  I really appreciate it.

Homework:

         I did the prizes for those students who had met the reading goal.  The goal was to read at least 5 days on each reading record and turn them in.  I only had 9 students who met the reading goal.  I really need your help with this.  I have some students who have not turned in any reading records.  I still want them to he honest about their reading.  I need to have them reading every night. 

Keyboards:

         I found a really fun activity to do with our Word Work.  I was wondering if any of you would have any old keyboards (ones for computers) that you don’t use, or know where I could get some?

        

Reminders:

*It is so important your child is here on time, if not a few minutes early.  If they are late on a regular basis they are missing out on a lot of important things in the morning.  I would like you to check out how many tardies your child has when I send home the first progress report.

* I won’t be doing a Newsletter next week.  The spelling words I am sending will be for the next two weeks.

*Remember to keep all of your Box Tops and send them in.

* A couple of weeks ago I sent home the list of sight words your child was on.  I have had several bring back their paper and pass them off.  If you have not been practicing that list with your child, please do so.  They need to have those sight words down to read a lot of the books we are reading and it will help them move up in their reading levels as well. 

                 

Carving Pumpkins:

         I am looking for 5 or 6 dads to come in and carve pumpkins with us on Halloween.  We will do Thursday, October 31 at 10:30.  If you are interested and can come and help please let me know, so I know how many pumpkins to get.  Thanks

Upcoming Events:

·      Tuesday, October 15 – Celebrate Olivia’s Birthday

·      Wednesday, October 16 – End of 1^st Quarter

·      October 17-18 – No School (Fall Recess)

·      Monday, October 21 – No School (Harvest Holiday)

·      October 22-25 – Red Ribbon Week

·      Tuesday, October 22 – Health Screening

·      Friday, October 25 – Family Fun Day

·      Thursday, October 31 – Halloween Party

·      Thursday, October 31 – Carve Pumpkins (Dads)

·      Friday, November 1 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, November 8 – Family Fun Day

·      Thursday, November 14 – Celebrate Emmy’s Birthday

·      Friday, November 15 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, November 22 – Family Fun Day

·      November 27-29 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)

·      Thursday, December 5 – Celebrate Kristian’s

·      Friday, December 6 – Celebrate Camden’s Birthday