Bali Family Fun Day

I tried to get pictures of them all, but they were too fast.  We had a great time.

Field Trip to Cedar Breaks

September 27 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

September 27, 2013

Review of our Week:

         We finished our alphabet review this week.  We have also started some new things and they are going well. We started Word Work and Phonics and are still practicing Daily 5.  In math we finished Chapter 1 Adding Concepts and will be starting on Chapter 2 Subtraction Concepts.   We wrote about what we want to be when we grow up, I will share those with you next week.  We have also been practicing syllables and rhyming words. 

Homework:

         It is very important that your child is doing their reading for 20 minutes every night. Reading Records are due on Fridays.  I really need you taking the time to listen to your child read.  I have several who have already moved up levels.  I can tell they are reading at home.  As I start reading with each child next week, I will be able to see who else is ready to move.

Spelling Words:

         If you look on right hand side of the blog, there are next weeks spelling words.  We have 5 regular spelling words and also a word family.  We will practice these 5 words and all the words that will go in the word family every week in class.  A couple of years ago, I decided to add some challenge words.  We will not practice the challenge words at school.  Your child can practice them at home and they will get extra points on their spelling test (Fridays) if they are able to spell them correctly.  I really encourage you help your child learn at least one of the challenge words.  There will be 4 challenge words every week.  If you have any questions please let me know.  I have also sent a list home with your child.

Book Order:

         I am sending home the October book orders.  If you would like to order books they need to be turned in by Thursday, October 3. I wanted to do earlier, but I didn’t get the book orders until it was too late.  Remember, you can also order online.  There is a new code for our class.  It is L9GWX.  If it doesn’t work, let me know. 

FYI’s:

* I just wanted to thank you all for sending the snacks when your    child was the leader. Please make sure your child is getting a good breakfast.

         * Remember to keep saving those Box Tops.

* When it starts to get cold outside, please make sure your child  is bringing a coat or a jacket everyday.

        

         * SEP’s are next week, please remember when your appointment               is.  Also, school gets out at 2:30 everyday (even on                                    Wednesday).

* I posted some pictures of field trip on the blog.

Upcoming Events:

·      September 30 – October 4 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30 each day.)

·      Thursday, October 10 – Pictures Retakes

·      Friday, October 11 – Family Fun Day (Barker Family)

·      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

·      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)

September 20 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

September 20, 2013

Review of our week:

         We are almost finished with our alphabet review. We are doing something this year called Daily 5.  It is a lot like centers, but a little different.  We have been learning how to do Read to Self, Read to Someone, Listening, Writing and Word Work. I introduced syllables and practiced clapping the syllables in our names and other words.  This would be something that you could work on at home.  In math we have been working on ways to make 9 and 10.  We had a great time on our field trip and learned a lot about rocks. 

Book Order:

         I will be sending home the October book orders next week.  If you would like to order books they need to be turned in by Thursday, September 26.  I know it is kind of early, but I want to get them ordered before SEP’s. I usually do one every month. Remember, you can also order online.  There is a new code for our class.  It is L9GWX.  If it doesn’t work, let me know.  I am just waiting for the new catalogs to come.  You can go online and see what they have.

Office Things:

         I just wanted to remind you or make you aware if you didn’t know already about a few things.  Whenever you come to the office to read or anything else you need to check in at the office and get a visitors pass.  The other thing is if your child is gone, we need you to call the office and excuse them.  Mrs. Smith has to call the parents of every child who is absent and see why they are not at school.  If they are going to be gone it is good to let me know, but will you please let Mrs. Smith know also.  I don’t always remember to tell her.

        

Homework:

         Reading records are due every Friday. I have some really fun prizes for those students who reach the reading goal.  The reading goal is at least 5 nights every week.  Even if every apple is not filled in please have your child turn in what they have done.  I am getting a lot of reading records that do not have the parent’s signature.  Please make sure you sign your child’s reading record.  It is very important your child is doing their reading homework.

         I have a lot of students who are not turning in their homework, reading records and take home books.  I will be talking to you about this at SEP’s.   

        

SEP’s:

         I am sending home a paper that tells you when your SEP is.  I need you to sign it and mark if you can make your appointment or not.  If you can’t make it please let me know as soon as possible, so I can reschedule it.  We coordinated with other teachers, so please try to make your appointment.  Remember school gets out everyday at 2:30, even on Wednesday.

Reading Parents:

         We started reading this week.  If you didn’t make it, we would love to see you next week.  If there is anybody else who would like to come in and read we would love to have you, or if there is a grandparent who would like to come in we would love to have them as well.

Spirit Fridays:

         The PTA is doing Spirit Fridays again.  They would like everybody to wear their school shirts on Fridays.  It can even be one of the old one.

F.Y.I’s

*I just wanted to remind you that Library is on Thursday.  I have some students who have not brought their books back.  I would really like them to get new books every week.

*As it starts to get cold please make sure your child is coming with a jacket.  We will still be going out for recess when it gets cold.

Upcoming Events:

·      Friday, September 27 – Family Fun Day

·      September 30 – October 4 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30 each day.)

·      Friday, October 4 – Family Fun Day

·      Thursday, October 10 – Pictures Retakes

·      Friday, October 11 – Family Fun Day

·      Wednesday, October 16 – 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

Family Fun Day

Family Fun Friday

         We would like to get to know about your family.  You need to pick something that is either unique about your family, something you enjoy doing, or anything you would like us to know about your family.  You need to find a book that ties to whatever it is you want to tell us about your family.  I would like as many members of the family as possible to be involved with this.  Then when it is your Friday you will come in, read the book to us and make a short presentation to our class about the thing you have chosen.  You can also dress up if you would like to.

         For example if your family loves to go fishing or camping, you would need to find a book about this subject.  When you came to class you would read the book then you could, either show pictures of when you have done these things, tell stories, show us how to do it or what ever you would like to do. 

So, to do a Family Fun Friday you need to:

         *Let me know

         *Pick an idea

         *Find a book

*Have as many family members involved as possible.  (This also includes coming to the school to do the presentation.)

*Come up with a presentation.

*BE CREATIVE!

         If you have any questions please let me know you can either call me or you can also email me.  If you need some help finding a book on your subject you can ask me, talk to Mrs. Stucki our Librarian or go to the city library.

September 13 Newsletter

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Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

September 13, 2013

Review of our week:

         We are almost finished with our alphabet review.  Each day we interview the leader and I am really seeing some improvement in our writing.  We have also been working on sentence structure.  In math we are still working on adding in any order and we did Skittle Math.

Homework:

         You and your child need to be reading for 20 minutes every night. We will start the Take Home Library on Monday.  These books are on your child’s reading level, they should be reading them to you.  They may seem easy and that is because they are or they should be.  They are one level lower than where I have them instructionally.   I would like your child to read the book 3 or 4 times.  After they have read the book have them tell you what happened in the book and ask them some questions about the book for comprehension.  I did the assessments over the last couple of weeks to find their reading level.  By the time we start in our guided reading groups, some of them will be ready to move up.  Please, be patient with their take home book level until we start guided reading groups.  If your child is on a higher reading level, they won’t move through the levels as fast.

         Remember their reading record is due back by the day listed.  Even if your child does not fill in every apple I really want them to turn in what they did.  They can only fill in one apple every day.  I try to explain to them the importance of being honest when they fill in their apples.  Please help them keep track of their reading record.  I would like you to help your child to find a place to keep their reading record, where it won’t get lost or ruined.

         We are starting a unit on rocks next week. I need your child to go on a rock hunt and bring in a rock next week.  It has to fit in their hand, but big enough that we can take a good picture of it.  It can be any kind of rock they would like.  We read a book about what to look for and what they need to do.  I need each child to have a rock to do some of the activities I have planned.

Sight Words:

         I have gone through the sight word lists I have and placed your child on a list they need to work on.  They may only have 1 or 2 they need to work on.  When they have practiced and can read them with mastery, which is being able to read each word in a second (see it, say it) please sign the paper I have attached and return it.  I will have them pass the list off and get the new list.  We will also be working on phrases and stories.

Field Trip:

         We are going on our Field Trip next Thursday, September 19.  Your child will need to eat school lunch.  If your child usually eats home lunch you will need to pay the office for their lunch.  We never know what the weather will be like so please make sure your child brings a jacket, and is wearing pants and good shoes to hike in.  No sandals, shorts or skirts

        

Reading Volunteers: 

         I would like to start this next week.  Each child has a poetry notebook with poems we have been learning.  I am just going to have them read the poems until we start Guided Reading.  If you would like to come in and volunteer just let me know. If there is a grandparent who would like to come in we would love to have them, or some dads.  I understand there will be times when you are unable to make it and that is ok. I still could use another person on Monday, Thursday and Friday.

T-Day-

         Monday is “T” Day, please have your child wear their favorite T-shirt to school this day. 

Reminders & FYI:

* Please make sure your child is here on time.  We cover a          lot of very important math concepts in our opening.  We are also doing bell work or finishing up from the day before.  I would really appreciate it if you had your child here on time.

     

* Remember to keep saving your Box Tops.   

         * Remember Library books on Thursday.

* Don’t forget to link your Smith’s Card to our school.  Ask grandparents and neighbors to do it also.  The school really makes a lot of money with this.  They have the paper at the registers, you just have to do it once.

Leaders for next week:

September 16    -S- Shelby Thorley

September 17    -T- Josten Holyoak

September 18    -U-

September 19   

September 20   -V-

        

Family Fun Day:

         I have posted a copy of the paper on Family Fun Day.  Usually they will be on Fridays, but if that does not work let me know and we can set up another day.  I am going to do one next Friday with my family. I have dates listed in the upcoming events.  If there is one of those dates you would like, let me know.  If you have any questions please let me know.

Upcoming Events:

·      Thursday, September 19 – Field Trip to Cedar Breaks

·      Friday, September 20 – Family Fun Day (Bali Family)

·      Friday, September 27 – Family Fun Day

·      September 30 – October 4 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30 each day.)

·      Friday, October 4 – Family Fun Day

·      Thursday, October 10 – Pictures Retakes

·      Friday, October 11 – Family Fun Day

·      Wednesday, October 16 – 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 – Vision Screening

·      Friday, October 25 – Family Fun Day

·      Thursday, October 31 – Halloween Party

The things in bold are new events.

        

September 6 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

September 6, 2013

Review of our week:

         We are still working on our alphabet review.  Each day we do a handwriting page, we learn a new poem for each letter.  We interview our leader and each child then writes something about the leader and draws a picture.  When we finish each student will have a book they have made with a page about each person in our class.  I am very excited to see how much each child has improved in their writing.  In math we have been working on graphing, adding 0 and adding digits in any order. 

Next Week’s Leaders:

September 9     -O- Olivia Ena

September 10    -P- Jordan Proskauer

September 11     -Q- William Barker

September 12    -R- Ben Murrary

September 13    -S- Shaylee Johnson   

*When your child is the leader please send a healthy snack, which does not have nuts or peanut butter for the class.  If you can’t provide a snack please let me know, so I can get something. 

Homework:

         Your child should be doing reading every night.  I know some of you are reading the full 20 to your child and that is ok.    I hope next week we will be starting our Take Home Library.  Your child will be getting a book they can read on their own. They will earn money for every night they are doing their reading homework, to spend in our classroom store.  I am sending home the new reading record today.

         We read the book Chrysanthemum and I have sent home a worksheet for your child to do for homework.  It is due back by Friday, September 13.  There is also a math page.

         Since we have been talking but our homes, neighborhoods and communities I would like you to make sure your child knows their address and phone number.  Yesterday, I sent home an orange paper your child was supposed to write down their address down on for something we are doing in class.  I have attached a paper I would like you to sign and send back, when your child does knows their address and phone number for homework.

         I have also attached another paper to try and help with the community homework.  We have had 2 students share where they went and what they learned.  It was really fun.  I can’t wait to see the other ones.

Field Trip:

         We are going on a Field Trip to Cedar Breaks on Thursday, September 19. On this day your child will need to eat school lunch, please pay the office. I will give you more information next week.  I am sending home a permission slip that needs to be back by Friday, the 13th.  I will need at least one parent to come with us.  You may need to drive depending on the bus situation.  If you would be interested, please let me know.  Thanks

Reading Parents:

         I would like to start having parents come in and read with the class in 2 weeks.  I would like at least 2 parents each day.  They can be moms, dads or grandparents.   I have included a list of the parents who have signed up.  If you can and would like to come in and read with us, we would love to have you.  Let me know if there is a day that would work for you.

Family Fun Day:

         I have included several dates for Family Fun Days.  If would like to do a Family Fun Day and one of those dates works for you, just let me know.  If you have any questions, please let me know.  I attached the paper explaining what it is to my email.

Upcoming Events:

·      Monday, September 9 – School Pictures

·      Monday, September 9 – Back To School Bash 5:30-8:00

·      Thursday, September 12 – Celebrate Ben’s Birthday

·      Thursday, September 19 – Field Trip to Cedar Breaks

·      Friday, September 20 – Family Fun Day (Bali Family)

·      Friday, September 27 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, October 4 – Family Fun Day

·      Thursday, October 10 – Pictures Retakes

·      Friday, October 11 – Family Fun Day

·      Wednesday, October 16 – 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

·      Friday, October 25 – Family Fun Day

·      Tuesday, October 22 – Vision Screening

·      Thursday, October 31 – Halloween Party

 

Reading Volunteers

8:45-9:30

Monday – Russell Holyoak

Tuesday – Barbara Corry

                 Valyn Webster

Wednesday – Art @ 9:00

Thursday – Jan Thorley

                

Friday – Tiffany Newbold

Take Home Books – Tiffany Newbold

**Dana Ena – Sometimes Tuesdays and Thursdays