September 26 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

September 26, 2014

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 Phonics and are still practicing Daily 5.  In math we have been working on taking apart, taking from and subtraction in story problems.  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. I really need you taking the time to listen to your child read.  I have several who will be ready to move up a level with in the next couple of weeks.  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.

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 2. Remember, you can also order online.  If you would like to order online, just click the link at the bottom of my emails.

Spelling Words:

         I have included our first list of 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 (which will be on 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.  There will also be a list on the blog if you need it.

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).

Upcoming Events:

·      September 29-October 3 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30 everyday.)

·      Thursday, October 9 – Pictures Retakes

·      Wednesday, October 15 – End of 1^st Quarter

·      October 16-17 – No School (Fall Recess)

·      Monday, October 20 – No School (Harvest Recess)

·      October 21-22 – No School (Professional Development            for Teachers.)

·      Thursday, October 23 – Celebrate Adele’s Birthday

·      Friday, October 24 – Celebrate Casey’s Birthday

·      Friday, October 24 – Family Fun Day (Price Family)

·      Wednesday, October 29 – Reflections Due

·      Friday, October 31 – Halloween Party

·      Friday, November 7 – Family Fun Day

September 19 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

September 19, 2014

Review of our week:

         We are almost finished with our alphabet review.  I have introduced Read To Self and Read To Someone.  We will be doing this during our Daily 5 time, which is like centers. 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 took our Chapter 1 test.  Everybody did really well on it.  I am having each child fix the problems, that he or she missed and will be sending that home.

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.

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:

         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 read (when it is due). 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 have not been doing their math homework.  I send home 1-2 math pages for homework on Friday and they are due back by the next Friday.  I would really like you to do this

         If your child has not done their community report, please start working on it.  I don’t really have a due date for this, but I would really like to have everybody do it.  We have had some really fun reports so far. 

                 

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 will start reading this next week.  When you come in I will have you listen to a child read 3-4 poems out of their poetry notebook and then practice their sight words.  After we finish our Alphabet Review, they will have books I am reading in Guided Reading Groups with them.  After awhile I will have you do fluency readings with them.

Upcoming Events:

·      Monday, September 22 – Fluoride starts in the gym

·      Monday, September 22 – South PTA Movie Night 5:00 & 7:00 (check out the school web page for details.)

·      Tuesday, September 23 – Celebrate Taige’s Birthday

·      Friday, September 26 – Family Fun Day

·      September 29-October 3 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30 everyday.)

·      Thursday, October 9 – Pictures Retakes

·      Friday, October 10 – Family Fun Day

·      Wednesday, October 15 – End of 1^st Quarter

·      October 16-17 – No School (Fall Recess)

·      Monday, October 20 – No School (Harvest Recess)

·      October 21-22 – No School (Professional Development            for Teachers.)

·      Thursday, October 23 – Celebrate Adele’s Birthday

·      Friday, October 24 – Celebrate Casey’s Birthday

·      Friday, October 24 – Family Fun Day

September 12 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

September 12, 2014

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 have been working on ways to make 10 and adding addends in any order.  We will be having a test on Monday.  We did the chapter review today, please review this with your child this weekend.  I have included a couple of pages of math homework, that will help them review for the test.

         I have seen a huge improvement in our listen and behavior this week.  Thanks for all of your help and support.

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 2 or 3 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.

         If you have not picked a place that your child can their community report on, please do that this weekend.  I have several students who have gone somewhere and are working on their reports to share with the class.  I sent home a paper last week explain all about his.  I also sent home a paper with some questions, so help with the report.  I can’t wait to see where everybody goes!

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.

Reading Volunteers: 

         I would like to start this in a week, I think I told some of you next week.  I am going to do something different this year and still need to finish putting it together.  I am so excited that I have some many of you who are able to come in and help.

T-Day-

         Tuesday 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. I have asked my     class to keep their backpacks in their backpacks, so they are here every week.  Thanks

* 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. 

Leaders for next week:

September 15    -S- Casey Morley 

September 16    -T- Brynn Garfield

September 17    -U- Colt Ruston

September 18    -V- Claire Marchant

September 19    -W- Davin Hamlin     

Family Fun Day:

         I attached a copy of the paper on Family Fun Day to my email last week.  Usually they will be on Fridays, but if that does not work let me know and we can set up another day. 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:

·      Monday, September 15 – Vision & Dental Screenings

·      Friday, September 19 – Family Fun Day

·      Tuesday, September 23 – Celebrate Taige’s Birthday

·      Friday, September 26 – Family Fun Day

·      September 29-October 3 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30 everyday.)

·      Friday, October 10 – Family Fun Day

·      Wednesday, October 15 – End of 1^st Quarter

·      October 16-17 – No School (Fall Recess)

·      Monday, October 20 – No School (Harvest Recess)

·      October 21-22 – No School (Professional Development for Teachers.)

·      Thursday, October 23 – Celebrate Adele’s Birthday

·      Friday, October 24 – Celebrate Casey’s Birthday

·      Friday, October 24 – Family Fun Day

        

September 5 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

September 5, 2014

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 abilities.  In math we have been working on graphing, adding 0 and adding digits in any order. 

Next Week’s Leaders:

September 8     -N- Aidan Kerksiek

September 9     -O- Adele Anderson

September 10    -P- Phoebe Fabela

September 11     -Q- Caleb Whittaker

September 12    -R- Rykker Holt

*When your child is the leader please send a healthy snack 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 we will be starting our Take Home Library soon.  Your child will be getting a book they can read on their own.  I forgot to put some information in my last newsletter.  I will be sending home a reading record every month.  This month is an apple page.  Your child needs to fill in 1 apple each night that they read for 20 minutes.  We talked about how we need to read everyday and not do all of our reading on 1 day.  I have asked them to only fill one 1 apple everyday.  That way you don’t have to remember how many days they read at the end of the month.  I also included a READO page.  These are some fun things your child can do to help them become a better reader.              

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.  Last week, I sent home a green 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 about a community report I would like each student to do.  This does not have to be hard, you can do the report on a place you go all the time or your place of employment.

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.  Some of you said you could come any day.  If the day I put you down for doesn’t work for you, please let me know.

Remind 101:

         If you have not signed up for the PTA or Mrs. Bali’s Remind 101, please do so.  I have included those pages again 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 8 – Back To School Bash (5:30-8)

·      Monday, September 8 – Fall Pictures

·      Wednesday, September 10 – Hearing Screening

·      Friday, September 12 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, September 15 – Vision & Dental Screenings

·      Friday, September 19 – Family Fun Day

·      Tuesday, September 23 – Celebrate Taige’s Birthday

·      Friday, September 26 – Family Fun Day

·      September 29-October 3 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30 everyday.)

·      Friday, October 10 – Family Fun Day

·      Wednesday, October 15 – End of 1^st Quarter

·      October 16-17 – No School (Fall Recess)

·      Monday, October 20 – No School (Harvest Recess)

·      October 21-22 – No School (Professional Development            for Teachers.)

·      Thursday, October 23 – Celebrate Adele’s Birthday

·      Friday, October 24 – Celebrate Casey’s Birthday

·      Friday, October 24 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, October 31 – Halloween Party

Reading Volunteers

8:45-9:30

Monday –    Carrie Holt

                  Charity Whittaker

Tuesday –   Julie Barnes

                 RoseAnn Campbell

                 Jane Clayton

Wednesday – Art @ 9:00

Thursday – Penny Behunin

                  Brittanie Parry

                  Carolyn Corry

Friday –      Amy Wittwer

                  Lisa Anderson

                  Jillian Sidwell

                  Kelli Price?

Take Home Books – Amy Wittwer