May 1 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

May 1, 2015

Review of our week:

         We finished our chapter on graphing.  I was really happy with how everybody did on the test.  We started on shapes.  We are starting to do some really fun writings for the end of the year.. 

         We had so much fun on our field trip.  If any of you are going to be buying flowers, Ladybug nursery is a great place to go.  They were really nice and let all of the first graders plant a flower to bring home.  They also gave each class a package of ladybugs.  It would be nice if we could support them.

Book Order:

         I am sending home 1 more book order.  There are some really fun books in the orders.  This is a great way to get some books for your child to read over the summer.  A lot of them have the Guided Reading level listed on there.  If you have any questions, please let me know.  They will be due by Thursday, May 7.

Animal Reports:

         I have assigned each student an animal to do an oral report on.  I have included all of the information. I would like you to help your child write it a report form and not just answer the questions.  Please check the paper in your child’s backpack, so you will know when your child is scheduled to do their report.  If you have any questions please let me know.  You are welcome to come and watch. 

Fluency Reading Passage:

         Along with the fluency page this week, I have included several other passages.  We will be doing our Dibels testing on Wednesday, May 13.  The passages I am sending home are the kind of passages your child will be reading for this test.  The benchmark goal for the end of the year is 47 WPM with an accuracy rate of 90%.  I would really like you to have your child practice reading some of these passages, to prepare for the Dibels test.

Library Books:

         Library books were due back yesterday.  If your child still has their library books, please help them find them or you will need to pay for them.

Reading Parents:

         I really wanted to thank all of you who have taken the time to come in and read this year.  I know it takes a lot of time, but it really has made a big difference with helping our class learn how to read this year.  Next week will be the last week to come in and read.  Thanks again for everything you have done this year. 

Upcoming Events:

* Thursday, May 7 – First Grade Program @2:00 in the gym

         * Thursday, May 7 – Celebrate Hailey’s Birthday

         * Friday, May 8 – Family Fun Day (Nielson Family)

         * Monday, May 11 – Celebrate Evelyn’s Birthday

         * Tuesday, May 12 – Celebrate Aidan’s Birthday

         * Friday, May 15 – Family Fun Day (Aullman Family)

         * Tuesday, May 19 – Celebrate Dylan’s Birthday

         * Thursday, May 21 – Celebrate Davin’s Birthday

         * Thursday, May 21 – Field Day

         * Friday, May 22 – Last Day of School

April 23 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

April 23, 2015

Review of our week:

         I can’t believe how fast this year has gone. We have been practicing really hard for our program.  We hope that you will all be able to come and enjoy it.  In math we have been working on graphing.

Homework:

         I am still sending home a few things for homework. I know it is hard to keep doing homework this time of year, but it is so important to keep going until the end of the year when we will be doing our DIBELS testing and benchmarks for reading levels.  Some of you made that a goal to help your child do their homework and turn it, but I am still not seeing it come back.  PLEASE, PLEASE help your child with this.

Kite Flight for Reading:

         The Kite Festival is on Saturday.  We sent home a paper for you to keep track of your child’s minutes on.  The PTA also asked us to keep track of them at school.  I have gone through and written down the reading records your child has turned in.  The days your child read might be off a little, but the amount of days is what they had on their reading record.  I also didn’t put the extra minutes your child read.  You are more than welcome to fix them if you would like to.  I have a lot of students who are not turning their reading records in every month.  I would really like you to look at how much reading your child has done the last couple of months.  If your child turns this in, they will receive a kite and the school earns money.

        

My Backpack App:

         I am sending home a paper that has information about an App you can download for your child that goes a long with the computer program we have been dong all year.

Animal Reports:

         I will be assigning each student an animal to do an oral report on.  All of the information will be coming home next week.  Please check the paper in your child’s backpack, so you will know when your child is scheduled to do their report and what animal.  If you have any questions please let me know.  You are welcome to come and watch.

Reading Helpers:

         I really wanted to thank all of you who have taken the time to come in and read this year.  I know it takes a lot of time, but it really has made a big difference with helping our class learn how to read this year.  The week of May 4-8 will be the last week to come in and read.  Thanks again for everything you have done this year. 

        

Thanks:

         I just wanted to tell all of you thanks for everything you have done this year.  I appreciate all of your help and support.  It makes my job so much easier with your help.  I also appreciate you making sure your child is doing their reading and their homework.  It is wonderful to see how much progress we have made this year.   

Take Home Books:

         I have at about 7-10 students everyday not bring their take home books back or not read them.  I know some are reading other books, but I would really like them to read their take home book as well.  We only have 2 more weeks of the Take Home Books, please help your child to read their take home book.  The last day for the books will be on 9, so they will all be due on Monday, May 11.  If your child has lost their book, you will need to send $5 to pay for it.

First Grade Music Program:

         The First grade classes have been practicing a program that we are going to perform in the gym on Thursday, May 7 at 2:00.  We would love to see all of you there.  Please have your child wear their nice school clothes.

Upcoming Events:

         * Friday, May 1 – Celebrate Matthew’s Birthday

         * Friday, May 1 – Family Fun Day (Garfield Family)

         * Friday, May 1 – Reading Celebration for the school

* Thursday, May 7 – First Grade Program @2:00 in the gym

         * Thursday, May 7 – Celebrate Hailey’s Birthday

         * Friday, May 8 – Family Fun Day (Nielson Family)

         * Monday, May 11 – Celebrate Evelyn’s Birthday

         * Tuesday, May 12 – Celebrate Aidan’s Birthday

         * Friday, May 15 – Family Fun Day (Aullman Family)

         * Tuesday, May 19 – Celebrate Dylan’s Birthday

         * Thursday, May 21 – Celebrate Davin’s Birthday

         * Thursday, May 21 – Field Day

         * Friday, May 22 – Last Day of School

**If I have missed a birthday, Family Fun Day or anything else in the Upcoming Events, please let me know.  Thanks

        

April 17 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

April 17, 2015

Review of our week:

         In Math we took our test on measuring with non-standard units and telling time.  I am glad we spent a couple of extra days on telling time.  We will also continue to work on it for the rest of the year.  I was really proud of the class on how well they did on this test.  We have had 3 of our Flat Stanley’s return.  He had a great time.

Volunteers Needed:

         I know there is a lot going on in the next month or so, but we have some fun things going and we really need some parents to come and help.   

I need 1-2 parents to come and go on the field trip with us.  It will be on Friday, April 24. We are going to the library, Ladybug Nursery and Discovery Park. I also need either 1 parent all day for field day or 1 parent in the morning and 1 in the afternoon to take our class around.  Field Day is on Thursday, May 21.

On the field trip your child will need to each school lunch.  If your child usually eats home lunch, you need to pay the office for their lunch for this day.

****** On both of these days, please make sure your child has sunscreen on.  Thanks

Family Fun Days:

         If you would still like to do a Family Fun Day and have not signed up please let me know. 

Library Books:

          All Library books are due back on Thursday, April 30.  If your child can’t find them you will need to pay for them.

Take Home Library Books:

         We will only have these for the next couple of weeks, please take advantage of it.  The last day for the books will be on 9, so they will all be due on Monday, May 11.  If your child has lost their book, you will need to send $5 to pay for it.

First Grade Music Program:

         The First grade classes have been practicing a program that we are going to perform in the gym on Thursday, May 7 at 2:00.  We would love to see all of you there.  Please have your child wear their nice school clothes.

        

Upcoming Events:

         * Monday, April 20 – Celebrate Collin’s Birthday

         * Tuesday, April 21 Celebrate Anna B’s Birthday

      * Friday, April 24 – Family Fun Day (Corry Family)

      * Friday, April 24 – First Grade Field Trip

         * Friday, May 1 – Celebrate Matthew’s Birthday

         * Friday, May 1 – Family Fun Day (Garfield Family)

         * Friday, May 1 – Reading Celebration for the school

* Thursday, May 7 – First Grade Program @2:00 in the gym

         * Thursday, May 7 – Celebrate Hailey’s Birthday

         * Friday, May 8 – Family Fun Day (Nielson Family)

         * Monday, May 11 – Celebrate Evelyn’s Birthday

         * Tuesday, May 12 – Celebrate Aidan’s Birthday

         * Friday, May 15 – Family Fun Day (Aullman Family)

         * Tuesday, May 19 – Celebrate Dylan’s Birthday

         * Thursday, May 21 – Celebrate Davin’s Birthday

         * Thursday, May 21 – Field Day

         * Friday, May 22 – Last Day of School

April 10 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

April 4, 2014

Review of our week:

         In math we finishing up measurement and telling time.  I had several students who are struggling with telling time.  Would you please work with your child on this.  We only have to be able to tell time to the hour and half hour. We wrote a paper about Spring. We have been sharing stories from writing.  I am so impressed with the writing abilities of this class.

Book Order:

I will be sending home 2 more book orders.  This would be a great way to get your child some books to read over the summer.  I will be sending one home today.  If you would like to order books they are due back on Thursday, April 17.  You can also order online.  If you have any questions about the books or would like some suggestions, just let me know.

FYI’s:

* Keep saving those Box Tops.

* If you are planning on moving and will not be in our school next year, will you please let me know?  They would like to know, before making class lists for next year.

* Teacher Requests for next year are due into the office by April 17.  There is a form you can download on the school web page.

* I have put most everything on the upcoming events, until the end of the year.  I will explain later what some of them are.  I just want you to be aware of some of the things we will be doing.  The last couple of months, things get pretty crazy.

Upcoming Events:

         * Friday, April 17 – Family Fun Day (Clayton Family)

         * Monday, April 20 – Celebrate Collin’s Birthday

         * Tuesday, April 21 Celebrate Anna B’s Birthday

      * Friday, April 24 – Family Fun Day (Corry Family)

      * Friday, April 24 – First Grade Field Trip

         * Friday, May 1 – Celebrate Matthew’s Birthday

         * Friday, May 1 – Family Fun Day (Garfield Family)

* Thursday, May 7 – First Grade Program @2:00 in the gym

         * Thursday, May 7 – Celebrate Hailey’s Birthday

         * Friday, May 8 – Family Fun Day (Nielson Family)

         * Monday, May 11 – Celebrate Evelyn’s Birthday

         * Tuesday, May 12 – Celebrate Aidan’s Birthday

         * Friday, May 15 – Family Fun Day

         * Tuesday, May 19 – Celebrate Dylan’s Birthday

         * Thursday, May 21 – Celebrate Davin’s Birthday

         * Thursday, May 21 – Field Day

         * Friday, May 22 – Last Day of School