January 21 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

January 21, 2016

Review of our week:

         In math this week we finished our chapter and took our test. We are working on some really fun snowman stories.

Progress Reports:

         I have attached them.  Please look at how many days your child has missed or has been late this quarter.  They are missing a lot of things when they are gone or late.  Also, there might be things I didn’t have a chance to assess with your child because they were gone.

Stuffed Animal:

         At this time in the year, some students get tired of doing Read To Self in Daily 5, so I have some stuffed animals that they can read with.  If your child would like to bring a stuffed animal to keep in class and share until the end of the year, that would be great.  Please do not send one that is special to them. I will send them home at the end of the year or your child can leave it, if they no longer want it.

DIBELS:

         We just did our mid-year Dibels assessment.  I wanted to explain a few things.  The nonsense word fluency is the same as what I explained during SEP’s in October.  The benchmark has just gone up.  This time they did oral reading fluency.  Each child had 3 different stories to read for 1 minute each.  They counted how many words they read correctly which is the first score.  Then there is an accuracy percentage.  So, if your child read 23 words and had an accuracy percentage of 92% your child was able to read 23 words a minute and there were just a couple they either got wrong or skipped.  If the percentage is lower, your child has more words they were not able to read or they are skipping.  I know this is kind of confusing, please let me know if you have any questions about your child’s scores.  We have made a lot of progress from the beginning of the year.

Upcoming Events:      

·      Friday, January 29 – Family Fun Day

·      February 1-5 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30)

·      Thursday, February 11 – Celebrate Kyla’s Birthday

·      Friday, February 12 – Valentine’s Party

·      Monday, February 15 – No School President’s Day

·      Friday, February 19 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, February 26 – Family Fun Day (McNeel Family)

·      Tuesday, March 1 – Celebrate Holden’s Birthday

·      Thursday, March 3 – Celebrate Emmalia’s Birthday

·      Friday, March 4 – Celebrate Hayden’s Birthday

·      Friday, March 4 – Family Fun Day (Bali Family)

·      March 7-11 – No school (Spring Break)

January 15 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

January 15, 2016

Review of our week:

         This week I have spent some time assessing and doing some reviewing where we needed it. In Math we are working on equal and not equal numbers, missing addend and facts to 20.  First grade has started doing some math groups.  We gave a common assessment with addition problems up to 10.  We then divided them into groups. One teacher is working with the students who could use a little more help with counting on and the other 2 teachers are working with the kids who understand it and just need fluency practice.  If your child has come home saying they are going to a different teacher, that is what we are doing. We have been working on nouns, verbs and adjectives, so we can write a snowman story.

Homework:

         After your child has finished reading their book, I would like you to have them tell you what happened in the book and also ask them some questions to clarify.  Most of them are getting to the point where they can decode very well, now we need to start working on comprehension and fluency. 

         I have packets of books on each reading level.  If you would be interested in some extra books for your child to read on their reading level, please let me know.

I cannot stress how important it is to make sure your child is doing their reading homework.  They should be reading for the full 20 minutes.

RAZ Kids:

I purchased a subscription to RAZ kids for our class.  I don’t have very many if any students using this at home.  This is an amazing resource your child could be using.   Your child should know their password.  The teacher login in brookish.  You download the app or go to the website.  If your child is using this at home I would like you to check on them and make sure they are reading the stories.  They can listen to it, read it and take a comprehension quiz.  I have told them they have to read the story, not just listen to it.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

100^th Day of School:

We are going to have a 100^th day snack.  Other years we have had a snack of 100 things.  I saw a fun thing where they took doughnuts at a wafer cookie to make the number 100.  I decided to do that this year.  If would be willing to send a box or a small package of the small doughnuts, I would appreciate it. Each child would need 2, so we would need around 50 doughnuts. We also need a package of wafer cookies.  Will you please let me know if you would be willing to send some, so I will know how many extras I will need to buy?  Thank you.  The 100^th day is on .

FYI’s:

* Keep saving your Box Tops. 

* Thanks for everything you have done. I really want to                      thank all of you who come in and read in the mornings.

Upcoming Events:

·      Monday, January 18 – No School (MLK)

·      Tuesday, January 19 – Celebrate Chantz’s ½ Birthday

·      Thursday, January 21 – Celebrate Adelaide’s ½ Birthday

·      Friday, January 22 – Celebrate Ambrie’s ½ Birthday

·      Friday, January 22 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, January 29 – Family Fun Day

·      February 1-5 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30)

·      Thursday, February 11 – Celebrate Kyla’s Birthday

·      Friday, February 12 – Valentine’s Party

·      Monday, February 15 – No School President’s Day

·      Friday, February 19 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, February 26 – Family Fun Day (McNeel Family)

·      Tuesday, March 1 – Celebrate Holden’s Birthday

·      Thursday, March 3 – Celebrate Emmalia’s Birthday

·      Friday, March 4 – Celebrate Hayden’s Birthday

·      Friday, March 4 – Family Fun Day (Bali Family)

·      March 7-11 – No school (Spring Break)

        

January 8 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

January 8, 2016

Review of our week:

         In math this week we are finishing up our chapter on Related Facts (Fact Families).  We will take our math test next week.  I will send home subtraction flashcards, so your child can practice their math facts at home. Your child really needs to know these math facts. We wrote some New Year Resolutions.  I have been really happy with the progress we are making in reading.  Almost everyone has moved up a level. If your child is reading on a J or higher, they won’t move levels in their take home book as often. 

         The Math packet I sent home doesn’t have to be returned.  It is just for your child to work on at home if they can.

                 

Book Orders:

         I am sending home the January Book Orders.  If you would like to order books, please return your order by Thursday, January 14.  You can also order online. I have included papers for those students who will have a birthday in the next couple of months.  Please fill this paper out and return it to me.

F.Y.I’s

*If you would like to do a Family Fun Day, please look at the dates and let me know if there is one that would work for you.     

*For this time of year your child needs to be on a F-G instructional reading level to be on track for being on grade level for the end of the year.  That means their take home books would be E-F.

*Miss Taylor is having a toy day in PE next week.  She would like each child to bring a small toy to play with while she does testing.  It needs to fit in your child’s backpack.

Upcoming Events:

·      Friday, January 15 – Celebrate Gracie’s ½ Birthday

·      Monday, January 18 – No School (MLK)

·      Tuesday, January 19 – Celebrate Chantz’s ½ Birthday

·      Thursday, January 21 – Celebrate Adelaide’s ½ Birthday

·      Friday, January 22 – Celebrate Ambrie’s ½ Birthday

·      Friday, January 22 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, January 29 – Family Fun Day

·      February 1-5 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30)

·      Thursday, February 11 – Celebrate Kyla’s Birthday

·      Friday, February 12 – Valentine’s Party

·      Monday, February 15 – No School President’s Day

·      Friday, February 19 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, February 26 – Family Fun Day

·      Thursday, March 3 – Celebrate Holden’s Birthday

·      Friday, March 4 – Celebrate Hayden’s Birthday

·      Friday, March 4 – Family Fun Day (Bali Family)

·      March 7-11 – No school (Spring Break)