January 26 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

January 26, 2018

Review of our week:

         We did a lot of fun activities for the 100^th day of school last Friday. We took our test for the place value chapter.  I was really happy with the scores.  In writing we are still working up our snowman stories.

Lions Kite Flight for Reading & Sight:

         The Lion’s Club sponsors this reading program every year.  All your child has to do is their reading homework and keep track of the minutes.  For First grade they need to read 70 minutes a week, which is less than what their homework requires.  They need to keep track of their minutes on the sheet I am sending home and then on April 28 go to Cedar Middle School and turn their reading record in.  Your child will receive a kite and a chance to win some other cool prizes.  The Lion’s Club actually donates money to our school for every child who participates.  This is a really easy fundraiser for our school.  I really encourage you to help your child do this.   

Valentine’s Day:

         We will be exchanging Valentines in our class.  If your child would like to bring Valentine cards please make sure there is enough for each child in the class.  I have attached a list of all the students in our class to the email.  If you would like to send your child’s Valentines early I will just keep them in my office.  If you have any questions please let me know.

FYI’s:

* Keep saving your Box Tops.       

* Thanks for everything you do. I really want to thank all of you who come in and read in the mornings and those of you who do things at home. Thanks again for everything. 

* If you would like to do a Family Fun Day, please look at the dates that are available and let me know which one you would like. 

Upcoming Events:

·      Wednesday, January 31 – Celebrate Gavin’s Birthday

·      Friday, February 2 – Family Fun Day

·      February 5-9 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30)

·      Monday, February 12 – Celebrate Jaxons’s Birthday

·      Tuesday, February 13 – Spelling Bee @1:00

·      Wednesday, February 14 – Valentine’s Party

·      Friday, February 16 – Celebrate Carter’s Birthday

·      Monday, February 19 – No School (President’s Day)

·      Thursday, February 22 – Celebrate Emma’s Birthday

·      Friday, February 23 – Celebrate Cole’s Birthday

·      Friday, February 23 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, March 2 – Celebrate Ella’s Birthday

·      Friday, March 2 – Family Fun Day

·      March 8-9 – No School (Teacher Days)

·      Thursday, March 15 – Spring Pictures

·      Friday, March 16 – Celebrate Karli’s Birthday

·      Friday, March 6 – Family Fun Day

·      Wednesday, March 21 – Kindergarten Registration 1-3

·      Friday, March 23 – Family Fun Day

·      Tuesday, March 27 – Celebrate Sheryl’s Birthday

·      Wednesday, March 28 – Celebrate Lily’s Birthday

·      Thursday, March 29 – Celebrate Chloe’s Birthday

·      Friday, March 30 – Easter Party

·      April 2-6 – No School (Spring Break)

January 12 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

January 12, 2018

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 place value. We also started a new unit in our CKLA skills.  We are reading informational text about animals that live in a zoo.  We are going to start writing snowmen stories. 

Math Groups:

         In First grade we have been doing some math groups.  We gave a common assessment with addition problems up to 20.  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.

         As First Grade teachers we went through the core and decided and what was the most important math and reading concepts we wanted them to know by the end of the year.  In our math groups we are working on these skills. 

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.

RAZ Kids:

The PTA purchased a subscription to RAZ kids for our class.  I don’t have very many 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.

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 15 – No School (MLK Day)

·      Friday, January 19 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, January 22 – Celebrate Amelia’s ½ Birthday

·      Friday, January 26 – Family Fun Day

·      Wednesday, January 31 – Celebrate Gavin’s Birthday

·      Friday, February 2 – Family Fun Day

·      February 5-9 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30)

·      Monday, February 12 – Celebrate Jaxons’s Birthday

·      Tuesday, February 13 – Spelling Bee @1:00

·      Wednesday, February 14 – Valentine’s Party

·      Friday, February 16 – Celebrate Carter’s Birthday

·      Monday, February 19 – No School (President’s Day)

·      Thursday, February 22 – Celebrate Emma’s Birthday

·      Friday, February 23 – Celebrate Cole’s Birthday

·      Friday, February 23 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, March 2 – Celebrate Ella’s Birthday

·      Friday, March 2 – Family Fun Day

·      March 8-9 – No School (Teacher Days)

·      Thursday, March 15 – Spring Pictures

·      Friday, March 16 – Celebrate Karli’s Birthday

·      Friday, March 6 – Family Fun Day

·      Wednesday, March 21 – Kindergarten Registration                                    1:00-3:00

·      Friday, March 23 – Family Fun Day

·      Tuesday, March 27 – Celebrate Sheryl’s Birthday

·      Wednesday, March 28 – Celebrate Lily’s Birthday

·      Thursday, March 29 – Celebrate Chloe’s Birthday

·      Friday, March 30 – Easter Party

·      April 2-6 – No School (Spring Break)

January 5 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

January 5, 2018

Review of our week:

         In math this week we started on our Place Value Chapter.  I will send home subtraction flashcards next week, 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. 

                          

Book Orders:

         I am sending home the January Book Orders.  If you would like to order books, please return your order by Thursday, January 12.  You can also order online.

Spelling Bee:

         All of the information about the Spelling Bee is on the school website.

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.

Upcoming Events:

·      Monday, January 15 – No School (MLK Day)

·      Friday, January 19 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, January 22 – Celebrate Amelia’s ½ Birthday

·      Friday, January 26 – Family Fun Day

·      Wednesday, January 31 – Celebrate Gavin’s Birthday

·      Friday, February 2 – Family Fun Day

·      February 5-9 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30)

·      Monday, February 12 – Celebrate Jaxons’s Birthday

·      Tuesday, February 13 – Spelling Bee @1:00

·      Wednesday, February 14 – Valentine’s Party

·      Friday, February 16 – Celebrate Carter’s Birthday

·      Monday, February 19 – No School (President’s Day)

·      Thursday, February 22 – Celebrate Emma’s Birthday

·      Friday, February 23 – Celebrate Cole’s Birthday

·      Friday, February 23 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, March 2 – Celebrate Ella’s Birthday

·      Friday, March 2 – Family Fun Day

·      March 8-9 – No School (Teacher Days)

·      Thursday, March 15 – Spring Pictures

·      Friday, March 16 – Celebrate Karli’s Birthday

·      Friday, March 6 – Family Fun Day

·      Wednesday, March 21 – Kindergarten Registration                                    1:00-3:00

·      Friday, March 23 – Family Fun Day

·      Tuesday, March 27 – Celebrate Sheryl’s Birthday

·      Wednesday, March 28 – Celebrate Lily’s Birthday

·      Thursday, March 29 – Celebrate Chloe’s Birthday

·      Friday, March 30 – Easter Party

·      April 2-6 – No School (Spring Break)