October 26 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

October 26, 2012

Review of our week:

         Things are going great in our class.  In math we are working on addition and graphing.  We wrote about what we are going to be for Halloween.  We are still doing the Moon Bag.  If your child has not had it yet or didn’t get to see the moon they will get it next week.   I just wanted to thank all of you for your help and support.  I really do appreciate it. You are all so wonderful.

Homework:

         I am sending home the first reading record for November on today.  Please make sure it gets put in a safe place. Please make sure your child is doing 20 minutes of reading every night.  I still have several students who are not bringing back their take home books.  I can really tell which students are doing their reading homework. I am sending home a Halloween homework page they need to do with their Trick or Treat candy it is due back by Friday.  I am sorry about this weeks reading records.  I really thought I had sent home both of them last week.  If you sent a note with their reading, that was great.  I am sending that reading record home.  Please fill it out and sign it.  It will be due on Monday.  I am really sorry.

Sight Words:

         I have a lot of students who have not brought their paper back saying they are ready to pass them off.  This is holding your child back from moving on in their reading.  I really need you to practice those words with your child.  If you don’t know where the list is please let me know and I can get you a new one.  I do have several who has worked really hard and passed them all off, since I sent the first list home.

Carving Pumpkins:

         I only have 1 dad who is coming to carve pumpkins.  I would really like to have about 3 or 4 more.  We will do it on Wednesday at 10:30.  If you can and would like to come and help us, please let me know.  Thanks

Veterans:

         I would like each child to find out if they have any Veterans in their family.  If they do, I would like them to find out any information and find pictures.  If you could send things that we can keep, at least for awhile that would be great. If you can make a copy of the picture, so that we can keep it, that would be the best.  If it is something that your child can just bring for the day and share, we would love to see it.  Part of our first grade core is American Symbols, so we are going to be really focusing on patriotism.  If you could send them sometime next week, that would be great.

Book Orders:

         I am sending home the Book Orders for November. If you are ordering books for Christmas just let me know, so I can pull them.  If you would like to order books they are due back by Thursday, November,1st  I have set it up, so you can order on the Scholastic website. Your orders will still be due on Thursday, even if you order online.  The website is http://pcool.scholastic.com/parentordering/login.jsp.  When you register you will need the code L9GWX.  This code will let them know your child is in my class and your order will come to me at the school. If you have any questions please let me know.

FYI’s:

* I am sending home Progress Reports next week.  There are not a lot of things marked for this quarter.  It doesn’t mean your child can’t do those things, I just haven’t assessed it yet.  On the counting if they were able to count by 1’s to 120 I circled 1’s. If they were not able to do it, I wrote at the bottom what number they were able to count to. Please look over this, sign the bottom and send it back the strip at the bottom.

* It is starting to get really cold please make sure your child is coming with a coat.  We go outside for recess everyday unless it is raining or snowing really hard.

Upcoming Events:

·      Tuesday, October 30 – Celebrate Parker’s Birthday

·      Wednesday, October 31 – Halloween Party 12:30

·      Wednesday, October 31 – Dad’s Carve Pumpkins 10:30

·      Friday, November 2 – Celebrate Olivia’s Birthday

·      Friday, November 2 – Family Fun Day (Lambert Family)

·      Monday, November 5 – Celebrate Hunter’s Birthday

·      Friday, November 9 – Celebrate Logan’s Birthday

·      Friday, November 9 – Family Fun Day (Holmgren)

·      Wednesday, November 14 – Celebrate Peyton’s Birthday

·      Friday, November 16 – Family Fun Day (Brown Family)

·      Tuesday, November 20 – Celebrate Santana’s Birthday

·      November 21-23 – No School (Thanksgiving Break)

·      Friday, November 30 – Celebrate Lily’s ½ Birthday

·      Friday, November 30 – Family Fun Day (Huff Family)

·      Friday, December 7 – Celebrate McKinley’s Birthday

·      Friday, December 14 – Family Fun Day (Bryan Family)

·      Thursday, December 20 – Celebrate Jenzie’s Birthday

·      Friday, December 21 – Christmas Party

October 12 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

October 12, 2012

Review of our week:

         I just wanted to thank everybody for coming to SEP’s.  Things are going well.  Our Daily 5 and Guided reading are going well.  In math we have started on addition.  This week we wrote a poem about spiders and talked about Fall.  We finished up our unit on rocks and are going to start a unit on the moon.  Mrs. Judd also did a few lessons on the sun and shadows.

I just wanted to thank all of you who have cut things out for me.  I really appreciate it.

Homework:

         Last week I did the prizes for those students who had met the reading goal.  The goal was to read at least 5 days on each reading record and turn them in.  I only had 6 students who met the reading goal.  I really need your help with this.  I have some students who have not turned in any reading records.  I still want them to he honest about their reading.  I need to have them reading every night. 

        

Reminders:

*It is so important your child is here on time, if not a few minutes early.  If they are late on a regular basis they are missing out on a lot of important things in the morning.  I would like you to check out how many tardies your child has when I send home the first progress report.

* I won’t be doing a Newsletter next week.  The spelling words I am posting will be for the next two weeks.

*Remember to keep all of your Box Tops and send them in.

* A couple of weeks ago I sent home the list of sight words your child was on.  I have had several bring back their paper and pass them off.  If you have not been practicing that list with your child, please do so.  They need to have those sight words down to read a lot of the books we are reading and it will help them move up in their reading levels as well. 

                 

Carving Pumpkins:

         I am looking for 5 or 6 dads to come in and carve pumpkins with us on Halloween.  We will do it Wednesday, October 31 at 10:30.  If you are interested and can come and help please let me know.

Upcoming Events:

·      Monday, October 15 – Picture Retakes

·      Wednesday, October 17 – End of 1^st Quarter

·      October 18-19 – No School (Fall Recess)

·      Monday, October 22 – No School (Harvest Recess)

·      October 23-26 – Red Ribbon Week

o   Tuesday – Wear Clothes Backwards

o   Wednesday – Crazy Hair Day

o   Thursday – Pajama Day

o   Friday – Crazy Socks and School Shirts

·      Tuesday, October 30 – Celebrate Parker’s Birthday

·      Wednesday, October 31 – Halloween Party 12:30

·      Wednesday, October 31 – Dad’s Carve Pumpkins 10:30

·      Friday, November 2 – Celebrate Olivia’s Birthday

·      Friday, November 2 – Family Fun Day (Lambert Family)

·      Monday, November 5 – Celebrate Hunter’s Birthday

·      Friday, November 9 – Celebrate Logan’s Birthday

·      Friday, November 9 – Family Fun Day (Holmgren)

·      Wednesday, November 14 – Celebrate Peyton’s Birthday

·      Friday, November 16 – Family Fun Day (Brown Family)

·      Tuesday, November 20 – Celebrate Santana’s Birthday

·      November 21-23 – No School (Thanksgiving Break)

·      November 30 – Celebrate Lily’s ½ Birthday

·      November 30 – Family Fun Day (Huff Family)

September 21 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

September 21, 2012

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 finishing up on patterns, we have also been working on number sense and counting patterns.

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, September 27.  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.

        

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 am sending home a homework paper about your neighborhood and community. They are due back by Friday.

         We are learning about rocks.  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.

        

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 starting Spirit Fridays.  They would like everybody to wear their school shirts on Fridays.  It can either be an old one or they are ordering new ones.  I am sending home the paper for shirts.  They will be doing prizes for those students who are wearing them.

  

F.Y.I’s

*I just wanted to remind you that Library is on Tuesday.  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 starts to get cold.

Upcoming Events:

·      September 23-29 – Turn off the TV Week

·      Monday, September 24 – Celebrate Tristan’s Birthday

·      Monday, September 24 – Fluoride Begins in the gym

·      Friday, September 28 – Family Fun Day

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

·      Friday, October 12 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, October 15 – Picture Retakes

·      Wednesday, October 17 – End of 1^st Quarter

·      October 18-19 – No School (Fall Recess)

·      Monday, October 22 – No School (Harvest Recess)

·      Tuesday, October 30 – Celebrate Parker’s Birthday

·      Wednesday, October 31 – Halloween Party

·      Friday, November 2 – Celebrate Olivia’s Birthday

        

September 14 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

September 14, 2012

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 patterns, graphs and number concepts.  Encourage your child to pick out patterns in things they see at home. 

Homework:

         You and your child still 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.  By the time we start in our guided reading groups, some of them will be ready to move up.  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.

         I sent home a sheet of homework.  In math we have been working on patterns.  They need to find 2 patterns around the house, copy them and write a sentence about the pattern. It is due back by next Friday.   

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, Tuesday and Thursday.

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.

      * Remember to keep saving your Box Tops.   

         * Remember Library books on Tuesday.

* 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 17    -S- Santana DeHerrera 

September 18    -T- Tyler Petersen

September 19    -U- Jonas Bryan

September 20   -V- Amanda Brown

September 21    -W- Eliza Lambert (Celebrate Eliza’s Birthday)

        

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 try and do one in the next couple of weeks 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:

·      Monday, September 17 – Vision Screening

·      Friday, September 21 – Celebrate Eliza’s Birthday

·      September 23-29 – Turn off the TV Week

·      Monday, September 24 – Celebrate Tristan’s Birthday

·      Monday, September 24 – Fluoride Begins in the gym

·      Friday, September 28 – Family Fun Day

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

·      Friday, October 12 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, October 15 – Picture Retakes

·      Wednesday, October 17 – End of 1^st Quarter

·      October 18-19 – No School (Fall Recess)

·      Monday, October 22 – No School (Harvest Recess)

·      Tuesday, October 30 – Celebrate Parker’s Birthday

·      Wednesday, October 31 – Halloween Party

·      Friday, November 2 – Celebrate Olivia’s Birthday

The things in bold are new events.

        

September 7 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

September 7, 2012

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 and patterns and numbers. 

Next Week’s Leaders:

         September 10    -O- Olivia Price

September 11     -P- Parker Johnson

September 12    -Q- Rachel Blodgett

September 13    -R- Evan Scott (Celebrate Evan’s Birthday)

September 14    - Field Trip

*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.  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 14.

Field Trip:

         We are going on our Field Trip next Friday, September 14.  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 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.

Upcoming Events:

·      Monday, September 10 – Fall Pictures

·      Monday, September 10 – Back To School Bash

·      Thursday, September 13 – Celebrate Evan’s Birthday

·      Friday, September 14 – Field Trip to Cedar Breaks

·      Monday, September 17 – Vision Screening

·      Friday, September 21 – Celebrate Eliza’s Birthday

·      September 23-29 – Turn off the TV Week

·      Monday, September 24 – Celebrate Tristan’s Birthday

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

Reading Volunteers

8:45-9:30

Monday – Tiffany Hall

Tuesday – Michelle Lambert

Wednesday – Brittnie Larson

Thursday – Julie Brown

Friday – Hannah Price, Lisa Blodgett

Take Home Books – Lisa Blodgett