November 16 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

November 16, 2012

Review of our week:

         We have done a lot this week.  In math we are working on addition facts, time and graphing.  We learned how to use a number line.   I also introduced subtraction.  I am sending home a copy of some addition flash cards.  I would really like you to help your child practice their math facts.  You can also purchase a set from Walmart for just a few dollars. In writing we learned how to write notes, so if your child writes you a note please try and write back to them.

        

Homework:

I have included 2 math homework sheets.  Your child needs to ask 10 different people what their favorite Thanksgiving food is and make a table with the information.  I would really like them to do the Brainwork activity.  Please make sure your child reads over the Thanksgiving Break.  We will not have spelling words next week.  I am going to review all of the words we have done so far.  The spelling words are for the week after Thanksgiving.

Gingerbread Houses:

         We are going to be making gingerbread houses on Friday, December 14 at 12:30.  If you could donate a small bag of candy or a container of white frosting, I would really appreciate it.  The candy can be M&M’s, small candy canes, peppermints or anything else you think would look nice on a gingerbread house.  I also need 2-3 parents to come in and help with the gingerbread houses.  If you would like to help please let me know.  If you can donate something please have it here by Thursday, December 13, so I will know how much candy and frosting I will need to get.

         I could still use a couple of people to help with the Christmas Party.

Christmas Traditions and Recipes:

         A couple of years ago I had each student go home and talk to their family about their favorite Christmas tradition and what their favorite Christmas food was and bring in the recipe.  I have decided to do that again.  Over the next couple of weeks I would like you to sit down with your child and talk about these things.  After you have decided I would like you to EMAIL me with the information.  I am going to put it together in a book to send home.  If you email it, I can copy and paste instead of having to retype everything.  If you could do this by December 5, I would appreciate it.  That will give me time to get them put together.  If you have any questions please let me know.

        

Box Tops:

         As you are doing your baking and cooking for the Holidays, make sure you are keeping your Box Tops.

Upcoming Events:

·      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)

·      Friday, December 14 – Make Gingerbread Houses

·      Thursday,December 20 – Celebrate Kassidie’s Birthday

·      Friday, December 21 – Christmas Party 1:00

·      Monday, January 7 – School Starts Again

·      Monday, January 7 – Reading Records Due

·      Tuesday, January 8 – Celebrate Jenzie’s Birthday

November 9 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

November 9, 2012

Review of our week:

         In math we are working on adding doubles.  We learned a song to help us with doubles. We only had 1 person bring information about a Veteran.  If you still have some you have not sent, you can do it next week.  We also had Smokey Bear come for an assembly.

F.Y.I’s:

*Please make sure your child is brining at least a jacket if not a coat everyday.  It has been pretty cold this week.  We go out to recess 3 times a day.  They need something to keep them warm.

* Library is on Tuesday for our class.  The last couple of weeks several in our class has not brought their books back.  The reason we go to library is to get new books to read at home.  Please make sure your child has their books back on Tuesday.

* I only had 1 mom sign up to help with the Christmas Party.  If you would like to help with that, please let me know.  It will be on Friday, December 21^st at 1:00.

* As I was checking to see who met the reading goal in October, I noticed that I had A LOT of students who are not turning in their reading records and homework.  I am going to start putting them into Power School and giving you a print out at the end of the month.

* If your child is absent you need to call the office and excuse them.  If the school has not heard from you by 10:00, somebody will be calling you.  Please take the time to call or send an email.  If you send a note to me, please let the office know as well.  I don’t always get notes in time.

Upcoming Events:

·      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 Kassidie’s Birthday

·      Friday, December 21 – Christmas Party

November 2 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s Firsts Grade News

November 2, 2012

Review of our week:

         In math we are still working on addition and we have been working on adding doubles. In writing we learned how to write lists.  It would be great practice for your child to practice making some lists at home.

         I just wanted to thank everybody who came in and carved pumpkins and also the moms who did our Halloween Party.  We love having you come in and help us.

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.

Reading:

         I need you to make sure your child is reading for 20 minutes every night.  At this point I want them to be doing the reading for all of that time, instead of having somebody else read to them.  It is great if you are reading to them on top of their 20 minutes and I would like you to continue with that, but they really need to be doing their 20 minutes of reading themselves.  Reading to them will help make them better readers also.

When your child is reading to you please listen to the way they are reading.  We are really working on fluency and expression especially if your child is on a level F or higher.  We talk about how when you are reading it should sound like you are talking and not like a robot.  Please listen to your child and help them work on these things.  This is one of the reasons they should be reading their take home books at least 2 or 3 times.   I would also like them to be reading the words lists.

I am only getting about half of the reading records turned in on Fridays.  I also have about half the class who is not turning in their homework.  The last several weeks I have had 10-12 kids turning in their reading records.  They are due every Friday.  I also need you to sign it saying you listened to your child read.  Please help your child with this.  I know I forgot to send them one week.  I am sorry.

Spelling Papers:

         Last week I sent home a paper that had 4 boxes with different spelling ideas on it.  I am going to try and send one of these every week.  You don’t have to do them, but they are just some fun ways to practice spelling words.

F.Y.I’s:

         * I just wanted to thank all of you who come in and help in                  our classroom it really means a lot.

         * I am sending home a math worksheet for homework.                     

Upcoming Events:      

·      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 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)