January 11 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

January 11, 2012

Review of our week:

         We have been reviewing and getting back into our routine.  In math we have been reviewing addition, subtraction and time.  I will send copy of subtraction flash cards home next week. Please work with your child on these math facts. Your child needs to know their math facts up to 20.

         In reading I have been doing a lot of assessing, trying to get every child on their appropriate reading level.  It is so important your child is reading for 20 minutes EVERY night.

Homework:

         I am sending home a math worksheet as well as a comprehension worksheet.  The story in the comprehension worksheet should be easy for your child to read, I really want you to work with them the comprehension strategy it teaches.         

         I know it was hard to do the reading homework in the month of December, thank you for those of you who took the time to read with your child.  There are still some who never turned in their reading records.  I would like those returned with your signature every week even if they are not all filled in.  I really need to know how much your child is reading.

         I am also sending home a paper with a packet of hot chocolate.  I would like you to help your child make it, let  them drink it and then they need to fill out the paper with it.  They need to use their 5 senses and come up with 3 adjectives to describe the hot chocolate for each of the senses.  So, they will need to come up with 3 adjectives that describes how it looks and so on.  I have told them how to do this.

Book Orders:

         I am sending home the January Book Orders.  If you would like to order books, please return your order by Thursday, January 17.  You can also order online.  The code for our class is L9GWX.

Field Trip:

         We are going on a Field Trip on Thursday, January 24.  We are going to watch the play Annie.  I am sending home the permission slip.  If you can, I need every child to bring $1 to pay for their ticket.  Please make sure they are here on time that day and that they have a good coat and walking shoes.

Parents:

         From now on, when you come to the school for anything you will need to check in at the office and get a pass.  If you don’t have your pass, I am suppose to ask you to go back to the office and check in.  So, please do it on your way in.  You don’t have to if you are just dropping your child off.

F.Y.I’s:

* Remember to save your Box Tops and send them with your child.

* Next Friday in P.E. they are having a toy day. They can bring a toy that fits in their backpack.

* Now that the holidays are over, if you are interested in doing a Family Fun Day, please let me know.  I have included the available dates for the next couple of months.

* The Spelling Bee is in February.  If your child is interested, they need to be practicing those words.

*The science fair will be coming up in March.  I will be sending home more information when it gets closer. 

* It is the end of the quarter today.  I will be sending home progress reports next week.  With the progress report I will be sending home a paper showing you what homework and reading records your child as turned in for this quarter and last quarter.

* The office has asked us to ask you to make arrangements with your child of how they are going to get home before they come to school.  I know sometimes things change and that’s ok, but if you know before hand, please let them know.

* I have several students who are coming late.  I really need you to make sure they are here on time.

* Remember, that if your child is not going to be at school, you need to call and excuse them.  If the office has not heard from you by 10:00, they will be calling. It would really help Mrs. Smith out if you could call and let her know.

Upcoming Events:

·      Monday, January 21 – No School (MLK)

* Thursday, January 24 – Field Trip (Annie Play)

·      Friday, January 25 – Celebrate Katie’s ½ Birthday

·      Friday, January 25 – Family Fun Day (Pratt Family) 

·      Friday, February 1 – Celebrate Rae’s Birthday

·      Friday, February 1 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, February 8 – Family Fun Day

·      Thursday, February 14 – Valentine’s Party

·      Friday, February 15 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, February 18 – No School (President’s Day)

·      Friday, February 22 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, February 25 – Spelling Bee 2:00

·      Friday, March 1 – Celebrate Amanda’s Birthday

·      March 4-8 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30)

·      Friday, March 8 – Celebrate Tyler’s Birthday

·      Monday, March 11 – Spring Pictures

·      Friday, March 15 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, March 15 – End of 3^rd Quarter

·      Monday, March 18 – Celebrate Rachel’s Birthday

·      Wednesday, March 20 – Kindergarten Registration

·      Friday, March 22 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, March 22 – Science Fair

·      March 27-29 – No School (Spring Break)

Deceember 7 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

December 7, 2012

Review of our week:

         We have been doing some fun Christmas things.  We are still working on addition and subtraction and time to the hour and graphing.  We have been reading some fun Christmas stories with comprehension questions in reading.    For writing we wrote letters to Santa, filled out an application to be one of Santa’s elves and wrote about what we would do if we were one of Santa’s helpers.

Homework:

         I know this time of year is very busy.  Remember to have your child keep reading.  Please encourage your child to fill out a tree right after they are finished reading, so you don’t have to try and remember at the end of the week how many days they read. Over the break please take the time to review the words we have had so far with your child.  Some are still having a hard time reading some of them. We will not have spelling words when we come back.  I want to take that week to really review our words.

         I am sending home a math worksheet for homework.  It is due back by next Friday.

* I only have 1 mom coming in to help with the Gingerbread Houses.  If you would like to come we could use the help.  Also, if you would like to donate something, please have it here by Thursday the 13^th. 

     

        

Upcoming Events:

·      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

·      Friday, January 11 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, January 11 – End of 2^nd Quarter

·      Monday, January 21 – No School (MLK)

·      Friday, January 25 – Celebrate Katie’s ½ Birthday

·      Friday, January 25 – Family Fun Day (Pratt Family)

        

        

November 29 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

November 27, 2012

Review of our week:

         This week in Math we have been working on addition, subtraction, time and graphing. We made chains, counting by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s and 10’s. I have been able to move many students over the last couple of weeks in my reading groups.  I can really tell those students who are doing their reading every night.  If your child has lost their take home book, please take sometime and help them find it.  If you can’t find it, you can send $5 and they will get a new one.   

Homework:

         I know this time of year is very busy. Please encourage your child to fill out a tree right after they are finished reading, so you don’t have to try and remember at the end of the week how many days they read.

         There are a few students who are not bringing their take home books back every day.  This is a great resource and some are not taking advantage of it.  Please make sure your child reads their book every night and brings it back, so they can get a new one the next day. 

         If there is a day you would like to come in and do your Family Fun Day, please let me know.

FYI’S

* When it starts getting cold, please make sure your child is wearing a coat to school.  We will be going out to recess unless it is snowing.  When it snows, only the students who have snow boots on can be out in the snow, otherwise they have to stay where it has been plowed. 

* If you have not emailed me your family tradition and recipe, please do so as soon as possible.

* I only have 1 mom coming in to help with the Gingerbread Houses.  If you would like to come we could use the help.  Also, if you would like to donate something, please have it here by Thursday the 13^th. 

     

Upcoming Events:

·      Friday, December 7 – Celebrate McKinley’s Birthday

·      Friday, December 7 – Family Fun Day (Holmgren Family)

·      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

·      Friday, January 11 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, January 11 – End of 2^nd Quarter

·      Monday, January 21 – No School (MLK)

·      Friday, January 25 – Celebrate Katie’s ½ Birthday

·      Friday, January 25 – Family Fun Day (Pratt Family)

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