Academic Update

Morning Meetings:

We are continuing to develop a sense of classroom community. Along with community building activities, we read a daily message, daily schedule, calendar, snap words of the week and leadership.

Reading Mini Lesson:

Our first unit is titled- Building Good Reading Habits. We will continue to learn good reading habits over the next few weeks. Here are the reading habits:

• Take a sneak peek
• Check your sneak peek
• Do SOMETHING at the end
• Read More and More

Writers Workshop:
We are writing small moment stories. The LOVE writer's workshop. There are few steps we follow to write a story. 

1. Think of a Story
2. Plan- touch and tell, sketch across the pages
3. Write!

Math Workshop:
We are learning center routines. The students are really enjoying math centers. We started Number Sense Review today- counting and writing tally marks, skip counting and greater than and less than.

Social Studies:

Our first unit is titled People Everywhere.  We will learn about family, community, citizens, leadership and connect those definitions with our own lives. 

Daily Expectations:
The students have been doing a fabulous job learning our first grade expectations! I am so proud of all of them! They are doing a great job adjusting to the busy first grade day and learning how to use more independence! 

As a class we came up with our classroom rules the first day of school. We reference the 7 Habits all day long. Hopefully you noticed the section in your child's binder last night! They can earn class points, drops, and 7 Habits positive notes. The positive notes are my way of saying thank you for Being a Leader and the notes are in their binder behind The 7 Habits- Be a Leader tab. Be sure to ask your child about Daily 5, Writer's Workshop and Math Workshop! They love these times of the day!!

Ask your child about this book:

Ask your child- How do you earn a drop??

Classroom Rules:
1. Be respectful
2.Be responsible
3. Listen to the teacher
4. follow the directions
5. Try your best and have fun!


Please fill out the paper from Ms. Calcaterra that came home last night. Please return it to school by Friday.

Daily 5

This week we started practicing Daily 5. The first day they went "book shopping' for just right books. Then they practiced 'read to self ' ! They did such a great job reading to their stuffed animal!

The next day they practiced 'read to someone'. They read a book to their buddy and talked about the book with each other. 

Your child will read 'just right' books at school and during guided reading. Please keep in mind that reading at home and library books from school are meant for fostering the enjoyment of reading. 

FYI: The Curriculum Packet will be an attachment in an email tomorrow!

Daily Routines

 Daily Routines

Leadership Binder:
Each child will start using their Leadership Binder this week. The students will add to their binder all school year. There are two sections- Goal Setting and Be A Leader. The binder will come home everyday and serve as their daily home folder as well.  Be sure to send the binder back to school each day. Important papers from school will be in their binder. Papers or notes for me or the office will go in the binder as well. Please keep in mind that the students will manage the organization of their binder at school. It is advised that you and your child look through it on a regular basis and discuss their school progress and leadership skills.

We will be creating our Class Mission Statement and Personal Mission Statements this week. These will go in their Leadership Binder as well. 

Planner:
I use the planner as a way to communicate to parents about our day. They will bring home their planner this week too. They will fill out their planner each day. It provides a place for reminders, behavior notes (if needed), block reminders and a place for parents to sign their initials.  

Reading Logs:
Your child is expected to read or be read to M-F for 10 minutes per night. There will be a reading log for each month in their binder under Goal Setting. Our school wide goal is to read 1. 5 Million Minutes by the end of the year. The reading logs and reading homework will start in September.

Weekly Spelling Words:
The students will have weekly spelling words starting in September. They are expected to practice writing/ spelling 5 words each week.The test will be on Fridays. We will only have spelling words on 5 day weeks. 

Homework:
Students are expected to read for 10 minutes or more each night. They will also study their 5 spelling words each week. 


Birthday Celebrations:
We will help your child feel special on their special day. They will receive a birthday crown, birthday book, birthday pencil and choose from 'menu' of activities ( brain break, free choice, extra recess...).

Sweater/ Sweatshirt:
It can get really cold in our classroom. Your child may want to bring a sweatshirt or a sweater to school. They can keep one here at school in their cubby.



Heads Up:

This year, curriculum information will be shared electronically instead of being presented live during Curriculum Night events. Parents, please adjust your calendars accordingly.

Nightly Reading Homework:

This is a great video for parents to help them as they support at home reading.

Such a Great First Day!

#firstdayflyers

We had such a great day!

Getting to know our friends!

Developing Class Rules

All About Me Papers

Brain Break- Gummy Bear Song

Tomorrow will be another day of developing classroom community and learning about our classroom. 

You child will bring home Leadership Binders everyday and a yellow planner. These will start coming home on Monday. 

I will send home more info about our daily routines next week. 

Thank you for your help! You all have such precious first graders! 

Welcome Families/Class List 2016-2017

Hip Hip Hooray!  Welcome to First Grade!

I am so happy to have all of you in my class this year! We are going to have a wonderful year!

Here are your classmates:

Izabella A. 

Madison B.

Lucas C.

William C.

Natalie E.

Adelyn E.

Charles G.

Selina G.

Anylah J.

Sarah K.

Molly M.

Elijah M.

Caleb P.

Maxwell P.

Natalie R.

Paige R.

Roman S.

Caden S.

Caden V. 

Welcome Miss Calcaterra!  She is a student teacher joining us from Lindenwood University. Miss Calcaterra is very excited to get to know your student and create a fun and engaging classroom environment. She grew up in southern Illinois, but currently lives in Saint Louis. In her free time, she enjoys baking and spending time with family and friends. We are happy to have her join us in 1st grade! Miss Calcaterra will be with us through the beginning of December.

* Parents- please check your email on Monday from Mrs. Boyd. It will have a Welcome Letter attachment. 

We are so excited to meet all of you on Tuesday evening! Be sure to bring your supplies!