Challenge Spelling Words

Hi!  The challenge spelling words this week are:

ostrich
otters
octagons
octopus
opposite
offered
overnight
outdoors
ordinary
orchestra

We are focusing on the short o sound and adding -s to the ending of a noun to make it a plural noun.

Challenge Spelling Words

Hi Parents!

I have included some challenge words for the kids to work on in our word work workstation.....if you feel that your child can spell the spelling words that are sent home with no problem you can have them practice these words instead.  They will be tested on the spelling words that go home with the homework packet...not the challenge words.  The challenge words are just to practice for fun.  My suggestion is that you do a "pre-test" with your child tonight.  Very quickly have them orally spell the words to you if they get a 100 then move on to the challenge words if they struggle a little with the regular words then don't move on to the challenge words.  Happy Spelling!

pickle
ticklish
prickly
infant
invite
inventor
internet
interesting
igloo
iguana

Picture Day

Hi!  Picture day was today, but you can still bring money in until Wednesday, October 24th.  I have been getting questions about ordering online...HISD went with a new photography company this year and you CANNOT order online.  You must bring the money in by October 24th.  Thanks!

Hi! Here is some information about this week.

Hi!  Here is some information about this week.

The homework this week is a little different.  A spelling list is in the packet and there will be a spelling test on Friday.  

In language arts and reading we will be reading Sam, Come Back!  We will talk about realistic fiction and character and setting.  

In math we are finishing up subtraction....we are learning about comparing stories such as, I have 5 red markers and 3 blue markers.  How many more red markers do I have?  We are also learning how addition relates to subtraction and fact families such as 2+3+5 so 5-2=3 and 5-3=2.

In social studies we are going to be looking at some historical figures like Benjamin Franklin.

We are starting a new planner soon!  The title of this planner is How We Express Ourselves.  The central idea is that through art, people express ideas, thoughts and feelings.  We will be inquiring into different art forms and styles and the materials that artists all over the world use to create art as well as inquiring into personal reactions to art.

Volunteering

Hi parents!  Here is an email we recieved today about volunteers in our classrooms.  I thought it might clear up some questions you may have.  Thanks!



Teachers,




Please, please, please make sure that your parents who are volunteering are CLEARED to volunteer. And this is NOT just for Field Trips. This goes for volunteering in the classroom, in ANY capacity. We cannot stress this enough. If they are NOT cleared by HISD, they are not able to volunteer.

This is a policy coming from the district.



If parents have volunteered in previous years, they will still need to present their ID’s to reactivate their status. And please note that it takes at least a week to verify.



For parents that are new, or have never registered they must do the following:



Go to www.houstonisd.org

Click on Community

VIPS Login

“I have never used this program. Please register me as a new user.”

Disclaimer : YES

It’s a two web page application.



Once registered, parents must immediately present their id’s so that we may complete the process. Again, it takes at least a week to verify once we’ve entered the information from their driver license and/or passport(whichever ID they have).

Coming up....

If you haven't turned in a permission slip for the SKATE presentation on safety please send it back to school as soon as possible.   Here's what we are doing this coming up week in a nutshell:

In Language Arts we are reviewing the letters Rr, Ww, Jj, Kk, and short Ee.  We are going to be going over the high frequency words he, is, three, to, and with.  As we read stories this week we are going to be concentrating and focusing on the plot or the beginning, middle, and end of the story.  We are also going to start writing with more adjectives this week. 

In Math we are finishing up addition and addition strategies and we are going to start subtraction and subtraction strategies. 

In science we will keep exploring our senses and begin exploring weather and seasons.  In social studies we are going to continue talking about past, present and future and we are finishing up our current unit  of inquiry. 

Hope you have a great weekend!  Here are some pictures to enjoy of things that we did this week.

 AL showed a way to get to 9.



A way to get to 9!




Another way to get to 9.




R, A, and M listen to C read out loud at the library workstation.



A shows his work off at the creation station!

VF and WM work together at the poetry workstation.



AA worked hard at the word work station!



This Week

This week we are busy!  We are reviewing the letter Bb, Gg, Ff and short Ii.  We are continuing our work with verbs and also talking about the plot of stories.  In math we are learning how to use different tools and strategies to help us order numbers.  We are also starting to write in our journals every day.  Thursday and Friday we will explore our senses and we have also been going to LDC all this week and will go next week as well.  The kids are having fun and getting used to the routines and procedures of first grade...they are doing great and have already made so much progress!

Red Folder

Red folders go home on Tuesday and are returned the next day (Wednesday).  Announcements from class and the school as well as graded work and other daily work that your child does in class will be in the red folder.

Here is what went home in the red folder this week:

An envelope for the class fund also went home as well.  If you haven't turned this in please turn it in as soon as possible.  Thanks!

Homework

Hi Parents!  Just a reminder that homework is turned in on Friday in the yellow folder.  Also, don't do all the homework in one night...I want your kiddoes to be able to have some fun when they get home. :)    There is an "assignment sheet" on the front of the homework packet that will guide in what your child should be doing each day.  Of course they should be reading atleast 15 minutes a day and they need to do 1 math sheet and then the activity that is on the front of the assignment sheet.

Yellow folder

Assignment Sheet

This week...

This week we are still going over rules and procedures and learning about first grade.  Please talk with your child about the the importance of waiting their turn to speak while someone is speaking and also listening to the speak while they are talking.  We are still learning that interrupting isn't quite the best way to get someone's attention. :)  In math we are learning how to represent numbers with counters and in social studies we are learning about citizenship, responsibility and what it means to be a classroom community. 

Hello!

There have been some questions about homework...it goes home Monday in the yellow folder and comes back Friday in the yellow folder. 

Some of you have sent back your first-day packet forms and have asked about the health inventory...usually the health inventory was included in the first day packet, but it was not this year.  If the nurse sends us one I will definitely send it home with your child. 

Can you believe we have already been in school for 2 weeks?  Time is flying by!  Please make sure you are reading and writing with your child every single night...literacy at home is extremely important for at school success!

Hello! 

We are off and running with this school year!  I hope to see you at open house tonight!

Miss Kristal

Stanford Testing

Standford testing begins the week of May 7th.  Please make sure that your child is here on time and has had a good breakfast and good night's sleep.  Also, I like to have a little snack after they are done testing every morning, but I need some volunteers to bring in some items.  We need snacks for Monday-Thursday.  If you can bring something in let me know!

May 3rd and 4th

I just wanted to let you know that I will be out on May 3rd and 4th.  I am having a minor medical procedure done and I'm not quite sure how I will react to anaesthesia...the last time I was "under" I was 17 and was getting my wisdom teeth out!  Anyways, just wanted to give you a heads up and let you know what was going on.  Thanks!

Miss Geni

Miss Geni's has been a wonderful addition to our class this semester!  I have enjoyed every minute with her and I know that she has enjoyed the kids and they have enjoyed her.  Building a classroom is a hard job and I would love to help Geni anyway I can.  I thought it would be really great if every student could bring in a packet of stickers that she could take with her for her first teaching position.  Please bring the stickers by this Friday.  I know Geni will love it and be so appreciative! 

Frog and Toad

Save the date! Our class is going to be summer so please dress your child in a bright yellow shirt and blue jeans for the performance. Also, awards will be given out after the performance that night. Can't wait to see you!

Hello!

Can you believe that the school year is almost over?  It has gone by so fast!  Here is a quick breakdown of our week...

Spelling- ou, ow
Writing- Letter to a Character
Math- Subtracting with tens and ones
Science- Ecology and Conservation
Reading- Drawing conclusions
Social Studies- Making good choices

Student led conferences will be on May 2nd.  You can come in from 3-3:30 (I do have to drop kids off at carpool so this will actually start  about 3:10) 3:30-4 and 4-4:30.  A note will be sent home today.

Volunteers

If you would like to volunteer to come in and read with students please let me know....I would need you around 12:30 or so on any day of the week...let me know if you are available!

Hello!

Hi Parents,

We are making solar smores on Thursday and are in need of these items...

Graham crackers
Paper baking cups
Foil baking cups
Jumbo marshmallows
6 Hershey bars

Thanks!

Also, report cards were sent home in a white envelope on Friday....please sign and return them. Some were sent home in big envelopes and some were sent home in small envelopes.

Here's a quick review of this week...
Reading-Theme or lesson learned from text
Spelling-long 00 spelled ui, ue, ew
Math-Subtraction
Science-Solids, liquids and gases and food chains
Social Studies-Inventors and inventions

Workstations!!!

AB wrote a really great story in the writing workstation today!