Newsletter #7
Office Donations
Newsletter #6
Newsletter #5
Newsletter #4
Hello!
Here is our first grade weekly update. It's hard to believe that we are nearing the end of October!
Reading
This week, we continued to practice reading with partners. We've learned that partners can help is many different ways. We worked on thinking deeper about the books we are reading by having a conversation with our partner about our books. We also practiced retelling and remembering our books together.
Writing
Our new unit in writing is "Writing for Readers." This means we are working on making our writing easy for others to read. We worked on identifying reasons why our writing can be difficult to read (ex: lack of spaces, messy handwriting, and capital letters in the middle of words). We also worked on fixing up these pieces so that our classmates and others can easily read our writing.
Math
Math workshop is in full swing, and I love hearing all the comments like "math is so much fun!" We have worked really hard on using strategies to solve addition equations and story problems, and now we are moving into strategies for solving subtraction equations and story problems. We also learned two new work sites this week! Our goal as mathematicians the past couple of weeks is to challenge oursleves. Ask your first grader one way they challenged themselves as a mathematician this week.
Social Studies
This week in social studies, we began our Geography unit. In this unit, we will explore maps and globes, learn how to create bird's eye view maps, and discuss how we learn about places. We learned about the parts of an address this week, and we have practiced memorizing and writing our address. If you are able, please have your child practice verbally stating their address with you at home, as well as writing it. This is a very important life skill.
Our office is in need of boys and girls pants for when students have spills, playground slips, or bathroom accidents. Sizes 4T-10/12 would be appreciated. The office is also in need of hats, gloves, and mittens for our upcoming winter season. Any donations will be greatly appreciated!
WEB Reading Homework
Thank you very much for helping your child develop a reading routine each night with their WEB book. It is very important for developing habits as lifelong readers.
Halloween Parties
Halloween parties will take place on Monday, October 31 from 2:30-3:30. Your child will need to take their costume with them to school and change into it before our party. Please do not send them to school in their costume for the full day.
Snack
Please remember to send a peanut-free snack with your child everyday so that their brains and tummies will be ready to learn! Thank you so much with your help with this!
Boots
As our weather starts to change, please make sure your child has a pair of shoes in their locker or backpack when they need to wear boots. Boots are not allowed to be worn in the classroom to protect our beautiful carpet. Thanks!
Specials Next Week
Monday: Art
Tuesday: Music
Wednesday: STEAM
Thursday: PE
Friday: Art
Upcoming Dates:
October 28: School Families
October 31: Halloween Parties 2:30-3:30
November 3: Picture Retakes
November 4: Early Release
Thank you for allowing me to teach your child and teaching them to be respectful! I am so blessed to be able to do what I love for my career! Have a wonderful weekend!
~Mrs. Anderson
Newsletter #6
Hello First Grade Families,
We have had another great week in first grade!
Reading
This week in reading, we learned how to do Read To Someone! This is a strategy loved by everyone! When introducing this strategy, we talk about how we can be helpful to our reading partner. We can support them in many ways when they read (giving them strategies, helping them thing about what happened in the book, keeping their eyes on the words etc..) and most of all, read to someone is fun!
Writing
We had our first writing celebration this week! Our goal for this unit was to be able to write a small moment story and build our writing stamina. As each student read their piece in front of the class, I was so proud of the work each first grader accomplished! We even had a juice toast to celebrate our hard work! The next unit will focus on Writing For Readers.
Math
We learned a fabulous new strategy this week in math to help us be more efficient with addition equations. The strategy is called counting on. When we see an addition equation, the first thing we do is underline the greater number and draw circles above the smaller number. Then we say the big number out loud and count the rest of the circles on our fingers. We can even do this strategy without paper and pencils!
Social Studies
We have wrapped up our economics unit and will move into our maps/globes unit next week. For this unit, your child will need to memorize and write their address correctly. This can be a very tricky thing for first graders. One way to help with this is to come up with a song or a chant to help them remember their house number and street name. If students do not finish their practice at school, you may see this come home for homework in their take home folder.
WEB
Thank you for your patience as we get WEB up and running! Also, thank you for your time spent reading with your child each night. I know fall schedules are very busy!
Smart Words
We have been learning about academic vocabulary words this year that build upon last year's words. This month, we are focussing on compare and contrast. See if your first grader can tell you what these words mean and try to compare/contrast some things at home!
Next Week Specials
Monday-PE
Tuesday-Art
Wednesday-Music
Thursday-STEAM
Friday-PE
Other Items
Book Order
Our book order is due October 17. Our class code is J2GZ9. Go to www.scholastic.com to order some great books at a low cost! Some of our favorites are the Non-fiction books: What If You Had Animal......! Elephant and Piggy Books, and Pete The Cat.
Halloween Parties
Halloween parties will take place on Monday, October 31 from 2:30-3:30. Your child will need to take their costume with them to school and change into it before our party.
Snack
Please make sure your first grader has a healthy, peanut-free snack for our morning snack break each day. Thank you for helping with this!
Upcoming Dates:
Friday, October 21: PTA Father/Son Football Game: Where? Eagle Stadium 7-9:00pm
October 20: PTA Meeting @ 7:00pm
October 28: School Families
October 31: Halloween Parties 2:30-3:30
November 3: Picture Retakes
November 4: Early Release
Have a great weekend!
Newsletter #5
Hello First Grade Families,
Thank you so much for all your help, donations, and time spent at the Walk-a-Thon! The kids had a blast and enjoyed the day, the snacks, and your support.
Reading
In reading this week, we've been taking some time learning reading strategies for tricky words. Our strategies match up with some beanie babies to help us remember what to do. You may have heard of Eagle Eye (look at the pictures) or Stretchy Snake (stretch out the words). Be sure to ask your first grader what other great strategies they learned this week. There is a bookmark in their WEB bag to help remind them, so please use this with them while they're reading!
WEB
Today your child will be coming home with a WEB book. Please have your first grader read this book to you every night. They need to return it to school each day to switch for a new book. Reading every day at home and school helps us grow as readers, become fluent readers, and help us grow our vocabulary and background knowledge. Thank you for your support with reading at home!
Additionally, your child may also have a word ring in their WEB bag. Please have your child read through the sight words on the word ring daily, and practice the three words in the smaller snack bag. Once your child consistently knows these three words, they'll be added to the word ring and they'll have new words to work on.
Writing
We are preparing for our first writing celebration Tuesday! We've picked our favorite piece of writing to publish, and have been working hard to make it even better. We've revised by adding details and an ending. We've edited to check for punctuation and spelling, and we've met with our partners to help make sure the story makes sense. On Tuesday we get to share our writing with our classmates and celebrate with a juice toast. Would you be willing to donate some juice to our first graders for our writing celebrations? If so, please sign up with the sign up genius below. Thank you in advance!
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0f4aa5ae22abfd0-writing
Math
This week in math we've continued some fantastic work in math workshop. The children are working independently doing math activities that supports our learning. I'm so impressed with their focus and drive to learn. We are continuing our work with finding number partners. Your child can solve equations as well using circle drawings and counting on their fingers. We've also started solving and creating story problems. Our first graders are quickly growing into skilled mathematicians!
Social Studies
This week in social studies we've continued our work with economics. We learned that scarcity means sometimes there is not enough and we need to make another choice. Your child learned a cute song about it, so ask if they can sing it to you! We also learned about how trade can help each person get what they need, and that money helps to make trade easier.
Behavior
Continue to watch for white SuperStar Tickets to come home! Children get to fill out tickets when they are being a great example to others, when they show positive character traits and when they do the right thing. We fill out dozens of tickets a day! On Friday's we do a drawing and 2 kids earn an extra little prize . You will know if your child was drawn because they'll have a special certificate explaining the prize they chose (show and tell, hat day, etc.) All the tickets come home on Mondays, so please praise your child when you see these coming home!
Instagram
I finally have received all photo release forms! So, look for pictures of our class on our instagram page or our blog page! @mrsandesonfirstgrade
Important Dates
Oct. 14 - Early Release. Dismissal at 12:09
Oct. 20 - PTA Meeting at 7pm
Oct. 21 - Bounce Party for students that qualify from WAT
Oct. 21 - PTA Dad/Son Football Game 7pm
Thank You
Thank you to all the parents who came to help with walk-a-thon today! We made it with nice weather! Also, thank you to Alicia Sparpana for her help organizing this!
Thanks for another great week in first grade!
Newsletter #4
Hello First Grade Families,
September has flown by so quickly and we are all working very hard each day to become the best first graders we can be.
Reading
This week in reading we continued to work on our stamina and learned different ways we can keep thinking even after we are done reading. We learned how to stop during our reading in order to make sure we understand what we have just read. We also began to compare two different books to identify ways they are the same and also how they are different from one another. We have reached our 20 minute mark a few times and will continue to work on keeping our reading stamina at or above 20 minutes each day!
Writing
This week in writing we were able to add more details to our writing through partner work. We met with our partners a couple days so that we could read our stories out loud and listen for missing words or parts that were confusing. We also have been adding dialogue in order to make our stories come alive! Also, if you have not completed the writing memories page, please complete it and send it in next week! These have helped each writer come up with a new story to write about with many details!
Math
During math this week, we set up our math work sites. These allow each student to work on the days current objective in addition to practicing increasing their number sense. We worked on how to care for materials so that when the next group comes to that station, it is easy to get started right away. We also started our second math unit which asks us to tell and solve math addition story problems. I am excited to watch as each student takes charge of their learning during math.
Social Studies
This week in Social Studies, we finished our first unit and have moved from talking about families into economics. We were able to discuss and learn about wants vs. needs and how to distinguish between goods and services. We will continue to identify economics in our daily lives and how it affects us a producer or consumer.
Behavior Goal
Our class has come up with the goal to improve our listening behaviors. We will be working on this all week! We will review what a good listener looks like, acts like and does. At the end of the day, we will reflect on our class as a team and rate how we did. You can reinforce this at home by making sure your first grader is giving you eye contact, waiting to speak until its their turn and demonstrating what their body should look like as a listener.
Specials Schedule
Monday-Music
Tuesday-STEAM
Wednesday-PE
Thursday-Art
Friday-Music
Other Notes
Next week will be our spirit week! Help your child dress appropriately for each day to join in on the Hudsonville fun before Homecoming!
Monday - Comfy Day
Tuesday - Crazy Hair Day
Wednesday - Proud to be an American Day
Thursday - Hat Day
Friday - School Spirit Day **Wear those Hudsonville colors!
Hudsonville Turkey Trot - A letter come home in your child’s take home folder about this special event taking place on October 25. If you did not see the letter please let me know and I will send one home. Please consider joining in on the fun!
Race Date - October 25
Time - Races begin at 5:00. Gates open at 4:30.
Entry Fee - $6.00 per person
Entry Deadline - Friday, October 7
Walk-A-Thon
Walk-A-Thon will be this coming up coming Friday, October 7. Please consider helping out at this event and talk to our Head Classroom Parent - Alicia Sparpana if you are interested! Our walking time will be from 1:00 to 1:45 in the afternoon!
Library
Library books are due each Monday. Please try to help your child remember to put it in their backpack after the weekend so they are able to check out a new book on Monday!
Thank you for taking the time to read over all the exciting things happening here in first grade but also at Jamestown Elementary! We are excited to grow as a community to help our students become successful in first grade!
Have a great weekend!
~Aubrey Anderson
Newsletter #3
Hello First Grade Families!
Week #3 is in the books, and it is very exciting to see our class settle into our routines and procedures.
Reading
This week in reading, we learned some strategies to help us continue to grow our reading stamina. First, we practiced reading for a long time by putting all of our books in a pile, reading one at a time, and moving the books to another pile when finished. Students were able to read many books without stopping. We also practiced rereading our books using storyteller voices and looking even closer at the pictures. We also practiced using the pictures to make a movie in our head before we begin reading the book. We continue to work on building our stamina, and we are making great progress toward 20 minutes!
Writing
In writing this week, we learned that writers include important information on the first page of their story to help their reader. They include "The 3 Ws:" WHO is in the story, WHERE they are, and WHAT is happening. We also began learning how to work with a writing partner. We will use our partners to help us plan stories, as well as revise and share our stories. If you have not had the chance to complete the writing topics assignment with your child, please send it in next week.
Math
In math, we finished our first unit of math. We took our first unit assessment today. We also worked on building our stamina and independence in math through "work sites." Work sites are one part of our math workshop, in which students are exploring and learning mathematical concepts through hands-on activities.
Social/Behavior
What does a classroom leader look like? We spent some time this week discussing this. We talked about 3 positive classroom expectations to help us all to be leaders and to be the best versions of us we can be. These expectations include: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible.
Library
We have library every Monday. Please make sure your child returns his/her library book on or before Monday so a new book can come home each week.
Specials
Monday: Art
Tuesday: Music
Wednesday: STEAM
Thursday: PE
Friday: Art
Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair will be held at Jamestown Lower Elementary next week! Your child will have the opportunity to shop for some new books while at school! Our class will be shopping on Wednesday If you would like your child to purchase a book, please send money (price of book(s) plus tax) in a labeled envelope. You can check out the book choices and also sign up to volunteer by clicking on the link below! Another way for you to check out the book choices is by browsing the book fair flyer that will be coming home. We are still in need of some volunteers for this event! http://www.scholastic.com/bf/jamestownelementaryschool8
VIP Day
VIP Day will take place at Jamestown Lower on Wednesday, September 28 at 2:45 pm. Please see the attached invitation with more details.
Spirit Week
Spirit Week will take place October 3-7 at Jamestown! Here is the schedule for that week:
Monday: Comfy Day
Tuesday: Crazy Hair Day
Wednesday: Proud to be an American Day
Thursday: Hat Day
Friday: School Spirit Day! Wear maize and blue!
Walk-a-Thon
Our annual Walk-a-thon fundraiser for PTA will be on Friday, October 7. It will take place on the path connecting Jamestown Upper and Lower. The times are as follows:
1st/4th grade- 1:00-1:45
K/3rd grade- 9:00-9:45
2nd/5th grade- 10:00-10:45
We had a brief assembly today to kick it off, and your child is coming home with an envelope to begin collecting donations. There are various prizes available, including a bounce house party for students who raise $50 or more. If you would like to help out at this fun event, all are welcome. If you'd like to be a lap counter or donate some snacks (some of you already signed up at open house), please contact our head room parents, Alicia Sparpana. Her e-mail is: jasparpana@yahoo.com She will be connecting with those of you that signed up already!
Other Notes
*Water Bottles: Your child is welcome to take their water bottle with them to school each day. However, I am going to request that they stay in their lockers. They may get a drink when they need one as long as they ask me to leave the room. Water is very important for a healthy brain and is encouraged! We also have a drinking fountain in our classroom that they are welcome to use. The reason for this change is because we have been damaging expensive school materials with our water bottles because they have spilled on them, so we are going to store them in our lockers from now on. Thank you for your understanding with this!
Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Anderson
Newsletter #2
Hello First Grade Families!
It has been another great week! What beautiful weather as well!
Reading
This week in reading, we practiced stamina for read to self. As a class, we continue to grow and increase our time! Our goal will be to get to 20 minutes or more. We also started teaching our first lessons in reading. We learned that readers warm up with a book before they begin reading it. They look at the front cover, back cover and the pages to predict what the book will be about. Lastly, we learned that readers make goals for themselves about how many books they will read and then try to reach those goals.
Writing
This week in writing, we learned that writer's write true stories. We first think of our topic, sketch what happened and finally, write the words. Writer's also plan first on their fingers or pointing to the pages of their book to retell what happened. Please look for your first graders's first piece of homework in their folders today! This is due next week Friday the 23rd!
Math
In math, we are busy learning partners for 6, 7, 8, and 9. It has been fun to use several different manipulatives and counters to help us visualize and count these partners. We also reviewed math mountains. The students saw these in kindergarten, so they already knew what to do to make the partners equal the total!
Social/Behavior
We have been working on "team building" activities this week. These activities helped us to focus on problem solving, taking turns and helping our classmates. It has been awesome to see them put these methods into practice! We will continue to work on social goals next week. Many of us are working on following directions:)
Watch Dogs
Attached is the Watch Dogs invitation for all the Jamestown Dads/Father Figures! We hope to see you there!
Picture Day
Picture day is this week Wednesday (September 21)! Please remember your envelopes if you choose to order school pictures!
Library
We will have our first library time this week Monday (September 19). The students will be able to check out 1 book and will need to return it every Monday in order to get a new book.
Scholastic Book Orders
These came home this week! Scholastic is a great way to build an at home library for your child! The books are very reasonably priced and usually they always have a $1.00 book section. Due September 26th! Here is the website link and our class code. https://clubs.scholastic.com/home
Class Code: J2GZ9
Appointments and Transportation
Please try to make any appointments needed (dentist, doctor etc..) for after 3:00 p.m. We will be doing such important work in our main content areas up until this time. It is hard to miss any part of the school day, but if it is needed, please try to make appointments after 3:00.
If your child will need any different type of transportation other than their normal schedule, please send me a note or e-mail in the morning, so I can make sure to get them home safely.
Thank you so much for all the donations! We will be all set for a good portion of the year! It is so appreciated! Have a great weekend!
~Mrs. Anderson
Newsletter #1
Dear Parents,
This year instead of a formatted newsletter I'll be sending our weekly updates in the form of an email. This will contain all the information a newsletter would, but will hopefully be more accessible to you and take just a minute to read through as you go through your inbox. I will also post the update on our class blog, so if you're looking for some information later you don't have to save or search through your email.
Reading
This week in reading we've been working hard at getting our reading routines settled. We've practiced Read to Self and are working on building stamina. Our first graders have made it 5 minutes straight! That is such a great start! Next week I'll be doing some reading assessments and learning some great goals to start on with your children.
Writing
We will be starting our writing workshop next week. You will be seeing some writing "homework" come home next week. Each student will be asked to create a page with pictures and memories for their writing folder. This page will help them think of topics to write about during workshop. In first grade we spend a lot of time writing about our life experiences (personal narratives). Occasionally students struggle with coming up with a topic. This page will solve that problem! Thanks for taking time to do this with your child!
Math
This week we started some beginning math practice. We learned about making 5 groups when adding, and we learned about partners of 5! The first graders have been working in some math work sites by using manipulatives to work with number partners. We are setting the stage for math workshop and I'm very excited about what I'm seeing your children do already.
Snack
Please make sure your first grader has a healthy snack for our snack break in the morning. This is different than Kindergarten. Students are in charge of taking their own snack to school each day. We do not do a class snack.
Watch Dogs!
Our annual "Watch Dogs" kick off night will be on September 20. Please the attached invitation for more details. We would love to see you there!
Other Notes
*Thank you for the class donations! Thanks to you, we have all the resources we need. What a huge blessing to our class.
* It would be a great help if you would help your child learn to tie their shoes. When there are only 5 minutes before special, it can be very time consuming for me to have to tie 15 pairs of shoes. Thank you!
* Have you filled out our class survey? I'm waiting on a couple more responses before I start posting our class pictures on the blog and Instagram account. Thank you!
* Please help your first grader to remember their take home folder each day. Please check this daily as there may be important information coming home in this folder.
* Don't forget that Friday is an early release day. The children will be dismissed at 12:15 and there will be no lunch served. Your child may order a sack lunch to take home that day through food service if you would like.
Our first week of school was a great one! Have a wonderful week!
~Mrs. Anderson
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