First graders will begin a botany study this week that will continue throughout the month of November. They will learn that these autotrophic organisms make their own food as well as food for the rest of the planet! Therefore, we should learn as much about plants as possible: the parts of a plant, parts of a flower, parts of a leaf, and parts of a seed. My husband has generously donated all the flowers he received in the hospital for this botany study. Thanks, Mr. E! Students will need to collect at least ten different leaves to contribute to a class leaf collection. This assignment is due Monday, November 5th.
November is also National Native American Heritage Month, and as we study this noble culture and the contributions it has made to our nation, please be prepared to collect and send to school the following items before the appropriate due date:
~ To make moccasins, send a pair of socks that can get cut up (these socks do not have to match but should snugly fit your child-due 11-5)
~ Donate any duct tape that you can spare.....by 11-5.
~ Send an old white t-shirt (may be stained because we will be dyeing them, anyway) that fits your student very loosely. This can be a large adult sized t-shirt....by 11-9.
~ Consider volunteering to set up and decorate the first grade table/s for the Sharing Feast on November 15th. Students will be making all the decorations, so all you will have to do is set the table. More info on this event next week, but our class is responsible for the dressing/stuffing for the school -wide dinner.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP!
Spelling words for this week (Oct 29-Nov 2) are look, your, the, after, ever, never, rested, tested, smelled, yelled. One hint in helping your student with spelling: since spelling is sequential, after studying the words on the cards for a few minutes, ask him to spell the words orally, and he will have to "see" the word in his mind as he spells the word for you.
TTFN,
Mrs. E
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
As we draw near to the end of October with its flurry of activities, the students are reminded of all that we learned during this month: that..."oblique" is another way to say "diagonal" (great debate over that one!), Christopher Columbus has a holiday (we try to be courageous and persistent like him), vertebrates have a spine, and -er words are everywhere! If your student spontaneously shouts an -er word or a homophone pair at the dinner table, rejoice with him/her and promise to write them down to share in class the next day. I rejoice, too, for I learn something new everyday teaching first grade.
Work on our North America maps has begun. We will be reading stories of Central America to reinforce this map work. The study of different cultures broadens our minds, so that we are less likely to feel like the center of the universe. As we enter into the holiday season, this study of other cultures with their holiday celebrations will hopefully enrich our own family traditions. I hope our studies will initiate lively conversations at home.
Work on our North America maps has begun. We will be reading stories of Central America to reinforce this map work. The study of different cultures broadens our minds, so that we are less likely to feel like the center of the universe. As we enter into the holiday season, this study of other cultures with their holiday celebrations will hopefully enrich our own family traditions. I hope our studies will initiate lively conversations at home.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
As the cooler weather approaches, the students and I are enjoying recess times very much. I hope your family is able to take advantage of extended outdoor periods. The change in seasons is exciting and mysterious at the same time, as we observe how God prepares His creation to adapt to cooler temperatures.
First graders are just about all finished with their world maps. When those finally make it home, please post your map in a prominent place to be referenced often. Some have already started on the North American map, so you better brush up on the Central American countries to keep up with your student!
Who knew map making would be so much fun? They were pleasantly surprised to find that Columbus was also a map maker!
Reading Logs are going home this week. Please record your special reading times, and remember to include stories and books written at your student's reading level as well as longer stories/novels written at a higher level. This latter kind of reading exposes children to more complex sentence structures and vocabulary that they would not hear in their daily conversations among their peers or in books that they are able to read independently. Let me know if you would like a suggested reading list for different levels of difficulty. This could be the single most important activity you do to help your child academically. Happy reading!
TTFN,
Mrs. E
First graders are just about all finished with their world maps. When those finally make it home, please post your map in a prominent place to be referenced often. Some have already started on the North American map, so you better brush up on the Central American countries to keep up with your student!
Who knew map making would be so much fun? They were pleasantly surprised to find that Columbus was also a map maker!
Reading Logs are going home this week. Please record your special reading times, and remember to include stories and books written at your student's reading level as well as longer stories/novels written at a higher level. This latter kind of reading exposes children to more complex sentence structures and vocabulary that they would not hear in their daily conversations among their peers or in books that they are able to read independently. Let me know if you would like a suggested reading list for different levels of difficulty. This could be the single most important activity you do to help your child academically. Happy reading!
TTFN,
Mrs. E
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