Only five more weeks of school are left! I told the students that right after the last day is over, they will be SECOND GRADERS! And then…tomorrow…they will be graduating from high school… The years sometime feel to move that fast. The students have grown up so much since last August when we met for the first time. I will cherish these last few weeks that I have with them.
On May 13th (a Monday) a field trip is scheduled to Cameron Park Zoo in Waco. Please check your calendars and sign up to help transport students on this outing. I would appreciate as many helpers as possible, so that I can enjoy the zoo as well (instead of having to count to nine about a hundred times during the day!) When you sign the permission slip for that field trip, please indicate whether or not you are able to accompany us and how many people your vehicle can accommodate (for students - back seats only). The children enjoy your presence very much, and I am so grateful for your help.
On Friday of this coming week, May 3rd, we will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo, (the fifth of May) which is the anniversary of a famous battle in Mexican history (fought against the French) in 1882. Here at CCS we will enjoy a performance of folklorico dancing at 9 a.m., and everyone is invited to wear festive and colorful clothing on that day. VIVA MEXICO !
These spelling words and synonyms are the same from last week (because of Stanford testing.)
Spelling Words for the Week:
warm, walk, give, cloud, loud, proud, found, ground, sound, mouth, south, out
Review Week for Synonym Pairs (Quiz on Friday, May 3rd):
brisk-quick story-yarn food-chuck egg laying-oviparous stop-terminate
change-transformation climb-ascend climb down-descend clean-tidy run-flee
end-conclusion weatherman-meteorologist
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Last week was a difficult week for our nation. The Boston Marathon bombing and the West explosion gave me a brief feeling of despair. Fred Rogers, a personal hero of mine for the last 50 years, encouraged me this week with his wise words "...look to all the helpers...(in a disaster)." The first responders and brave individuals who put others before their own safety give us hope and encouragement. My prayer is that if/when we are called on to do the same, there will be no hesitation on our part. It is true that tribulation brings us closer to God and to each other, and it makes us feel stronger to face troubles in our lives. I deliberately chose not to mention the disasters of the week in our classroom, but I asked God to show me how, under heaven, I could make this a positive experience for my first graders. He answered me this morning in our worship service.
Brady is a kindergarten student in West, Texas. He is being raised by his grandparents who were watching a fertilizer plant fire with him from a large window in their home. The subsequent explosion has sent them all to the hospital with possible vision loss. Brady was sent to a hospital in Dallas where he has been accompanied by his kindergarten teacher and her husband (members of my church) for the last week. I will ask my first graders to write cards and draw pictures of encouragement to Brady as he courageously faces what few people his age ever have to. So Monday morning, our first graders will be invited to help take part in making the world a better place.
If you need any help organizing your research for the science fair project, please contact Tenille Shaw. She is ready to give information that will help you understand the scientific method which scientists use to test ideas. (First graders will only be responsible for a part of the scientific method.) Right now is the time to enlist her help. Please do not wait until right before the fair to ask for information from her.
Spelling Words for the Week:
warm, walk, give, cloud, loud, proud, found, ground, sound, mouth, south, out
Review Week for these 12 Synonym Pairs: (Quiz on Friday, April 26th):
brisk-quick story-yarn food-chuck oviparous - egg-laying stop-terminate
change-transformation climb-ascend climb down-descend clean-tidy
run-flee end-conclusion weatherman-meteorologist
Blessings,
Mrs. E.
Brady is a kindergarten student in West, Texas. He is being raised by his grandparents who were watching a fertilizer plant fire with him from a large window in their home. The subsequent explosion has sent them all to the hospital with possible vision loss. Brady was sent to a hospital in Dallas where he has been accompanied by his kindergarten teacher and her husband (members of my church) for the last week. I will ask my first graders to write cards and draw pictures of encouragement to Brady as he courageously faces what few people his age ever have to. So Monday morning, our first graders will be invited to help take part in making the world a better place.
If you need any help organizing your research for the science fair project, please contact Tenille Shaw. She is ready to give information that will help you understand the scientific method which scientists use to test ideas. (First graders will only be responsible for a part of the scientific method.) Right now is the time to enlist her help. Please do not wait until right before the fair to ask for information from her.
Spelling Words for the Week:
warm, walk, give, cloud, loud, proud, found, ground, sound, mouth, south, out
Review Week for these 12 Synonym Pairs: (Quiz on Friday, April 26th):
brisk-quick story-yarn food-chuck oviparous - egg-laying stop-terminate
change-transformation climb-ascend climb down-descend clean-tidy
run-flee end-conclusion weatherman-meteorologist
Blessings,
Mrs. E.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
This week first graders are completing science units on "Vertebrates vs. Invertebrates" and "Who is Oviparous?" For the remainder of April, we will focus on weather patterns and the unique properties of water. As you check weather forecasts to plan your daily activities, allow your students to hear what the meteorologists are predicting, and then together you can see if the weather is usually or usually not what is expected.
Thank you, Grandparents and beloved family members, for coming to our Grandparents Day celebration on Friday. The children did a superb job on their program! They also enjoyed sharing what they have learned in the classroom very much. You made the day very special for us as well.
This week we will review test-taking skills to prepare for the Stanford Tests next week (April 23-25.) First graders have been doing several SuperKids language tests throughout the year, so there should not be any trouble transferring those skills to the Stanford. Please be diligent to make sure your student gets enough rest each night and that he/she eats a protein rich breakfast, especially on test days. These tests are not timed, and so we will give each student the sufficient time required to complete each part. A protein breakfast will give them stamina and help them focus. I will do my part to help keep them relaxed and gently motivated with frequent breaks and little "surprises" throughout the mornings. (Test taking can even be fun, as students get to show off what they know.) I am very proud of everyone, and I know they will all do their very best!
Spelling Words for the Week:
collar, dollar, forward, word, world, worm, actor, early, earn, earth, caterpillar, calendar
Synonym Pairs:
run…….....flee end…….conclusion weatherman…………meteorologist
Please do not forget to return the signed permission slip this week for our field trip to Walker Park on Monday, April 22.
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Thank you, Grandparents and beloved family members, for coming to our Grandparents Day celebration on Friday. The children did a superb job on their program! They also enjoyed sharing what they have learned in the classroom very much. You made the day very special for us as well.
This week we will review test-taking skills to prepare for the Stanford Tests next week (April 23-25.) First graders have been doing several SuperKids language tests throughout the year, so there should not be any trouble transferring those skills to the Stanford. Please be diligent to make sure your student gets enough rest each night and that he/she eats a protein rich breakfast, especially on test days. These tests are not timed, and so we will give each student the sufficient time required to complete each part. A protein breakfast will give them stamina and help them focus. I will do my part to help keep them relaxed and gently motivated with frequent breaks and little "surprises" throughout the mornings. (Test taking can even be fun, as students get to show off what they know.) I am very proud of everyone, and I know they will all do their very best!
Spelling Words for the Week:
collar, dollar, forward, word, world, worm, actor, early, earn, earth, caterpillar, calendar
Synonym Pairs:
run…….....flee end…….conclusion weatherman…………meteorologist
Please do not forget to return the signed permission slip this week for our field trip to Walker Park on Monday, April 22.
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Sunday, April 7, 2013
What a refreshing week of cool weather we had last week! The children enjoyed play time outside so much. Their observations of the natural world have stepped up to a whole new level as we have carefully watched various organisms in our classroom go through their spring transformations. It is wonderful to see students use knowledge they already have acquired to ask questions about new things.
Friday we enjoyed a special concert by David Holt. It was a very fitting way to close our western unit. Mr. Holt shared folk music and stories for an hour and the students hardly blinked. We learned how to play the "spoons," so you should be hearing beautiful percussion music at home as a result.
The first graders made chili for lunch, and it was delicious. You will find this recipe in the Texas Book, since it is the Texas State Dish!
Spelling Words for the week:
right, wash, light, joint, point, toyshop, softly, sadly, sleepily, happily, carefully, cheerfully
Synonym Pairs:
Climb (up)…..ascend climb down…….descend clean……tidy
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Friday we enjoyed a special concert by David Holt. It was a very fitting way to close our western unit. Mr. Holt shared folk music and stories for an hour and the students hardly blinked. We learned how to play the "spoons," so you should be hearing beautiful percussion music at home as a result.
The first graders made chili for lunch, and it was delicious. You will find this recipe in the Texas Book, since it is the Texas State Dish!
Spelling Words for the week:
right, wash, light, joint, point, toyshop, softly, sadly, sleepily, happily, carefully, cheerfully
Synonym Pairs:
Climb (up)…..ascend climb down…….descend clean……tidy
Blessings,
Mrs. E
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