Lots to Talk About!

Hey Room 10 Parents!  We have a few things to "chat" about.  Here we go:

• Classroom needs:
• Healthy nut-free snacks are in great need!  Crackers, pretzels, cheese sticks, fruit or veggies - pretty much any snack your first grader likes that doesn't involve nuts!  Thank you in advance for your contribution.
  
• Clorox Wipes - We are pretty much out!  They can be any type of cleaning wipes - they certainly don't have to be Clorox brand.  We'd love a few extra containers please.
  
• Folders - I have given out a LOT of loaner folders for your student to take papers home in.  If you would, please do a quick sweep of the house for any of my loaner folders and return them.  We are running low and still have quite a bit of school left!
  
• Reflex Math 
• The math homework for this week will be a log-in page for a new online math program called Reflex Math.  It is a great way to build fact fluency for your first grader.  Please give it a go and see what you think.  In future weeks, Reflex Math or Xtra Math are always an option in lieu of the homework packet math.  Please just do some math!
  
• There have been a lot of date changes through PPS because of all the snow days.  If you are unclear about any of the changes, please visit the PPS website (http://www.pps.net/portland) or email me and I'm happy to help clarify.

Interesting Article

I came across this article and thought it was a good one.  It spoke to me as a mother, rather than a teacher.  You guys have raised some pretty amazing kids.  Perhaps you'll find this interesting as well.

http://curiousmindmagazine.com/parents-who-raise-good-kids/

Back to it

Greetings Room 10 Families,

What a crazy couple of weeks we've had!  We were all happy to see each other this week and attempt to get back into a school routine.  There are a few things to know for the coming weeks.

• We need some snacks!  Next time you find yourself at the grocery store, please think of us.  We'd love some healthy, nut-free snacks!  (Enough for 23 hungry mouths)

• Volunteer Opportunity:
• Your help is needed for the afternoon of Monday, January 30th and Tuesday, January 31st.  We will be doing clay from 12:30-1:45 in our classroom.  Please email me at bandrews@pps.net if you are available to help one or both of those afternoons.  

• Homework and Spelling tests are all out of whack.  Next week's spelling words will be the same as last week's.  There will be a test on those words next Friday.

• Because of the crazy snow storm, there will now be school next Friday, January 27th.  That planning day was bumped back a week, so there will now be NO school the following Friday, February 3.

Winter Holiday Presentations

Wednesday was a very busy day in Room 10!  We frantically finished presents and cards in anticipation of snow (thankfully!).  The snow itself provided a fun distraction!

Sprinkled throughout our busy day were some wonderful presentations about various winter holidays from around the world!  We learned about:

• Ganna, from Ethopia
• Dutch Christmas
• St. Nicholas Day, from Germany
• Oshogatsu, from Japan
• Saint Lucy's Day/Saint Lucia's Day from Scandanavia and Italy
• Hanukkah (two separate presentations)

These presentations were well researched, well organized and well presented!  The audience listened very respectfully, asked great questions and gave kind compliments.  Ask your first grader to tell you about some of these interesting traditions!

December

Greetings Room 10 Families,

The craziness of December is upon us!  With all the over-stimulation of music, lights and more outside of school, my intention is to keep our school routines as consistent as possible.  (Although we will inject a little fun into the next week or two here and there.)

Yesterday you might have seen two homework packets come home.  The first packet is the regular homework packet.  The second is an optional winter holiday research project and presentation.  If your child chooses to do this project, they can opt out of the other homework packet (with the exception of spelling words and the nightly reading log).  I would also love to know if your child will do the optional project so I can set aside enough time for presentations next week.

If you have any questions about homework or anything else, please be sure to let me know!

Cheers!

TGIF

Thank Goodness it's Friday!!

A five day school week in "No School November" is hard work!  Only kidding, we've had a great week!

Here are a few things to be aware of for next week:

• There is only school on Monday and Tuesday next week.  I wish you safe travels if you're headed out of town for Thanksgiving!

• Monday is a big day!  Both library books and Family Star projects are due.

• I sent home log-in information for the reading app Kids A-Z.  If it didn't make it home, here's how to access your child's account.
• Go to: www.kidsa-z.com (or you can download the app for your tablet or ipad)
• Teacher username: bandrews0
• Your child can take it from here.  They know how to find their names and they know their passwords.
• While this is an independent activity, please monitor their activity during this time.  (In the past some students have logged into other students' accounts and messed around.  I'd like to avoid that if possible.  Thanks!)

• There will be no homework next week.  If you want something to do over the long weekend, here are some options:
• Read on Kids A-Z
• Get started on Xtramath - an online math program individualized for your child - there's a placement test to get started.  I'll send the info on that home today.  (It says you need to pay for the app in order to use on a tablet, but you can create a link on your ipad to avoid the $5 app fee.)
• Make a list of how many words you can make using the letters in Thanksgiving (or Happy Thanksgiving)

Snapshots of 1st Grade

Here are a couple fun shots from my phone during the day, plus a shot of our auction project!

October 21

Greetings Room 10 Families,

Here's the latest...

• We really need snacks!  Please think of us next time you're at the store.  We would love some healthy, nut-free snacks to feed our 25 hungry mouths.

• This coming Thursday, October 27th, is Grandparent's/Special Friends Day.  Your child is welcome to invite a guest to join us from 10:00-10:40 on that day.  (Anyone can count as a special friend - sibling, parent, neighbor, etc. and I am happy to be their friend too!)

• Let's talk Halloween!  I can't wait to hear all about the Halloween fun you all will have!  (And I'd love to see pictures of those costumes!)  
• We will not have costumes at school this year.  
• We will, however, have school-wide pajama day the day after Halloween!  We are hoping to make the morning after easier for everyone, so feel free to just roll them out of bed and send them to school!  
• Outside-appropriate shoes are a must and a reasonably-sized stuffed animal is ok to bring.

• Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up on November 9th and 10th.  If you haven't signed up, please email me to arrange a time.  If you have signed up and can't recall which day/time, I'm happy to remind you :-)

Have a great weekend!

-Barb 

bandrews@pps.net

Book List Worth Checking Out

I came across this book list and I just love it!  The title is:  29 Books to read your kids if you want them to be kind and brave:

http://qz.com/788526/29-books-you-can-read-to-your-kids-if-you-want-them-to-be-kind-and-brave/

October 3

Happy Fall Y'all!

Here are some things to be aware of for the near future:

• We're all excited for our field trip to the Portland Nursery for the Apple Tasting Festival.  We will leave Chapman at 9:15 AM (parents joining us - please be here by 9:00) and return by lunch time (11:30ish).

• There are three sets of homework this week!  Your child should have received one homework packet that is approximately at their level.  If you feel the work is too easy or too difficult, please be sure to give me that feedback.  Just a reminder - homework is due back to school each Friday (or Monday if you need an extra day or two.)

• The Book Fair is happening this week at Chapman!  If you're interested in some new books, be sure to stop by the auditorium before or after school.  Your purchase helps support the Chapman library as well as our classroom.

• There is no school next Friday, October 14th as there's a Statewide Inservice Day for teachers.  Additionally, I will be gone the day before (Thursday, October 13th) at an all-day workshop.

• Our family picture wall is growing!  These first graders love admiring the many different and wonderful families that are represented.  If you have a favorite picture of your family (or families or even part of your family!), please be sure to send it in.  I'm also happy to make prints if you want to email a photo to me at bandrews@pps.net.

• We'd love some more healthy snacks!  These 25 first graders love fruit, veggies, cheese sticks, crackers, popcorn, and more.  Please think of us next time you're at the grocery store.

• Is there someone interested in being a room parent?  The PTA would like a liaison for each classroom.  There is nither big pressure nor huge responsibilities - just hoping someone is willing.  Let me know if that's you!

Homework

I saw this article about homework and thought it was worth a read...

http://www.cultofpedagogy.com/reading-homework-tips-for-parents/

Three Weeks In

What a whirlwind few weeks it's been!  We are almost fully into our routine and our days have become increasingly productive.

In literacy, we've covered short a, final -ck, short i, final x and are about to undertake short o and -s plurals.  Our grammar book covered sentences vs. non-sentences.  In writing, we're working on getting words on the page, leaving spaces between them, lower case letters and punctuation.  We've been using sentence starters such as:  I am, I like, I can, I have, I see, I feel to help get our writing started.

In math we created and solved bug story problems.  Solving them uses basic addition and subtraction.  We've begun to learn about telling time to the hour, identifying coins and more.

Our character strength focus for the month is Self Control.  We use this strength in referring to our bodies being under control, our voices at an appropriate level and other times throughout the day.

This week, picture forms for picture day (Sept  20th - next Tuesday!) came home.  If you want school pictures, please be sure to either sign up online or return that form and payment back to school by Tuesday morning.

You should have also received a permission slip for our field trip to Portland Nursery in October.  Please be sure to return that form, along with payment, back to school at your earliest convenience.

I will be making a picture run this weekend.  If you have an electronic copy of a family picture you'd like to post in our classroom, please email it to me and I'll have a print made.

Lastly, library books are due Monday!

Have a great weekend and thanks for your partnership!
-Barb Andrews

Welcome to First Grade!

Yay!  I'm glad you're here to visit!  Welcome to Mrs. Andrews' 1st Grade blog.  Please be sure to check here often for updates, information, etc.  I am very excited for this school year and can't wait for it to begin!