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