Newsletter 3

2005-2006                            Room 302—Newsletter 3
                                   

September 16, 2005

Dear Families,

I hope you’re hearing good things about school.  Our days are packed, and they seem to go by quickly.

In reading….
We’re learning how reading time should sound (pretty quiet) and look (people reading, or looking for books).  We’re trying to read a variety of fiction and nonfiction every day.  One thing effective readers do is make connections between their lives and what they read, and today we read awhile and then shared a connection we’d made.  That will be something we’ll continue to do throughout the year.

In writing….
We’re working here, also, on what it should look like and sound like at writing time.  For special project we all wrote birthday cards for Jordan L. and now each child is making a page in our class book called I Like Myself.

In math….
We learned a new game called Compare, and a similar game called Double Compare.  The games are similar to War.  Each player has a pile of cards (like playing cards), and they turn over one (Compare) or two (Double Compare) at a time.  The player with the highest card (or highest total in Double Compare) says “Me” and then another round is played.  The difference from War is that there is no winner—each player keeps his own cards.  If you have a deck of playing cards, you could play these at home.

Some things worth repeating….
Snacks
Thanks to those who have sent them so far.  If you haven’t, we’ve now got enough to last about a week, so you’ve got some time.  I’ll let you know here if we get low again.

Volunteers
I welcome volunteers in the classroom, but we haven’t started yet.  If you’re interested, let me know, either when you stop by, or by email, or call, or send a note.  You can also sign up at Curriculum night.  I have a sign-up sheet with times that I need people, and I’ll also have the necessary forms for you to fill out when you come to Curriculum Night.

Curriculum night / Back-to-School Night
On Thursday, September 22, 2005 we’ll have our annual night for Kindergarten, First, and Second grade parents and kids to meet at school, hear from teachers, and look around.  We’ll all start together in the gym at 6:30.  Your time with me will be about 30 minutes, so we really won’t have time to discuss individual students that night, but I’d love to talk with you any other time if you have questions about your child.  

Email List
I have about ten families on my list so far.  If you wrote to me and didn’t hear back, please write again.  I’ll respond to your message if I get it.  If you’d like to be on the list, please send me an email.  Include your name and your child’s name so I can identify you.

Classroom Visits
Any time you’d like to visit, you’re welcome to do so.  Just make sure to stop in at the office to sign in and get a Visitor sticker.  

Take-home Folders
We have new folders this year.  They’re red, and they’ll come home every Thursday (and back every Friday).  We had 22 out of 23 back this week—I appreciate your help on this.

Week of Monday September 12

Monday, September 12, 2005
We went to music and sang:
     B-B-Bumblebee
     Stung a man upon his knee
     Stung a pig upon his snout
     I declare that you are out
And whoever the bee landed on got stung and had to sit down.
We had an assembly with Eric Ode.  He sang funny songs and one was about a skunk.  And the skunk came out and went across the stage.  It surprised us.  It was funny.  It was great!

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

We got the Vowel Song poem.  We colored it and put it in our binders.  
We had a fire drill at lunch time.  The alarm went off and we had to go outside to the baseball field.  Then we went back in and finished lunch, and we didn’t get very much time for eating.
  We went to the library and got books to take home until next Monday.  Mrs. Yonkers read us a book called Don’t Spit on Your Shoes.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005
We had Physical Education today.  First we did sit-ups.  Then we jogged around the gym in a big rectangle, and when the music stopped we had to stop where we were.  Then we felt our necks to feel our pulse and it was beating really fast because our hearts were pumping really hard.  
Later we tossed glow-in-the-dark balls to each other, and Mrs. Smith said that if we ever lose power, we could use those balls for light.  
Then we got drinks and came back to class.  We felt tired and hot and happy.

Thursday, September 15, 2005
We wrote in our journals.  We each wrote different things, except for the special project people at Table 1.  They made some beautiful pink pages of a book we’re making together called I Like Me.
At reading, we got out our book boxes and read.  Then we sat in a circle and shared what we read.
Later we sat down by the calendar and we did calendar.  We counted the money.  We wrote on the number line and the tally chart to count the days of school.  We sang the song of the days and the song of the months.

Friday, September 16, 2005
“I ran around outside on the gravel when it was recess time,” said Kayla.  So did Donna, Shelby, Rien, Justyn, Jesse, Lukas, Savannah, Ashley, Cameron, Mckayla, and Travis.
“I played on the rings with Katie,” said Abby.  
“Taylor and I played Freeze Tag,” said Taylor.
“I made a nest for the birds with Aubree,” said Jamie.
“I went to the library with Jasen and Jordan, and we listened to a book on tape with some other kids,” said Kaelyn.
At the end of the day, Noah lost his tooth!!!

Math in action....

Newsletter 1

Room 302—Newsletter 1

September 10, 2005

Dear Families,

Welcome to first grade! We had a great first day. My wife, Judy, and I also sent two children to school this week. On Wednesday Jordan started second grade and Jeremy started first grade. If you’re like us, you were proud and happy, but also maybe a bit sad and a bit nervous. It seems like they’re growing up so fast, and Judy and I find ourselves not quite sure what to expect. Please know that I will take good care of your children, and that I plan for each of them to have a happy and successful year. If you or they ever have questions or concerns, I’d be happy to do whatever I can to put your minds at ease.

Here are a few items of interest:

Our school day is from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The classroom opens at 8:45 so that by 9:00 the students can all be settled in and ready to start on time.

Snacks

We’ll have time for snack each day. I am asking each family to send in one snack, enough to share with the entire class, and we’ll pass out one of them each day. Please send something healthy and easy for first graders to handle on their own.

Volunteers

I welcome volunteers in the classroom. If you’re interested, let me know, either when you stop by, or by email, or call, or send a note. I have a sign-up sheet with times that I need people, and I’ll also have the necessary (ESD required) forms for you to fill out.

Birthdays

We’ll plan to celebrate the birthdays of all the students (unless otherwise requested). Let me know if you’d like to present us with treats or a classroom book for the celebration.

Curriculum night / Back-to-School Night

On Thursday, September 22, 2005 we’ll have our annual night for Kindergarten, First, and Second grade parents and kids to meet at school, hear from teachers, and look around. Please join us, starting in the gymnasium, at 6:30 p.m.

Physical Education / Musical Education

These important classes will happen for us this year on Mondays and Wednesday s. Please help the students make sure to dress appropriately for moving around on those days.

Email List

In an effort to help with communication, I’d like to put together a mailing list so that I’ve got another way to get you information like this. If you’d like to be on it, please send me an email requesting that I put you on the list. Include your name and your child’s name so I can identify you.

Classroom Visits

Any time you’d like to visit, you’re welcome to do so. Just make sure to stop in at the office to sign in and get a Visitor sticker.

Take-home Folders

We have new folders this year. They’re red, and they’ll come home every Thursday (and back every Friday).

Supplies

Here is the list of supplies for this year, in case you still need it. Most of the supplies will be shared/community supplies. The items they will label with their names and keep are: scissors, binder, and notebook.

1 box 24 ct colored pencils

1 box 24 ct crayons

1 box 24 ct markers

3 ea large glue sticks

2 dzn #2 pencils*

(not mechanical/sharpen please)

1 ea Fiskar scissors

1 box 1 gal. Ziploc bags

1 pkg PostIt notes

1 ea (1”) 3-ring binder

1 ea composition book

1 ea box Kleenex

I appreciate the chance to work with you this year, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

Sincerely,

Jeff

Newsletter 2

Room 302—Newsletter 2

September 10, 2005

Dear Families,

Things are going very well. We’re taking our time, getting to know each other and learning routines.

In reading….

Every student has a book box, in which they have books they can or want to read. We also read poems together, and have daily read alouds, including chapter book. Our current chapter book is the first one in the Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park, called Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus.

In writing….

Every student has a folder for their writing materials, including their journals. We write in journals daily, except Mondays, due to music and PE at that time. (Just a reminder, our other music and physical education day is Wednesday).

In math….

We’ve worked on calendars, exploring with some of the blocks, and we’ve gotten our first math workbooks. The first unit is called Mathematical Thinking at Grade 1. This introductory unit helps them get used to some of the materials and processes they’ll be using in math this year.

Some things worth repeating….

Snacks

We’ll have time for snack each day. I am asking each family to send in one snack, enough to share with the entire class, and we’ll pass out one of them each day. Please send something healthy and easy for first graders to handle on their own. We’ve gotten snack from one family so far. If you just send in your own snack each day, don’t worry about it.

Volunteers

I welcome volunteers in the classroom, but we haven’t started yet. If you’re interested, let me know, either when you stop by, or by email, or call, or send a note. You can also sign up at Curriculum night. I have a sign-up sheet with times that I need people, and I’ll also have the necessary (ESD required) forms for you to fill out when you come to Curriculum Night.

Birthdays

We’ll plan to celebrate the birthdays of all the students (unless otherwise requested). Let me know in advance if you’d like to present us with treats or a classroom book for the celebration.

Curriculum night / Back-to-School Night

On Thursday, September 22, 2005 we’ll have our annual night for Kindergarten, First, and Second grade parents and kids to meet at school, hear from teachers, and look around. We will be starting in the gymnasium, at 6:30 p.m. I plan to talk about my background, my beliefs and philosophy on teaching, learning, and homework, and about our daily routine and expectations. Please bring questions about first grade, or what I do, or anything else. I’d like this meeting to be worth your while.

Email List

In an effort to help with communication, I’d like to put together a mailing list so that I’ve got another way to get you information like this. If you’d like to be on it, please send me an email requesting that I put you on the list. Include your name and your child’s name so I can identify you.

Classroom Visits

Any time you’d like to visit, you’re welcome to do so. Just make sure to stop in at the office to sign in and get a Visitor sticker.

Take-home Folders

We have new folders this year. They’re red, and they’ll come home every Thursday (and back every Friday). Please help your child get used to this routine.

I appreciate all the questions I’ve been getting, so keep the questions coming. If you have email, that’s often best for the quick easy replies. My email address is at the top of this letter. Otherwise, send a note, call, or stop by.

Sincerely,

Jeff

web log

web log
Room 302

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Today in math we wrote our names on our number cards and cut them out.  And some of us did pattern blocks.  I went outside and played on the monkey bars, said Ashley.    In P. E. we ran by the cones, and in music we played a bumblebee game.

Thursday, September 08, 2005
We ate lunch and it was a great time.  We finished the last page of our math packets.  I liked when I played on the rings, said Shelby.

Friday, September 09, 2005
Today after recess we went to the bathroom.  It was fun doing chalk outside.  We celebrated Jordan L.’s birthday.  We sang happy birthday to him and we ate the cookies and juice his mom brought.  Jesse brought watermelon and Savannah’s mom came to visit.

3 Days Left

It's Monday, and in 3 days we'll start. I know I still have a lot to do to get ready, and maybe you do, too. If you still need to get your supplies, here is the list: 1 box 24 ct colored pencils 1 box 24 ct crayons 1 box 24 ct markers 3 ea large glue sticks 2 dzn #2 pencils* (not mechanical/sharpen please) 1 ea Fiskar scissors 1 box 1 gal. Ziploc bags 1 pkg PostIt notes 1 ea (1”) 3-ring binder 1 ea composition book 1 ea box Kleenex Bring them with you to Open House between 10 and 1 on Tuesday, or bring them on the first day.

Getting Ready

It's going to be a great year! With only a few days left until school starts, there is still much to do. I hope as many students and their families can come in and say hi during my open house next Tuesday from 10-1.