Week 20

This will be my last blog.  I will still be sending my weekly newsletter in the blue folders.  We have a field trip on Tuesday to the Mello Center in Watsonville.  We will be back for lunch.

In February, we will begin practicing for our play "The Ugly Duckling".  It is a musical.  You will know the songs well by the time we perform the play.  We perform the play the week before Spring Break.  On that Friday, all the first grade classes will be going to the skating rink in Sea Bright.  

Last week, we had a wonderful time seeing our new president get sworn in.  We also talked about many African Americans for Black History month.  We read stories on Harriet Tubman, Ruby Bridges, Rosa Parks, etc.  We will continue for the next few weeks talking about other special Americans and what made them special.

This week, we have a new homework log.  We are asking all first grade students to practice basic facts at home daily on top of reading daily.  Please continue to return homework on Fridays.  I have been only receiving a few returned homework logs on Friday.  This will be present on report cards.  

It was great to find out that Kelsey Mackle is related to our past President John Quincy Adams.  We will be talking about presidents next month.  We love all the information that has been presented to the class for Star of the Week!

Have a wonderful week!

Week 19

Today is a day in history.  In our class, we have been talking about civil rights movement.  We have talking about Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges, etc.  Today, we will be talking and discussing the inauguration.  We will watch the inauguration in Mrs. Clouse's room.

We started computers last week.  Students can go on the school website and find games under Mrs. Sampson's name.  We played "Making Words".

Today, we will not have centers since we will be watching the inauguration. 

Please return permission slips and $7.75 by Friday.

Week 18

I hope everyone had a great vacation and are ready to learn.  We will be writing about special Americans for the next six weeks.  The class will develop their writing skills.  You can also help at home and make sure they practice their word wall words.  We are also focusing on capitalizing proper nouns (names, etc.), the first word in a sentence and the word I.  In response to literature, students will be continuing to identify parts of stories using a graphic organizer.  

In math, students will be identifying ten more and ten less.  We will be adding another piece for homework.  We are asking students to spend at least 5 minutes on memorizing basic facts up to 1o.  I will be showing several strategies to memorize these basic facts.  You can play memory games (example: Say a number like "4" and have your child say the number that equals the sum of 10) The answer would be 6.  The first grade teachers will be changing the homework sheet to add a basic math facts part.  Please start memorizing your basic facts at home.

We will be watching a movie on Martin Luther King Jr.  We do not have school next Monday for observing his birthday.

During Vacation

Mrs. Clouse and I are at a math training this week.  We are learning many new things about our math curriculum.  We are excited to add more math into our daily routine.  I hope all of you are having a great vacation.  I will see you next Tuesday!

Week 17

Last week, we talked about Christmas holidays and how different countries celebrate it.  We made poinsettias and Christmas lights.  Also, we are very sad but excited that Mauricio and Raphael have left little Aptos to adventure back to Germany for a few years.  They will be back to visit.   Since it was Mauricio's week, they were able to teach us a few things about Germany and some sayings in German.  We learned hello and good day.  Their dad came in to share what he does for work and to show us his German pants.  They also say a few songs.  Goodbye boys!  We will miss you both!

No Centers this week!!! Only on Friday!

This week, we will talk about Kwanza.  This is another celebration that African-Americans celebrate.  On Friday, we will have a variety of centers that focus on multicultural celebrations.

In math, we will continue with patterns and sorting.  Then, we will begin identifying coins and paper money.  Please practice at home by playing games that include money.  In science, we will continue investigating different types of clouds and chart the weather daily.

PLEASE REMEMBER NO BACKPACKS, ONLY A LUNCH THIS WEEK.  BRING A PAPER BAG ON FRIDAY!!!  No Homework!!!!

Last week, Arianna shared with us her custom of celebrating St. Nicholas Day.  Her grandmother came from Holland and they celebrate St. Nick's Day by putting a shoe out for St. Nick or his helper to fill with gifts.  We all got to hear the story of St. Nick and received a gift in our shoe.  Thank you to Arianna and her family for sharing.  

Also, we all had a great time looking at how we all changed from when they were a baby.  Thank you for sending in the pictures and clues.  

This week, we will talk about different types of maps and how to use maps.  We will be reading a story on maps in our Language Arts book.  We started Writer's workshop and will start making a list (prewriting) of stories we would like to write about in class.  Every Wednesday, we will write stories.  This Wednesday, we will be enjoying the play "Little Red Riding Hood" that second grade will be performing for the school.  In science, we will continue to learn about weather and identify different types of clouds.  We are continuing to learn about multicultural celebrations.  We have talked about Hannuka and would love to know more about different customs in your family.  Please write to me or send me information about your customs.

P.S.  Lice is still a factor in our classroom and in our school.  Please remember to check you child's hair.  We have asked for our carpets to be steam cleaned during break.  Thank you to everyone that has given feedback and has taken precautions in their own home.

We got our incentive!!!!

Students spelled out their whole class incentive.  Tomorrow, students will be watching a magic school bus movie "Weather" and eating popcorn.  Congratulate them on their whole class performance!