November 18, 2008
Parents:
The family Turkeys are a huge success. The Turkeys are on display in the primary hall by our classroom.
Native American week was so much fun. The students learned so much. It was fun acting like Native Americans. We went on hunts for food and dyes. We made head dresses, vests and we dyed our own shirts. This was a really fun unit.We are currently studying the life of a pilgrim.We will compare the lives of the Native Americans and the Pilgrims next week.
I have a few items which need to be cut out from our Native American unit. If you are able to cut these items at home please let me know. I would like to give them to the students by next week.
When we come back from Thanksgiving break we will be working on several special activities. I will need a few items for these special projects. The children will be making a special gift for their parents. Each child will need one bottle of red, green, brown and a pastel color(yellow, purple,blue etc) of acrilic paint and a bag of pillow fill by Tuesday December 2nd. On December 19th the first grade will be decorating gingerbread houses from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Each child will be required to bring in one completed gingerbread house(kits can be purchased at Michaels,look for 40% off coupons in Sundays paper) The houses must be at school on Wednesday December 17th. Each child will need the help of one adult on December 19th. More information will come home soon.
I am in need of some parental help on Wednesday December 3rd. I need about 3 parents to help with a special Christmas present for the parents. I need the help from 8:30- 10:00(or earlier) Please let me know if you are able to help as soon as possible. I can not complete this project without help.
Thank you -Mrs. Horn.
Please check and sign planner and portfolio daily.
Journal: Please discuss journal with your child. I tell the children on Friday about the journal for the following week. Journal has been a challenge for several students. I am available most mornings to help. If your child needs more quiet time he/she may come in at 7:30 to work on journal. Please drop me an email so I can be prepared.
December 1st- we will be writing a newspaper report about the Night before Christmas. This is a relatively easy journal. It is teacher guided. We will begin with these on Monday December 1st.
Math: We have begun a unit on patterns. Please study +7 facts. We will begin subtraction when we return from Thanksgiving break.
Reading: Over the next two weeks we will read a story about the first Thanksgiving. The students may be reading different stories according to their reading levels. Please make sure your child is prepared and can read the story fluently.
Each Friday, I will send home a new book which we will be using in the classroom the following week. Please review the story with your child so he/she is familiar with the story. This is a book from the classroom. Please make sure your child takes care of the book. The general rule is you damage or loose the book, it is your responsibility to replace it. I only have one copy of each book for the students so please make sure the book is returned daily.
Spelling: I will send home examples of spelling homework beginning September 2nd. Please keep these as a reminder for the future. Your child will be required to write the words 2 times in the beginning but will not write sentences until later in the school year. Please keep the examples as a reference. Spelling test will be on Fridays beginning September 5th.
Spelling words for the week of November 21st:nk and ng blends wink,sing,sink,king,long,ring,hang,bank,wing,drink
no spelling the week of November 24th.
December 1st spelling words: give, come,does,done,been,head,some,live,have,said
Handwriting: The children will be learning the strokes used for each letter. We have learned how to form the letters Aa,Ee, Ii, Oo, Uu Ll,Tt and Cc. Points will be taken off for letters that are formed incorrectly.
Social Studies: Please read special section on science and social studies for test information
Science: Please read special section for science and social studies.
Religion: Each week we discuss the scripture reading for Sundays mass. We will be attending mass this week.
What's in a bag: On Fridays your child will participate in an activity which I call "What's in a bag?" Each week your child will bring in an object and place it in a small brown lunch bag. Your child will write three clues about the object. The object will be related to something we are studying.
Week of November 21st: Native Americans
Curriculum and other information
Your child will receive new spelling words on Mondays. These will be on the web page. Spelling tests will be each Friday, unless otherwise noted. Spelling homework will consist of in-class workbook pages as well as writing the words independently at home. Sp sent. means to choose 4 of the words and write a sentence for each word. The number of sentences will change as the children become more familiar with writing sentences. Please check your child's planner nightly for specific spelling homework.
I will send home an example of the way I would like the words written two times and sentences for spelling homework. In planner your child may write, words 2x or Sp.sent 4 (or whatever number I choose) . Please refer to these examples throughout the year when you and your child are doing spelling homework.
Reading: Reading will consist of reading stories, phonics, spelling, and journal writing.
The first grade math curriculum is based on a series called Trailblazers. Math Trailblazers is based on the ideas that mathematics is best learned through solving many different kinds of problems and that all children deserve a challenging mathematics curriculum. The program provides a careful balance of concepts and skills.Computation,measurement, geometry, data collection and analysis, estimation, graphing, patterns and relationships, mental arithmetic, and simple algebraic ideas are all an integral part of the curriculum.
Journal Writing: Each week your child will work on a piece of writing which will be referred to as "journal". This is a very critical part of the first grade reading program. We will begin a new journal each Monday. Your child will have time each day to work on journal. Journal writings will be due on Fridays. Journal must be completed in school. If your child misses a day he/she may come in at 7:30 to work on journal or he/she may work on it at 7:45 when they enter the classroom. It is the responsibility of the child to complete the journal.
Your child will receive a reading contract on Mondays. Please read with/to your child for 15 minutes at least 5 nights a week. Please record what you and your child have read and if your child is reading independently to you or you are reading to your child. These will be collected on the following Monday morning.
Check this Out !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mrs. Horn's Rainforest.ppt click the mouse button to advance the slides.
Important Dates:
November 5th-early dismissal
November 10-21st- conferences
November 12th- t-shirt due
November 12th- family turkey project due
November 26-noon dismissal
November 27-28- Thanksgiving break
Please remember to check your child's planner and portfolio nightly.
The following is a list of specials for Mrs. Horn’s first grade.
Monday: Art 1:00-1:45
Tuesday: Health: 8:30-8:50, Foreign Language-10:00-10:30, Music: 1:00-1:45
Wednesday: Gym 1:00-1:45
Thursday: Foreign Language 10:00-10:30, Computer 1:05-1:45 ,Library: 1:45-2:15
Friday: 9:00 Mass,1:30-2:15 Arts Enrichment
My e-mail address is Tspaulding-Horn@VillaMadonna.net You may also write me a note and ask your child to give it to me in the morning.
The students are learning the rules and procedures. The first grade class has 3 main rules: Respect Others, Respect Yourself and Respect the Environment. Please review the rules with your child and discuss consequences for light changes at home.
Please feel free to contact me if you ever have any questions or concerns. I will try to get back to you the same day. The best way to contact me is by E-mail.
Mrs. Horn
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