Ms. Homoelle

March 27, 2008

Important Reminders and Dates:

*****Audrey IS OUR CHARACTER WINNER FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH. SHE WAS VOTED FOR HAVING COMMITTMENT! **********************

1. Shhhh!!!  Mystery Reader for March 28th is Mrs. Alexander. Mrs. Broda is the mystery reader for April 18th.  Then on Thank you and see you then!

2. Math Blaster Folder:  Please return by Friday April 4.

3. Field Trip: Please return the WHEELER permission slip and $4.50. We we will see a play. We will be eating lunch at the school at our regular time.

4. CRCT: We will be taking the CRCT April 23, 24, 25. We will be tested on reading, language arts and Math. Please continue to take the practice test online with the username and password sheet I had given to you at conferences.If you have misplaced this sheet, let me know, I have extras!

We are learning...

1. Reader's Workshop: We will explore using dictionaries and comparing different components of books. We will look at dictionaries vs. glossaries, title pages vs. table of contents. We will compare and contrast these items using venn diagrams.

2. Math: We will review concepts and skills. We will be reviewing rounding, place value, graphing, time, fractions and problem solving skills.

3.  Writer's Workshop:    We are exploring letter writing. We are studying the things good writers do when writing a letter and making it easy for our reader. Next week we will begin sending letters using the Mt. Bethel Mail and addressing our letters. We are really thinking about how to write good telling and asking sentences and how to respond. Of course, we are still using the word wall, puncutation and capital letters!

4. Phonics: Word Wall Words are: NO NEW WORDS. REVIEW We will review how to make plural nouns, word parts, commas in a series, and combining sentences using and/or.

5.  Sitton Spelling:   NO NEW WORDS. Your child is responsible to spell 35 words in first grade. These 35 words are repeated throughout the spelling series to ensure automaticity.  The spelling test is a cloze test which means words will need to be placed within the correct context of the sentence read aloud.  Because context is key, if a spelling word comes at the beginning of a sentece, your child must know to capitalize it, otherwise the word is incorrect.  Furthermore, if the word appears in the middle of a sentence read aloud, the word must have all lowercase letters, or else it is incorrect. "Word Previews" will come home on Mondays and words will be practiced throughout the week through various spelling and skill building activities. is

6. Language Arts: We will begin practicing our research, grammar and sentence structure skills. This will be sent home for your reference.

WISH LIST:

Special Thanks:

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AT THE AUTHOR CELEBRATION. IT IS WITH YOUR SUPPORT THAT HAS MADE YOUR CHILD LOVE WRITING AND WANT TO CONTINUE DOWN THAT PATH. IT WAS WONDERFUL SEEING YOU! :)

Thank you  to Ms. Bengston, Mrs. Cohen, and Mrs. Euston for volunteering while the first grade teachers were at a meeting. The students really enjoyed creating their dot pictures.

Thank you Mr. Broda for reading to our class last week! They were surprised when you brought the newspaper!

Thank you Mrs. Bradley and Mrs. Harper for sending in the items from the wish list. I really appreciate it!!!

A special thanks to Mrs. Lowe and Mrs. Broda for helping with the publishing process and binding books for our Author Celebration.

March 20, 2008

Due to Progress reports that were sent home today,I will not be doing an official blog for next week. Next Thursday, I will resume the normal schedule. I am excited to see all of you tomorrow for the Author Celebration at 1:30. Please stop in the Media Center beforehand to check out our "cereal box book reports."

Important Reminders and Dates:

*****KEVIN IS OUR CHARACTER WINNER FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY. HE WAS VOTED FOR HAVING TOLERANCE! **********************

1. Shhhh!!!  Mystery Reader for March 21is Mrs. Broda  Then on Thank you and see you then!

2. Math Blaster Folder:  Please return by Friday April 4.

3. Field Trip: Please return the ZOO TO YOU field trip form and $3.00 donation.  This will be an in-school presentation featuring some pretty amazing animals!

4.Author Celebration: Another one is coming March 21st. This one will showcase your child's nonfiction writing called ALL ABOUT BOOKS. This will take place in our classroom from 1:30-2:00. We hope to see you then. Invitation was sent home today! Please send back the bottom portion ASAP!

5, Class Project: Your child will need an empty, paper wrapped ceral box for Friday March 14th. We will be desigining book jackets while discussing main idea and story elements. These will be displayed in the Media Center folllowing Friday.

We are learning...

1. Reader's Workshop:  We will review grammar skills such as; compound words, pronouns, proper nouns, contractions and verbs.. Students will find these in their independent reading choices and record them on post-its for sharing.

2. Math: We will review concepts and skills through a practice CRCT packet. This packet will informally graded and sent home for your reference and practice.

3.  Writer's Workshop:  As writer's we begin publishing our All About Books for the Author Celebration.

4. Phonics: Word Wall Words are:  NEXT, QUIET, ALWAYS, WILL. We will take  a closer look at proper nouns: days of the week, months, names of places and people are all examples of nouns that need a capital letter at any point in the sentence.

5.  Sitton Spelling:   ONE, HAD, NOT. Your child is responsible to spell 35 words in first grade. These 35 words are repeated throughout the spelling series to ensure automaticity.  The spelling test is a cloze test which means words will need to be placed within the correct context of the sentence read aloud.  Because context is key, if a spelling word comes at the beginning of a sentece, your child must know to capitalize it, otherwise the word is incorrect.  Furthermore, if the word appears in the middle of a sentence read aloud, the word must have all lowercase letters, or else it is incorrect. "Word Previews" will come home on Mondays and words will be practiced throughout the week through various spelling and skill building activities. is

6. Language Arts: We will begin practicing our research, grammar and sentence structure skills. This will be sent home for your reference.

WISH LIST:

18 JUICE BOXES FOR THE AUTHOR CELEBRATION

SWIFTER DUSTERS

Special Thanks:

Thank you  to Ms. Begston, Mrs. Cohen, and Mr. Strovinskas on our wonderful to the Georgia Aquarium. Everything went smoothly thanks to you!

March 6, 2008

Important Reminders and Dates:

*****KEVIN IS OUR CHARACTER WINNER FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY. HE WAS VOTED FOR HAVING TOLERANCE! **********************

1. Shhhh!!!  Mystery Reader for March 14 is Mrs. Bradley  Then on Thank you and see you then!

2. Math Blaster Folder:  Please return by Friday April 4.

3. Field Trip: Please return the ZOO TO YOU field trip form and $3.00 donation.  This will be an in-school presentation featuring some pretty amazing animals!

4.Author Celebration: Another one is coming March 21st. This one will showcase your child's nonfiction writing called ALL ABOUT BOOKS. This will take place in our classroom from 1:30-2:00. We hope to see you then. Invitation to follow.

5. GEORGIA AQUARIUM IS FRIDAY MARCH 7TH! There are strict guidelines we must follow:P.E. SHOES ONLY, NO CAMERAS OR HATS. LUNCHES MUST BE PACKED IN BROWN PAPER BAG WITH YOUR CHILD'S NAME WRITTEN ON IT. THROW AWAY CONTAINERS AND ITEMS ONLY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY. PLEASE BE SURE ARRIVES TO SCHOOL ON TIME. WE WILL BE LEAVING FIRST THING IN THE MORNING

6. Class Project: Your child will need an empty, paper wrapped ceral box for Friday March 14th. We will be desigining book jackets while discussing main idea and story elements. These will be displayed in the Media Center folllowing Friday.

We are learning...

1. Reader's Workshop:  We will study main idea and use details to figure out what the story is mostly about.

2. Math Workshop: We will explore adding and subracting two digit numbers.

3.  Writer's Workshop:  As writer's we will continue to work on developing All-About books.  We will work more with All-About Book structure and content!

4. Phonics: Word Wall Words are:  MUCH, OVER, KEEP, DON'T, JUST. We will take  a closer look at proper nouns: days of the week, months, names of places and people are all examples of nouns that need a capital letter at any point in the sentence.

5.  Sitton Spelling:   ONE, OR, BY. Your child is responsible to spell 35 words in first grade. These 35 words are repeated throughout the spelling series to ensure automaticity.  The spelling test is a cloze test which means words will need to be placed within the correct context of the sentence read aloud.  Because context is key, if a spelling word comes at the beginning of a sentece, your child must know to capitalize it, otherwise the word is incorrect.  Furthermore, if the word appears in the middle of a sentence read aloud, the word must have all lowercase letters, or else it is incorrect. "Word Previews" will come home on Mondays and words will be practiced throughout the week through various spelling and skill building activities.

Special Thanks: