September 29

Some things we did this week:

• Began our science journals with our milk experiment
• Learned about how balloons are made
• Started some new reading strategies to tackle tricky words
• Learned how to draw Piggie and Gerald
• Illustrated a Mo Willems book
• Began our iReady diagnostic on the Chromebooks (this is very tough and a huge accomplishment)
• Learned the "turn around rule" i.e. 2+3=5    3+2=5
• Made origami boxes
• Finished our first chapter book as a class
• Played a new math game: Roll and Total
• Started a bread experiment to see how germs affect food

Some things to ask your child:

• What happened during your milk experiment? (We used milk, food coloring, q-tips and dawn dish soap if they need help getting started.)
• Can you teach me how to draw a Mo Willems character?
• What's a reading strategy you have been practicing? 
• What was your STEAM activity this week? Who did you work with?
• What is your prediction for the bread experiment?
• What are some of the bad reading habits you are working on dropping? (The mumble, The freeze, The tell me, The blooper)

Important Dates:

• NO SCHOOL Monday, October 9th
• Coppal House Farm field trip October 19th
• Fall Festival October 31st: If you would like to volunteer to help with a game or craft please let me know! 

Innovation Day:

• Friday the kids will have the chance to make a boat in honor of Christopher Columbus Day on Monday. Please send in any supplies you think may be useful to allow our "inventors" to create a floating boat. Things like Styrofoam, tin foil, sandwich ziplock bags, etc.  

September 22

Thank you to everyone who took the time to learn more about first grade in the Loon room! The loons were so excited to come in to your surprise notes (Mrs. Bellanger did any for the kids who didn't already have one). For those of you who were unable to attend I sent home a yellow folder with your child to share some information. Please return the contact sheet enclosed!

Some thing we did this week: 

• Learned about why we have school rules
• Practiced "scooping up" words while we read
• Worked on a new STEM project making a "just right" bed for Goldilocks
• Started working on word problems in math
• Made loon decorations for our classroom
• Worked on self portraits with labels to describe ourselves
• Introduced the iPads using the reading app Epic!

EARLY RELEASE DAY WEDNESDAY 9/27 AT 12:50

Some things to ask your child about:

• What did you use to build Goldilock's bed?
• What types of book do you like to read on Epic?
• What is the book The Invisible Boy about?
• What is Miss Rowley's FAVORITE classroom rule? ;) 
• What do you like to play with during choice time?
• What's your favorite math game? (Top-It, Penny Dice, Bunny Hop, Shake and Spill) 
• Can you teach me that game? 

Reminder:

Picture Day is tomorrow! 

&

Curriculum night tomorrow at 6:30pm 

Hope to see you there! If you can't make it I will send information home with your child. :) 

September 15

Some things we did this week: 

• Learned to play Bunny Hop and Penny-Dice in math
• Researched loon facts
• Create our own ending to Mo Willem's Pigeon Wants a Puppy and learned how to draw Pigeon
• Wrote a class book "Do Unto Loons" in response to reading Do Unto Otters
• Practiced counting strategies (1's, 2's, 5's, 10's)
• Began "Book Shopping" in our classroom library
• Attempted our first STEM challenge (we had to find a way to fit a group of blocks all onto one index card with a partner)

Some things to ask your child about:

• Who is your reading elbow partner?
• How long did you read for today? (We are working up to our goal of 30 minutes!)
• Which Mo Willem's book is your favorite? 
• What are magic listening beans?
• What was your job this week?
• Tell me about the LEGO house. 
• How do you play Bunny Hop?
• What is flashlight Friday?

Important Dates:

• Thursday Picture Day
• Thursday 1st grade curriculum night 6:30. Hope to see you there!
• Wednesday, September 27, EARLY RELEASE at 12:50

We need your help:

• Please continue to look for monarch caterpillars for our class and any STEM materials to allow us to build and create together. 
• Newspaper
• Paper towel rolls
• Paper plates
• Any half used boxes of craft supplies
• We can get creative with just about anything! 
• We are in need of plastic spoons for snack in case spoons are forgotten at home! 
• The first grade team is working on dramatic play boxes. The loons will be making a "post office" box and a "cooking/baking" box. We would appreciate any donations to help fill these boxes with things to help us explore these different jobs! 

Room Parent?

• We are looking for a room parent to help with things like putting together a class contact list and organizing donations/volunteers for special events
• If you are interested please let me know and I can get you more information! 

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