The Week of January 6th

Happy New Year!  I hope 2014 will be a wonderful year for you and your family.

This week we will continue our author study of Jan Brett by reading The Hat and The Mitten.  We will  compare and contrast these two books as well as with another version of The Mitten.  We will begin to study different aspects of the winter season and what adaptations animals make in colder habitats.

In math we will be finishing up our unit after we review measuring and time to the quarter hour.  We will also be having a quiz on subtraction up to 10.

Spelling words for this week are: us, bus, cut, but, rug, hug, our, bring, city and giant.  Bonus words are: mitten, snowflake and penguin.

Polar Express

We will have our Polar Express Day on Wednesday!

The Week of December 16th

The final school week of 2013!  The excitement is growing as we get closer and closer to Friday!
This week we will be reading and comparing stories by Jan Brett.  She has written and illustrated many wonderful children's books.  We will continue this author study the first week we return in January.

Our dog friends will be visiting on Wednesday, on Thursday we will share some of our writing pieces with other grades.  On Friday we will have a holiday celebration during the mid morning snack time.  Friday will be a 1/2 day with lunch served.  I will also be sending home information about our Polar Express day!

We will have a word wall test this week.  Words went home this past week to study.  The new word wall words for the next two weeks are: bring, carry, hold, our, us, jump, more, sleep, time and with.

Spelling words for this week will be: fun, run, up, cup, stuff, puff, jump, more, skip, swim.  Bonus words are: Santa Claus, chimney and Christmas.

The Week of December 9th

On Monday students may bring in a collection of "stuff" for writing.  Some suggestions might be shells, rocks, small toys, coins, buttons etc. in a box or bag that can safely wait in backpacks until the afternoon.  We will be writing opinion pieces about these items.  Students will pick their favorite and then write reasons as to why.

On Wednesday evening we will be having our winter concert.  Please do not come before 5:30. Students will be dropped off and picked up in our classroom. 

On Thursday we will attend the Santa's Secret Shop to buy for family members and friends.

Spelling words for this week are:  met, pet, let, get, ten, yes, want, good, plan & trap.  Bonus words are: Grinch, reindeer, present.

The Week of December 2

December!  The school year is truly flying!

This week we will be working on opinion writing and in math we will be measuring. Our social studies unit will be on different types of homes.  We will also discuss different December holidays.  Our Holiday Concert is next week. (Dec. 11) so we will be busy with practices for that.

We have 10 new word wall words for the next two weeks.  Continue to practice reading them for fluency along with the previous words.  The work wall words are: help, how, said, so, who, for, some, good, want and too.

Our spelling words for this week are: eat, bed, who, said, sing, stop, tell, well, mess, mop.  Bonus words are: apartment, building, house.

The Week of November 25th

Another short but busy week in first grade! There will be no spelling words.  We will be making friendship soup on Monday and enjoying it at the end of the day.  Thank you so much for sending in the items that we need! 

On Tuesday our dog friends will be back. We are so thankful that Mr. and Mrs. Edkins volunteer their time every other week to come in with their dogs.  The dogs are always dressed in their very best outfits!  We are wondering what they will be wearing this week! Our class made them Thanksgiving cards in tech lab as a way of saying thank you.


Have a very happy and safe Thanksgiving!

The Week of November 18th

This week we will be working on writing a piece for the PTA Reflections program.  The topic is Believe, Dream and Inspire.

We are nearing the end of Unit 3 in our math books and students will be taking a test either Tuesday or Wednesday.  Items covered will include frames and arrows, adding coins using pennies, nickels and dimes, time to the half hours and different combinations to get 10.  We also will be having a subtraction test to 7.

We are now up to 60 words on our word wall!  Continue to review these words to increase fluency.

The new word wall words for the next two weeks are: does, into, he, this, water, by, eat, sing, stop and then.

Spelling words for this week are: job, jobs, dog, dogs, log, logs, this, into, rock and frog.  Bonus words are: Pilgrim, Thanksgiving and Mayflower.  (I am so pleased that so many students are challenging themselves by learning the bonus words!

The Week of November 11th

I enjoyed speaking with all of you last week.  Working together helps your child be successful!  Remember if you have any questions or concerns throughout the year let me know. 

 There are many special things happening this week.  Monday the Oxford Fire Department will be here.  If you haven't returned your permission slip please send it in on Monday.  On Wednesday our dog friends will be visiting and on Thursday we will have a presentation on assault prevention by the CAP organization.  We will also be  learning  about Veteran's Day and American Landmarks. 

Our spelling words for the week are: pick, kick, fix, him, saw, they, went, did, duck and fox  The Bonus words are: America, Liberty and quilt

The Week of November 4th

This week we will begin a unit on families.  We will share our family posters (which look great on our bulletin board) So many people stop and look at the wonderful first grade families!!!!


I am looking forward to meeting and chatting to each one of you this week!  Remember each day is a half day and there is no school on Thursday and Friday.  For this reason there will be no spelling this week. We will have a word wall test on Monday of the words that I sent home.  Also we will have a subtraction test of numbers to five on Tuesday.

Our word wall words for the next two weeks are: how, many, on, they,why, went, walk, did, saw, me.

The Week of October 28th

Halloween Week is always an exciting time in the life of a first grader!  This week we will compare many different Halloween stories and create ones of our own.  Our class will participate in the Pumpkins and Poetry event.  Check out our poems!  On Halloween our class will be marching  in the parade at 1:45 and then have a small party afterwards. Check out the Halloween rules on the school's main web page.

On Friday I sent home a family poster to create.  I would really like them in on Friday if possible.

Last week was our first spelling test.  Everyone got the regular words correct!!!  Many students also got all 3 bonus words right.  Keep up the Great Work!

Our dog friends visited us on Wednesday.  Everyone had a turn to read to one of the dogs.  Mr. and Mrs. Edkins will return on November 13th and 26th.

We will not be going to the library this week or next week.  Your child can decide if he/she wants to keep the book the whole time or return it to me.

Our spelling words for this week are: am, bad, had, fan, sad, can, find, all, look, book  Bonus Words are: family, brother, sister

The Week of October 21st

This week we will begin adding to our word wall.  Every two weeks 10 new words will be added until we have about 200 by the end of the year.  These are words that should be read immediately as sight words.  We will also begin having spelling words each week.  I will always post the spelling and new word wall words on the Blog as well as send a copy home.

Next Wednesday our dog friends will be visiting us.  Students will get a chance to read to them if they wish.  Please send back the permission slip back so your child can participate.

Our word wall words for the next two weeks are: come, down, away, no, will, all, are, find, make, play

Our spelling words are: at, cat, sat, ran, fan, man, will, no, dad, mom Bonus words are: ghost, owl, pumpkin.

The Week of October 15th

This will be a short but busy week!  We will be studying owls and bats and comparing them to other nocturnal creatures.  In math we will be starting unit 3.  Remember our fact test to 9 is on Thursday.
We will be finishing up Unit 1 of our Scott Foresman series and taking the unit test and finally we will continue to work on revising in Writer's Workshop.

Next week we will start adding to our wordwall every two weeks and we will begin with weekly spelling words.  (a note will go home this week)

The Week of October 7th

Another busy week in first grade! This is RESPECT week at OCS.  All the classes will have lessons on this topic.  Students can wear blue shirts on Monday to kick off the week.  Also on Friday is Blue and Yellow day for Down Syndrome Awareness.

We will be finishing up Unit 2 in our Everyday Math series and testing on addition facts to 8.  Keep practicing facts at home. 

In Writer's Workshop we will be continuing with the idea of revising our writing pieces to make them more interesting for the reader.

We will also be learning about fall and squirrels!

The Week of September 30th

I can't believe October is here!  This month we will be studying bats, owls, spiders, squirrels and autumn after finishing our unit on bears.  Again we will be comparing fiction and nonfiction books on these topics.  Around the middle of the month we will be finishing unit 1 in our Scott Foresman series and then we will be starting having spelling words each week in addition to word wall words every two weeks.

In math this week we are concentrating in addition facts to 6, telling time to the hour, and counting pennies and nickels.

The Week of September 23rd

It was so nice to meet most of you last week at Back to School Night. I look forward to working with you and your wonderful children for the rest of the year.  If you ever have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me or stop in.  I usually get to school by 7:30 and usually remain after school until at least 4. 

This week we will continue our study of bears which we started last week.  We are learning characteristics of bears, different kinds of bears and where they are found in the world.  We are comparing different fictional stories about bears and doing an author study of the bear stories of Frank Asche.

In math we will continue working toward fluency of addition facts and will learn time to the hour.

The Week of September 16th

This week the students will begin learning about bears.  They will learn about different types and how they have adapted to their habitats. Tuesday is Constitution Day and we will have a character education assembly. We will continue reviewing familiar word wall words and working within a reading group.  We will have our Unit 1 test and a test on addition facts up to five.  Remember that Tuesday is a half day.  I am looking forward to meeting many of you on Tuesday Night!

The Week of September 9

I have enjoyed meeting and getting to know your children.  We concentrated on getting to know each other and first grade routines.  This week homework will begin.  Please have your children return the homework each day.  This week we will continue reviewing and getting into the schedule of each day.
Reminder:  students are not to wear sandals  to school.

The Week of August 27th

School is opening next week!  I am looking forward to meeting all the new first graders!!!  Lunch this year will be at 1:00.  Please send in a snack to hold your child over until lunch.  Thanks

June 19th

Have a Wonderful Summer!!!!

The Week of June 17

Our year is just about over.  I'm excited that the class has come so far but I am also sad to see them go.  I have enjoyed this past year very much.

This week is all half days with a 1:00 dismissal.  Remember no lunches will be served but your child can pack a lunch to eat during snack time.  On Monday we have our field day.  I sent home a note about it.  Please check your child's folder.

Yearbooks went home today.  If you would like one please check with the office if there are still extras left.

On Wednesday we will say goodbye with pizza.  I will provide pizza and a drink for our new second graders!

The Week of June 10th

It is hard to believe we have come this far!  This is our last full week of first grade.  Although I know it's time for the class to move on I still feel sad in seeing them go.  Your children have come so far this year!!!

BUSY WEEK!  On Monday we will have our first grade talent show.  Students will be performing, if they would like, in front of both classes.  On Wednesday our dog friends will visit us for the last time.  Thank you for all the dog treats that have been coming in.  You can send them in until Wednesday to surprise Mr. and Mrs. Edkins.  Students will be enjoying the luau lunch on Friday.

Throughout the week our class will be traveling throughout the building to learn about ponds, kelp forests, sandy beaches, the wetlands and more during our ocean week.  We will be paired with different classes.  We will be teaching others what we have learned about the tide pools.

The Week of June 3rd

Each morning of this week the students will be taking a portion of the Oxford Test.  There will be 3 days for language arts and 2 days for math.  The scores will come home with their report cards.

If you haven't returned your child's library book please do so this week.  The library is closed for the rest of the year.

Reminder that your child's project is due on Friday.

Spelling words for the week are: cannot, popcorn, outside, school, grandma, always, something, boy, tiptoe, toy  Bonus words are: vacation, second grade and graduate

The Week of May 27th

This week we will be finishing up our Everyday Math Journals and will take an end of the year test.  We will also be reviewing for our Oxford Test in both language arts and math.  We will be taking this test next week.

Our dog friends will be visiting us on Wednesday.  Mrs. Edkins always tells me what a pleasure it is to visit our school.  She says that the dogs look forward to it too!

We will continue with our ocean unit.  The class is very interested in all the sea creatures we have been learning about.  They are busy putting together an ocean book.

Our last set of word wall words will be added to our board this week.  It seems like only yesterday the board only had 20 words on it!  Our final words are: almost, knew, thought, took, picture, open, boy, always, move and school.

Our spelling words for the week are: pretty, happy, little, kitten, puppy, better, took, almost, about, round.  Bonus words are: sea anemone, horseshoe crab, oyster

The Week of May 20th

This will be a busy week in first grade.  We will have our pictures taken on Monday, attend the book fair on Tuesday, and be a part of the spring concert on Wednesday!  We will be finishing our Everyday Math books and taking an end of the year test.

We will continue to study the creatures that live in a tide pool habitat.  We will also learn about Memorial Day on Friday.

Our spelling words for this week are: how, now, town, brown, down, clown, pull, goes, paper, seven.
Bonus Words are: dolphin, barnacle and Memorial Day

The Week of May 13th

This week we will continue our study of the Rocky Seashore.  We will study different animals and learn how they have made adaptations to survive in this harsh habitat.

As we are entering our last unit in math we will be reviewing different concepts that we have learned throughout the year.  We'll continue to review math facts up to 18.

We will be cleaning out our writing folders.  Have your child share different writing pieces with you that they have written throughout the year.

New word wall words are: each, once, other, under, which, along, goes, great, idea and pull

Spelling words are: her, turn, hurt, girl, first, bird, which, slower, slowest.  Bonus Words: hermit crab, seastar and octopus

The Week of May 6th

This week will be a busy one!  We are starting a new unit on the Rocky Seashore. (watch for notes about a special project coming home soon) Our trip is Tuesday.  We will be leaving around 9:15 and arriving back to school around 12:30.  We will have lunch when we get back.  We will not be able to have snack so please make sure your child has eaten breakfast since we won't have lunch until we get back. Our dog friends will be visiting us on Wednesday.  Progress reports will be going home at the end of the week.

Spelling words for the week are: born, for, fork, or, short, torn, cold, would walked, sleeping.  Bonus words are: ocean, seashore, and seahorse

The Week of April 29th

Can you believe it's May this week?  The year is coming to a close very quickly.  This week we will be finishing our insect unit and starting next week we will start a unit on the Rocky Seashore.
This is one of my favorite units to teach.

In math we will be completing unit 9 after a review of fractions.

Our spelling words this week emphasize the ar combination.  They are far, car, yard, dark, star, start, work, these, sadly and softly.  Bonus words are: colony, praying mantis and monarch butterfly

The Week of April 22nd

This week we will continue with our study of insects.  We have learned what the characteristics of insects are and are learning what adaptations they have to help them survive.  We are also learning about individual insects.

We will be finishing up Unit 5 of our Scott Foresman series.  We only have one unit left! 

Our week will be busy with an assembly to end our character education program and the duck race.

If you have not returned your permission slip for our trip on May 7th please do so.

Our spelling words for the week are: new, grew, drew, blue, true, glue, give, put, fixes and washes.
Our bonus words are: head, thorax and abdomen (which are the three insect body parts!)

The Week of April 15

This week we will begin Unit 9 in math.  We will be using the 100's chart to add and subtract 10's.  Also we will also continue with fractions. 

We will begin studying insects.  The class will be writing an informational text about different insects.  This week we will also be learning about Earth Day.

Watch for a permission trip about our field trip.  We will be going to the State Theatre in Easton on May 7th.

Word Wall Words for the next two weeks are: animals, because, even, better, heard, give, their, most, people and put

Spelling Words feature the different sounds of y : baby, funny, many, my, why, fly, even, most, without, nobody.  Bonus Words are: ladybug, mosquito and dragonfly

The Week of April 8

I can't believe that it's April!  Time flies when you're having fun.

This week we will be finishing up weather and moving onto a study of insects. We will continue learning about fractions in math.  Our long vowel team this week is igh and i-e.

As spring fever hits make sure your child reads each night.  The material continues to get harder and it's important to keep moving forward.

Our spelling words for this week are: lie, pie, tie, light, night, right, been, found, cat's, dog's.  Bonus Words are: insect, butterfly, grasshopper.

The Week of March 25

This is a short but busy week.  We will continue our unit on weather.  We'll learn about the water cycle and what makes a rainbow.  In math we will learn about fractions.

As students are reading more and more difficult selections please make sure that they read each night and that they understand what they are reading.  Have them retell the story and ask them about the characters, setting, problem and solution.

We are adding ten more words to our word wall.  The words for the next two weeks are: around, her, new, old, show, been, first, found, start, together.

Spelling words this week are:  grow, growing, float, floating, show, showing, around, old, coat, yellow
Bonus Words are: baseball, Easter Basket, tooth fairy

The Week of March 18th

This week we will begin a study of weather.  Different types of storms and the water cycle will be discussed.

In math we will continue with combinations of money.  It would be helpful to practice at home.  Students will learn about fractions and we will continue with addition facts beyond 15.

We are looking forward to reading with our dog friends on Wednesday.

A reminder that our castle projects are due on Tuesday.  If you get a chance stop in and see all of the creations!

Our spelling words this week are:  say, play, way, may, wait, rain, when, from, don't, I'm
Bonus Words are: hurricane, cloudy, umbrella

The Week of March 11th

This week we will be starting Unit 5 in our Scott Foresman Series.  The students will be taking the unit test.  Last week we discovered that long e sounds can be made using silent e and the vowel team ee. This week's phonics focus will be on the vowel team ea. 

In math we will learn about symmetry and review time and money. 

The class has been enjoying many different fairy tales.  Students have been sequencing the stories, writing their own versions, writing opinion pieces and writing about the main characters.  We have been comparing and contrasting various tales.

We will also learn about the legend of St. Patrick and leprechauns!

Reminder: Castle projects are due the 19th. 

Word Wall Words for the next two weeks are: buy, don't , only, from, or, hear, right, live, think and when.  (Watch for a list to come home to study for a test of all the words so far)

Spelling Words are: ask, asked, call, called, clean, cleaned, think, only, teach, neat   Bonus Words Are: Patrick, Leprechaun and rainbow

The Week of March 4

I can't believe it's March!  Spring is just around the corner!!!

This week will start with a Bear Assembly.  Our dog friends will be in to visit us on Wednesday. Hopefully everyone  got a copy of the castle project letter.  If not let me know.

We will continue with fairy tales this week and begin talking about weather.  In math we will continue with shapes and polygons.  We will be finishling Unit 4 in Scott Foresman.  Only 2 more to go!

Our spelling words this week are: we, he, she, deed, meet, green, any, kind, anything, inside.
Bonus Words are:  weather, thunder and tornado

The Week of February 25th

This week we will continue learning long vowel spelling patterns using silent e's.  Our focus this week will be on long u.  In math we will be winding up unit 6.  Unit 7 will introduce polygons!

The class continues to enjoy fairy tales.  We've been analyzing characters, making predictions and comparing different versions.  Students have been writing their own versions of some familiar tales.

Near the end of the week we will be reading stories by Dr. Seuss.  His birthday is on March 2nd.  We will also begin a unit on weather.

Watch for a note to come home about our recycled castle projects.  Students LOVE this. 

Word Wall words for the next 2 weeks are: four, funny, long, watch, were, about, any, ask, kind, over

Spelling words are: fish, long, such, four, that, watch, with, were, cute, use.  Bonus Words are: March, palace and magical

The Week of February 18

This week we will continue with our fairy tale unit.  We will be checking for the elements of fairy tales in each story and continue to compare and contrast different versions.  We will be reading some familiar tales and some that may be unfamiliar.

On Friday we will be learning about George Washington.  We will compare him to President Lincoln.

We will introduce counting with quarters this week and return to telling time.

Our spelling words for the week are: like, ride, nice, white, time, five, your, friend, never, rabbit
Bonus Words are: knight, dragon, wolf

The Week of February 11th

This week we will discover what elements are common in fairy tales.  We will compare and contrast different versions of the same fairy tale and then write some of our own.

Students will also learn about Chinese New Year, Abraham Lincoln and of course Valentine's Day.  Please remember  to not send in Valentines with candy attached.

The Hundredth Day is now on Friday.  We will be doing some different activities centered around the number 100.  Projects are due on Monday.

Since we missed our spelling test on Friday we will have it on Monday.

The new spelling words for this week are: rode, stone, those, has, hope, very, home, shop, joke, what.

Bonus Words are: president, Lincoln andWashington

The Week of Feb. 4th

This week we will continue our character education trait of optimism.  We will start a unit on fairy tales and learn about Chinese New Year.  In math we will learn about fact families and continue with name collection boxes.

Remember  the 100th Day of School is coming.  Projects are due on the 11th.  We will be exchanging Valentines on Valentine's Day.  Please don't attach any candy.  A class list will be coming home.

Spelling Words for this week are: tap, tape, cap, cape, mad, made. of, was, check and them.  Bonus Words are: princess, prince and castle

The Week of January 28th

I can't believe January is almost over! This week we will finish our polar unit. We will learn about the groundhog on Friday. Next week we will start a month long fairy tale unit which is a favorite of mine. We are starting unit 6 in our math book and unit 4 in our Scott Foresman series. Watch for news about 100th day projects. New word wall words for next two weeks are: after, call, laugh, something, every, of, made, mother and was. Spelling words for this week are: ate, bake, gave, make, late, take, as, after, helped, wanted. Bonus words are: February, groundhog and shadow

The Week of Jan 22nd

This week we will be concentrating on contractions, character description and writing using days of the week. We will be having some mid year tests in reading and math. We will be finishing up our polar unit with learning about Alaska and the factual and fictional Balto story. Spelling words for the week: clap, spot, trip. sled, drop, read, drum, please, can't it's Bonus words are: Alaska, Eskimo, parka

The Week of Jan 14th

Wow mid January is here. I hope that the weather stays nice. We have been able to get outside most days. This week we will continue with life in the polar regions and Martin Luther King. This will tie into our character ed lessons for the next few weeks. In math we will be adding doubles and numbers to 12. We will also introduce in and out boxes. Word Wall Words for the next two weeks are: word, read, out, know, came, say, please, she, there, and again Spelling words are: and, fast, hand, best, just, must, out, came, sent, next Bonus words are: penguin, Arctic and iceberg

The Week of Jan. 7th

Happy 2013! It is good to be back and see all of your children's smiling faces! This week will be exciting. Our therapy dogs will be visiting us on Wednesday and we will have an in-class spelling bee on Friday. In Language Arts this week we will be learning about words with soft c and soft g sounds. The class will be researching and writing factual information about polar animals. Students will learn the ways animals need to adapt to live in the harsh environment. In math we will continue with base ten blocks and using the greater than and less than symbols. We will practice adding to 11 and counting by 10's.