Hi Families. Happy December! Here are a few classroom updates:
First Grade Holiday Project: Due: Monday December 17, 2018
Our first project was assigned and is due on Monday, December 17th. Students are to research a holiday or celebration, create artwork that describes the holiday, and present their findings. Examples of art work include: a poster, a drawing of the celebration, a collage, a diorama, photo collage, a painting, etc. Please let me know if you need a new assignment sent home. Please follow the rubric to ensure A+ work. This grade will reflect the "research" grade on the 2nd quarter Report Card.
Presentations will take place the week of December 17th. We will do a few presentations each day until each student has had a turn to share their reports. We have to spread our presentations out throughout the week as it's hard for the little ones to sit patiently during 34 reports! There will not be schedule, we will just take volunteers. Some of the kids can not wait to have their turn to be the speaker, while others may feel a bit apprehensive. I will assist those who may be a bit nervous and present with them! The goal is to have each student to feel proud of their hard work and research.
Please Label Winter Clothes:
Please label your child's coat and hats and gloves. We have countless winter items piling up in the Lost and Found. Many in our room that go unclaimed. Feel free to check the lost and found if you are missing any items.
Picture Retake Day: Friday, December 14th.
If your child was absent on picture day, or if you would like to take a retake, bring your best smiles on Friday December 14th.
Winter Concert:
We hope you can join the first graders for our Winter Concert on Thursday, December 20 at 1:30 at the big building gymnasium.
Holiday Party:
We will celebrate the Winter Holidays with a classroom party on Friday, December 21st from
9:00 - 11:00am. If you would like to volunteer, please reach out to our lovely room parent, Shivani at [email protected]
We will end our party with a pizza snack, similar to our Halloween party. No donations needed this time. However, the pizza will be more of a snack, not a full lunch. Please plan on packing a lunch or receiving a school lunch.
Holiday Book Exchange:
Our firsties will exchange books during the party! Please supply a book (new or gently used) by December 17th. Please wrap the book, but please DO NOT write your name or anyones name on it. Students will pick based on an assigned number. If you are unable to supply a book, no worries, I have plenty of extras I can contribute. Just let me know so that we are sure to have enough for each student. What a great way to build an library at home!!
I READY
I Ready is finally here! YAY! This really is a great tool to use at home for additional practice. I Ready provides online lessons in reading and math. In theory, if your child is passing the lessons, they will become more challenging. If you child is not passing the lessons, or going through them too fast, the lessons will become easier. It is targeting instruction based on your child's leaning level and needs.
I Ready also provides much needed computer practice which will be very helpful when we take our NWEA Map Test this winter (probably in January). I suggest completing at least one I Ready Reading, and one I Ready math lesson per week, at home. If you have a laptop, this will be the most beneficial as we will take our test on a Chromebook.
Winter Break:
Our last day of school before our break is Friday 12/21. There will be no homework assigned during break. Enjoy your family time and the holidays! However, if you are looking or more practice, I Ready, Xtra math, and book reports are all great options.
Thank you for all of your continuous support! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season filled with peace and joy!
~ Mrs. Martin