10/31/12 HAPPY HALLOWEEN

We had a Spooktacular day today! We went to the Halloween Assembly in the morning. We worked on subtraction strategies in Math. In writing we illustrated ourselves in costumes and wrote detailed clues on our costumes for readers to guess what we dressed up for Halloween. Then we had tons of treats at our Halloween party!!! Lastly we had our Halloween parade!

The kids had a blast and they all looked so adorable in their costumes!!! Thanks for all the treats parents!

Homework: Spelling Rainbow Write

Reading: practice sight words and practice reading.


P.S Some students are missing their Santa Letters requests. This is really important in order to start writing out Santa Letters tomorrow. All sizes must be on paper, even if you aren't asking for clothes (it's part of Santa Helpers Program)

Monday 10/29/12

Hi! Welcome back!!!! Tomorrow is Report Card Pick Up Day!!!! Please come and discuss with me your child's progress. Classroom's with 100% attendance get FREE pizza party, and 1st graders love pizza!

You can stop by from 12:00pm-3:30 and then from 4:15-7:00pm (usually the earlier times has the least wait time)

I also want to give a special THANKS to Josue's mom for sending in some supplies for our Community Supply Area!!! We are fully stocked and I am so grateful for those who donated.

Homework:
Spelling: words this week are plan, stun, grin, tan, spun, tin, ran, win, sun
since we won't be in school tomorrow please complete both 3x each and write 5 sentences/pictures

Math: Worksheet on fact families

Reading: Practice sight words and practice reading!!

See you all tomorrow!

Fall Break!!!!

   Dear Parents,

    I hope you enjoy your week off of school and spend quality family time! I am sending home practice decode-able books for your child to use as extra reading practice. These books are yours to keep at home. Your child is to continue reading every night and complete a book report for Monday 10/29/12.  Remember practice makes improvement!

       I also wanted to let you know that when we return from Fall Break we will be implementing Reading Centers. One center is the computer center. If you would like your child to have their own set of headphones to use during computers please send a pair to school. Headphones will be labeled and stored in their reading box when not in use. This is a lice precaution to keep us healthy.

Lastly, our Halloween party will be on 10/31/12. You may bring treats for the class. Please make sure all treats are store bought. As of today, we have 30 students (15 girls and 15 boys). Our enrollment changes often so I will notify you if any changes.

Have a wonderful break and happy reading!

Mrs. Estrada, NBCT 

Thursday 10/18/12

Hi! Today we worked on zooming in on small moments in our writing workshop. We will be working on examining our lives and writing about small moments that happen to us for our next Unit in Writing. Tomorrow is a half day of school! Students will be dismissed at 11:30am. Students can wear jeans only if they wear a school logo shirt.

Homework:
Spelling: Practice test

Math: Workbook page 39-40

Reading: Practice Sight Words and practice reading 

Wednesday 10/7/12

Hi!

Today we learned how to use a cardinal rose and read maps in Social Studies. Ask your child how they learned to remember North, East, South and West (Never east soggy waffles.) We also learned about the season in Science and the different activities we do within each month. 

Homework:

Spelling: Rainbow Write

Reading: practice sight words and practice reading

Math: Worksheet on subtracting 

Tuesday 10/16/12

Hi! Today learned how to use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast two characters in a story. We also started to read our 1st chapter book Junie B. Jones is in First Grade (At Last), we are practicing on listening to the words to visualize the picture in our minds. Students really enjoyed the character of Junie B. Jones and we will continue to read 1-2 chapters a day!

I wanted to give a special THANKS to Nubia's mom for sending markers to add to our Community Supply Center!!! Community Supply Center is an area for students who don't have their own supplies or may forget something at home where they can borrow from. This supply center helps with transitions between lesson since we don't have to waste time "looking" for a pencil, crayon, erasers, etc students know they can simply borrow and return supplies.

Community Supply Area: Filled and READY! 

Homework:
Spelling: Draw 5 pictures and write 5 sentences

Math:Workbook page on subtracting

Reading: Practice sight words and practice reading

P.S Friday is a half 1/2 day of school. Students dismiss at 11:30 for Fall Break!!!!

Monday 10/15/12

Hi!

Today we read the story "Chester's Way."  Another great book from the same author of Chrysanthemum, Kevin Henkes. We also worked on counting backwards in Math for subtraction. Lastly, I am so proud of the class building the their silent reading stamina! We are now at 12 min of silent reading!!! This is a huge accomplishment for us. We started the year with 2 minutes, so we have grown so much already.

Homework:
Spelling: 3 times each. This weeks words are rat, not, lot, bit, fit, fat, quit, sat, rot
*the pictures to these sorts don't match the words, BUT are the pictures of previous words and they rhyme. So the intention is if students can spell mat then they can rat

Math: worksheet on counting backwards

Reading: practice sight words and practice reading

Friday and Weekend 10/12/12

Hi! Today we took our Spelling Test, Sight Word Test, and Math Chapter 5 Test!!!  When reviewing Chapter 5 Math Test, please note that the Common Core Standards for word problems require that students draw and show their thinking and work for each word problem. We also learned about earth's resources and recycling in Social Studies.

I also wanted to give a Special THANKS to Kylie's mother who sent crayons and glue for our Community Supply Area. The children who don't have crayons were super excited to use the supplies. Thank you again!

Friday Test Folder: Please review, sign, and return each test. Also, please sign the log inside the folder.

Book Report: Practice reading the book your child borrowed from our classroom library. Today we practice again filling out a book report with the story Chrysanthemum. Please make sure your child is using complete sentences and color their pictures. 

Thursday 10/11/12

Hi! I wanted to say "Thanks" to all the parents who are using the website!!! I have seen great improvements in homework return and quality. Also, it really helps when students that miss school, return to school with their work done! Thanks a lot!

Lastly, I have been having a lot of students complaining about not having crayons, scissors, or glue. Please make sure your child has the tools they need to learn. I sent notes home earlier this week for specific students who are missing supplies. I would appreciate it if you could please send supplies to school. Thanks!

Homework: 
Spelling: give a Practice Test

Math: Worksheet on adding (we have a Math test tomorrow)

Reading: Practice sight words for test tomorrow and practice reading 

Wednesday 10/10/12

Hi! Today was another great day in class. I really like teaching first grade because they make so much growth so quickly!!! I remember when they came in an August and a sentence was hard for them to write. Today they wrote their own paragraphs about their name by themselves!!! Also, in science we are learning about the water cycle. Ask them to sing the Water Cycle song to you!

Homework:
Spelling: Rainbow Write

Math: Workbook page 35-36

Reading: Practice sight words and reading every night!

Tuesday 10/09/12

Hi! Today was our Writing Celebration!!!! We had cookies and juice and then went to the "Story Museum" were we had the chance to read stories written by the authors in Room 104! Students finished their 1st narrative where they wrote 3 pages, told a story with a beginning, middle, and end, added lots of details and dialogue!!!!! I am so proud of all of them! They did an AWESOMTASTIC job!

Homework: 
Spelling: Write 5 sentences with capitals and end marks. Draw 5 pictures to match your sentence

Math: Worksheet on adding 

Reading: practice sight words and reading in nightly log 

Crysanthemum:We have just read the book Chrysanthemum in our class.  Please have your child tell you about this story. You can also view the story on our class blog under “Class Read Alouds.” Please talk to your child about their name.  Help them answer the following questions. Make sure they understand well enough to share their research about their name. We will share the stories of our names with each other in class over the next few days.

Monday 10/08/12

Hi!
 This week's spelling words are: zip, lip, pig, rip, mill, wig, sill, dig, and Jill (with a capital letter)

Homework: 
Spelling: 3 times each

Math:WB page on subtraction

Reading: practice sight words and reading nightly log 

Friday! 10/05/12

Hi!
Today most students finish their books!!!! It was a great feeling for all of us to work with a piece of writing and add details, dialogue, and illustrations. The children worked so hard on these stories to get them published! We are waiting on a few more students to get their books finish and join Author Hall of Fame!

Homework:
Friday Folder: Please review test and sign BOTH the tests and test log sheet.

Book Report: Students borrowed a  library book today and need to complete a book report for Monday. Remember good readers read a book more than once (practice reading it tonight and then again on Sunday). All book reports must be colored in order to get an A!

Missing Forms: The following students are missing forms. I sent home a sealed envelope of another copy of the form. Please sign and return forms as soon as possible!
-Joshua, Eliana, Gianna, Rudy, Ruth, and Isaac

Lastly, please work with you child every night on their sight words!!! They will learn to read quicker if they memorize and can say these words in a snap!

Thanks again and see you Monday!

~Mrs. Estrada 

Thursday 10/04/12

Hi!

Today we learned about the water cycle in Science and about the different types of lands in Social Studies. We also learned that when adding two numbers it is easier to start with the greater number and count up in Math.

Homework: 
Spelling: Practice test

Math: Worksheet on counting up

Reading: Practice sight words and reading log 

Wednesday 10/03/12

Hi!

Today the we learned about adding dialogue to our writing! The children's stories are coming out awesome!!! In Math we started Chapter 5 learning how to count on. Please ask your child to show you how using their "beehive" approach.

Homework:
Spelling: Rainbow Write

Reading: practice sight words and reading in nightly log

Math: Worksheet on counting on

Tuesday 10/02/12

Hi! I just wanted to remind you if you haven't completed the health/medical form please do so as soon as possible. Also please sign and return progress reports and failure notices. If you have return the forms already, then THANK YOU and keep being awesome. Lastly, please remind your child to keep ALL toys at home. Today we had a child bring a DS to school and with toys being so expensive we don't want to worry about lost, broken, or stolen items.

Thanks a ton!
~Mrs. Estrada

Homework:
Spelling: Draw and write 5 pictures and sentences (Some students ask to do more than 5, and of course they can. I will never say no to going above and beyond!)

Math: Worksheet on subtraction. Students must show their thinking by crossing out objects.

Reading: practice sight word flashcards and reading

Monday 10/01/12

Hi! Today in writing we picked one of our fvaorite story ideas to make into a publish book!!!! It will be an exciting day as we transform our writing into real books!!!

Homework:
Spelling: 3 times each. This week's read our: bug, nut, rug, run, sun, cut, mug, bun, hut

Math: Worksheet on subtraction

Reading: practice reading every night and sightword flashcards