September 10th-14th Updates

Hello families.  Some very exciting things are happening in Room 9, please read on to get the whole scoop 🍧:

Math:  We have some very fun math lessons this week.  We are going to be understanding the equal sign by comparing equivalent expressions (ex: 2+3=1+4) and the students will be constructing true number sentences.  We will also be taking a closer look at the commutative property (which we have already done several times informally) and use it to practice counting on from the larger addend.  

ELA:  The students officially began their first rounds of Daily 5 last week, and did an amazing job reading and writing while I worked with students individually!  Our story from NatGeo this week is "My Mother at Work" and we will be working on short e words.  In grammar we have learned about nouns and articles (which was a bit of a tricky concept).  This week we will try to fit in proper nouns and writing dates correctly.  Parents, please do not forget, we need your child to bring in earbuds to help with the noise control during Daily 5.  Please label your child's earbuds and have them give to me for storage for the remainder of the year.  Thank you!

Science and Social Studies:  We have some very exciting science and social studies news.  Mrs. Ogg and I will be switching kids on Wednesday's and Thursday's so that we may better teach our science and social studies curriculum.  I will be teaching both classes science (keeping our kiddos on Monday's and Tuesday's)  and she will be teaching the social studies.  Our kids will go to her room on Wednesday's and Thursday's for their social studies lessons each week.  I did this switch last year with Ms. Reger, and absolutely loved it!  We get so much more curriculum in this way, and the kids love going to another room with another teacher.  I will be teaching them what a scientist is and reviewing the scientific process in preparation for our unit on plants next week.  Ms. Ogg will begin with our unit on wants and needs/ goods and services. 

Picture Day:  Picture day is coming at the end of this month. Exact day escapes me at this moment, however the order packet will be going home tomorrow.  If you want to purchase pictures please fill out the packet and return to me with payment ASAP. You also have the option of paying online as well, just write that on the packet to let me know.  I will notify you of exact date in next week's blog.

Scholastic Book Orders:  I will be sending home scholastic book orders on Tuesday.  These are a great way to buy really good books at some of the best prices you can get. This is also a great way to encourage reading in our first graders! You can purchase books by either filling out the forms and turning them in with cash or check (payable to Scholastic) or by ordering online using our classroom code Q7YBM.  Book orders will be due by Monday, September 17th.  If you ever want a book order to be a gift, please let me know and I will give it to you without your child knowing.   

Classroom Helpers:  If you are interested in helping in the classroom, please let me know and we can set up a time that is beneficial to all.  We can use help doing things like helping with reading groups during ELA time, or grading to be finished folders or rocket math.  Also, if I can get a parent to volunteer to come in consistently 2-3 times a week to switch out books,  I will start sending home Book-It bags.  These are a bag with a book that children can read at home at their own pace.  After they read 10 books in a row they get a coupon for a free personalized pan pizza from Pizza Hut.  I cannot run this on my own, and will only do it if I have a parent who can help me run this.  Please let me know if you are interested in this, or volunteering at any other time.

Hope everyone had a restful weekend.   - Ms. Shaw