Last Week of January 2021 Updates

 Happy last week of January. So excited we are seeing some snow. What does that mean for school. Read below for that info. First, let's start with what is on the agenda for learning.

Math:  We will begin working on word problems this week, as well as revisiting the equal sign and working on making number sentences true.

ELA:  This week we will be working on our guided research project. We will be learning about hedgehogs (this was the animal from both "The Hat" and "The Mitten" stories we have featured all month). After we research hedgehogs together we will learn how to identify important information from a text and use that information to write a rough draft and then a final draft. Our spelling rule for the week is words with y.

Snow:  I am loving the snow we have had all weekend, and I hear we have more headed our week Monday and Tuesday. What does this mean for school? Quite honestly, I'm not 100% sure. We were originally told because all students have iPad access school would not be closed due to weather this year, although late starts were still a possibility. Then there was talk about internet working, and teachers and students still needing to make it into buildings and safe learning centers. Nothing was really ever mentioned, but we did receive an email mentioning school closures and delays due to weather. Which leads me to believe that, just like a normal school year, school closures due to inclement weather could now be a thing still. Soooo, although I am not clear I would strongly suggest listening to the radio or tuning into Facebook the next two days to keep updated on any possible closures or delays.

Nevermind, just recieved an email saying school is closed for tomorrow due to the forecasted storm event. Guess that answers that question. Please check the radio or Facebook in regards to what will happen on Tuesday.

Material Distribution:  We will be having another distribution this Friday. I think having the material out in front of the school for you to pick up at your convenience worked well last time, so we will do the same this time around. I will place the bags in a bin outside the school on Friday morning by 7 am. Please pick up anytime between 7 am and 6pm, when I will pick up any leftover bags and place them in the office. Any bags not picked up by 6 pm Friday will be left in the office and you will need to call them prior to pick up to make arrangements with them for when you can swing by and get your child's bag. Please, make sure to grab the bag with your child's name on it. I will be putting out materials to carry us through the rest of the semester (which is up to spring break). I thought about only doing through the end of the month, but then end of semester/spring break is only two weeks after that. To me it makes more sense, and at that time we will do a materials pick up before break if needed. 

Material Organization:  Please make sure when your child has their new materials they know where they are at. If your child is at home please make sure they are in an accessible but safe place so that they may be readily available when they need them for lessons. If your child is traveling to a safe learning center or any place outside of the home for their school day please make sure they take all their school supplies they have been given back and forth with them. They could need any supply on any given day, depending on the lesson. Obviously, the new packets of material being sent out during the new distribution will be what they need for that month. They will also need their handwriting books, wipe-off boards and markers are used practically daily, the spiral notebooks and science notebooks are used when needed. The scissors, gluesticks, and math manipulatives need to be handy. If your child travels for school it is best just to have these stay in their backpack on a daily basis, along with the math, morning work, spelling, and whatever other packets get sent out. A backpack may also be a good idea for those who stay home, just as a place for all the supplies to be in one spot. The hardest thing is when they tell me they do not have something they need for a lesson and I know every child has it. I feel helpless that I cannot reach through the screen and help them rummage through their learning spaces to find what they need to help their learning be more successful. They end up sad and stressed out when they miss out because they do not have everything they need for the day. Lost and missing items are a regular occurrence in first grade, in the building I would help them find it or have extra copies already made. I cannot do this remotely. So I need your help by helping them keep their materials in a consistent safe and organized spot. Thank you.

I hope you all found time to get outside and enjoy some fresh air and just have some fun playing in the snow. I hope your kiddos helped you shovel! Stay warm, and I will see you tomorrow - possibly. -Ms. Shaw