Birthday Breakfast - Friday AM

We will be hosting our first birthday breakfast, Friday September 29th. We will be celebrating students who had a birthday in September. We will meet for morning meeting, sing happy birthday, and enjoy a light birthday snack. It will all happen before 9:00 so we can continue on with our learning plans for the day. Arrival will be at the same time your child comes to the classroom. Please email me if you plan to attend - all immediate family members are invited - whether you have a birthday child or not! You are welcome to bring younger siblings to these monthly birthday breakfasts (during other parts of our day, we ask that you leave younger siblings at home). If you've signed up for September to help with food donations, I've sent you an email - please respond with what you plan to bring. Drop me an email if you think that you'll make it for all or part of the breakfast/morning meeting! Each month we will have one, so don't feel obligated to attend all - do what works for your family. These breakfasts/morning meeting are informal and a chance to stop by and visit with our class community! 

Open House 2017!

The Union Elementary Open House will be on the evening of Thursday, September 28 from 6:00 to 7:00.  Our Open House will be an opportunity for K-4 families to join their children in classrooms and share their work with each other.  Families will also have an opportunity to join their children in their Integrated Arts classes and meet Counselors and Special Educators throughout the evening.  The evening will officially begin at 6:00, but families are welcome to come and go at any time within the 6:00 to 7:00 hour. Please contact me if you have any questions -- we look forward to seeing you all and showing off the great things happening at UES!

Seeking 4 winds Volunteers

Hopes and Dreams

Leo Lionni  - one of my favorite authors - prompted us to think about our own hopes and dreams for first grade. We brainstormed ideas about what we want to do and accomplish in first grade. Every child contributed and as a group, we came up with a long list of hopes and dreams. Then individually, each child thought about what was most important to them and wrote about their own hopes and dreams for the school year and what they were excited about.You will have a chance to read your child's hopes and dreams at open house (next Thursday). If not, INQUIRE with your child what their hope and dream is for First Grade. If you're a parent or guardian, think about your hopes and dreams for your child. Think about how we can work together to achieve this hope and dream!  Please feel free to share your own hope and dream for your child with me.  

Kind, Responsible, Safe

Once a month, the entire school, faculty, staff, and students gather together for a whole school morning meeting, sometimes referred to as an assembly. The structure of this morning meeting replicates that of what we do in our own classroom. As an entire school, we celebrate together, sing songs, and learn about what's happening around the building. Our students are not only creating community in their respective classrooms, but as a whole school. We had our first assembly today. I was incredibly impressed with your child's respectful behavior and active participation. Swoop even came in for a visit to learn all about our school rules - Kindness, Responsibility, and Safety.

Stronger Writers

 

First Graders have been immersed in writing since the first day of school.  During our "writer's workshop" students will learn about a variety of genres.  Our first is personal narrative writing - which we refer to as writing a "small moment."  During this unit, students are writing about experiences they've had.  Each session begins with a mini-lesson where the students hear a teaching point and see it modeled in actual writing, hear the language authors use and  then finally thinking of a way to try that out in their own writing.  The students then independently work on their own writing piece while I confer individually with students about their individual goals. After the writing time, we close the lesson with a share and review of the strategy taught. The student have been getting used to learning about how to use supplies, where to keep them, what to do when they're stuck, and what to do when they think they're done.

The past few weeks we have been focusing on orally telling their story before beginning to write. This oral practice is really important to help them structure their story with a beginning, middle and end. Students are then encouraged to add a rough sketch to help them remember their planned story before writing. As children stretch their words across the paper, use word walls, and write words from memory, detailed stories have emerged. Along the way, students have worked with a peer to help them revise each story. While working together, children ask questions of one another's stories to help them realize what is missing. We are working so hard to be just like, 'George McClements' an author who writes a small moment story and to maybe - one day - get our books published on the shelves of Bear Pond! All children are beginning to add details into their narratives, include connecting words, and have a clear beginning, middle, and exciting end to their stories. We are learning how writers and readers do similar things and continue to make connections during reading and writing. 

Stronger Readers

We continue to practice our reading habits each day.  The most important thing first graders do to become stronger in developing fluency in reading is to read EVERY DAY!  Before getting started with their "read to self" students take a minute to make a plan for their reading. What books will they read today? How many do they think they can read thoroughly? Students use a mat to organize their books and after each book read, record it in their folder. Each day, students set a goal to read more books than they did the previous day.  Students are building their stamina for reading and developing life-long habits.  As we increase our reading habits, students are also learning about the importance of rereading as well as scooping up our words to make our reading sound smooth.  INQUIRE with your child what habits they have been developing in first grade reading workshop?

Blanchard Park

This afternoon our class went out in the community for an outdoor community building excursion. Throughout the year we will use SOME Thursday afternoons (aside from ECO)  to explore at Blanchard Park.   This past week, our class joined Mrs. Dostie's first graders to explore this community park. INQUIRE with your child what they discovered at this space.  PLEASE help your child remember to have sneakers in their backpacks for any walking trips in our community. We live in such an accessible city with so many opportunities at our fingertips for learning.  If you'd like to leave an emergency pair of extra walking shoes in their cubbies, feel free.

Math Norms

Over the first few weeks of school during math, students have been exploring these first grade math norms.  We have been practicing them and discussing what it is like to be a mathematician.  Students came to understand that mathematicians are thinkers, creators, and problem solvers and that working together is how they will best learn math this year.  Each day, we review our norms before exploring numbers.  Through calendar, counting, guided practice, and games, students have started to set out on a year long exploration of working together to improve their number sense.  

Self Portraits

Last Friday, students created self-portraits. Recognizing that we all look different and that no two children are alike, we closely tried to capture our own distinct qualities. Students drew themselves using true to life colors and features and thought deeply about themselves and what they look. Patience was seen around the room as they completed their first self-portraits of the year. INQUIRE with your child what was challenging for them during this activity?

Sing-a-long

Each month, students from all first grade classrooms join together for a sing-a-long. In each of the five classrooms, children study and learn similar content and are exposed to shared songs, poems, and chants. This past week, friends got together to share their learning of insects thus far while singing "Big Bugs, Small Bugs," "Head, Thorax, Abdomen." "Flea Fly," "buzzing bees" and a favorite of all our teachers, "The More We Get Together." INQUIRE with your child about any one of these songs. Each day, children READ and sing these titles as a class and independently from their poem folders stored in their book boxes.

ECO-insects

Our first ECO this year directly connected our classroom study of insects to the outdoors. Mrs. Dostie's class joined us for a wonderful afternoon of learning. Students enjoyed a cooperative game of "Insect Relay." Moving like a variety of insects, students raced across the field, pretending to be bees, grasshoppers, butterflies, etc. Showing empathy, students cheered for their friends, all while showing self-control. Later on in the afternoon, students looked for insects in the forest, and created their own insect art, using materials found on the forest floor. INQUIRE with your child what materials they used, and why. At the end of every outdoor learning adventure, first graders take some time for reflection and think about what they are thankful for in that moment.  Enjoy the attached video of this.

ECO - Thursday

ECO Science Outing!

We will have ECO ALL AFTERNOON on Thursday.

If you plan to join us, please let me know jillc@mpsvt.org. Please leave younger children at home.  We plan to leave school around 12:45 and return around 2:30.

Please make sure that your child is prepared with:

• walking/hiking shoes or boots
• sweatshirt or fleece layer
• coat or hooded jacket (if needed, weather dependant)
• water bottle (if your child doesn’t have one at school)
• backpack
• rainpants/snowpants (optional)
• hat, mittens, etc (optional)

Please check the weather and use your discretion on what best to outfit your child with!

Thanks!

Scholastic Book Order

Click on this direct link above to order books for your family. You can place an order at any time throughout the year. Remember, every time you order from this great program, our class receives points toward new books for our classroom. Thanks for helping to grow our classroom library!  Let me know if you have any questions!

Scholastic Book Order

I will be sending home book order forms in your child’s red communication folder several times during the year. These book clubs offer a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction books for children at very reasonable prices. If you choose to place an order, our class will receive a lot of free books!

Children will have one week to bring in their orders, and the orders take about two weeks to arrive. I will be using the Scholastic Reading Club. You may choose to order online and pay with a credit card, or fill out the form attached to the paper catalog and pay by check. You can write one check for multiple Scholastic orders. Please make your checks payable directly to Scholastic and send your order and check in a labeled envelope.

More titles available through scholastic website as well.  Feel free to simplify your life and order online:

Classroom Activation Code!

HN3MY

Orders DUE BACK BY:

Wednesday, September 20th

Being Ready for the Rainy Weather

Please do your best to ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather.  We strongly believe that every child needs to have adequate time to move and play outdoors daily, so we’ll be going out even if it’s chilly or there are sprinkles.  Rain jackets and boots are a must! Generally speaking, we'll be going outside for recess unless there is thunder and lightning in the forecast or there is an absolute downpour. Everyone will have a better experience if they’re comfortable and prepared, so please bear this in mind as your child heads out to school each morning.

First Grade Birthday Breakfast Information

First Grade Birthday Breakfast Information & Sign Up

Birthdays are a time for celebration!  We have the tradition of having ‘birthday breakfast’ once a month in first grade classrooms to meet the expectations outlined in our school handbook which state:

Sweet treats such as candies, cupcakes, brownies and chocolate chip cookies have little nutritional value and should not be sent to school.

Consider visiting or sending in fun activities and games to celebrate special occasions at school rather than food.

When foods not meeting these expectations are sent to school by parents for celebrations, the foods will not be returned but a copy of this guideline will be sent home as a reminder.

We welcome families to join us for this celebration - regardless of whether your child’s birthday falls on that month! We encourage all families to join us in a morning meeting when we will sing a birthday song, and enjoy a special breakfast as a whole group.  

Each month, we will need your help to make the birthday breakfast a success. We ask families to supply a special healthy breakfast treat, and suggest planning ahead by signing up in advance.  Breakfast ideas range from juice, muffins, bread, cheese and crackers, fruit salad, veggie and dip, fruit kabobs, yogurt parfait, granola, etc.  All breakfast items need to be nut-free so please read the labels carefully.

Even if you are not able to attend, you can contribute to the breakfast.  If you are not bringing a birthday treat, we welcome you to join as well! This is a great chance for you to join your child’s class and celebrate with the whole class community.  Please sign up for a date or a few dates that work for you and your family to bring a breakfast item to school.  I will send out an email reminder the week prior to our breakfast as well to help coordinate items and participation.

In addition to birthday breakfast, some families choose to send in a healthy snack on the child’s actual birthday.  Other families choose to donate a book in their child’s name to the classroom.  Any of these options is fine. It is helpful to communicate with me prior to this.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask! A sign up form went home last week. If you can sign up in advance, thank you.

Birthday Breakfast Dates

8:30-9:00 am

September 29 October 27 November 17

January 26                         March 30 April 27

June 8 (June and summer birthdays)

                                

                          

Reading Behaviors

As I begin to learn more about your child as a reader and find out what he or she knows and can do in this area, our class is learning what it looks like to be a first grade reader.  Students are learning behaviors that first graders show during their reading to self time. Students practice these behaviors as they begin to develop first grade "habits." INQUIRE with your child what it looks like and sounds like during reading and what habits they are developing (ex. take a sneak peak, do something at the end).  Reading workshop happens EVERY DAY, and students are immersed in books - on their own, with partners, in small groups, as well as during whole class teaching.  

Explore time

Choice time at the end of the day is an important part of our day. Social skills are practiced and reinforced as students make their own choices. INQUIRE with your child what they have done at choice time. Who have they worked with?

Super student

You might have heard your child talking about the "Super Student." Each day, a child is randomly selected to be this student. As one way to learn about each other and to build community, the child is highlighted for the day. The class interviews them, asking them questions about their interests, favorites, about their home, etc. We also learn about their name and do a special name chant. Each student then writes and draws all about this "super student." Each page gets put into a special book all about that child. You can look forward to reading these at open house at the end of the month. Throughout this whole process, students practice what it looks and sounds like to be a "super first grader" as we've been referring to them as in the classroom. INQUIRE with your child what it looks like and sounds like to be a super student. What magical powers do they have/show?!