BYOD

BYOD is beginning on Monday November 20th and Tuesday November 21st.  That means that if you have already signed and returned the BYOD permission slip, your child may bring in their own device.  Initially, we will practice gaining wifi access and getting on familiar websites (storylineonline.com or tumblebooks) with our devices.

In December, we will begin using the Seesaw app.  More information to come about Seesaw!

If your child does not have a device or you do not wish to send in a device with your child, they will be using school technology devices to complete the same activities.

Thank you!

Happy Track In!

I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable track out.  We can't wait to see everyone on Monday, November 13th.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Specials Schedule: Weeks of November 13-December 1

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Media	PE	Music	Art	Technology

Reminder: November 21st is an early release day.  Dismissal begins at 1:15.  There will be no school November 22nd-24th.

Track Out Information

Happy Track Out!  I hope everyone has a restful and relaxing track out.  I am encouraging everyone to read every night to help practice good reader strategies and comprehension.

Here is what you can focus on during track out:

Reading Focus--sight word practice, reading stories fluently and comprehension.  We will specifically be working on written comprehension and story elements (characters, setting, problem and solution).

Writing Focus--writing using the words first, next, then and last. We have been working on opinion writing, which includes statement of your opinion, 3 reasons to support your opinion and restatement of your opinion.  We have also been working on using correct capitalization and punctuation in our writing.

Math Focus--we continue to practice counting to 120, addition and subtraction to 20 and place value.  We have been working on making 2 digit numbers using tens and ones and will begin comparing 2 digit numbers when we return from track out.

Social Studies/Science Focus--In social studies, we have spent time exploring other cultures and how they celebrate different holidays/traditions.  In science, we will begin a unit on balance and motion when we return from track out.

Early Release and Track Out Day!

Just a reminder that tomorrow, October 20, 2017 is early release.  Please be sure that your child knows the way they will be going home.  Dismissal starts at 1:15.  Our schedule is listed below:

8:45-9:15--Arrival, finish any unfinished work.
9:15-9:55--Math
9:55-10:20--Specials (PE tomorrow)
10:20-11:40--Reading
11:40-12:10--Lunch (in the classroom)
12:10-12:45--Social Studies or Writing
12:45-1:15--Fun Friday

Happy track out!  We will see you on November 13th!

Apple Day!

We are having an apple day on Friday, October 13th.  We will have activities that will be focused on our objectives in reading,writing and math surrounding an apple theme.  One apple station will be a tasting station.  1st grade is in need of 2 bags of yellow apples, 1 bag of red apples and 1 bag of green apples.  If you are able to donate bags of apples, please email me at kwern@wcpss.net

Welcome 2nd Quarter!

Today begins the start of 2nd quarter.  We will be investigating place value using tens and ones blocks.  We will be creating and identifying 2 digit numbers a variety of ways.  In reading, we will begin an in depth focus on the story elements--characters, setting, problem, solution.  We will be able to describe in detail these elements for the fiction stories we read.  In writing, we are beginning our unit on opinion writing.  We will begin by focusing on fact vs. opinion, then the elements of an opinion writing--intro/statement of opinion, facts to support opinion, closure.  In social studies we will investigate traditions of other cultures, such as losing a tooth, and compare it with the traditions in our family.

Highlights for your calendar:

Report cards will be sent home 10/6/17
Science Fun for Everyone Field Trip--(in school) 10/6/17
Early Release at 1:15--10/20/17
Track Out 10/23-11/13

Snack Issues

At the beginning of the year, we have had parents donate wonderful snacks for the students that forgot a snack that day.  At that time, there were only 1 or 2 students that had forgotten their snack.  Now, as quarter 1 is almost over I have approximately half the class (9 students) saying they have forgotten snack and need a donated snack.

Due to this issue, if you are planning to donate snacks to the classroom, please send in only raisins from this point on.  I have explained to the class that they need to remember their snacks from home and the only snack that I will have available is raisins.

Thank you for the parent support.

Dress Up Days for Read-a-Thon--Week of September 25th

Monday – Having a Ball Reading: Wear your favorite sports gear or sports teams gear
Tuesday – Twinning for Reading is Winning: Dress like someone else – your teacher, parent, friend
etc.
Wednesday – Rocking our Reading: Dress like a music star and/or have rock star hair Thursday – Reading is Impressive: Dress to Impress with dressy clothes
Friday – Books Can Be Silly: Wear silly socks

Field Day 9/21/17

We are having our first ever all field day on Thursday 9/21/17.  Our lunch time will be at 11:25 and our field day will take place from 1:00-3:00.  Please be sure to dress appropriately (sneakers and comfortable clothes) and children can bring in their own water bottle (please label the water bottle with your child's name).  Field day will take the place of specials and recess.

We did It!

Congratulations 1st grade class!  We have raised over $1,000 through the Read-A-Thon fundraiser.  That means we get a munchkin (donut hole) party and another pajama day.  We have also earned a PTA funded pizza party!

Thank you so much for all your donations.  We will now need munchkin/donut hole donations for party on Thursday, September 14th.  Our class will have our pajama day on Friday, September 15th.  Our pizza party will be on Friday, September 15th.

Please email me at kwern@wcpss.net with any questions.

READ-A-THON

We are off to a great start with our school fundraiser--Read-A-Thon.  Thank you so much for all your pledges.  As of today, we have raised a little over $700 as a class and we are in 1st place in 1st grade. Here is a list of rewards we will have:

Tuesday--9/5--Crazy seat day.  Pick your own seat for the day.
Wednesday--9/6--Picnic lunch (we will eat our lunch outside).  Computer lab time in the afternoon.
Thursday--9/7--Stuffed animal day.  Bring in a stuffed animal to sit with all day.
Friday--9/8--Popsicle party and extra recess day in the afternoon

Week of 9/11--No homework week
9/11--Cookie Party

Please email me at kwern@wcpss.net if you would like to donate Popsicle for our 9/8 Popsicle party or cookies for our 9/11 cookie party.

Next rewards are a donut hole/munchkin party and pajama day!

Welcome September!

We hope that you are off to a great start to the month of September.  Listed below are some updates and curriculum information.

Read-A-Thon, our school fundraiser, has begun.  Check your child's daily communication folder for information.

September 1st--Interims are sent home for track 3
September 4th--No school/holiday
September 5th--Read-A-Thon Spirit week begins--Hat Day
September 6th--Read-A-Thon Spirit week continues--dress like a wild animal
September 7th--Read-A-Thon Spirit week continues--wear blue and green
September 7th--BYOD informational meeting for parents at 5:30 pm
September 8th--Read-A-Thon Spirit week continues--Pajama day
September 21st--Field day (tracks 3 and 4/rain date is 22nd)
September 29th--Early Release

Curriculum Information

Reading:  In the next few weeks we finish up identifying the main idea and key details in informational texts and retelling of fiction texts.  We are working on asking and answering questions, using a variety of strategies to decode words, and using the resources in the room or in a book to help us spell.

Writing:  We will be introduced to onomatopoeia, ellipses, words in a story that are all caps and review transition words.  We will use these strategies to spice up our writing.  We will also be adding details to our personal narratives and begin writing an Ouch book as a class, where each student will write a story about a time they got hurt/needed a band aid.

Math--We will be continuing to work on strategies to add and subtract within 20 with a focus on missing addends and word problems.  Students will be exposed to counting on, counting down, using counters, using ten frames, drawing a picture and a variety of other strategies.

Science--We will finish exploring the sun and begin exploring the moon.  We will even use Oreo cookies to show the phases of the moon!  Students will also explore the stars and asteroids in this celestial objects in the sky unit.

Happy Track Out!

We have worked hard the last 3 weeks and I think we are all ready for track out!  Our last day is tomorrow, July 28th and we will return on August 21st.  I always encourage students to read or be read to for at least 20 minutes each night over track out but I don't send home any additional sheets or activities. The list below are some upcoming objectives that you can get your child prepared for over track out.

Reading
Ask and answer questions about key details (in both fiction and informational texts).
Decoding one syllable words.
Good reader strategies( get your mouth ready for the sound of the first letter, find smaller parts in bigger words, asking yourself, "does it make sense, sound right and look right?", etc..),

Writing
Print all upper and lowercase letters correctly.
Write narratives using the words first, next, then and last.
Write an opinion piece with reasons.
Use an introduction to their writing.
Include closure to writing pieces.

Math
Addition and subtraction to 20
Place Value (ones, tens)
Two digit numbers
Comparing numbers

1st Quarter Parent Conferences

Please use the sign up genius link below to sign up for a parent conference in August.  I look forward to seeing everyone!

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0D4FAEAB2AA5FD0-quarter

Week of July 24th

We have made it through 2 weeks of 1st grade!  Congratulations and we only have 1 more week of school until we track out!

Important Reminders:

• For Tracks 1, 2, and 3, Wednesday the 26^th are optional Ident-a-kid pictures.
• For Track 3 Friday the 28^th is the last day before Track Out on Monday
• Look for a sign up genius for a 1st quarter parent conference day with Mrs. Wern in August before we track back in.  Watch the blog and email!

This week we will be learning:

Reading--We will continue to work on read to self and learn about our writing center.  Our focus on good fit books and reading/writing the whole time during centers will help to increase stamina this week.  We have finished beginning of the year reading assessments :)

Writing--We will continue to work on picking a small moment out of our lives to write about using multiple sentences and transition words (first, next, then, finally).  We will also focus on when to use capital letters.

Math--We have finished the unit on counting, writing, and understanding numbers to 120.  We will be beginning the addition/subtraction unit to 20 with the focus on counting on when adding two numbers (8 + 4 would be "put 8 in your head and count on using 4 fingers  9, 10, 11, 12).  We will also explore math mountains this week.

Math Mountains:


Social Studies--We are finishing our First Grade Experts unit and beginning our community unit.  Students will learn what a community is and how each one of us can be a good citizen.

First week of First Grade

Congratulations!  We made it through the first week of first grade.  We have had a lot of fun this week learning routines and procedures, reading lots of stories and practicing counting to 100!

Thank you for signing behavior sheet in the daily communication folder and helping your child with their homework.  We will share the homework today and next week will will have 3 students per day share their Me bags.  After they share their Me bags, students will take the bags home.

What we will be learning next week (week of July 17th) :

Reading--We will be working on choosing "good fit" books and practicing read to self to build our reading stamina.  Students will make connections to the read aloud texts by writing about how they should react in a situation.

Writing--We will continue to work on picking a small moment out of our lives to write about using multiple sentences and transition words (first, next, then, finally).  We will also focus on when to use capital letters.

Math--We will explore numbers to 120 and work on using 120 boards to find one more or one less than a number.  We will use number lines, unifex cubes and drawings to count on and complete number splashes.

Social Studies--We are learning about the first grade experts and how to become a first grade expert.  Last week, we met responsible Ryan and really safe Rita.  This week we will meet ready to learn Robert and respectful Rachel.

Dress Code Information

The WCPSS dress code policy will be enforced. You can find the full policy in our on-line parent/student handbook.

Because these areas are of most frequent concern at Banks Road, we wanted to call to attention footwear and coverage of

tops.

a. Students cannot wear back-less sandals/flip-flops to school. These present a safety problem during recess and PE and they often break. Inappropriate footwear will result in the student being unable to participate in physical play during recess and play in PE. Parents will be contacted.

b. Students wearing strappy dresses or shirts with straps that are less than approximately two adult finger widths wide need to wear a shirt under or over the dress/shirt. Spaghetti strap shirts or dresses will result in a school issued shirt being provided to the student. Parents will be contacted.

Welcome to First Grade!

Thank you so much for coming to meet the teacher last week!  We are all very excited about the upcoming school year which starts soon!  Please check this blog often for curriculum updates, important dates, homework helpers and school wide information.