December 1st - 5th

WOW! December has gotten off to a quick start. Time is just flying by!

This week in whole group we are discussing /oo/ as in moon and moose. We have been doing quite a bit of work on information about the moon. In small group reading, we have done a little reorganizing. Several students have made quite a bit of progress and have changed reading groups. I know that I sent home quite a bit of reading homework this week, take your time and send it back next Monday. I am going to continue sending extra reading sheets and some sight word work. I hope that you find this helpful.

This week in math we have started skip counting (counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s). We will be challenged with several other ways to count. We will be taking our time with this chapter. I don't want to rush anyone through this section. It is important for the students to be able to count using this method. Practice counting this way at home, using M & Ms, Skittles, Goldfish, or anything else you can get your hands on.

Our grammar rule this week is rule 12, which is Verbs. Wednesday, I sent home the phonogram journal. We have completed our final phonogram for the year, so these folders do not need to be sent back to school. Next week, we will begin doing DOL (Daily Oral Language).

Just a head's up...I plan on putting a packet of reading passages together for Winter Break. This is a major growth period for 1st graders. You will be amazed how well they are reading after the Winter Holidays. I love January during 1st grade, because the students become so much more independent. Please make an effort to spend 30 to 45 minutes reading these passages and practicing oral reading with your child. Please continue to review and learn the word wall words, as well.

Upcoming Events:

12/4: Teacher Treat Day!

12/11: DIBELS Testing @ 10 am.
Please try to be on time and get plenty of rest the night before.

12/18: A.M. Holidays Around the World
P.M. Holiday Parties (1:30 - 2:15)
Have a wrapped book for a book exchange!

12/19: Polar Express...wear your P.J.s.

Hope you have a happy and blessed holiday season!

Ms. Messick