A week in review

On Monday we brought our smiles to class and had our class picture taken, as well as, our class photo.

On Tuesday, we worked on our handwriting, as well as, strengthening our reading skills during our partner reading .  We met our reading partners and practiced our fluency using our just right books.  We will have the same reading partners for the next few weeks.  Reading partners are just like our classroom seats, they are forever flexible and changing.

On Wednesday, Ms. Black came into our classroom during our Guided Reading time and listened to us read and watched us learn. Miss Wescott also showed us how to do rainbow writing with the letter Jj.

On Thursday it was Johnny “Appleseed” Chapman’s birthday.  We did some apple centers at the end of the day.  We also watched some YouTube videos about apples.  One of our favorites is a catchy song about apples.  This video gave Miss Wescott and me an idea.  Below is the video.  Feel free to click on it.  If your child hears it, they will begin to sing and dance to it.

 

Friday was jammed packed with activity.  We started the day with Ms. Black’s assembly about “How to Fill your Bucket”.  This is a monthly meeting that Ms. Black meets with all the first graders and teaches them about respect, responsibility, compassion, and friendship. At the end of the day, we taste tested 10 different varieties of apples.  We ate the following: Gala, Pink Lady, Macintosh, Fuji, Jazz, Sweetango, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Opalescent.  Our favorite was a new apple for this season… Sweetango (purchased at Wegmans) and the apple that was not liked by most of the class was the Macintosh (too soft). Here are some pictures of our taste testing. 

Things to remember:

 

If you have not filled out and returned your PTA paperwork from Mrs. Haworth (class head room mom) please do so.  If you need another paper let me know.

 

Starting Oct. 1st "Just right books" will be sent home daily for your child's reading practice.

 

Please practice your handwriting daily.

Owl Pellet Dissection

Whooooo’s child came running off the bus with excitement on Friday?  I hope all of them did.  We concluded our owl unit with an owl pellet dissection.  We went to the library for some extra room and had a great time becoming scientist.  We used tweezers, probes and magnifying glasses to discover what our owl ate.  Many of us were surprised (including me) that some of the owls ate more than one animal.  We found parts from shrews, rats, mice, moles, birds and voles.  The discussions during this activity was amazing.  The students did a great job.  Below are some of our scientists hard at work.

 

Next week:  Picture Day on Monday BRING YOUR SMILE, short e words, Johnny Appleseed, and handwriting     

First week of school 2013

We have made it through a full week of school.  It has been full of new experiences and procedures. We have learned how to get lunches in the lunch line and visited each of our special area classes.  We will go to music class on Monday. 

This week I will be working on reading individually with each of your children to get them their "just right" reading level books. 

In Math we are working on reviewing some Kindergarten skills including tally marks, counting by 1 and 5s, and number writing and formations.  On Monday, I will start the 100 Club.  This is a “club” that all children participate in.  They write their numbers from 0-100 in order in a book.  I am looking for correct sequence and number formation. This is great practice.  If the student can correctly write their numbers their name goes on a star and placed on the 100 Club cabinets.  Students work on this while waiting for the rest of the class to finish a task.

In Writer’s Workshop we are planning what we want to write about, touching and turning the pages of our booklet, and then working on stretching out the sounds of words and writing them down.  In addition, we are making sure that our pictures match the words and stories we are writing about.

Has your child come home talking about keeping their “colors”?  “Colors” are what I refer to as part of our classroom behavior plan.  We want to stay “In the Green”.  That means we are having a good day.  If I need to speak to your child about their behavior, they lose a color (yellow).  They need to write their name in the book and hand in their color.  If I need to speak to them again, in the same day, then they lose their Red.  If a red is taken away, a note/email will be set home to you about their behavior. All “colors” are returned to your child the following day and they start new.

Things to remember:

Back to School Night…  Come in and check out what we have been doing. Wednesday night.

If you are sending in money for lunch, please have it in an envelope with your child’s name on it.

Don’t forget….. We eat a small snack daily in our class.  Don’t forget to send in a small snack.

Specials Schedule

I loved meeting so many of you at the Open House last week.  I wanted to let you know our specials schedule for this year so you can dress appropriately for the day.

 

Day 1:  Gym  (please wear sneakers or bring sneakers to change into)

Day 2: Art (please send in your art shirt as indicated in our supply list)

Day 3: Library (1st grade students will be permitted to check out 2 books each week)

Day 4: Health

Day 5: Guidance

Day 6:  Music

See you on Monday.

Supply list for 2013-2014

You are more than welcome to bring the supplies to the Open House if you wish.  If not, you can send to school with your child on the first day of school.

Please have all items clearly labeled with your child’s name on it. 

·       a man’s T-shirt for Art class (saves time on buttoning)

 

·       a picture of your child to keep in the classroom no larger than 2” x 2” (one that Dr. Mueller can cut)

 

·       a LARGE backpack (large enough to hold a 9 1/2 ”x12” folder) to carry home papers (No wheels on the book bag please)

 

·       Coins

§  100 pennies

§  10 nickels

§  15 dimes

§  4 quarters

 

 

Girls  ONLY

·       1 box of gallon size reclosable plastic bags with the pull (example: Ziploc bags)

 

Boys  ONLY

·       1  container of Clorox wipes

Look whoo's in first grade

Whooo’s ready for First Grade?

Soon you will be starting First Grade.  It is an exciting time and maybe a little scary—like learning how to fly--even for the teacher!! Together in Room 10 we will make learning a hoot.  Don’t you worry, with my 20 years experience we will learn to fly to new heights together.

My family nest is a bit like yours.  I have 3 brothers and no sisters.  This summer on August 2^nd, the newest owlet (my nephew, Sully) turned 1 and started to learn how to walk.  A bit wobbly at first but with practice over and over he is getting the hang of it.  He watches his big sister, Estella, and tries to be just like her. He is just like you—some things will be tough at first but with lots of practice it will be like flying.  Once you know how, you will never forget.

When I am not in school, I have many gardens that provide me with lots of fun.  I have planted: corn, raspberries, tomatoes, purple peppers, green peppers, onions, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, spearmint, jalapeños, basil, cucumbers, white eggplant, lettuce, peanuts, sunflowers, Swiss chard, spinach, peas, string beans, oregano, rosemary, and pumpkins. 

So know you know a little about me…… whoooooo is ready to learn more????  I cannot wait to meet you and welcome you to our nest.

See you on Wednesday, September 4^th  at our open house 9:30-10:00 am.  At that time you will be able to pick your own desk to be your nest for the coming year. Also make sure you go to www.drmueller1stgrade.blogspot.com and sign up to receive our classroom blog.  Fill in the “follow by email” button.

Dr. Mueller