Friday, November 17, 2017

Happy (almost) Thanksgiving!

It was another jam-packed week here in first grade!  We worked with place value, adding the hundreds place to our repertoire!  On Tuesday, we read an interesting Scholastic News about the pilgrims at the time of the first Thanksgiving.  We've also worked hard on editing and revising our writing!  We're bringing several pieces home today after selecting two pieces to keep working on at school.  The pieces coming home are in various stages in the writing process-some may be nearly complete, while others might have been stories we lost interest in/didn't enjoy writing/just didn't have time to finish.  In reviewing them, be sure to talk with your child about the sounds they are writing (are they including beginning, middle, and ending consonants?  Which vowel sounds are they remembering to add to their words?) :)

Monday's assembly at the High School with sound designer Brent Daniels was really fun!  Some of us got to go up on the stage as volunteers in his presentation. :)

We enjoyed our Pajama Day today for earning another 25 Caught-You-Being-Good tickets in the hallway/cafeteria!  Please look later in the blog for a repeat message from last week's blog about a special day in December-please try to help me keep it a surprise as long as possible-I love their excitement when they see the fun things we will do and how our classroom is transformed for them on that special day!  They're only this age once :)

Some info from last week...

On Tuesday, November 21st, we'll have a class Turkey Trot on the track before it closes for the winter!  Please make sure we have appropriate shoes for walking and running that afternoon. :)
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FOR PARENTS ONLY
Looking ahead (but I know the days will evaporate!)...on Thursday, December 21st, we'll have Polar Express Day!  Your first grader may wear pajamas and bring a special pillow or blanket to be comfy during our class viewing of the book and movie, and some related activities!  I will have a little gift for each of them as well. :) 
Please be prepared to send a baggie or package of (already popped) popcorn for your child.
 **Shhh!  Don't tell yet-I want this day to be a surprise! ;) **
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**Speaking of upcoming events, don't forget to check out the Upcoming Events and Links lists in the sidebar menu here on the blog.  If you are using a mobile device/phone, and can't see the sidebar, just scroll to the bottom of the main message and click on View as Web Page. :)

Here are some images of our week together!

 Base 10 Blocks!!

Brent Daniels
 Everyone online
 
 
 Place value pros! (enjoying our new projector for the SmartBoard-!)
 
 
 STEM with fuzzy stems-how tall can you make YOUR structure? :)
 
 
Have a wonderful weekend!  I'm going to check out the Coastal Botanical Gardens' Gardens Aglow and rehearse for "A Christmas Carol"...hope you get to enjoy some fun family time too!  Check out last week's post for links to some fun, seasonal local events!
 
Becca
 

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Hi, everyone!

Well, after a beautiful October the weather has finally decided to turn chilly!  Thank you for sending appropriate cold weather gear for my first grade friends.  **Please make sure to label your child's clothing with their name or initials so that we can keep track of whose belongings are whose! :)

It was a very busy four days in first grade!  We wrote learning reflections to share with our parents at conferences, continued to become experts at place value (tens and ones), started learning about the first Thanksgiving and the people who celebrated it, had an outdoor safety drill, learned about Perseverance with Mrs. Patch, enjoyed testing hypotheses and making observations during STEM, and did some special projects!  Big thanks to Mrs. Twombly and Mrs. Trickey for coming to help with our projects-it was a lot of fun!!  Look in the Upcoming Events listing to find out when our next Project Day will be-we'd love to have you there!

BIG NEWS-!  We earned another 25 Caught-You-Being-Good Cards!  We voted to celebrate by having a Pajama Day on Friday, November 17th!  :)

On Monday the 13th, we will be walking up to the High School for the rescheduled Cultural Arts performance that we were supposed to have attended on October 31st-please make sure we have comfortable shoes for walking :).

I am also extending the Scholastic Book Order deadline until Monday November 13th-we've only had one book order so far, and with all the craziness from the storm days interfering with our routines, I want to make sure that families have a chance to order.  The class online ordering code is H63NZ.

Also, be sure to check out the Scholastic Book Fair in our Library during the week after Thanksgiving...
            Monday, November 27th                 3pm – 6pm
            Tuesday, November 28th                3pm – 6pm
            Wednesday, November 29th          1pm – 4pm
            Thursday, November 30th               3pm – 6pm

On Tuesday, November 21st, we'll have a class Turkey Trot on the track before it closes for the winter!  Please make sure we have appropriate shoes for walking and running that afternoon. :)

FOR PARENTS ONLY...Looking ahead (but I know the days will evaporate!)...on Thursday, December 21st, we'll have Polar Express Day!  Your first grader may wear pajamas and bring a special pillow or blanket to be comfy during our class viewing of the book and movie, and some related activities!  I will have a little gift for each of them as well. :)  Please be prepared to send a baggie or package of (already popped) popcorn for your child. 
 **Shhh!  Don't tell yet-I want this day to be a surprise! ;) **

**Speaking of upcoming events, don't forget to check out the Upcoming Events and Links lists in the sidebar menu here on the blog.  If you are using a mobile device/phone, and can't see the sidebar, just scroll to the bottom of the main message and click on View as Web Page. :)

Here are a few images from our week together...

 Place Value Bingo!!!

 Turtle Drums and Wampum Beads!

 S.T.E.M.!!!


 
 
This year is FLYING by-I am having such a wonderful time with my first grade learners!  I hope they are having fun too-they are only this age for a short time, and I want it to be as special and memorable as possible! 
 
I shared a number of family outing opportunities in last week's blog post-I hope you and your family get to enjoy some of them and these other exciting things happening in our area over the next several weeks:
 
The Polar Express at Maine's Narrow Gauge Railroad:
 
And in North Conway, NH:
 
Or on the big screen in Saco:


Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!!  As always, thank you for your help and support! :)
Becca

Sunday, November 5, 2017

Hello!

1. Well, it has certainly been an interesting 7 days here in Windham!  We just got power back at our house this weekend-I think my family was ready to declare a "state of emergency" of our own over the loss of internet access for school/etc.!  I'm sure your own family has some "storm stories"...I heard several of them this week!
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2. We packed quite a lot into our abbreviated week-we had fun with Place Value Bingo, got centered and strong with our first monthly yoga session (thanks, Ms. Anecia!), read all the Halloween-themed books we didn't get to enjoy on Monday and Tuesday, learned about the life cycle of bats, and wrote about our experiences with the wind storm last weekend.  "Sharing" on Friday was fun, as always, and we are looking forward to our November activities and learning!
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3. Please be aware that there is no school this coming Friday, November 10th, in observance of Veterans Day.
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4. Speaking of which, if you are able to come in on Thursday the 9th for our first Project Day from 1:30-2:15, please let me know.  I plan the project/s based on the number of extra hands :) .  Please be sure that you have completed/submitted a Volunteer Application (which must be renewed each school year).
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5. The conference schedule still has several openings-please note that formal report cards are not available until the trimester ends at the beginning of December: https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Windham_Primary_School_1
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6. Thank you for the Caring for Classrooms fundraising efforts-I am hoping we can earn enough for a second microscope to enhance our STEM/STEAM sessions!
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7. There will be a fall WPS Book Fair, courtesy of Scholastic and our library staff:
            Monday, November 27th                 3pm – 6pm
            Tuesday, November 28th                3pm – 6pm
            Wednesday, November 29th          1pm – 4pm
            Thursday, November 30th               3pm – 6pm
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8. Our November/December Book Order is due on Thursday, November 9th.  Feel free to explore the site and order items that are not listed in the paper copies that were sent home, as I do not send a December order (they sometimes don't make it back in time).  Please do order on/before the 9th so that I can submit all of the orders at once. :)  Our classroom code is H63NZ.  If you need me to hold onto items that will be used as holiday gifts, just let me know and I can stash them until you are able to pick them up.
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9. School pictures went home on Friday-the Retakes Day will be on November 21st.  Be sure to return unwanted photos and let me know if you would like retakes done.  Thanks!
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10. Looking for something to do with the family over the weeks between now and the holidays?  I know it feels early, but at this time of year, the days seem to evaporate and seasonal events sell out quickly:
 
The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens' "Gardens Aglow" is fantastic!  I already have our tickets for this festive event-it sells out pretty quickly:
 
There are also community tree lightings:
 
 
I always love attending the Maine State Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker":
 
I (and Mr. Cole) will be acting in a family-friendly production of "A Christmas Carol" at the Footlights in Falmouth this holiday season:
 
And, of course, the Magic of Christmas concert:
 
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11. Enjoy the coming week!
Becca