End of September already?!

It is so hard to believe that it is fall and almost the beginning of October.  We are in full swing in our room and the children have adjusted to their new classroom, classmates and teachers nicely.

The children have a few new faces this year.  Mr. Moretti as their PE teacher, Mrs. Schdiman has their music teacher and Mrs. Ramano as our para professional in our classroom.  Mrs. Lubbers, Mrs. Kovack and Mrs. McCauley are our reading specialist who the children join during WYNN.  Also your child may see Mrs. Sampieri, Mrs. Sekelsky or Mrs. Quinlan during WYNN as well.  Just wanted you all to know the names in case they came up around the dinner table.

A few other names you may be hearing are Kevin, Donald, George and Cynthia.  As in Kevin Henkes, Donald Crews, George McClement and Cynthia Rylant.  They are amazing mentor authors who we refer to often during Writer's Workshop.  The children are blossoming as writers and enjoy writing about themselves through small moment stories.  Ask them about Writer's Workshop.

The children are also becoming mathematicians and embracing our new math modules.  I am really impressed how they are grasping the concepts of part-part-total and addition.  We have been working on problem solving everyday as well.  Ask them about their math journals.

We are also beginning our science unit about sunshine and shadows and we will be doing some experiments this week.

Please remember to have your child read the books in their reading bags and read to them nightly for pleasure.  It also helps their fluency to hear strong readers .

Most importantly, enjoy this month of beautiful afternoons before it begins to get dark quick.  Play outside, go for walks and spend time talking to them about their day.  Remember, they will only be this young once.

Have a beautiful week,
Mrs. Crenwick

First Grade is Fabulous!

Here we are using the Chrome books in our classroom for the very first time.  The children were so excited and responsible!!  Ask your child about the lesson that Mrs. Guerrera taught them.

Please send in an old sock to school so that your child may use it as an eraser for their white board.

Please sign up to be a Mystery Reader or sign someone up in your family.  We already have 3 Mystery Readers on the calendar! 

Don't forget to work on your child's Map of the Heart for Writer's Workshop.  It will help them to generate ideas for writing.  Ask the children about the writing process where they Touch and Tell, Sketch and Write.  They will also tell you that we listen to classical music during writing.  It seems to get their creative juices flowing!

We are working on reading fluently.  The goal is to have the children read smoothly and not like robots.  This is so important in helping them become successful readers.  Some of the books in their bags may seem like an easy read but are they reading like a reader??  Also have them use their strategies when they have a book which is a little more challenging. 

Homework will be given each Tuesday and Thursday night.

As you get Math work sent home and you see that the Math sprints are not complete.  Do not worry.  Sprints are designed to develop fluency.  They are fun, adrenaline-rich activities that intentionally build energy and excitement for the students.  The students start to recognize their increasing success and improvement is celebrated.