Week of December 17th

Dear Parents,                                                                                 December 17, 2012

Please make sure that your fabulous first grader goes over these areas of study with you this week.

Virtue of the Month: *Charity

Saxon Math: Lessons 50-52: Write the numbers 46 and 47; Addition, Subtraction, Word (problem) Challenges/Solving; Number sentences; Graphing; Fact Assessment #4 – Addition and subtraction; Written Assessment #9; Math centers in the classroom (Dimes, Scales/Weight, Geo-boards, Pattern block diagrams, Shapes)

History/Geography: * History of World Religions- Christianity- The Beginning of Christianity

                                   

Religion: Celebrating Advent; Wednesday-Class Mass @ 8:00; All School Mass- Thursday (December 20^th)  @ 8:00

Science: *Healthy eating and exercise

Social Studies: * Map(s) of the History of World Religions – Bethlehem, Jerusalem

Literature: *Teacher “December-themed” selections;  *December Writing Journal

Sayings: * “Land of Nod”

Reading: Reading Centers: Individual and Group Reading with the teacher, Saxon booklet #20-Fun with Uncle Steve and #21- Bunny’s Funny Hat; SSR – Student Silent Reading, Buddy Reading (with other 1^st graders and with our 4^th grade Reading Buddies) and Listening Center as a class

Saxon Phonics: Worksheet 49- oo- hook and oo- tooth, Worksheet 50- Assessment 9

Spelling:  Spelling List #9, ABC word order, Rainbow words, Around the World (sight word and spelling words) in class and/or Sight word /Spelling word Bingo for Spelling List(s) #1-9 and Kindergarten/First grade sight words from Saxon booklets

Language Arts: Capitals, periods, question marks and exclamation marks

Art: * December Art projects

News to Know:

Grandparent’s Day Christmas Pageant Performance – Wednesday @ 1:00 – School Uniforms

No Homework Wednesday night! – Christmas Pageant!!!  - Christmas best dressed

Weekly Reading logs and Book Reports are due Friday.  Book report forms will now be coming home every Monday.  For this week, please have your child read any Christmas themed book.

Our class will be having a class Book Exchange on December 21^st, along with cookies and milk or juice.  All are welcome to enjoy in the FUN at 10:30 at the tables outside First grade classroom and/or in the classroom – dependent on weather.  

May we continue to hold those families who have experienced such loss in Newtown, Connecticut in our hearts and prayers.

Week of December 10th

Dear Parents,                                                                                 December 10, 2012

Please make sure that your fabulous first grader goes over these areas of study with you this week.

Virtue of the Month: *Charity

Saxon Math: Lessons 46-49: Write the numbers 42 through 45; Addition, Subtraction, Word (problem) Challenges; Number sentences; Graphing; Segment measurement and Math centers in the classroom (Dimes, Scales/Weight, Geo-boards, Pattern block diagrams, Shapes)

History/Geography: * History of World Religions- Chanukah/Hanukkah and Christianity- The Beginning of Christianity

                                   

Religion: Session 10 – Celebrating Advent (continued); Wednesday-Class Mass @ 8:00

Science: *Healthy eating and exercise

Social Studies: * Locating the North Pole (and Santa!)

Literature: *Teacher “December-themed” selections;  *December Writing Journal

Sayings: * “Land of Nod”

Reading: Reading Centers: Individual and Group Reading with the teacher, Saxon booklet #17-Just Jump,  #18-Go into a Cave and #19- Fiddle Time; SSR – Student Silent Reading, Buddy Reading (with other 1^st graders and with our 4^th grade Reading Buddies) and Listening Center as a class

Saxon Phonics: Worksheet 47- Yy- yarn; Worksheet 48- sh- shark, Worksheet 49- oo- hook and oo- tooth, Worksheet 50- Assessment 9; Vowel and consonant review; Sounds and letters Bingo

Spelling:  Spelling List #8, ABC word order, Rainbow words, Around the World (sight word and spelling words) in class and/or Sight word /Spelling word Bingo for Spelling List(s) #1-8 and Kindergarten/First grade sight words from Saxon booklets

Language Arts: Capitals, periods, question marks and exclamation marks

Art: * December Art projects

Special Movie Monday- *Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker- Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow

News to Know:

No Homework Monday night! – Parish Advent Penance Service at 6:30 p.m.

Weekly Reading logs and Book Reports are due Friday.  Book report forms will now be coming home every Monday.  For this week, please have your child read any Christmas themed book.

Our class will be having a class Book Exchange on December 21^st, along with cookies and milk or juice.  (One never knows who MIGHT be around when cookies and milk are present…)  More information will be coming your way from our Room Moms.

Week of December 3rd

Dear Parents,                                                                                        December 2, 2012

Please make sure that your fabulous first grader goes over these areas of study with you this week.

Virtue of the Month: *Charity

Saxon Math: Lessons 42 through 44: Write the numbers 38 through 40; Addition, Word (problem) Challenges; Number sentences; Graphing; Segment measurement and Math centers in the classroom (Scales/Weight, Geo-boards, Pattern block diagrams, Shapes)

History/Geography: * History of World Religions- Judaism- Story of the Exodus: Moses leads the Hebrews out of Egypt, Chanukah, Star of David, and synagogue, continued

                                   

Religion: Session 10 – Celebrating Advent; Wednesday-Class Mass @ 8:00

Science: *Muscular and Digestive system, healthy eating and exercise

Social Studies: * Locating Canada, United States, Mexico and Central America on class map, globe and on an Atlas

Literature: *Teacher “December-themed” selections;  *December Writing Journal

Sayings: * “Never leave till tomorrow what you can do today” (2^nd Quarter focus on doing one’s work and doing their best on their work)

Reading: Reading Centers: Individual and Group Reading with the teacher, Saxon booklet #14-Here Comes Pete the Pig! And #15- Fox, Not Ox!; SSR – Student Silent Reading, Buddy Reading (with other 1^st graders and with our 4^th grade Reading Buddies) and Listening Center as a class

Saxon Phonics: Worksheet 42- long vowels o and u with; Worksheet 43-long vowels I and e, Worksheet 44- Assessment 7, Worksheet 45- Assessment 8; Worksheet 46- x- fox, Vowel and consonant review, dictionary word work; and Worksheet 47- y – yarn, dictionary word work

Spelling:  Spelling List #7, ABC word order, Rainbow words, Around the World (sight word and spelling words) in class and/or Sight word /Spelling word Bingo for Spelling List(s) #1-7 and Kindergarten/First grade sight words from Saxon booklets

Language Arts: Capitals, periods, question marks and exclamation marks

Art: * December Art projects

News to Know:

Please see the school’s website for ALL of the upcoming Mary CHRISTmas events!

Weekly Reading logs and Book Reports are due Friday.  Book report forms will now be coming home every Monday.  For this week, please have your child read any Christmas themed book.

Our class will be singing “Little Drummer Boy” for Grandparent’s Day and our Christmas pageant in church.

Our class will be having a class Book Exchange on December 21^st, along with cookies and milk or juice.  (One never knows who MIGHT be around when cookies and milk are present…)  More information will be coming your way from our Room Moms.

Week of November 26th

Sacred Heart Academy

First Grade Curriculum Update

Dear Parents,                                                                                   November 25, 2012

Please make sure that your fabulous first grader goes over these areas of study with you this week.

Virtue of the Month: *Appreciation and Wonder for Beauty of our World

Saxon Math: Lessons 38 through 41: Write the numbers 35 through 37; Addition and subtraction, Adding one; Word (problem) Challenges; Number sentences; Math Written Assessment #7; Graphing (tallest to least tall); Scales and weight of small objects and Math centers in the classroom (Scales/Weight, Geo-boards, Pattern block diagrams, Shapes)

History/Geography: * History of World Religions- Judaism- Story of the Exodus: Moses leads the Hebrews out of Egypt, Chanukah, Star of David, and synagogue

                                   

Religion: The Liturgical Year – meaning of colors; Session 9 – Jesus IS Risen; Explore Art Print #4 and #9- Bring Peace and Jesus IS Alive!, School families – Preparing for Advent; Wednesday-Class Mass @ 8:00;

Science: *Muscular and Digestive system, healthy eating and exercise

(Remember to turn in your child’s Winter Sports information – deadline is Thursday!)

Social Studies: * Locating Canada, United States, Mexico and Central America on class map, globe and on an Atlas

Literature: *Teacher “November-themed” selections;  *November Writing Journal

Sayings: * “Practice makes perfect” and “Never leave till tomorrow what you can do today” (2^nd Quarter focus on doing one’s work and doing their best on their work)

Reading: Reading Centers: Individual and Group Reading with the teacher, Saxon booklet #11-The Flu Bug, #12- The Twins Swim and #13- The Bake Sale; SSR – Student Silent Reading, Buddy Reading (with other 1^st graders and with our 4^th grade Reading Buddies) and Listening Center as a class

Saxon Phonics: Assessment #6 (review); Worksheet 38- Ww- wagon, phonics sounds and letters and/or dictionary work with letter w; Worksheet 39- vclcv’- Two syllable words accented on the second syllable, Worksheet 40- Assessment 7, Worksheet 41- Long vowel a – silent vowel e ending

Spelling:  Spelling List #6, ABC word order, Rainbow words, Around the World (sight word and spelling words) in class and/or Sight word /Spelling word Bingo for Spelling List(s) #1-6 and Kindergarten/First grade sight words from Saxon booklets

Language Arts: Capitals, periods, question marks and exclamation marks

Art: * November and December Art projects, Portrait – Mona Lisa

News to Know:

I hope that you all had a Thanksgiving full of family, friends, blessings and lots of turkey and all the trimmings!  First grade was so BLESSED to be able to break bread together and we thank each and every one of you for your donations of food, drink, decorations, hands and prayers as we celebrated our thanks for you and each other! 

Our class represented themselves well I our Jog-a-thon!  We were ALL present and even ran some laps in memory of Poko!  Father Ron was touched when I told him.

We had a good showing for our General PA Meeting and our families won BIG - Pumpkin pies AND a Free Dress Pass!  Thank you if you were able to attend!

What a nice surprise to see many of you at Family Mass.

November 28^th (Wednesday)- Old Town House Pancake Breakfast - 7:00 to 10:30 a.m. 

Please see the school’s website for ALL of the upcoming Mary CHRISTmas events!

Weekly Reading logs and Book Reports are due Friday

Week of November 12th

Sacred Heart Academy

First Grade Curriculum Update

Dear Parents,                                                                                   November 12, 2012

Please make sure that your fabulous first grader goes over these areas of study with you this week.

Virtue of the Month: *Appreciation and Wonder for Beauty of our World

Saxon Math: Lessons 36 and 37: Write the numbers 33 and 34; Adding sums to 10; Adding one; Number trains 0n paper and in tactile centers; Word (problem) Challenges; Number sentences; Find what is different; Math Written Assessment #6; Addition; Graphing and Math centers in the classroom (Geo-boards, Pattern block diagrams, Shapes)

History/Geography: * The Thirteen Colonies, The First Thanksgiving

                                   

Religion: Thanksgiving and Gratitude;  Explore Art Print #1 and #2- Helping Others and God’s Love; Wednesday-Class Mass @ 8:00; Thursday- All School Mass @ 8:00

Science: *Skeletal system

Social Studies: * The White House, The Flag and Eagle

Literature: *Teacher “November-themed” selections;  *November Writing Journal

Sayings: * “There’s no place like home” and “The more the merrier.” 

Reading: Reading Centers: Individual and Group Reading with the teacher, Saxon booklet #10- Pigs Can Sleep; SSR – Student Silent Reading, Buddy Reading (with other 1^st graders and with our 4^th grade Reading Buddies) and Listening Center as a class

Saxon Phonics: Worksheet 35-Assessment #6; Worksheet 36- coding two syllable words with a dividing line, small v, small c and an accent mark; Worksheet 37- Uu – umbrella/unicorn and Worksheet 38- Ww- wagon; dictionary work with letters Uu and Ww

Spelling:  No Spelling List (#6) this week due to short week, Around the World (sight word and spelling words) in class and/or Sight word /Spelling word Bingo for Spelling List(s) #1-5.

Language Arts: Capitals, periods, question marks and exclamation marks, Thanksgiving sentence “corrections.”

Art: * November themes art and crafts

News to Know:

A BIG THANK YOU to our Veterans and all of our military HEROES!

No Spelling List #6 this week.  Please practice List 1-5 with our child on their flash cards.  Challenge work - See if your child can put flash cards in a sentence sequence!

First Grade Feast- Wednesday, November 14^th @ 11:45 in classroom

General PA Meeting – November 14^th @ 7:00 p.m. @ Parish Hall

Principal Appreciation Day – Thursday, November 15^th

Friday, November 16^th – Jog-a-thon! – Drop off (and sign in with me!) at Robb Field - Minimum Day dismissal @ Robb Field

Parent-Teacher Conferences- Thank you for sharing your input!

Weekly Reading logs (due every Friday)

At home Book Reports will be assigned after Thanksgiving break

Week of November 5th

Sacred Heart Academy

First Grade Curriculum Update

Dear Parents,                                                                                   November 4, 2012

Please make sure that your fabulous first grader goes over these areas of study with you this week.

Virtue of the Month: *Appreciation and Wonder for Beauty of our World

Saxon Math: Lessons 32-35: Write the numbers 29 through 32; Addition/sums to 10; Word (problem) Challenges; Number sentences; Find what is different; Math Fact Assessment #1- Addition; Graphing and Math centers in the classroom (Geo-boards, Pattern block diagrams, Shapes)

History/Geography: * English Settlers-Virginia and Massachusetts; Captain John Smith, Pocahontas and Powhatan, Pilgrims, Mayflower, Thanksgiving Day

                                   

Religion: Thanksgiving and Gratitude; Wednesday-Class Mass @ 8:00

Science: *Skeletal system

Social Studies: * Election Day, If I Were President booklets

Literature: *Teacher “November-themed” selections;  *November Writing Journal

Sayings: * “There’s no place like home” and “The more the merrier.” 

Reading: Reading Centers: Individual and Group Reading with the teacher, Saxon booklets #7- Men from Smog, #8- I Pick Zack!, #9- The King’s Thanks, and #10- Pigs Can Sleep; SSR – Student Silent Reading, Buddy Reading (with other 1^st graders and with our 4^th grade Reading Buddies) and Listening Center as a class; Introduce Book Reports and do as a class on one of this week’s Saxon booklets- 7-10.

Saxon Phonics: Worksheet 33- Suffix –ed, sight words does and goes; Worksheet 34-digraph ee – sheep, sight word been; Worksheet 35-Assessment #6; Worksheet 36- Syllables, syllable clap for all Spelling words- List 1-5, coding two syllable words with a dividing line, small v, small c and an accent mark

Spelling:  Spelling List 5; Rainbow words and sentences; Spelling Pre-test on Thursday; Spelling test on Friday (if not 100% on Thursday;) Around the World (sight word and spelling words) in class and/or Sight word /Spelling word Bingo

Language Arts: Capitals, periods, question marks and exclamation marks, Spelling word sentences

Art: * November themes art and crafts

News to Know:

Election Day (Tuesday, November 6^th) Free Red, White and Blue Dress! 

Minimum Day (12:00) Dismissal on Thursday, November 8^th and Friday, November 9^th)

Parent-Teacher Conferences:

Wednesday          4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Thursday              1:00 to 5:00 p.m. 

Friday                   1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled for 15-minute timeframes, so please be on time, so as not to loose any of our time together.  Report cards will only be handed out at your child’s conference.  The original must be returned to school for the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th Quarter grading periods.  You will receive the original at the end of the year.  Once you return the original 1^st Quarter report card, I will send home a copy that I will have made prior to conferencing, or you may choose to take the copy (vs. original) at this time.

I am always willing to meet you in regard to your child’s progress and/or individual needs at another scheduled meeting if and when you ever wish or feel the need to. 

Shoebox Diorama Habitat projects and Oral reports were AWESOME!!!!

Please Remember - Weekly Reading logs (due every Friday)

At home Book Reports will be assigned after Thanksgiving break

Spelling List #5 – Please make flash cards for this and prior lists to study!

1.   ask

2.   big

3.   can

4.   cat

5.   drop

6.   lost

7.   ants

8.   snip

9.   flag

10.  stand

11.  of*

12.  to*

*Sight words that need to be memorized

Spelling sentences:

1.  Ask Dan to clap.

2. The pan is in the sink.

3. (Write your own sentence using one or more words from List #5)

Your child will be bringing Spelling List #5 home tomorrow, however, this post might help in preparing your child’s flash cards and child for Thursday’s pre-test/Friday’s Spelling test (if not 100% on Thursday.)