Please Comment on A Mathematics Problem

                                                                    Our Word Wall



Just a reminder of the word wall words for the month of January:  can your child read, spell and write these words?  The word wall in our classroom is growing each month as we add about 5 new words each week.  At the end of April, we will have all 110 words posted and then continue to work on phonics, spelling patterns and daily use and mastery of all words.   

Jan. 3rd--day, was, saw, in, out
Jan 9th--there, teacher, ride, animal
Jan. 18th--school, people, how
Jan. 23--but, nice, on, off
Jan. 30--up, down, can't (cannot), won't (will not)

 And now the Mathematics Problem:  Choose the number of trays that best challenges you!
There were (12, 25, 32) cafeteria trays on the shelf to be washed.  Miss Debbie washed 9 of the trays.  How many still need to be washed.  Challenge yourself to use a known fact to solve the problem.  Can you solve this some, some went away problem in more than one way?  Respond to the problem by commenting below for a treat on Monday!

A bitterly cold evening...

What to do on a bitterly cold evening???  If you've run through your usual family evening activities this long weekend here are a few on-line ideas that will help continue to develop academic skills...
Reading:
www.raz-kids.comLink to: Kids Start Here
teacher name is: gaadland
Child clicks on their name
Child's Password: their middle name    If they had a two part middle name I just used the first part as the password.
Mathematics:
www.sumdog.com
Child's user name and password are taped inside his/her Friday Folder.
General Resource in multiple academic areas which covers multiple grade levels for siblings too:
aadland.wikispaces.com

4 Day Weekend!

Have a great 4 day weekend with your child!  Hoping you can all log on to Sum Dog/Raz-Kids if you hear that dreaded phrase "I'm Bored" from your child.  Another site with grade appropriate activities is:  aadland.wikispaces.com

Thanks for your generosity with sending in school supplies as per your child's list!  We have also started collecting items to make the Bottle Cap necklaces for a fundraiser for Juan Nicolas.  We have received PLENTY of yarn, ribbon, braid and pony beads.  We definitely need more metal bottle caps...does anyone have a contact with one of the local beverage distributors that might be able to get us a larger quantity of bottle caps....Thanks so much!

We are also collecting plastic wide mouth juice/gatorade bottles (20 0z size) with the lids to make a snowman craft. We currently have 8 bottles with lids so could use more for the entire class.

You may refer to the earlier post to see the January Word Wall list.

Sliding INTO the New Year!

Dear Parents,
We are very near to starting the second half of our First Grade School Year.  (Jan 18 if the mid-way point.)  I am so pleased with the academic progess that each student is continuing to make in all subject areas.  Your nightly review of the Reading, Word Wall words and weekly time with the Mathematics Packet are so appreciated!

Word Wall Words for January:
Jan. 3rd--day, was, saw, in, out
Jan 9th--there, teacher, ride, animal
Jan. 18th--school, people, how
Jan. 23--but, nice, on, off
Jan. 30--up, down, can't (cannot), won't (will not)
Thank you for regularly reviewing  all word wall words by reading, spelling using them correctly in writing activities at home.   Learning these words with automicity develops a strong vocabulary for reading and writing and is also the basis for our phonics program

Scholastic Book Club:  I am sending home a Scholastic Book Club SeeSaw order form in today's Friday Folder.   Should you be interested, you may order via the form.  Please return to school by Wednesday January 11th.  Check payment only, to be made out to Scholastic.  If you prefer to order online using a credit card, log on to www.scholastic.com/bookclubs  Our class activation code is:  H8NF8   .  I have opened our on-line account through Tuesday January 10 PM as I will compile and send in both orders ( paper form and online account) on Wednesday. Again, this is at your option to order or not.

A CALL FOR Recycled SUPPLIES:
*Bottle Caps,
*Thin ribbon, yarn, braid
*Pony Beads
*20oz. plastic juice, milk bottles with the wide lid opening
Our class would like to do a fundraiser project of BottleCap Necklaces to help cover the expenses of Juan Nicolas's school sponsorship in the Dominican Republic.  We will be collecting bottlecaps over the next two weeks. I will spray paint the bottle caps so any type of beverage bottle caps are acceptable:)  Also if you have any thin ribbon, yarn or braid that would be acceptable for the necklace 'chain'  or the larger plastic 'pony beads'  please send in to school by Friday January 20th.   I will share more information with you as we prepare for making and selling these necklaces for our fundraiser.

We also would like to make a 3-d snowman using the 20oz (approximately) size of plastic drink bottle with the wide lid opening; such as from juice or smaller Gatorade bottles.  Please send in if you have these.  When we get enough for the class to do as a project...I let you know!

Thanks for saving these recycled materials and sending in to school.
Have a great weekend with your child.

December 19-22

We have a short 4 day week left before our Winter Break.  Here are some highlights of our week.  We will be studying penguins this week and asking ourselves this BIG question:  How can living things work together and survive in a harsh climate.  Here is one of many interesting websites about penguins:
http://www.penguinscience.com/classroom_home.php?gclid=COi7tKXTia0CFQLrKgodTlTolg

Tuesday, December 20th--We have earned a special "Yak Snack" time in the AM.  Your child may bring a healthy snack for a 10 minute snack time.  We will continue working to earn the letters YAK SNACK throughout the school year and I will inform you when our next special healthy snack comes up.  WHAT is a healthy snack?  Something that fits in the food pyramid.  No candy, drinks, etc. please.
Wednesday, December 21--Happy Feet the Movie Day--please let your child wear their pajamas to school and in addition they may bring one of the following items:  slippers, pillow, stuffed animal, small blanket, robe. Also, please turn in all of your Guided Reading books/book baggy.  A simple book report form will be sent home for your child to fill out and return on January 3rd using books you have at home!
Thursday, December 22--We will be finishing our penguin study and also making some special Penguin Projects.

Please let me know if your child is going to be absent from school before Winter Break starts as I have some items I would like them to have for the Winter Holiday.

If you have some still photos of our class from the Christmas Program, please e-mail them to me at:  gail.aadland@k12.sd.us as the class would love to see them!

Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings!

Gail Aadland

Delightful December

Our word wall words for December:
Week of December 5--who, what, when, where, why
Week of December 11--some, eat, all, me,zoo
Week of December 18--jump, that, quit (quiet)

Some Dates to Mark on your Calendar:
Thursday, December 15 Corral Drive Christmas Program @ 9AM and 1PM
Wednesday, December 21--First Grade Pajama Day
Thursday December 22--Last day of school before Winter Break

Turkey Time

Our Grand Finale Song for our Grandparents Day Program:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fmRT53hhNU&NR=1 

We sure had a lot of fun teaching the 'Turkey Time' dance to the Grandparents!

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!