DECEMBER MCMONTHLY NEWS

THEME
Our thoughts anxiously turn to this exciting time of year.  Our passports are ready as we begin traveling to see how some holidays are celebrated around the world.  We have recently enjoyed searching our world map as we investigated the students' ancestors' homelands.  We found that there are many modern-day pilgrims in our class!

HOLIDAY HELPERS
As the holiday season arrives, please help your child know that, while they can feel excited, they need to act like responsible first graders.  They still need to be respectful listeners, try their best, and always be kind to one another.

LANGUAGE ARTS
The students continue their progress and success in reading.  We are comparing short vowels and long vowels and are constantly reviewing our high frequency words.  Starfall.com has been one of the many ways we've been able to practice these sounds in the Computer Lab, along with some cool Smartnotebook activities.  We've also been concentrating on the beginning, middle, and ending of literature we read and of our own stories that we are writing.

MATH
We have been focusing on patterns that repeat, patterns that grow, and with place value.  These skills will help us understand the differences among the ones, tens, and hundreds place.

BIRTHDAYS
Mon., Dec. 20:          Mia Cappelli
Tues., Dec. 21:          Jack Yurman
Thurs., Dec. 23:        Jacqueline Jaskiewicz
Tues., Dec. 28:          Katelyn Frawley
Fri., Dec. 31:             Samantha Hunt

REMINDERS
Fri., Dec. 3:               Scholastic Orders due
Tues.-Fri., 11/30-12/3:  Conferences, Early Dismissal
Mon., Dec. 6:            Family Traditions due
Tues., Dec. 7:            Field Trip, Maritime Aquarium
Wed., Dec. 8:             Cookie Exchange
Thurs., Dec. 9:           Darren Farrell Author Visit
Thurs., Dec. 16:         Grab Bag gifts due
Fri., Dec. 17:             Holiday Party, Polar Express Theme
Fri., Dec. 17:             Toy Drive ends
Tues., Dec. 21:          Holiday Grab Bag
Thurs., Dec. 23:         Short day, vacation begins
Dec. 24 - Jan 2:         December vacation
Mon., Jan. 3, 2011:    Return to school

SPECIAL NOTES

* I would like to thank all of you for your generosity with the school-wide Toys-for-Tots Drive taking place during the next three weeks.  You are making others very happy this season!

* Superstar News:  Every Friday, a new "Superstar of the Week" is picked at random.  If there is a week that is not good for your child to be superstar, please jot me a note or email, so we won't pick your child's name during that week.  Once a superstar is picked, they can share treasures throughout the week.  A note will go home explaining the details once he or she is picked.

NOVEMBER WORDS
I
black
brown
come
down
find
go
have
here
say
they
we
what
where
who

* Keep practicing old Spelling words and spelling patterns

NOVEMBER MCMONTHLY NEWS



THEME

We turn our focus from tasty treats and fun costumes to crisp weather and the thrill of Thanksgiving time.

LANGUAGE ARTS
Our reading program continues to take us on a decoding journey, blending all the consonants with different vowel sounds and learning tricks to figure out larger words.  Books are becoming more challenging, and we continue to write in our journals and work on some of our own story creations.  We are constantly practicing our speaking skills as well as good listening, especially when our Mystery Guests visit!

We've noticed that the Monday Words Their Way homework can be tricky at times.  If the homework takes up a lot of time, simply choose a handful of words (perhaps 10) to try certain homework choices (such as the Letter Change choice).  The idea is to get used to the spelling patterns and sounds, but not worry so much about memorizing the words.  Take an extra day to finish if your child needs it.  Likewise, if your child would like a challenge, doing more than the sorts each night is fine too, as long as it doesn't feel overwhelming to your child.

MATH
We have been concentrating on the "measurement" of time, money, and length.  Please ask your child how much time has passed between one activity and another to reinforce the duration concept of time.  We continue to use literature and manipulatives to reinforce addition, subtraction, and problem solving.

BIRTHDAYS
Tuesday, Nov. 16:                          Chase Lombra
Friday, Nov. 19:                             Paige Zamsky

REMINDERS
Mon., Nov. 1:                                 Nature Walk (at school)
Mon., Nov. 1-3:                              Book Fair (even Election Day!)
Tues., Nov. 2:                                  Election Day/Staff Dev/No School
Mon., Nov. 8:                                  Family Turkeys Due
Week of Nov. 8:                              Ancestor Info Due
Thurs., Nov. 11:                              Veterans Day
(wear red, white, and/or blue)
Fri., Nov. 12:                                   Veterans visit
(wear red, white, and/or blue)
Fri., Nov. 12:                                   Scholastic Orders due
(just in case you don't find what you wish from the Book Fair!)
Mon., Nov. 15:                                Field Trip
(Fairfield Univ. Quick Center Theater)
Wed., Nov. 24:                                Thanksgiving coming,
early dismissal
Nov. 25 - 26:                                   Thanksgiving, no school
Nov. 30 - Dec. 3:                            Conferences, shortened days

SPECIAL NOTES
* This Fall's Book Fair comes at the same time the monthly Scholastic orders are available.  Due to popular demand, I will still be sending the order forms home (next week) in case you'd like to "elect" another option for some great books!

* Thank you for the Halloween Boo-Grams.  They were most appreciated and were a fun way to start our exciting Halloween day!

* With the weather getting chillier, please label any extra clothing your child brings in.

* Thank you all for helping us get off to a great start with our Volunteer schedule!  The school year gets so busy and I often don't get the chance to say thank you.  The children and I appreciate all your help in the classroom, behind the scenes at home, and with your daily support for homework and encouragement for being grown-up first graders!