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 characters in literature we read and of our own stories that we are writing. We will soon be publishing our Realistic Fiction stories.

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

Fri., Dec. 30: Jack Barber

REMINDERS

Tues. – Fri., 11/29-12/2:  Conferences, Early dismissal

Tues., Nov. 29:  Storyteller, Len Cabral

Mon., Dec. 5:  Scholastic Orders Due

(online or sent in to classroom)

Mon., Dec. 5:  Family Traditions Due

Thurs., Dec. 8:  Field Trip, Maritime Aquarium

Fri., Dec. 16:  Toy Drive ends

Mon., Dec. 19:  Grab Bag gifts due

Wed., Dec. 21:  Holiday Celebration/

Polar Express Theme (a.m.)

Wed., Dec. 21:  Holiday Grab Bag (aft.)

Fri., Dec. 23:  Short day, vacation begins

Dec. 24 - Jan. 2:  December vacation

Tues., Jan. 3, 2012:  Return to school

SPECIAL NOTES

• Homework: Please be sure to have your child read for at least 10 minutes a night, in addition to our other first grade responsibilities. Please keep me posted if there’s something that is overwhelming on the homework front.

• 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.

• The Class Pet Bag, which journeys to our students’ homes, is picked at random as well. Enjoy!

NOVEMBER WORDS

  I         have

black   here

brown    say

come     they

down    we

find     what

   go        where 

           who

*Keep practicing old Spelling words and spelling patterns