Wednesday, July 23, 2008

July 28, 2008

Dear Parents,
It was so wonderful to meet you and your children today--I am so excited for this new year! Hopefully this blog works out for communication between us. My goal with this is to make this as simple as can be and save up on the paper like our PTA has challenged teachers.

At the end of interview day--I always have thoughts run through my head of "did you mention this"...so here's in case I forgot something...

SNACK RECESS
Our lunch is at 12:30 each day so the students will have snack recess at 10:40 each day. They are allowed to bring their own snack from home.

VOLUNTEERS
I will be starting the volunteer calendar in about 3 weeks. Right now I'm trying to go through and figure out exactly how to make it work--that being whether I will use this blog or not. I may still continue to send home my paper calendar--I'll think more on this and let you know.

If you would like to volunteer in our classroom--I love having you come in. Just let me know if you would like to be a steady every week parent or if you want to pick and chose when you come in. I have special jobs I have parents who come weekly do and if you would like to help with these, please let me know.

ROOM PARENT
There were a few parents who circled on their info sheets that they would like to be room parent. We also have a sign up on our door for it, but no one chose to sign for that role. If you would like to sign up for room parent, the job usually consists of organizing the parties and helping with a Winter Activity we do in our class. If you are interested in helping me with this job, please let me know! Thanks!

SHOW AND TELL
Friday's show and tell will be the person I sent home today to decorate. Please have your student cut out the person so we can hang it on our bulletin board. Thank you for your help in this!

BLUE PACKET INFORMATION
If you received a blue packet--please return the forms with your child ASAP! Thanks for your help in getting our school's paperwork done!


Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns and what will make this easier. This is new for me to try and I'm totally open to suggestions! Thanks!!!

Miss Merritt

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Writing Prompt

This weekly writing prompt is to give you some ideas of things you can write about at home. To make this time more meaningful, maybe have a writing night once a week and have a writing journal that your child can use at home. Have them answer the prompt (it doesn't have to be polished and perfect--our goal is to just write). Modeling along with your child can motivate them to write more! I find that it usually works best with the kids to give them a time limit (like 10-15 minutes). That way they are writing for a duration and if they go longer, that is fine. But--usually when we have to stop at a time limit--there are a few of them that really want to keep going. Share the writing after as you have your child read it to you. It is not a required assignment, but if you'd like to turn it in you may send in the writing with the homework and I'd love to read it. Maybe I can put up a few selections on the blog each week as we see some excellent pieces! Thanks for helping make your children better writers!

Prompt #2
Opinion Writing
Tell about your favorite treat. It needs an introduction sentence (ie There are many different kinds of treats.), an opinion (ie My favorite treat is a chocolate chip cookie.), at least 3 reasons supporting why (ie Chocolate chip cookies are nice and sweet. When they come out of the oven, they warm my stomach up. Chocolate chip cookies go good with a glass of milk.), then they need a closing sentence (ie Chocolate chip cookies are my favorite treat.)


Prompt Week #1
Narrative Story (needs a beginning, middle, and an end)
Write a story about the wind. It can be a real life story that happened to you or a story that you make up. Make sure to include a beginning, middle, and an end.


May Poems

Seed, Sprout, Flower

A seed is planted:
First a sprout,
then stem,
and leaves,
and buds
come out.
Buds grow bigger,
smelling sweet,
bees and birds come
'round to eat.
Bees and birds
help flowers spread
their new seeds on
the garden bed...
A seed is planted.
~Helen H. Moore

Friends
Tall friends, short friends,
Skinny and wide;
Red haired, black haired,
Side by side.

Old friends, young friends,
And in-betweens;
Moms and Grandpas,
Tots and teens.

From Washington
To Delaware
Friends are found
Most anywhere.
~Janet C. Miller

About Miss Merritt

I am originally from Blackfoot, Idaho. I love small towns! I attended BYU-Idaho for my undergraduate studies and received my Masters degree through Southern Utah University. I recently passed my National Boards and am glad to say I am a National Board Certified Teacher. I love learning and enjoy helping others love it too! This will be my 8th year teaching 1st grade.

I love reading! When I was younger, I used to work in libraries and I have developed a great love of childrens books. I love books by Barbara Park, Eric Carle, and Audrey Wood. I have currently been reading classics like Charles Dickens' Great Expectations.

I love the outdoors as well. I love camping and hiking, but I also love traveling and seeing new places. I am a big fan of the beach and I love swimming! I have been to Thailand a few times (my mom is from there!) and I love to see the world. Every year I have a goal to go on a vacation somewhere new.