Tuesday, January 20, 2009

January Off Track Reminders!

January 20, 2009

Dear Parents,

I hope you have been enjoying your break! It is a long one and I know I have needed the break--but I am ready to come back. I have been subbing this week which got me thinking I need to update our blog!

With it being the beginning of the new year, I have some great goals in mind for our classroom! I am hoping to take some of the ideas that were shared with me from your suggestions for our class blog to help make it better! I appreciate your suggestions. I also have some great ideas I am working on for some fun math activities and some fun things for you to do with your child at home. Be watching for these when we come back on track!

Book Report Information
I've gotten a few emails asking me about the book report that is due when we get back! Here's the book report information sheet I sent home:

Setting
For this book report, your child will need to read a book and describe the setting of the story. The setting is where the story takes place. This report is a chance for your child to be creative. For this report, they will need to have a representation of the setting. Here are some ideas to help:
* paint, draw, design a picture of the setting
* design a diorama
* clay sculpture
If you have questions, please let your teacher know! Thanks for your help in this!


Off Track Reading
While we are off track--we are having an off track reading contest. Please be filling out the forms for how many pages your child has read. I will not have time to add up all your child's pages, so please help them to do that.

OFF TRACK PACKETS ARE DUE BACK ON THURSDAY, JAN 29!

Thanks again for all your support! See you next Wednesday!
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.