Monday, February 9, 2009

February 9, 2009

Dear Parents,

Sorry this update was slow! I have been sick and it has not helped my brain process very well!

This week is a busy week. Here's what's going on:

The 100th Day of School
By now you know that Wednesday is our 100th day! Most of you have sent back in your 100 items and I have seen some clever displays! If you have not sent it in yet, you may still bring it in on Wednesday. We will be using these items for show and tell that day.

We will be doing a lot of fun activities to celebrate the 100th day. Make sure you ask your child what they did this day!

Valentine's Day
We will be celebrating Valentine's Day on Friday. Please do not send your child's valentines into school before this day. We will be passing them out as part of our party! Just a reminder as well--we have 21 students in our class! I tried to send the list home last week. If you did not get it, email me and I'll send ya a copy!

Independent Reading
Just a reminder that you child should be reading about 15 minutes a night--300 minutes a month to earn their dog tag and pizza. Keep your eyes open next week for the school reading incentive!

Homework
Yes! I realize this weeks math was the same as last weeks math! What happened was while I was sick, the B track teachers helped me out with getting our homework copied...and they ran the math a little differently. So--just go ahead and do it again. It will be a good review! I promise I will send home harder math next time!

Thanks for all you do! I appreciate you!

Miss Merritt

No comments:

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.