Monday, February 1, 2010

February 1, 2010

Dear Parents,

A lot of our announcements this week are the same as last week! Just a couple new ones.

Valentine's Party!
Our Valentine's Party will be on February 12 from 9:30-10:40 a.m. I will be sending home the class list on Monday next week (February 8). Please do not send your child with their Valentine's until the day of the party. We will be passing them out that day. In class we will be making a Valentine holder for each child, so you will not need to send one.

Thanks for your help in this!

Donations
There are a few things I am trying to collect right now for the next couple of weeks. If you have any of these lying around or would like to donate, please let me know.
*Individual packages of conversation hearts.
*Scrabble tiles (not the game, just the tiles!)
*A box of Fruit Loops (or the knock off brand)

VOLUNTEERS
I am in need of volunteers during the next couple of weeks. If you notice a free morning or afternoon where you'd like to come in, please let me know. I am starting some testing on your children and having the parent back up for reinforcing reading is valuable right now.

Also--if you have a free afternoon, I am behind on my portfolios, but they are started! If you would like to come in and help with those, that would be great too!

Thanks for the time you are willing to give to your children and our classroom.

Box Top Contest
Our school is collecting box tops. The contest is between the boys and the girls. Keep collecting them and send them in. The contest ends February 12.

Dates to Remember
Parent teacher conferences are coming--don't forget to schedule them into your calendar. Watch for a note in your child's homework later that will tell you about this. They are on February 17 and 18.

Book Battle
It is time once again for the Foothills, Butterfield Canyon, and Silver Crest Book Battle. We have won the book battle every year so far! The book battle will take place during February 1-February 12. This year, the reward for our school if we win is a visit from an author, Brandon Mull. Our class has pledged a goal of 1450 minutes. These minutes are for minutes read independently at home and school. We talked as a class and decided that we would add 5 minutes more to our already 15 minutes. They are welcome to read more! These minutes will need to be reported on the special reading calendar that will be sent home today in the homework folder (separate from our monthly reading calendar). Please make sure they are returned on February 12, with a parent signature.

Let's do our best to read.

Thanks again for all you do!
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.