Monday, November 1, 2010

November 1, 2010

Dear Parents,

November is one of my most favorite times of the year because I can say thank you to people that mean the most to me. I wanted to tell you all thank you for your support this year as we have been trying out this new program and working out the quirks. I appreciate our patience and kindness as we have been going through this. We still have a ways to go--but I feel success is in our future!

This week there are a few things we need to be aware of:

Parent Teacher Conferences
In your homework folder today you should get a note with your appointment time on it. You will also find in your folder a report card with an SEP form. The SEP form is provided to help you make goals with your child. We would like you and your child to try to chose one reading goal and one math goal to work on. Please bring this form back at your parent teacher conference time and we will go over the goals.

I have had a few parents ask about if they should bring their first grader to the conferences. Yes! Please bring your child--Mrs. Shumway will have them do a short Chinese interaction with her so you can see some skills they have been working on. When they are finished, we will send them back out and finish our conference with you.

Since we are limited on time, please have any questions ready to ask us and be on time! We will do our best to do the same with each conference. If you feel you need extra time than what we have, we can schedule a time for you to come in later to visit with us.

Off Track Packets
Off track packets will be coming home this week. Watch for those. Please remember that they are not mandatory, but that they are just suggested activities. If your child returns the packet, I will have a prize for them.

Off track packets will be due on December 6.

Election Day
Don't forget to vote tomorrow!

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.