Monday, July 25, 2011

July 26, 2011

Dear Parents,

Welcome to 1st Grade! I am so excited to begin this second year in the Chinese Immersion Program. We are in for a year of excitement as we adapt to the Common Core and work on learning Chinese!

This blog's purpose is to keep parents informed of what is happening in our classroom. Please check the blog weekly to keep up to date with our class (my goal is to have it updated every week on Monday by 5 p.m.). The blog will include what is happening at school, things that we need in the classroom, and just information on things that will be happening to our class.

So--to get started, here's a quick overlook of this first week!

Interview Day
Thanks so much for coming and spending some time with us. It was wonderful to meet you! Here's some things to remember from interview day:

*Please remember to return the items that the school needs as soon as possible!
*Don't forget to send your child with a snack for recess!
*If you need to send lunch money with your child, don't forget to send it in with a deposit sheet.

Just some things to remember from interview day--sometimes parents get worried that they can't communicate with Mrs. Shumway. Don't hesitate to come in and chat with her when you have concerns or issues. Just remember that your child is not to hear her speak English--so she will probably speak with you privately.

Donations
I just want to say thanks now because I know that I usually see some of these trickle in over the next few weeks. We appreciate any items you are able to send in to our classes!

ABC Books
This year--we are teaching to the common core for language arts, which Jordan District is involving with units. Because this is new curriculum or us, I will be trying something new this year to see if I can expose myself to more materials that might help me to teach it better. I will be having a book sharing center in our classroom (where kids can bring books to share with the class and teacher) and we'll try to keep it to a theme. So--our first 6 weeks focuses on ABC books--so any great ABC books you have at home that you would like to share would be appreciated! Thanks for helping me as we develop this new curriculum!


I am so excited to work with you this year. Please feel free to email or call with questions or concerns.

Thanks,
Miss Merritt

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1 comment:

Joanne said...

It was great to meet you and we look forward to this year! Canon is so happy to be a "big" first grader and he has enjoyed his first few days, thanks! we will send in some ABC books next week.

July 29, 2011 at 9:49 AM

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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.