Miller

April 4, 2008

Messenger

April 4, 2008

In Class...

            In Phonics we have been reviewing blending all of the sounds we have learned, using them in two and three syllable words (blending each “chunk”), and in words with endings added.  This week for the phonics (spelling) words, we will be working on short vowel words that double the final consonant before adding the ending.

            In Math we have learned how to add and subtract 2 digit numbers (like 22+26).

            In Writer’s Workshop we are still writing to give information to an audience.  This week we learned and wrote about insects.  We will continue to focus on editing our work to check for CUPS (capitalization, understandable sentences, punctuation, and spelling).    

Thank you to...

            Gracie Smith’s mom for coordinating our weekly AR check.

Special Events...

April 7-11—Spring Break!!!

April 18—Field Day—Parents are invited to attend with us all or part of the day.

April 23-25-CRCT Testing (Be sure to take advantage of the practice tests on the

Georgia

website.)

Homework...

We are working on reading fluency in class by doing Readers’ Theaters.  Your child will have the script to reread for 1 or 2 nights of homework each week.  Please encourage your child to reread his lines (highlighted) at least 5 times, and to read them with expression (as if they were talking).  Please write the title in the homework folder log and initial.  Thanks! Please continue to have your child practice his phonics / spelling words daily.  ALL OF THIS PRACTICE SHOULD BE

DONE WHILE MAKING THE LETTER SOUNDS, AND BLENDING THE SOUNDS

TOGETHER TO MAKE THE WORDS.  THIS IS PHONICS PRACTICE.

            Please continue to read TO your child daily from books that are above his/her

reading level to help with vocabulary and comprehension.

PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO READ THEIR AR BOOK 5 TIMES AT HOME AND THEN COME TO SCHOOL AND TAKE A TEST.    Even though we have met our class goal, the students should still be taking at least 1 or 2 tests a week.

Personals...

            PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO TAKE AT LEAST ONE AR TEST A WEEK..

Next Week...

Specials:

See schedule page on web site for rotation.

Day 1  Team A-Art      Team B-Music

Day 2  Team A-PE      Team B-Tech

Day 3  Team A-Music  Team B-PE

Day 4  Team A-Tech    Team B-Art

Day 5  Team A-PE      Team B-PE

*Remember to wear tennis shoes to PE.

(Team A-Last name A-K)

(Team B-Last name L-Z)

Congratulations to…

Navin Khottavong

who was elected our character kid for Leadership.

Miller's Messenger March 7, 2008

In Class...

            In Phonics we learned the oi and oy sound (as in boy and coil).  We also have been reviewing blending all of the sounds we have learned, using them in two and three syllable words (blending each “chunk”), and in words with endings added.

            In Math we have been working on telling time to the hour and the half hour (1:00 and 1:30, etc.)

            In Writer’s Workshop we are still writing to give information to an audience.  This week we learned and wrote about the weather.  We will continue to focus on editing our work to check for CUPS (capitalization, understandable sentences, punctuation, and spelling).         

Thank you to...

            Gracie Smith’s mom for giving out AR prizes and checking our points, and for putting together our Scholastic Book Order.

Special Events...

March 12—Boosterthon Fun Run 10:15-11:15.  ALL PARENTS ARE INVITED!!!!!

IF YOU PLAN TO JOIN US, PLEASE CHECK IN A THE OFFICE AND COME TO OUR CLASSROOM AT ABOUT 10:10.

March 20—3^rd 9 weeks report cards come home

Homework...

We are working on reading fluency in class by doing Readers’ Theaters.  Your child will have the script to reread for 1 or 2 nights of homework each week.  Please encourage your child to reread his lines (highlighted) at least 5 times, and to read them with expression.  Please write the title in the homework folder log and initial.  Thanks! Please continue to have your child practice his phonics / spelling words daily.  ALL OF THIS PRACTICE SHOULD BE

DONE WHILE MAKING THE LETTER SOUNDS, AND BLENDING THE SOUNDS

TOGETHER TO MAKE THE WORDS.  THIS IS PHONICS PRACTICE.

            Please continue to read TO your child daily from books that are above his/her

reading level to help with vocabulary and comprehension.

            

PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO READ THEIR AR BOOK 5 TIMES AT HOME AND THEN COME TO SCHOOL AND TAKE A TEST.

Personals...

            PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO TAKE AT LEAST ONE AR TEST A WEEK..

Next Week...

Specials:

See schedule page on web site for rotation.

Day 1  Team A-Art      Team B-Music

Day 2  Team A-PE      Team B-Tech

Day 3  Team A-Music  Team B-PE

Day 4  Team A-Tech    Team B-Art

Day 5  Team A-PE      Team B-PE

*Remember to wear tennis shoes to PE.

(Team A-Last name A-K)

(Team B-Last name L-Z)

Congratulations to…

Mitchell Camp

who was elected our character kid for Courtesy and Civility.

Miller's Messenger--2-29-08

In Class...

            In Phonics we learned the oi and oy sound (as in boy and coil).  We also have been reviewing blending all of the sounds we have learned, using them in two and three syllable words (blending each “chunk”), and in words with endings added.

            In Math we have been working on finding fractions of a whole (as in ½, and 1/4).   We learned that we need to have 2 equal parts for halves and 4 equal parts for fourths.

            In Writer’s Workshop we are still writing to give information to an audience.  This week we learned and wrote about dental health.  We will continue to focus on editing our work to check for CUPS (capitalization, understandable sentences, punctuation, and spelling).    

Thank you to...

            The parents of Alex Fitzgerald for sending in extra snack for the class; Gracie Smith’s mom for our icecream party for reaching our 50% goal in the accelerated reader program.

Special Events...

March 4—Early Release—Students dismissed 2 hours early.

March 20—3^rd 9 weeks report cards come home

Homework...

We are working on reading fluency in class by doing Readers’ Theaters.  Your child will have the script to reread for 1 or 2 nights of homework each week.  Please encourage your child to reread his lines at least 5 times, and to read them with expression.  Please write the title in the homework folder log and initial.  Thanks! Please continue to have your child practice his phonics / spelling words daily.  ALL OF THIS PRACTICE SHOULD BE

DONE WHILE MAKING THE LETTER SOUNDS, AND BLENDING THE SOUNDS

TOGETHER TO MAKE THE WORDS.  THIS IS PHONICS PRACTICE.

            Please continue to read TO your child daily from books that are above his/her

reading level to help with vocabulary and comprehension.

            

PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO READ THEIR AR BOOK 5 TIMES AT HOME AND THEN COME TO SCHOOL AND TAKE A TEST.

Personals...

            PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO TAKE AT LEAST ONE AR TEST A WEEK..

Next Week...

Specials:

See schedule page on web site for rotation.

Day 1  Team A-Art      Team B-Music

Day 2  Team A-PE      Team B-Tech

Day 3  Team A-Music  Team B-PE

Day 4  Team A-Tech    Team B-Art

Day 5  Team A-PE      Team B-PE

*Remember to wear tennis shoes to PE.

(Team A-Last name A-K)

(Team B-Last name L-Z)

Congratulations to…

Sebastian Marin

who was elected our character kid for Cooperation.

Miller's Messenger

February 8, 2008

In Class...

            In Phonics we learned that ‘ou’ and ‘ow’ make the sound we hear in cow.

            In Math we are counting combinations of coins up to a value of $1.00.  We are also learning how to count combinations of 1, 5, 10, and 20 dollar bills up to $20. 

            In Writer’s Workshop we are learning to write to give information to an audience.  This week we continued to write about light and shadow.  Next week we will begin to focus on editing our work to check for CUPS (capitalization, understandable sentences, punctuation, and spelling).    

Thank you to...

            ALL OF YOU for bringing your children to PTA last night.  We thought they did a WONDERFUL job!  I know it was a very good experience for them.  I hope you all enjoyed seeing them on stage!

Special Events...

February 14—Valentine’s Day—We will be exchanging valentines in class that day!

Febrary 18-19-Student Holidays

February 22-Six Flags Reading Logs are due (for the 6 hours of reading to earn a free ticket to Six Flags).

Homework...

IMPORTANT!!!  Please have your child write his / her name on his/her valentines and his/her classmate’s name on them too.  I have attached a list of the students’ names.

Please continue to have your child practice his phonics / spelling words daily.  ALL OF THIS PRACTICE SHOULD BE

DONE WHILE MAKING THE LETTER SOUNDS, AND BLENDING THE SOUNDS

TOGETHER TO MAKE THE WORDS.  THIS IS PHONICS PRACTICE.

            Please continue to read TO your child daily from books that are above his/her

reading level to help with vocabulary and comprehension.

            

PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO READ THEIR AR BOOK 5 TIMES AT HOME AND THEN COME TO SCHOOL AND TAKE A TEST.

Personals...

            We are in need of extra snack (in individual bags) for the class.  Please remind your child to bring snack each day.

            PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO TAKE AT LEAST ONE AR TEST A WEEK..

Next Week...

Specials:

See schedule page on web site for rotation.

Day 1  Team A-Art      Team B-Music

Day 2  Team A-PE      Team B-Tech

Day 3  Team A-Music  Team B-PE

Day 4  Team A-Tech    Team B-Art

Day 5  Team A-PE      Team B-PE

*Remember to wear tennis shoes to PE.

(Team A-Last name A-K)

(Team B-Last name L-Z)

Congratulations to…

Aanijah Bramlett

who was elected our character kid for Self-Reliance.

Miller's Messenger

In Class...

            In Phonics we have learned more about the long vowels sound.  We have learned that ee, ea, make the long e sound, and igh, ie make the long I sound.

            In Math we are reviewing the strategies to use in addition and subtraction with sums up to 18.  VERY SOON WE WILL BEGIN TO LEARN TO COUNT COINS UP TO $1.00.  PLEASE HELP YOUR CHILD START TO PRACTICE COUNTING CHANGE THAT YOU RECEIVE WHEN OUT SHOPPING, ETC.

            In Writer’s Workshop we are learning to write to give information to an audience.  This week we are writing about

Canada

, and next week we are writing about Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thank you to...

            Alex Fitzgerald’s mom for putting our holiday party together.  ALL OF YOU for the gift card to Chili’s.  I enjoyed it very much over the holidays!

Special Events...

January 21—Martin Luther King, Jr.

Holiday

January 22-28—Parent-Teacher Conferences --Students will be dismissed 2 hours early.

Homework...Please continue to have your child practice his phonics / spelling words daily.  ALL OF THIS PRACTICE SHOULD BE

DONE WHILE MAKING THE LETTER SOUNDS, AND BLENDING THE SOUNDS TOGETHER TO MAKE THE WORDS.  THIS IS PHONICS PRACTICE.

          Please continue to read TO your child daily from books that are above his/her

reading level to help with vocabulary and comprehension.

Personals...

            We are in need of extra snack (in individual bags) for the class.  Please remind your child to bring snack each day.

            OUR CLASS IS OFFICIALLY STARTING THE ACCELERATED READER PROGRAM THIS WEEK.  I WILL BE ENCOURAGING YOUR CHILD TO READ AN “AR” BOOK EACH WEEK AND TAKE A TEST ON IT ON THE COMPUTER.   I WILL EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT THIS AT CONFERENCES.

            

Next Week...

Specials:

See schedule page on web site for rotation.

Day 1  Team A-Art      Team B-Music

Day 2  Team A-PE      Team B-Tech

Day 3  Team A-Music  Team B-PE

Day 4  Team A-Tech    Team B-Art

Day 5  Team A-PE      Team B-PE

*Remember to wear tennis shoes to PE.

(Team A-Last name A-K)

(Team B-Last name L-Z)

Congratulations to…

Gracie Smith

who was elected our character kid for Humility.

Miller's Messenger December 14, 2007

In Class...

            In Phonics we have learned about the long vowels sounds (a as in cake, I as in like, o as in robe).  We are working on noticing the vowel+”magic e” that can cause the vowel to make a long sound.  We have also learned that ee, and ea make the long e sound.  We have learned the sound qu makes.

            In Math have learned about solid shapes such as cones, cubes, rectangular prisms, cylinders, and spheres.  We are also learned about plane shapes.  The two new plane shapes we have learned are pentagon and hexagon.

            In Writer’s Workshop we have written narratives about a boy or girl living in

Mexico

.  The children have thought of a problem and solution to write about in their narrative.  Next week we will write about a trip to the North Pole.

Thank you to...

            Alex Fitzgerald’s parents for sending in extra snack.

Special Events...

Dec. 17—Puzzles due for gift exchange (See attached letter about this first grade tradition at Still.)

Dec. 20—Class

Holiday

Party at 9:00.  Set up is at 8:15.

Dec. 21—Last day of school before winter break.

January 8—First day back for students.

January 21—Martin Luther King, Jr.

Holiday

January 22-28—Parent-Teacher Conferences --Students will be dismissed 2 hours early. (Please send me a note if a certain day would be better for you.)

Homework...Please continue to have your child practice his phonics / spelling words daily.  ALL OF THIS PRACTICE SHOULD BE

DONE WHILE MAKING THE LETTER SOUNDS, AND BLENDING THE SOUNDS TOGETHER TO MAKE THE WORDS.  THIS IS PHONICS PRACTICE.

            Please continue to read TO your child daily from books that are above his/her reading level to help with vocabulary and comprehension.

Personals...

            All of first grade will be making “Snowman Soup” to send to the local hospitals for children/families that are hospitalized over the holidays.  Please look for a letter coming home asking for donations for items for our “soup”.  THANK YOU for sending in these items!!!

            If you haven’t sent in the wrapped puzzle for your child’s gift exchange at the party, please send it in now.  Remember that the puzzle should have 100 pieces.  THANK YOU!!

Next Week...

Specials:

See schedule page on web site for rotation.

Day 1  Team A-Art      Team B-Music

Day 2  Team A-PE      Team B-Tech

Day 3  Team A-Music  Team B-PE

Day 4  Team A-Tech    Team B-Art

Day 5  Team A-PE      Team B-PE

*Remember to wear tennis shoes to PE.

(Team A-Last name A-K)

(Team B-Last name L-Z)

OOPS!! In a previous newsletter I listed the wrong date for return to school.  The students’ first day back is January 8!

Miller's Messenger

November 30, 2007

In Class...

            In Phonics we have learned about the long vowels sounds (a as in cake, I as in like, o as in robe).  We are working on noticing the vowel+”magic e” that can cause the vowel to make a long sound.

            In Math have been working on comparing numbers up to 100.  We have also been working on counting by 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s up to 100.

            In Writer’s Workshop we are continuing to focus on writing complete sentences, beginning them with capital letters, and ending with periods.  We are beginning to write narrative stories with a sequence of events using transition words such as first, then, next, finally).

Thank you to...

            Alex Fitzgerald’s parents for sending in extra snack.

Special Events...

Dec. 17—Puzzles due for gift exchange (See attached letter about this first grade tradition at Still.)

Dec. 20—Class

Holiday

Party (more information coming home about this event next week)

Dec. 21—Last day of school before winter break.

January 9—First day back for students.

January 21—Martin Luther King, Jr.

Holiday

January 22-28—Parent-Teacher Conferences --Students will be dismissed 2 hours early. (Please send me a note if a certain day would be better for you.)

Homework...Please continue to have your child practice his phonics / spelling words daily.  ALL OF THIS PRACTICE SHOULD BE

DONE WHILE MAKING THE LETTER SOUNDS, AND BLENDING THE SOUNDS TOGETHER TO MAKE THE WORDS.  THIS IS PHONICS PRACTICE.

            Please continue to read TO your child daily from books that are above his/her reading level to help with vocabulary and comprehension.

Personals...

            All of first grade will be making “Snowman Soup” to send to the local hospitals for children/families that are hospitalized over the holidays.  Please look for a letter coming home asking for donations for items for our “soup”.  THANK YOU for sending in these items!!!

Please help your child remember to bring his snack each day.  We are still in need of individually wrapped extra snacks for children who forget their snack.  THANK YOU!

            We are in need of items for the treasure box.  If you are cleaning out at home, we can use your little “junk” items.  Please send them to us instead of throwing them away.  THANKS!

Next Week...

Specials:

See schedule page on web site for rotation.

Day 1  Team A-Art      Team B-Music

Day 2  Team A-PE      Team B-Tech

Day 3  Team A-Music  Team B-PE

Day 4  Team A-Tech    Team B-Art

Day 5  Team A-PE      Team B-PE

*Remember to wear tennis shoes to PE.

(Team A-Last name A-K)

(Team B-Last name L-Z)

Congratulations to...

Sebastian Marin

who was elected our Character Kid for

Service  to Others.

Miller's Messenger

November 2, 2007

In Class...

            In Phonics we have learned some new sounds—ch as in chipmunk, th as in thumb, sh as in shark, and y as in yellow.  Previously we have learned m, i-as in pig, a-as in hat, o as in frog, u -as in bug, ar as in star, e as in egg, f, g, r, c, n, p, h, s, d, b, r, x, l, t, w, wh, and t. We are now learning to blend these sounds by syllables, so that we can read words like timid, magnet, butter, etc.

            In Math have been working on showing numbers up to 100 as tens and ones.  For example, 85 has 8 tens and 5 ones.  We have also reviewed strategies for adding and subtracting numbers up to 12.  (Example, if 4+4=8, THEN 4+5=9.  Using the number line is a good strategy to use when subtracting.)

            In Writer’s Workshop we are focusing on writing complete sentences, beginning them with capital letters, and ending with periods.  We are beginning to write narrative stories with a sequence of events using transition words such as first, then, next, finally).

Thank you to...

            Gracie Smith’s parents for sending in items for the treasure box; Alex Fitzgerald’s parents and Andrew Bishop’s parents for sending in special snack and treats on Halloween.

Special Events...

November 5 and 6—Student Holidays

November 21-23—Thanksgiving Holidays

Homework...Please continue to have your child practice his phonics / spelling words daily.  ALL OF THIS PRACTICE SHOULD BE

DONE WHILE MAKING THE LETTER SOUNDS, AND BLENDING THE SOUNDS TOGETHER TO MAKE THE WORDS.  THIS IS PHONICS PRACTICE.

Personals...

            Please help your child remember to bring his snack each day.  We are still in need of individually wrapped extra snacks for children who forget their snack.  THANK YOU!

            NO PHONICS / SPELLING WORDS NEXT WEEK!

            We are in need of items for the treasure box.  If you are cleaning out at home, we can use your little “junk” items.  Please send them to us instead of throwing them away.  THANKS!

Next Week...

Specials: 

See schedule page on web site for rotation.

Day 1  Team A-Art      Team B-Music

Day 2  Team A-PE      Team B-Tech

Day 3  Team A-Music  Team B-PE

Day 4  Team A-Tech    Team B-Art

Day 5  Team A-PE      Team B-PE

*Remember to wear tennis shoes to PE.

(Team A-Last name A-K)

(Team B-Last name L-Z)

Congratulations to...

Aanijah Bramlett

who was elected our Character Kid for

School Pride and Cleanliness.

Miller's Messenger October 12, 2007

October 12, 2007

In Class...

            In Phonics we have learned 20 sounds (m, i-as in pig, a-as in hat, o as in frog, u as in bug, ar as in star, f, g, r, c, n, p, h, s, d, b, r, x, l, and t). We are working very hard to learn how to blend these sounds together to make words such as mat, at, am, trim, spins, box, etc.. 

            In Math we finished our 2 week unit and will be taking our  9 week test on Monday.  Next week we will be focusing on interpreting a tally chart and bar graph.

            In Writer’s Workshop we wrote about a spider we made, focusing on sequencing the events and using transition words such as first, then, next, finally, at last.

Thank you to...

            Gracie Smith’s parents for sending in extra snacks.  We still need individually wrapped extra snacks.

Special Events...

October 17—Early Release  Students are dismissed 2 hours early.

October 22—Report Cards Sent Home Please keep the report card, sign the signature card, and return in envelope.

October 25--Chattahoochee Nature Center Field Trip

 

Homework...

            Please continue to have your child practice his phonics / spelling words daily.  ALL OF THIS PRACTICE SHOULD BE

DONE WHILE MAKING THE LETTER SOUNDS, AND BLENDING THE SOUNDS TOGETHER TO MAKE THE WORDS.  THIS IS PHONICS PRACTICE.

Personals...

            Please help your child remember to bring his snack each day.  We are still in need of individually wrapped extra snacks for children who forget their snack.  THANK YOU!

            PLEASE RETURN THE PERMISSION SLIPS AND DONATIONS FOR THE CHATTAHOOCHEE NATURE CENTER FIELD TRIP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO.

            This year parent-teacher conferences will be held in January.  If  you would like to have a conference with me at this time, I would be happy to meet  with you.  Please send me a note and we will schedule a time to meet.

Next Week...

Specials: 

See schedule page on web site for rotation.

Day 1  Team A-Art      Team B-Music

Day 2  Team A-PE      Team B-Tech

Day 3  Team A-Music  Team B-PE

Day 4  Team A-Tech    Team B-Art

Day 5  Team A-PE      Team B-PE

*Remember to wear tennis shoes to PE.

(Team A-Last name A-K)

(Team B-Last name L-Z)

Congratulations to...

___________________

who was elected our Character Kid for

Cheerfulness.

Miller's Messenger 10-5-07

In Class...

            In Phonics we have learned 19 sounds (m, i-as in pig, a-as in hat, o as in frog, u as in bug, ar as in star, f, g, r, c, n, p, h, s, d, b, r, x, and t). We are working very hard to learn how to blend these sounds together to make words such as mat, at, am, trim, spins, box, etc.. 

            In Math we have been investigating the different strategies we can use when subtracting and seeing how addition and subtraction are related (as opposites of each other).  We have been breaking numbers apart into 10s and 1s up to 20.  (For example, 13 can be shown as 1 group of 10 and 3 ones.)

            In Writer’s Workshop we have worked on using better, more descriptive words in our writing (delightful instead of good, miserable instead of sad, etc.), and sequencing events in a story.

Thank you to...

            ALL OF YOU who have been sending in extra snacks.  We still need individually wrapped extra snacks.

Special Events...

October 17—Early Release  Students are dismissed 2 hours early.

October 22—Report Cards Sent Home Please keep the report card, sign the signature card, and return in envelope.

October 25—

Chattahoochee

Nature

Center

Field Trip (Info coming today)

Homework...

            Please continue to have your child practice his phonics / spelling words daily.  ALL OF THIS PRACTICE SHOULD BE DONE WHILE MAKING THE LETTER SOUNDS, AND BLENDING THE SOUNDS TOGETHER TO MAKE THE WORDS.  THIS IS PHONICS PRACTICE.

Personals...

            Please help your child remember to bring his snack each day.  We are still in need of individually wrapped extra snacks for children who forget their snack.  THANK YOU!

Next Week...

Specials:

See schedule page on web site for rotation.

Day 1  Team A-Art      Team B-Music

Day 2  Team A-PE      Team B-Tech

Day 3  Team A-Music  Team B-PE

Day 4  Team A-Tech    Team B-Art

Day 5  Team A-PE      Team B-PE

*Remember to wear tennis shoes to PE.

(Team A-Last name A-K)

(Team B-Last name L-Z)

Congratulations to...

David Hernandez

who was elected our Character Kid for

Justice/Fairness.