Tonya Purcell

April 28, 2008

Good Morning!  We are back to our regular schedule this week except that we have lunch at 10:50 for Monday and Tuesday while 3rd-5th finish the CRCT.  The class did a great job listening and working hard during the CRCT.  I was sooo proud of each of them.  Thank you for your hard work getting them here rested and on time.  We had no absences or tardies in our classroom during testing.  The school will notify you when the results are returned to us.  In the past, it has been at the very end of the year.

Thanks sooo much to everyone who sent donations for our special snacks and our AR celebration on Friday.  Thank you also to everyone who sent in extra snacks.  We should now be covered until the end of the year.  I really appreciate your help. 

The Wallace Family has been very touched by your donations for them.  Our classroom was very generous.  Please keep them in your thoughts as they adjust and rebuild.

Our spelling/phonics words this week are  wrong   wrap   wrote   wrist   write   wring   photo   phone   phase   were    *telephone 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

TODAY - April 28th - AR Testing ends today

TOMORROW - April 30th - all media center books are due

May 1st - PTA Meeting

May 2nd -Variety Show at Lovinggood 7-9pm

May 13th - High Touch/ High Tech In School Field Trip

May 20th - Author's Tea 1:00-1:50pm (Parents are invited to hear our students read from the classroom book we are publishing together - each child will stand on the media center porch and read their writing- then students will have a "book signing").   

I can hardly believe how quickly time is passing.  Next week I will begin the end of the year assessments.  You may begin sending your envelopes for me to mail you your child's report card.  Please send a legal size envelope (91/2inX4inch) that is self addressed and stamped.

Have a great week!

Tonya                                 

April 21, 2008

Thanks so much for a GREAT Field Day! Everyone remembered their tennis shoes and came ready for a fun day. It was great to have so many parents attend.  Our specials schedule will change several times in the next month due to special events.  I will post the changes on our blog when they occur.  Please mark your calendars with our current changes.

Monday - PE   Tuesday - Art     Wednesday - PE    Thursday  - Music     Friday - Tech

There are several things you need to remember to send in to class - Pictures/Picture Money, High Touch/High Tech Donations, and Registration Packet (please be sure you have filled out everything and don't forget to sign the back before returning it).  If your child is not returning as a student next year, please write that on the form and return it to help us with planning classes next year.

We only have one box of crackers left for extra snacks this week.  If you have not donated extra snack in awhile, we could really need your help.

You should receive 2 flyers concerning testing.  Please let me know if you don't receive them today.  Please remember we will begin CRCT TESTING ON WEDNESDAY.  It is very important that your child go to bed early enough, eat breakfast, and have a smooth start.  We will begin promptly at 8:00.  If your child eats breakfast here, please be sure they are here early enough to be finished eating on time (8:50).  We will have no new spelling words this week due to testing.  Last week's words will be tested on Tuesday.

Have a great week!

Tonya

April 14, 2008

Welcome Back!  I hope you all enjoyed Spring Break.  We wrote and shared this morning about our break and the students had some very detailed accounts! They have grown so much!

Today we began our new Science/Social Studies theme of the Rain Forest.  We will learn about animals, plants, the environment, and the people of the forests.  We will continue this theme for several weeks and do a lot of informational writing tied to it as well as an author study of Eric Carle.  We will end the unit with the publishing of a class book to share at our Author's Tea in May.  I'll give you more details when I know the exact day and time.

Our new math unit is Adding/Subtracting Double Digit Numbers without regrouping.   It will last a few weeks.  We will be using models to practice making the numbers and then combining or subracting them.

Our phonics focus this week is on oi/oy. Our phonics/spelling words are boy  toy  joy  enjoy   boil   soil   coin   what   were   when   *Rain Forest

Field Day is this Friday.  Please be sure your child is wearing tennis shoes, comfortable clothing, and brings a labeled water bottle.  Please send your child in their CLASSS TSHIRT.  It should be a fun day!  We will finish up activities this year by lunchtime.  We will still have our phonics/spelling test first thing in the morning.  If you plan to attend, we should begin around 8:45-9:00. 

Thank you for your responses of support for our field trip.  The grade level coordinator is looking at how many parents are willing to donate to support the trip and we should know something soon.  If there is enough support from the first grade as a whole, a permission form will be sent and that is when we will collect donations.

Spring Pictures will be sent home soon.  If you want to purchase the package you keep the pictures and return the money.  If you don't want to purchase the package, please return the pictures as soon as possible.  Today you should receive any artwork you ordered. 

Have a great week!

Tonya

March 31, 2008

This week we will complete our unit on nutrition.  We will also finish our measurement unit and move on to double digit addition and subtraction without regrouping (ex: 82+14 =96).  This unit will last for approximately 2 weeks.  Students will participate in many activities using models and physically putting the numbers together so that they do not just learn the procedures but really develop an understanding of adding multiple digit numbers.  This week our spelling focus is on oo as in brook.  Our spelling words are - look    took   good   wood   hood   book   stood   but   all what   * April   We will complete our introduction of new sounds the week after spring break with oi. 

I know some of the students have told me they have practiced the online CRCT.  We have had several practice sessions here where I have simulated what the test taking situation will be like (using markers to keep our place, scratch paper for math problems, repeating directions only once).  I have also been teaching students the strategy of making their "best" guess.   The practice tests we have done I will send home on Friday.  Please try to find time before the test to review your child's mistakes with them.  We are reviewing them as a class , but discussing the items one on one with your child could be very beneficial.   I have tried to analyze their mistakes to see what we still need practice with before the test.    Please be sure your calendar is marked.  There will be three days of testing (Language Arts, Reading, and Math) then makeup days.  The test will be from April 23rd - April 29th.  It would be great if I could get 3 volunteers to send in a special snack one of the three testing days (23rd, 24th, or 25th).   We will celebrate with the snack after our testing session is complete each day.  Please jot me a note or email me if you would like to volunteer to make/buy one of these snacks.   

We have been discussing doing our "best" on the test.  I have explained to students that doing our best means listening closely to directions, paying attention, and not giving up when the test seems long.  I have explained that it's OK if you don't know all the answers as long as you do your best.  All test questions are read aloud to students on the first grade test.  They must read the reading passages on their own silently and then I will read the questions to everyone together.  Students are allowed to reread and the passage is in front of them for the questions.  You may want to practice in this format at home with the practice tests too.

FIELD DAY - Our Field Day is scheduled for April 18th.  More details will come home after Spring Break.  We would love for you to join us for part or all day.  It usually lasts from about 9:00-1:00.

Our specials schedule will not change in April because the Spring Break holiday is a full week. 

We are out of extra snacks if anyone can donate some it would be greatly appreciated.

Enjoy your Spring Break next week!

Sincerely,

Tonya

March 10, 2007

Good Morning!  If you're like me, you are a little groggy this morning.  The class is very quiet...I think they are half asleep.  The Spring time change is pretty tough the first few days.  Hope you all had a great weekend.  Tornado warnings and snow all in one weekend - WOW!  Hopefully we will have great weather on Wednesday.  We will be having our FUNRUN Wednesday from 10:15- 11:15.  You are welcome to come cheer our class on as they work for their pledges. 

Picture Day is Thursday.  Please hold on to money until Thursday.

Our spelling words this week are - cloud   ground   out   pout   shout   about   sour   one   had  not  *March

Have a great week!

Tonya

March 3, 2008

This week our phonics/spelling words are - cow   how   now   down   town   plow   brown   or   by   one   *dentist

REMINDER

Tomorrow is our last Early Release Day

*Today I sent home a list of definitions for phonics/reading terms just for your information.

We completed our fraction unit and the test will come home tomorrow along with a phonics assessment.

Have a great week!

Tonya

February 25, 2007

This week we will begin a week long study of National Symbols.  The students are making an informational book with several "chapters" that are listed in their "table of contents".  We are also learning about the naming part and action part of sentences. comparing and contrasting types of sentences, reviewing nouns and working on identifying verbs.

We will spend this week in math learning about fractions - equal parts, halves and fourths.  Our test will be Friday.

Our spelling words this week are - flew   blew   chew   new   threw   stew   grew   from   have  I   *president

We will attend a performing arts field trip tomorrow to see a play at Hillgrove High School.  We will be away from 9:00-11:00.

Today a letter should have come home in your child's folder with testing information and a code you can use to have your child practice for the CRCT online at home.  We are beginning to prepare here at school too.  You will notice some tests coming home in the CRCT format, I am increasing the number of stories with comprehension, and I am being sure to use test language.  I'll update you with more information as we get closer to the April testing dates.

Money baggies should be in your child's bookbag today.  Thank you sooo much for sending the money for us to count for practice. We have completed three math assessments for money.  The tests will come home on Friday.

You may have noticed papers coming home where your child has used a pen or crayon to correct their own work and draw a smiley on it.  When you see these sheets the sheets are work students have completed and we have checked together in class.  Often I feel it is beneficial for us to go over classwork together and learn from our errors immediately rather than me take up papers to check later.  As always please continue to look over classwork and go over any problem areas with your child.

*Reminder

Don't forget to ask your child the 5 WH questions after reading together - who, what, when, where and why.  We are also focusing on identifying the main idea this 9 weeks.  Ask your child to tell you in a sentence what the story is about after reading or listening to you read.  Many are still wanting to name one character.  We can prompt them by asking for more - "What did he/she do?"  or What happened to them."  We are also working on recalling the details and sequencing events.  You can prompt them by asking what happened in the beginning , middle, and end.  You may want to look back through the book together then and summarize each page to model it for your child.   Remember even as your child is becoming a more fluent reader reading to them continues to be very beneficial.  Many popular picture books are on the 2nd, 3rd and even 4th grade reading level.  When reading aloud you may want to go 1-2 reading levels above their independent reading level.  Reading to your child is an excellent way to model fluency and develop listening comprehension and vocabulary.

Have a great week!

Tonya

    

February 11,2008

Thanks so much for your support at PTA night.  Our class had excellent participation and the kids were so excited about playing their kazoos for you!!  I hope you all received the class list I sent for valentines.  If you did not, please let me know and I'll send a new one. 

This week we will finish our weather study and learn about George Washington.  We took a test on counting coins today and have moved into the the next unit that includes fair trades with coins and counting bills.  Please continue to practice at home if your child has difficulty counting up from the quarter.  We will do some fun activities on Valentine's Day that include measurement, estimating, and graphing.  We are working on recognizing nouns in context and distinguishing between questions and statements in language arts as well as working on informational writing.  Our phonics focus this week is on long o -especially ow and oa.  Our phonics/spelling words are -

snow   blow   flow   grow   goat   coat   boat   this  be  from   *valentine

Mark your calendars -

NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS - Feb. 18th and 19th

*Please label your child's jackets if possible.  Some days we have unclaimed jackets that no one seems to recognize. :)

Have a great week!

Tonya

February 4, 2008

*REMINDERS*

PTA Meeting with 1st Grade Singing is this Thursday, February 7th.  Please bring your child to our classroom at 6:25 then go to the gym for the meeting.  Please be sure your child wears their class tshirt and jeans with a pocket.

Early Release is Wednesday.  Dismissal is 2 hours early.

Spelling Words this week are -

toe    hoe   Joe   king   bring   sting   string   ring   sing  fling    *February

Hope to see you Thursday night!

Tonya

January 29, 2008

Thank you so much for a great conference week!!  We had 100% participation.  I enjoyed sharing your child's growth with you.  Please let me know if any questions came up in your mind after our conference.   We will not have a scheduled conference in the Spring, but if you feel we need to meet just let me know.

The class developed some excellent weather questions for our unit.  We will be measuring temperatures this week and learning about various aspects of weather for our science unit.  We will use this theme to develop knowledge for our informational writing standards this month.  We are focusing on money in math.  Please review your child's math papers daily to see if they need extra help on the skills taught in class.  Thanks you sooo much for sending in the coins for us to use as manipulatives.  I'll let you know which day they will be sent home.

Our spelling/phonics words this week are - mail  pail  trail   train   light   right   high   with   they  at  *dollar     Our phonics program is moving more quickly now.  You may want to review words/rules from previous weeks as we go through all the long vowel combinations.  There are lots of words in the minibooks that follow the pattern for the week.  You could use them to make a memory game, flashcards, or have your child write a story that contains the words to practice if your child needs additional practice.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Our class will sing at PTA next week on Thursday, January 7th.  More information will come soon.

Have a great week!

Tonya