1st Grade Ms. Wilkes

Red, White, and Blue day with really cool water cycle bracelets

Welcome to 1st Grade!!

Welcome to 1st grade! My name is Kim Wilkes and I’m looking forward to being your child’s teacher. Your child is going to love being a first grader and a part of our classroom family! First grade is such an important year and your child is going to learn so much.

This is my 16th year teaching.  I love teaching 1st grade!! My goal has always been to provide a fun, safe and nurturing classroom family where every child feels loved and successful.

I love spending time with my family. My oldest daughter attends Georgia Southern University. I also have a 10th and 8th grader that attend Cobb County schools. We stay busy with various sports, and we love to travel.

I can’t wait to meet my new students and families at Meet and Greet on Tuesday, July 30th at 11:00. I hope to see you then.

I’m looking forward to a wonderful year!!

My special spiders

Wilkes' Weekly Words - October 24

Mrs. Wilkes Weekly Words
October 24, 2018

Thank you so much for taking the time to come and meet with me last week during conferences. I love sharing the progress your child is making in 1st grade. I am so proud of all of my students!!
It is very important that your child wears tennis shoes on PE days. If your child forgets to wear tennis shoes, they may not be able to participate in PE. Please, please, please teach your child how to tie their shoes. I have several students who do not know how to tie their shoes. It is a safety issue when their shoes are untied during the day.
Reading/Daily 5 – This week we have been reading super cute monster books. We are working on identifying the main idea and key details in the story.
Math – We are learning different strategies for adding numbers to 20. The kids are doing a great job using the strategies taught to add and subtract (counting up, using a number line, and making a ten). We are also reviewing place value for numbers to 120.
Writing – Our focus will be informational writing. This week we have been writing “how to” stories.
Grammar- We are learning about nouns. Next week, we will learn about common and proper nouns. Hopefully, I will see more proper nouns capitalized in writing.
Social Studies – This week we began learning about Benjamin Frankin. We will focus on his inventions, accomplishments, and character traits.
Spelling – This week our phonics focus was words that begin and end with “ch”. Next week we will focus on words with diagraph “th.”
Important Dates:
October 30 – Yogli Mogli Night
October 31 - Fall Centers – A sign up genius was sent last week
November 1 – PTSA Meeting 6:30
November 6 - Teacher Workday - no school
Specials for next week:
Monday – PE Tuesday – Art Wednesday- PE Thursday – STEM Lab
Friday- PE

 

 

 

Our sweet class

Wilkes Weekly Words - August 23

Wilkes Weekly Words

August 23, 2018

I’m so proud of my sweet class. Everyone is working hard. The students are doing a great job being proactive. They are showing great independence when packing and unpacking each day. Everyone is working hard to stay organized. It is going to be a great year!
Daily 5 – This week we continued working on building our independent reading stamina. We made it to 13 minutes this week and our goal is to reach 20 minutes. I have finished with individual reading assessments. I will be working with your child individually and in small groups during Daily 5. Your child will bring home a baggie with the book that we read during our group. Please have your child read it to you again at home. Be sure to ask them questions during reading and after reading. We are focusing on character, setting, and details in the story. They should be able to retell what happened at the beginning, middle, and end of the story.
During writer’s workshop, we are working on writing complete sentences. We discussed how to recognize a sentence and a non-sentence. We practiced writing sentences using a capital letter at the beginning, finger spaces in between words and punctuation at the end.
Phonics: This week in phonics, we are working on short o words. Every Monday, your child brings home a list of phonics focus words for the week. Please help your child read these words every night.
Sight Words – Your child should be bringing home a list of sight words. Please return the list when your child has mastered all of the words. I will reassess the words and send another list home. I try to assess sight words once a week.
In Math, we continued working on writing the numbers 1-120. We are also working on different ways to represent the numbers 11-19 using ten frames, ten rods, and ones. This week, we began adding within 10. During number talks, we are working on different ways to see the numbers 1-10 using 10 frames. Please help your child learn to count to 120. This is a 1st grade standard that is on the report card for the 1st quarter. Your child needs to be able to count to 120 to receive a 3 on this standard.
Social Studies: We continued learning about our global address. The students will be assessed on their global address this 9 weeks. They need to know their continent, country, state, county and city. Please continue to work on this at home. Today we began learning about the importance of saving and spending money.
Important Reminders:
Be sure to send a healthy snack with your child daily. Our room is also chilly. Your child may need a light jacket or sweater to wear during the day.
Performing Arts permission slips came home in last week’s Thursday folder. Please return this permission slip as soon as possible. This permission slip gives your child permission to attend in house and possibly an off campus field trip. So far, I have only received one form.
Behavior sheets will come home every Thursday. Be sure to sign and return every Friday. Graded papers/Weekly work will also come home on Thursday. You keep the papers, but be sure to return the “Still” folder.
Superstar Reading sheets (reading log) are in your child's homework folder. Your child should read/be read to each night for 20 minutes. Please be sure to fill in the title of the book, initial it and have your child color in a star. We will have a “Super Star Reader” celebration at the end of the 9 weeks. Your child must read at least 20 books to receive a super star reader award. This is a big deal, so please help your child reach his/her reading goal.
Scholastic Reading Order Forms are in today’s folder! Every book you purchase gives our class points to purchase FREE books for our class room library! Please submit your orders as soon as possible, because I will be submitting the orders on Friday, August 31th! Thank you for helping our class earn free books!
IMPORTANT Dates:
August 24 – Picture Day
August 29 – Early Release Day – Students will be released two hours early
August 30 – Media center – we will check out new books
September 3 – Labor Day (no school)

Our specials rotation for next week.
Monday- PE
Tuesday – STEM LAb
Wednesday – PE
Thursday – Music
Friday – PE

Wilkes Weekly Words - August 9, 2018

Mrs. Wilkes Weekly Words
August 9, 2018
We are having another terrific week in first grade. We are adjusting well to first grade procedures and to our daily routine. The students are doing a great job becoming independent. The kids are learning how to unpack their backpacks, turn in homework, and pack up their afternoon papers. We will begin writing in our agendas on Monday. Please help your child complete their nightly homework. Homework is always a review of skills that have been taught.
Last week we learned about respect. We understand the importance of respecting ourselves, friends, adults and property. Be sure to ask your child about their respect/disrespect drawing in their Thursday folder.
Daily 5 – This week we are working on building our independent reading stamina. We made it to 7 minutes this week and our goal is to reach 20 minutes. Be sure to ask your child the three ways to read a book (read the pictures, read the words, and retell the story). We also learned that good readers ask questions before and during reading to help them understand what is happening in the story. Mrs. Harbour did a fun lesson with us on how to check for understanding while reading.
Phonics: This week in phonics, we reviewed short vowels a. Next week we will work on short i. Please practice reading the phonics focus words that are sent home every Monday. You can keep the list at home and practice reading every night.
Sight Words: Your child has a copy of the first grade sight word list and some activities to help your child learn their sight words. Please keep this in a safe place. Your child also has a list of sight words that they need to practice reading with you in their red folder. Please sign and return this list when your child can read all of these words. Sight words are words that we can read in a snap….not sounding out.
In Math, we continued working on writing the numbers 1-120 and graphing. We are also working on different ways to represent the numbers 11-19 using ten frames, ten rods, and ones. Please have your child practice counting to 120 orally.
Social Studies: We are learning about our global address. Please help your child complete the address homework that was sent home today. We will be using the homework activity to complete several activities next week. The students will be assessed on their global address this 9 weeks. They need to know their continent, country, state, county and city.
Behavior sheets will come home every Thursday. Be sure to sign and return every Friday. Graded papers/Weekly work will also come home on Thursday. You keep the papers, but be sure to return the Still Elementary folder.
Superstar Reading sheets (reading log) are in your child's homework folder. Your child should read/be read to each night for 20 minutes. Please be sure to fill in the title of the book, initial it and have your child color in a star. We will have a “Super Star Reader” celebration at the end of the 9 weeks. Your child must read at least 20 books to receive a super star reader award. This is a big deal, so please help your child reach his/her reading goal.
Thank you to all of the parents who sent headphones in with their child. Each student needs their own pair of headphones, not ear buds. Ear buds are difficult to use with our computers.
Wish List Items for our classroom:
Extra snacks
Alphabet letters – You can find these at the Dollar Tree
Play-Doh

Please let me know if you are not receiving my emails.
IMPORTANT Dates:
August 24 – Picture Day
August 29 – Early Release Day (two hours early)

Our specials rotation this week.
Monday- PE
Tuesday – Music
Wednesday – PE
Thursday – Art
Friday – PE

Open House Powerpoint - July 30

Download STILL Open House 2018-2019 (003)

 

 

Welcome to First Grade!!

Welcome to 1st grade! My name is Kim Wilkes and I’m looking forward to being your child’s teacher. Your child is going to love being a first grader and a part of our classroom family! First grade is such an important year and your child is going to learn so much this year.

This is my 15th year teaching, and I love teaching 1st grade!! My goal has always been to provide a fun, safe and nurturing classroom family where every child feels loved and successful.

I love spending time with my family. I have been married to my husband Ashley for 23 years. We have three kids. Our oldest daughter is leaving for her freshman year in college. We also have a 9th and 7th grader that attend Cobb County schools. We stay busy with various sports, and we love to travel.

I can’t wait to meet my new students and families at Meet and Greet on Monday, July 30th at 11:00. I hope to see you then. I’m looking forward to a wonderful year!!

Wilkes Weekly Words - March 22

Wilkes’ Weekly Words
March 22, 2018

One more week until spring break!
Next Friday, we will have a math and following directions egg hunt. A Sign Up Genius went out on Monday. Thanks to everyone who volunteered to send in donations.
Take a look at what we are learning.
Phonics/Spelling/ Grammar - This week our phonics focus is on words with –ar. Next week we will focus on words with –ir, -er, and –ur. All of these words have a “Bossy R”.

Math- We are adding and subtracting numbers two digit numbers. So far we have learned the following strategies (drawing 10 rods/ones, using a 120 chart, and using a multiple of 10 number line). We are also learning how to make an open number to add two digit numbers. This concept is difficult. We will spend several weeks practicing. We work on problem solving daily.
Writing – During the 4th 9 weeks, we will review all of the writing genres taught this year (narrative, informational, and opinion). Next week we will read the story A Bad Case of Stripes. The students will write creative narratives about A Bad Case of ………. We will focus on expanding our sentences and self- editing.
Social Studies – We are learning about George Washington Carver. Ask your child one fact about Carver and write it in your child’s agenda. Tell them to show it to me and they will receive 5 owl bucks. Next week we will begin a unit on plants.
Daily 5/Guided Reading – We have been reviewing main idea and main topic. We are also comparing and contrasting books that are on the same topic. The students are doing a great job completing independent Daily 5 assignments each week.
Super Star Readers – I’m so proud of all the students who met their super star reading goal for the 3rd quarter. Your child needs to read at least 30 books again the 4th quarter. Please help your child record the books that he/she is reading at home!

Specials this week: Monday – PE Tuesday – Music Wednesday- PE Thursday - Art Friday- PE

Important Dates:
March 23 – Still Stampede
March 27 – Spring Pictures
March 30 – Jump Rope for Heart
April 2 – 6 Spring Break
April 24 – Puppetry of Arts field trip
April 3-7 Spring Break