Dear Parents,

Happy last week of September and first days of fall!

Math: We will continue for a couple more weeks to work in this first module of Engage New York working on fluency with addition, numbers to 10, and then work our way into subtraction. The students are learning many different math strategies to solve an equation, and most importantly, learning to use THE MOST EFFICIENT one. Again, daily work at home in Zearn and using flashcards will help your child.

Grammar: We will focus on capitalizing names and using the correct punctuation.

Comprehension: We will focus on cause and effects noticing why and how things happen in a story.

Word Wall Words:    by       did     our

Phonics: We will continue work with short vowel words and learn the reasons why the vowels are short. Your child has learned the vowel song which helps to learn the sounds that all of our vowels make. Ask you child to sing it to you. It about a doggie and how he hurt his paw! We will also begin our Signs for sounds Dictation practice and continue working in Lexia. 

Reading Workshop: Reading Workshop has started and we will continue working in Unit One learning how readers build good habits as well as learning how reading partners work together to build their skills. The students now have their own book bag filled with books at their level from our leveled library. They shop each week for new books to read independently in an area of their choice, building stamina to independently read for longer periods of time. This week, Rio welcomes Momentum in Teaching for more in-depth training on Reading Workshop. We are so excited to hone our craft further as we exapand from Writing Workshop into Reading Workshop.

Writing Workshop: We are working in our narrative unit of Writing  Workshop, writing about a small moment. They have worked through the first stages of writing and now have PICKED A SEED that they want to take all the way through publication. Their unedited drafts and their gathering sheets went home. My hope is that you will work with your child to take one of those drafts and take it to publication at home!  They all LOVE writing and have learned that....WHEN YOU THINK YOU'RE DONE, YOU HAVE JUST BEGUN!

Handwriting: We finished learning how to write all the alphabet letters, capitals and lowercase, the first grade way. Practice at home is very important for those that are still struggling. Thank you in advance for teaming up with us! Handwriting packets will come home this week for those I feel could benefit from them. 

Rotations: Starting soon, each Thursday, all first graders will rotate between the three first grade classes to work in science, social studies, or art. I will be teaching Art and will start with black cats inspired by Théophile Steinlen's French Ad Poster "Tournée du Chat Noir". 

Star of the Week: We will begin next week, September 30th. Please refer to the handout that will come home tomorrow and let me know if you need to make a change. We are so excited to learn about our new classmates! 


Take home folders: Please take time to enjoy looking over your child's work DAILY and help your child remember to bring the empty folder back to school each day.

Important Dates:
Hawaiian Day: Wed, 9/25
Harvest Festival: Fri, 10/11

                                                         

Spirit Days:
9-25 Hawaiian Day
10-16 Matching Day
11-20 Sports Day
12-18 Ugly Sweater Day
1-29 Pajama Day
2019 Tie Dye Day
3-18 Crazy Hair Day
4-22 Crazy Sock Day
5-13 Wacky Wednesday

Needed Classroom Supplies:
large Ziplock baggies
prize box items (dollar store type)
paper towels

Please Sign Up for Bloomz!

Hi Everyone,

If you have not yet done so, please sign up for our class Bloomz account. I sent home information with our class access code and talked about it at Back-to-School Night. I will be doing most of my communication with you through this app because of its convenience and accessibility. I am also able to share pictures that are only visible to our class members this way. You can message me privately within the app, and you can also communicate with other parents.  If you need the class access code again, please email me at Caryn_Allen@pvusd.net.

Thank you!

Ms. Allen

Week of September 3-6

Hello Room 5,

I hope you all had the chance to enjoy the gorgeous weather and extra day off this weekend.
I got to enjoy both friends and family and am recharged and looking forward to seeing your kiddos
tomorrow. It was fun to see several of them playing their hearts out on the Soquel High football field
Sunday morning. 

 Thank you to everyone who was able to attend Back to School Night. I know there was a lot of
information to take in in one night, so don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have questions or need
clarification. I sent most of the pertinent information home. Most importantly, please check your
child’s homework folder daily and stay connected with classroom happenings. This will help you know
how to best support your child from day-to-day.

Math: We will continue working in our Engage New York Program in Module One working on finding
groups of 8 and 9  in a picture and counting on from 5. We will be working with number bonds and
subitizing as well. You can continue to support this learning at home by reviewing the math worksheets
your child brings home and encouraging your child to work in their Zearn Computer Program.
Flashcards are another fun way to help your child add and subtract at home. Engage New York
homework packets will go home Tuesday. These are optional and meant to offer extra support to those
who need it. If I write “please review” on their classwork, you can use the corresponding homework page
to support them further at home. 

Reading: We will enjoy two new stories from our Houghton Mifflin Reading Series that will focus on
helping your child evaluate a story and think about cause and effect in a story.

Reading Workshop has started and we will continue working in Unit One learning about the many
strategies readers use when they read. The students now have their own book bag filled with books at
their level from our leveled library. They will shop each week for new books to read independently in an
area of their choice. By first grade, it is the hope that students begin the year at level “D”. If your child is
not there yet, I will begin sending home a book bag with them each night for extra practice. Please take
the time to read with your child and fill out the reading form. I will switch books out based on your
feedback. 

Word Wall Words:       favorite         find who

Writing; Writing happens across the curriculum and will continue this week as the students write to
the Mystery Person, write in their Weekend Journal, and during our Language Wall Time. We are into
our narrative unit of Writing Workshop,  learning about how writers gather ideas for their writing by
thinking about times they have felt strong emotions, and by thinking of things that are special to them.
We will continue to gather ideas next week and then move into picking a “seed”--an idea we will take
through to publication!

Handwriting: We will finish learning how to write all the lowercase letters and start learning how to
write the capital letters. Daily handwriting practice at home is important as your child is just learning
how to write the letters the magic c way and the stick way.

Reminders:

Take home folders: Please take time to go over your child's work daily and help him or her remember to
bring their empty folder back to school each day.

Important Dates:

Parent Alliance Meeting: Thurs, 9/12

Run For Rio: Sun, 9/15

Picture Day: Fri, 9/20

Movie Night: Fri, 9/20

Harvest Festival: Fri, 10/11

Needed Classroom Supplies:

prize box items (dollar store type)

Gummy Bears

Baby Wipes

I hope you all have exactly the week you’re hoping for! Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any
questions, comments, or concerns.  

Warmly,

Caryn Allen