Welcome to Ms. Jue-Leong's Class

August 31, 2007

Room 7

Friday’s Message:

We’re off to a good start! It has been a busy week and we’ve been focusing on classroom rules and routines. The children are learning to work with partners as well as independently. Next week they will also be working together in small groups.
Hopefully your child has been telling you about some of the activities s/he has been doing in the classroom. (Ask them if they haven’t)

Opening Day Packets
Your child brought home a packet on the first day of school. Please fill out the enclosed forms and return them to me by next week if you have not already done so.. Also remember to turn in your child’s earthquake/emergency food supplies. Thank you.

Personal Belongings
Please label/write your child’s name on lunch boxes, backpacks, and clothing (especially sweatshirts, jackets, sweaters, and pullovers).

“Back-to-School” Night
Wednesday, September 19, is our school’s “Back to School” Night. At that time I will be giving parents an overview of the 1st grade curriculum and explain our classroom program. The first grade presentation will be from 6:30-7:15. There will also be many opportunities fro you to to sign up and volunteer in the classroom. I hope to see many of you then. (See “Walkie-Talkie” for details)

Bears, Bears, Bears
Hopefully your child has been keeping you informed of the different activities we’ve been doing with bears. They made bear books, acted out The Three Bears, and did teddy graham math. They’ve shared their “beary special object, “ then asked for questions or comments. Next week they will be using their bears for math and more language art activities.

Homework is passed out on Fridays and is due the following Friday. There are four components to the homework. One is the Reading Log, a booklet. On the other components, please make sure your child’s name is on each piece or staple/clip their work together. A parent needs to initial the homework. If your child does not complete all four components of the homework when it is due, just have her/him turn in what s/he has done, then turn in the rest at the beginning of the next week.
I will check homework over the weekend and return it (usually on Monday). In some cases I will be keeping pieces of the homework to use for lessons in the class.
A homework chart will be posted in the classroom. Students get a “sticker” when all four components are turned in.

READING
The Reading Log is a booklet for you to record the names of the books that you read aloud together. Hopefully you are reading to your child every night; try to read together about 20 minutes daily.
The Reading Log is to be turned in with the homework. I like to share with students what is being read at home. Sometimes I may even ask to borrow a book to read to the class.

WRITING
*Attached is a handwriting chart for you to keep and post for your child at home.

We are working on letter formation. I’ve been modeling the strokes for letter formation. We also used lined paper for writing their names. Students were reminded to start letters from the top and touch the lines.
Using the attached paper, have your child practice writing her/his name. Please make sure letters are formed correctly and from the top. Then have your child circle her/his best wrting. Draw a small happy face above it.

MATH
Your child will be assembling a September calendar, but don’t put it together right away. There are several activities to do with the number cards. Before s/he cuts out the number cards/squares:
-Practice counting the boxes (numerals in sequence)
Do this several times
Then cut out the cards
Your child now has a set of flash cards
-Mix the numerals 1-10
-Have your child read the numerals, then sequence them in order
-Ask your child what come before and after certain numerals

-Then do the same activities with 11-20, then 21-30

Help your child see the pattern in numerals. If s/he is having difficulty, use a calendar at home for visual clues.
If your child can easily order all the numerals, then take several numerals out of the pile and have your child arrange the remaining numerals in sequence.

After practicing number order, your child can make their September calendar. Tell your child Saturday is the first day of September. Students can glue the numeral cards or write the numerals. (Make sure your child forms numerals from the top.) Mount the calendar on a larger piece of paper. Write “September” above the days of the week. Draw a picture for the month.

MYSTERY STUDENT
Have your child complete the following statements to “Who Am I?” worksheet.
Your child should write the answers to the questions (parents please underwrite words for your child to show how many letters they got in the words.) Have your child practice reading their answers.
I will need a parent volunteer to help me tape record each students reading of their answers. (If you can help let me know) Later I will play the recording back to the class. The children will listen and guess who the mystery child is. The ”mystery student” will become the “ teacher’s helper” for a couple of days.

Posted by jueleong at September 12, 2007 01:46 PM