Daily Five - Listen to Reading Headphones Wanted

Dear Parents,
We are proud to inform you that this school year all first graders will be actively reading and writing each day using a researched based strategies that foster literacy independence in the elementary grades. This program is called THE DAILY FIVE. During this enrichment time the children will be reading to themselves, working on writing, reading to a buddy, working with words and listening to reading. These five components make up the Daily Five. Each one is as important as the other. One of the five is listen to reading. During this time the children listen to books on tape. This helps strengthen their reading by allowing them to look at words as they are read to them. This strategy also develops language fluency. The children are able to hear how good readers sound.

Because all of the classes will be working on the Daily Five we will have to share the headphones. We have two class sets of headphones, so two classes will be passing them back and forth.

Due to health issues such as head lice; we know many parents who are uncomfortable with the idea of so many children sharing the headphones. We will make sure we clean the headphones after every use, but if you would like to send in headphones from home in a large Ziploc baggie with your child’s name on them feel free; HOWEVER… The tape players are very old so you would also need to purchase an adaptor for your child. The adaptors are $3.99. There is a picture of the adaptor below. If you are able to find it in a store; please feel free to buy it there or we will be happy to order one for you. Please send check or money to school with your child for $3.99 plus tax. If we get enough orders (50 or more) the price will be $2.99 plus tax. We will let you know if this happens!

Please let us know if you have any questions. We will need the headphones and adaptor money by September 30th.
Thank you!

Sincerely,
First Grade Team

6.3mm (1/4") Stereo Male to 3.5mm (1/8") Stereo Female Adapter Headphone Jack
Adapts 3.5mm stereo jack to 6.3mm (1/4in) plug.
Ideal when you need to convert 3.5mm stereo headphones for use in 6.3mm (1/4in) stereo jack.

* Connectors: 3.5mm Stereo Female to 6.3mm (1/4in) Stereo Male
* Adapts a 3.5mm (1/8") stereo plug to 6.3mm (1/4in) stereo plug
SKU: A40639

Special Schedule

Special Schedule

Our specials are from 12:40-1:35pm Monday through Thursday and 1:35-2:30pm on Fridays!
Monday: Technology
Tuesday: Gym
Wednesday: Music
Thursday: Art 1
Friday: Alternating Special

September News

A big thank you to everyone who came to Open House last Thursday....it was so nice to meet many of you as we start a wonderful year together:) Don't forget to send back all the wonderful forms that I need to get the school year started...email me if you have questions about which ones I still might need from you:)

I wanted to update you on our curriculum and things we have been working on in the classroom, so be sure to ask your child about these things:

Reading: I will be testing the children soon on their reading levels.  I will let you know where your child is at and if I feel the need, meet with you to discuss this level.  We will be starting reading groups in October when your child will be bringing home a reading book every night!  We started the Daily 5 and have learned how to "Read To Self" as well as pick good fit books, choose a good spot and build our stamina.  Please ask your child about these things:)

Writing: Please be sure to send in 5-7 pictures of your child. These pictures can be of them growing up or of something fun they did this summer.  Please talk with your child about the pictures so they are sure to remember what they are about.  The pictures will not be returned until the end of the school year. We have been working on building our writing community and learning how writing workshop runs.  Small mini-lessons on punctuation and capital/lowercase letters have been our main focus!

Math: We have been working on our calendar books where we write the date, add tally marks, write numbers, etc. We learned how to play "Bunny Hop" today to help us learn how to add and subtract as well as "Monster Squeeze" to work on comparing numbers! We have been having lots of fun so be sure to ask your child about our math games:)

Social Studies: We have been learning how to get along with others at school.  We learned the "Get Along With Others" song and the three ways to get along with others......share, talk/listen, and take turns.  Ask your child to sing the song to you!

Science: We will be beginning our Weather Wathcers unit this week where your child will become a weather watcher for the next three months.   The students love this science unit!

Poetry: Our poem of the week last week was "The Summer's Over" and we focused on the  -un family and contractions.  This week our poem of the week is "The Recess Song" and we are focusing on the -ay family and sight words:)

Spelling: We will be reviewing Kindergarten sight words this week:)

Text Talk: We started our Text Talk program this week where we will be reading a different book each week and learning six new vocabulary words to add to our bank of words.  Our book this week is "Ruby the Copycat."  Be sure to ask your child what are words of the week are!

Mystery Reader: If you would like to be a mystery reader please email me with the Friday that would work best for you:)  We need someone for every Friday:)

Rule Review: The summer is over and the children have been having a hard time looking and listening to the person (teacher or student) who is talking. We have been focusing on this rule all week and working hard on it.  We also talked about respecting others and treating them how you want to be treated.  Please help us reinforce these things at home too:)

Oral Language: We started our Monster of the Week this week (I am the first monster)!  I will be sending home a list of when each student will be the Monster of the Week and a list of what is expected of them!  We will also be starting our oral language jobs next week, so please be looking for these to come home!

Homework: Just a reminder that homework should not take more than 20 minutes each night!  I hope you have fun seeing what your child is working on in school (even though I know they will say nothing!)

I think that is it for now!  Please email me with any questions that you might have and as always thanks ahead of time for all of your continuous support of your child's education!

Mrs. Reis:)