I have really been enjoying your children this week. We were able to move to a new classroom and it’s really been helping with the noise level. I feel less overstimulated at the end of the day, so I’m hoping your child is a little less overstimulated as well.
We had a great week of learning. In math we learned about the number rack. We made a class set of number racks that we will utilize when making numbers. It has five white and five red beads on the top row, and five red and five white beads on the bottom. We worked on making five and ten using the number rack. I reading we took our first I station assessment for the year. This will give me a really good idea of where your child is at in their reading and will help me help them become more confident readers. In writing we’re working towards writing 3 sentences about a topic. We are looking for good sentences that have a capital letter at the beginning, spaces between words, words spelled “sounded out” correctly and a punctuation mark at the end. In social studies we’ve been talking about what the purpose of tools are and what tools community helpers use. We’re working towards creating a tool to help us in our classroom.
Reminders
CORDUROY FIELD TRIP: We will be seeing a production of the play Corduroy at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, November 1st. The cost of the field trip is $12 per child. Please sign the field trip permission form and include a payment of $12. If you are interested in Chaperoning, please e-mail me ([email protected]). I will be letting 5 people chaperone on a first come first serve basis.
LOGIN: I am sending home two logins for your child to practice. One is their lunch number. Have your child practice their lunch number on the paper key pad. The other is their computer login and password. The login is their same lunch number and their passwords are their birthdays in number form. Please help your child memorize these numbers as they will use them throughout their years as a student in DPS.
NEED WHITE BINDERS: I need 1” white binders. I am going to create memory books/data binders for each child that will keep and show all the growth they make throughout first grade. It’s a neat little book. I am asking if families would be willing to donate a binder for your child so I can keep all their papers in it throughout the school year. You will get it back at the end of first grade, filled with tons of fun memories.
FOX TAILS: Periodically throughout the day, students are given “fox tails.” Staff give out fox tails to students they see caring for themselves, caring for others, and caring for our school environment. We then add our fox tails to a chain by our door and when the chain hits the floor we will have a fox tail party that the kids in class will be a part of deciding what we do. We are getting really close, and will likely have a fox tail celebration next Friday. Afterwards, we will start the chain over again and work towards another celebration.
LIBRARY BOOKS: Your child has library every Tuesday. Make sure your child brings their books back every Tuesday. These are great books for you to read to your child and put in their optional reading log.
BLUE FOLDERS: These folders will stay in your child’s backpack and are a way that you can send paperwork and notes to me. There will be relevant, important paperwork that goes home at the end of every week. Each month I will include an activity log you can do with your child as well as an optional reading log. Anytime you read a book to your child or your child reads a book to you, fill out the log. When students complete the log, I’ll let them pick out a prize from my prize box at the end of the month.
CLASS DOJO: Connect with us on DOJO! I use this as a behavior system, as well as a way to teach some really neat Social Emotional Learning Lessons. It’s a great way for you to communicate with me, and it will help you to know how your child did throughout the day. Students work towards earning “fox points” for good behavior throughout the day. If a student has over 10 points they get a skittle for whatever number they have in the ones place. We’re getting up and going with them. I do like to try and post videos and photos of things we’re doing in the classroom. If you do not want me to post photos or videos with your child in it, please e-mail me and let me know.
VOLUNTEERS: I will definitely be needing volunteers to come help during reading and writing centers. If volunteering is something you’re interested:
- Complete DPS Volunteer Application
- Attend Volunteer Orientation at Inspire on 9/25 @ 8 am to complete Confidentiality Agreement
UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday 9/7 Spirit Day-Wear Inspire Colors and bring $1 for our Parent Teacher Organization
Wednesday 9/12 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony@ 3PM, Collaborative School Committee (CSC) Meeting @ 4 PM
Monday 9/17 Picture Day
Thursday 9/20 5-6 PM Curriculum Night & 6-7:30 PM PTO Meeting
Friday 9/21 @ 8:00 AM Inspiring Students Celebration
Tuesday 9/25 @ 8:00 AM Volunteer Training
Wednesday 9/26 @ 12:30 PM Kaiser Permanente Performance: Health Team 4
Friday 9/28 No School Professional Development Day
Thanks for sharing your child with me!
Warmly,
Mrs. Cranfill