It's Cool Growing Up!

When the children entered the classroom upon returning from Spring Break, the first thing I noticed was how tall everyone grew during the nine days off!  With the remaining weeks of school, we will be practicing being first graders!  That means tightening up on discipline and higher expectations on completing classroom work. 

Testing continues this week for grades 3-6.  Please help the testing atmosphere by having your child at school on time and avoiding check ins and outs.  Because we eat lunch so early and testing will not end until 11:30 or later, please do NOT join us for lunch on testing days to avoid any distractions.  The testing dates are:
Monday, March 28
Tuesday, March 29

Box Top collection is Thursday, March 31.  Please send in any box tops/labels you have at your house.  Every little box top helps our school during this funding crisis!

In reading this week, we are investigating "Oo" as in octopus in the office.  The word wall words are: have, saw, must.  

I will send home a letter on Tuesday about our classroom scrapbook.  The classroom scrapbook is optional.  

In math we are working with the numbers 11-20.  We are beginning to focus on addition.  If you want to work on this at home, get a pair of dice.  Roll the dice and add the spots.  Make sure your child understands that with addition that you are taking two sets and putting them together to make a bigger number.

I pride myself on staying current on the latest children's literature and reading books to your children that are of quality.  I model for them comprehension skills and we read for enjoyment.  There is always a book that is requested over and over again.  I was taken aback by the most requested story from last week.  It wasn't even in book form, rather it was a story I showed them on the dry erase board.  I was teaching them the word wall word "are."  The following is the most requested story from last week:  A, R, and E were best friends.  They did everything together.  They were trying to think of a name to call themselves.  A wanted the group to be called "A", E wanted the group to be called "E", and R wanted the group to be called "R."  Nobody could agree on a proper name.  So one day, R put a piece of tape on A and E's mouth and announced their name would be pronounced "R."  When it came time for dictation on Friday, one child retold the story of "are" on his dry erase board and it caught on like wildfire.  Here are the students who wanted their picture taken with their "are" story.



I will be out of the classroom on Thursday beginning after lunch.

Email me with any questions or concerns you may have.  Have a great week!

The Beginning of the 4th Nine Weeks

Welcome Back.  I hope everyone had a restful week.  I'm so excited to get back to work and listen to the spring break news of Room 115.  I cannot believe that we are beginning the fourth nine weeks.  I need time to slow down!

For the next two weeks the students in grades 3-6 will be taking standardized tests.  Please help the testing atmosphere by having your child at school on time and avoiding check ins and outs.  Because we eat lunch so early and testing will not end until 11:30 or later, please do NOT join us for lunch on testing days to avoid any distractions.  The testing dates are:
Tuesday, March 22
Wednesday, March 23
Monday, March 28
Tuesday, March 29

This week we are studying the letter "Ll" as in lobster in the lighthouse.  Word wall words are:  was, come, well, are, now.

Be sure to check out our poetry journals in Friday's back pack.

Report Cards will be issued on Thursday.  Please sign one copy and return to school.  You may keep the second copy. 

In math, we are working on number sense, counting to twenty and beginning to put number combinations together.  We can identify the coins but now we are learning their value.  Busy, busy times in math.

Remember that I want each child taking at least ONE Accelerated Reader test a week.  Let me know if you need additional AR tickets.

Please tell family members and friends who have a child entering Kindergarten next year to join us for a Kindergarten Open House this Thursday, March 24 from 5:30-7:00 pm.  This program is for parents and children that will begin Kindergarten next year.

Check out the previous post on the blog that has pictures from the Character Book Parade.  The children looked adorable!

Classroom needs:  boxes of tissues and cap erasers.  Thank you for supporting our classroom.

We worked so hard to catch that Leprechaun that was loose in our classroom.  Room 115 is a class full of problem solvers.  Unfortunately, we were unable to catch the Leprechaun.  Thank you so much for your assistance.


Contact me with any concerns or questions.

Becoming Lifelong Readers

Thanks so much to Mrs. Martin for taking the photos of  Room 115 during my absence.  When I look at these photos I see children who love books and are on their way to become life long readers.  I could bore you with facts after facts about the impact reading has on a child but I know you would much rather look at the pictures.  If you want facts, please email me!

A Return to Normal

 Oh, how I've missed Room 115!

In all the seventeen years of teaching I don't think I've ever missed four days of school in a school year except the years I  went on maternity leave.  I am so ready to get back into the classroom and see my special friends.  Thank you for understanding my absence and for the prayers.  They were needed and felt.  I have missed working in Room 115. 

This week I will review "Ff" and introduce "Gg" as in goose in the grass.  The word wall words are said, would, ran, in, could, just.  

I will be assessing word wall words on Wednesday. 

I will also be assessing for report cards this week so reading groups will be abbreviated.  I'm not sure if we will get to the reading homework sheets so just check the folders each nightly.

Doughnuts for Dads is this Wednesday and Thursday.  If you did not send in the RSVP found on the front of the March newsletter, do so on Monday.

There is a leprechaun loose in our classroom. Your homework assignment this week is to make a leprechaun trap to catch the leprechaun.  Let your child dictate the trap with you available for help.  This project is due on Friday.  Please do not send your trap in early because I do not have room to store the traps.  Don't let this project put stress on your family, use items from your house to help us catch the leprechaun.  The only guideline is to let your child use his/her imagination in building a trap.

I will send home a book order on Monday.  Book orders will be due on Thursday.  Our class' code for ordering online is GL88R.  Book orders are optional.

If you need help with dinner tomorrow night, Mellow Mushroom is having spirit night.  Be sure to tell them you are from Blount.

Remember that Spring Break is March 14-18.  Have a wonderful time with your child.  This school year is flying by.  School starts back on March 21.

Email me with any questions or concerns.  Thanks for your support of our classroom.

Read Across America

For four days we were a class of eighteen students.  Here is a picture of Room 115 with eighteen children.  I'm very lucky that I get to spend my days with such fabulous people!  Now we are back down to seventeen.

This is a very busy week.  There is a lot of information in today's post so read carefully.

In reading this week, we will be investigating the letter "Ff" as in flower in the field.  The word wall words are it, this, will, went.

I will begin report card testing this week so reading groups will be abbreviated.  Please check folders each night for homework.  There may be a night(s) where there will be no homework for reading.   I will begin word wall assessment on Wednesday, March 2.

In math we are learning about money, telling time to the hour and number sense.  Our February calendar pages will come home Tuesday.  In our calendar notebook for March we will be adding an addition page. 

Poetry Journals did not go home last week.  Look for them on Friday.

Classroom Needs:  This is the first year I've ever run low on tissues.  Please pick up a box next time you are shopping.  Also, cap erasers would be appreciated.  Thank you for supporting our classroom.

PTA Meeting on Tuesday!  The multi-cultural festival and PTA meeting is this Tuesday night at 6:00.  There will be over 12 countries represented with food, decorations, and dress.  The festival and food will start at 6:00.  The teacher with the highest % of parents and students in attendance will will win a $50 gift card to Walmart. So please get there on time and be sure to sign our class list.  The meeting will adjourn no later than 7:00.

Cookie Dough delivery:  Parents who ordered cookie dough can pick up their order on the cafeteria stage on Wednesday, March 2 from 2;00-5:30.  If this time is not convenient for you , please email me and I will tell you who to contact. 

Spirit Night at Baumhower's:   If you need help with Monday's dinner, then please join us at Baumhower's on the Eastern Blvd.  Be sure to tell them you are from Blount.  Thanks for supporting our school. 

Read Across America:   This week we will have fun celebrating reading.  (Actually we celebrate reading every day all day long but this is school wide!)  A handout went home on Friday with detailed information.  Here is a quick reminder:
Tuesday:  bring blanket/towel and a stuffed friend for DEAR time (Drop Everything and Read).
Wednesday:  Volunteers can read to the class.  Email me so I can schedule you during the day.
Thursday:  CHARACTER BOOK PARADE at 9:30!!  Come dressed as your favorite character from a book.  If you are having problems with how to make a sign:  you can carry a sign on a ruler or tie ribbon around a piece of cardboard with the name of the character and book title.  Every child will participate in the parade, even those who come not in costume!
Friday:  We will be making Green Eggs and Ham.  Check the handout if you are able to donate ingredients/supplies.

Tremendous fun at the bowling alley.  Thanks to all the parents who helped out.  I think our class was the best behaved but then I'm partial!  Check out the smiles!



Email me with any questions or concerns!

We Have a New Friend!!!

We had a fabulous Valentine's Day party.  The best part was opening all that mail!!! 

This is a short week for juice and snack.  Send in $2.00 per item.

There is no letter study this week.  Word wall words are:  on, sit, at, that, yes.  We are going to be spending a lot of time this week working on those "tricky" word wall words.  Please check our folder each night for a half sheet of paper that will document the words we worked on for that day.  I will be assessing all word wall words starting next Wednesday.

In math we are working on telling time to the hour.  We are also learning to identify the name and value of coins.  We are very good at quarters and pennies.  This week we will solidify the nickels and dimes.  Since society uses debit/credit cards for the majority of transactions, it is even more important that your child learn to count money.  Right now all we are doing is focusing on the coins and knowing their name.  Take out some coins and ask your child to name the coin and the value.

Don't forget that Muffins for Moms is this Wednesday and Thursday depending on the first letter of your last name.  Please stop by the classroom after enjoying a muffin so that I can take a picture of you and your child.

Important Information for Read Across America Week:
On Tuesday, March 1:  We will have 30 minutes for D.E.A.R. time (Drop Everything and Read).  Your child may bring a small blanket/towel to lie on and a stuffed animal to read to.

On Wednesday, March 2:  Volunteers can come and read to our class.  I will try my best to work around your schedule.  Please email me if you are interested in reading to the class on this day.

On Thursday, March 3:  Character Parade begins at 9:30 am.  Your child will need a sign with character name and book.   Parents are invited to attend the parade.  The parade starts promptly at 9:30 so be aware of the time it takes to sign in at the office on crowded days!  I will send more information about the parade
 this week. 

Project Groundhog update:  Last week we reported our second week of data.  The average temperature two weeks ago was 48 degrees with three sunny days and two cloudy days.  We turn in last week's data this week.  We were very excited to see the temperature so warm because maybe that means the groundhog is correct that spring will arrive early.

Be sure to wear the yellow FIELD TRIP t-shirts on Friday for our trip to the bowling alley.

 The best news is we have a new student!  We are so excited to welcome a new member into the world of Room 115.

However the bad news is that we are losing a student this week due to a move to Korea.  We are going to miss "J" so much.  Our class is not going to be the same without you!  However, there is a very lucky teacher in Korea that will get to work and play with you every day!

Have a fantastic week!  Email me with any concerns or questions!

Hearts, Hearts, and More Hearts

We have been very busy getting everything ready for our Valentine's Day party.  The mailboxes have been decorated, we've learned to cut hearts and the party food has started to arrive.  Please join us on Monday from 1:30-2:15 as we celebrate the sweet friendships of Room 115.  If you are going to check your child out after the party, please follow the procedures from the Christmas party.  I must have a slip of paper from the office before releasing your child.  

There will be no reading homework on Monday.

This week we are studying the letter "Bb" as in bee at the beach.  The word wall words are big, run, what, my, by.  I will be assessing all the word wall words from the beginning of the school year on Wednesday, March 2.  This week's word wall words will be the final ones for this grading period.

Important notice:  The school will be celebrating Read Across American Week on Feb. 28-March 4th.  We will have a school wide character book parade on Thursday, March 3.  Begin thinking of a character from your child's favorite book to dress up as.  We will parade around the school and parents are invited to attend.  It is a very precious parade.  I do not have a definite time for the parade but I wanted to give you plenty of notice to create the perfect costume.

Project Groundhog update:  We continue to record the daily high and low temperature for this North American project.  For the first week of recording we had an average temperature of 48 degrees with three cloudy days and two rainy days.  We noticed a pattern of warming temperatures but our theory of spring arriving soon was diminished by last Thursday and Friday's cold weather.   

Be sure to send in your RSVP for Muffins for Moms.  The RSVP was found on the front page of the Blount newsletter for February.  Only one RSVP is needed per family.  Muffins for Moms is Wednesday, February 23 and Thursday, February 24. 

I will be assessing all phone numbers this Friday.  Last week's poetry journal was a reminder to help your child learn his/her phone number.  A check on addresses will be Friday, February 25. 

No school on Monday, February 21 in honor of  President's Day.