Saturday, September 29, 2012

Circulatory System



We demonstrated how the heart and lungs work together to send oxygenated blood throughout our body. Be sure to ask your child why blood can be blue or red.
~Mrs. Anderson

Guest Reader





~Mrs. Anderson

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Teacher's Pet


YouTube Video

We have a talented chef in our class!

~Mrs. Anderson

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Husky Hustle

Our class is trying hard to raise $1000 for our school.  If each child raises $40 we'll achieve our goal.  Students are collecting pledges over the next two weeks, so it's time to hit up your family, friends, and neighbors for support.  Husky Hustle donations can be made through check, cash, or online at Husky Hustle PayPal.  As always, thanks so much for all you do to support Harmony!

Pajama Party







~Mrs. Anderson

Monday, September 24, 2012

Look Who Lost a Tooth!




~Mrs. Anderson

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Weekly News

Important Information
*Check out the new photos and videos on our class blog! mrsandersonshuskies.blogspot.com
*Students have been bringing their school library books much more frequently than once a week, so I am cancelling our weekly checkout time.  Students will be permitted to visit the library on an as needed basis each morning.  Please only send the books back to school when your child is finished reading them.  1st graders are allowed to checkout two books at a time.
*Please make sure to check your child’s take-home folder every night and discuss what we are working on in school.  You may keep the completed work that comes home.  Promptly return any paperwork. Also make sure to read and sign your child’s planner nightly.  1st graders are encouraged to spend 10-20 minutes nightly on homework.  Students are expected to read to/with an adult, practice weekly word wall words, and memorize math facts.  Please jot down what your child did for homework on the right side (i.e. +1 facts, www, & read would be sufficient instead of writing down addition facts, word wall word flashcards, and the title of the book). 
*I am so excited that so many of you are able to attend our class movie night this Friday!  Please park around back and enter through the library doors (directly across from the basketball goals).  I’ll be sure to have the doors open for you by 6pm.  We will gather in the library and pass out dinner and snacks from 6-6:15pm.  The movie will start at 6:15pm and should be over by 8pm.  Looking forward to it!
*Husky Hustle pledge packets will be sent home soon.  This is our school’s main fundraising event of the year.  Our class’ goal is to raise $1000 – that’s just $40 per student.  Please, please, please help your child round up pledges from friends and family.  The classroom that raises the most money for the Hustle will receive an iPad!  10% of all donations go directly towards our classroom budget and the rest goes to our school.  Let’s work together to make this a successful fundraising event! 
*Ready to find out what the first grade teachers will be auctioning this year at Harmony Harvest?  Drum roll, please!!!

Boys Bash with Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Beall, & Ms. Howard!
Calling all boys!  The first grade teachers are throwing a bash just for you.  It will be two hour filled with macho activities like flag football, Steal the Bacon, Dodge Ball, and Legos!  Snacks and drinks will be provided.   You won’t want to miss all the manly fun!  The more boys the better!  All grade levels are welcome.  Sign up below for just $20 per child and join us on Thursday, November 15th from 2:30pm-4:30pm.  All donations will go directly to classroom budgets. 

Girls Gala with Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Beall, & Ms. Howard!
Calling all girls!  The first grade teachers are throwing a gala just for you.  It will be two filled with feminine fun like manicures, make-up, magazines, and even a girly movie!  Snacks and drinks will be provided.   Dress to impress - be sure to wear your fanciest dress and shiniest shoes.  You won’t want to miss all the girly fun!  The more girls the better!  All grade levels are welcome.  Sign up below for just $20 per child and join us on Thursday, December 6th from 2:30-4:30pm.  All donations will go directly to classroom budgets.

Pajama Party with Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Beall, & Ms. Howard!
Grab your pajamas and stuffed animal too, and join the first grade teachers for a pajama party!  We’ll meet in the library to watch a newly released movie on the big screen, eat popcorn and candy, and party in our pajamas. All grade levels are welcome – the more, the merrier!  Sign up below for just $20 per child and join us on Thursday, November 29th from 2:30pm-4:30pm.  All donations will go directly to classroom budgets.

Madelynne’s 1st Birthday Party with Mrs. Anderson and Madelynne
Join Mrs. Anderson for a one-of-a-kind birthday celebration – her daughter Madelynne’s first birthday!   We’ll have lots of fun playing party games, eating birthday cake and ice cream, and playing with Mady.  All grade levels are welcome- the more, the merrier.  Sign up below for just $20 per child and join us on Thursday, December 13th from 2:30-4:30pm. No gifts, please.  All donations will go directly to our classroom budget.   


Important Dates
September 28th - Pack Activity (please wear GREEN – your 1st grade shirt is perfect for this!); Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Movie Night 6pm
October 3rd - Early Release Day (students dismiss at 12:25pm)
October 5th - Field Trip (please wear sneakers and your 1st grade t-shirt and bring a sack lunch)
October 12th - Husky Hustle (if you can, feel free to join us at the Hustle from 12:45-1:30pm); Harmony Harvest 6-9pm
October 19th – 26th – Fall Break
November 15th - Harvest Auction:  Boys Bash 2:30-4:30pm
November 29th - Harvest Auction:  Pajama Party 2:30-4:30pm
December 6th - Harvest Auction:  Girls Gala 2:30-4:30pm
December 13th - Harvest Auction:  Madelynne’s 1st Birthday 2:30-4:30pm


What are we learning?
Word Work
This is week 6 on Spelling City.  Our new 1st grade word wall words are long, does, every.  We are reviewing these kindergarten words:  had, they, be.  We are also studying short a words.
Writing
We will learn about the characteristics of listeners, speakers, and viewers.
Math
We are working on unit 2 (Should I add or subtract?).  We will solve addition and subtraction number stories with missing numbers and use units to label our answers. 
Reading
In reading, we will conclude our unit on decoding strategies and shift our focus to questioning.
Science
We are continuing our human body unit!  This week, we will learn about the muscular system.

Related Arts
Monday - Music
Tuesday – Music
Wednesday - Music
Thursday - Music
Friday - Music


Friday, September 21, 2012

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Hey, My Cranium!


YouTube Video

We are learning about the skeletal system in science.
Mrs. Anderson

Teacher's Pet


YouTube Video

We have a talented violinist in our class!
Mrs. Anderson

More Missing Teeth




Mrs. Anderson

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Guest Speaker




Mr. Tony taught us all about the skeletal system today.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Teacher's Pet



We have a talented singer in our class!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Another Toothless Wonder




We are going break the poor tooth fairy this year!

Monday, September 10, 2012

Conflict Resolution Song


Mrs. Hammons is teaching us about resolving conflicts with our friends and classmates.

Weekly News

*Please make sure to check your child’s take-home folder every night and discuss what we are working on in school.  You may keep the completed work that comes home.  Promptly return any paperwork. Also make sure to read and sign your child’s planner nightly.  Please jot down what your child did for homework on the right side (i.e. math facts, www, & read would be sufficient instead of writing down addition facts, word wall word flashcards, and the title of the book).
*Be sure to send a healthy snack and bottle of water each day for snack time. 
*Classroom wish list:
-Barbie clothes for recess
-refill glue sticks for glue gun
-colored and white cardstock paper
*Please, please, please consider this…We are in need of one more parent volunteer for reading groups.  The volunteer will meet with a small group of children every Friday from 10:45-11:15am starting in September.  Are you interested and available?
*A few things for 1st graders to start practicing at home: tying shoes, memorizing home address, and memorizing home and/or parent cell number(s). 
*School breakfast has been a bit of an issue for many students in our class this year.  Unlike past years, buses are dropping students off at school closer and closer to 7:50am – the start of the school day.  The cafeteria sells breakfast from 7:30-7:45am.  Children who arrive past 7:35am are struggling to get through the breakfast line, eat their food in the cafeteria, and get to class before the bell rings at 7:50am.  If this affects your child, please feel free to send in a box of breakfast bars.  I’m happy to store them in our classroom for days that he/she doesn’t have time for breakfast at home.  We have snack between 9-9:30am and that’s a long time for these little guys to wait to eat if they haven’t had breakfast at home.  Thanks for your help with this!

Important Dates
September 14th – Picture Day
September 28th - Pack Activity (please wear GREEN – your 1st grade shirt is perfect for this!)
October 3rd - Early Release Day (students dismiss at 12:25pm)
October 5th - Field Trip (please wear sneakers and your 1st grade t-shirt and bring a sack lunch)
October 12th – Harmony Harvest

What are we learning?
Word Work
This is week 4 on Spelling City.  Our new 1st grade word wall words are five, under, has.  We are reviewing these kindergarten words:  for, on, his.  We are also studying initial consonant blends.
Writing
We will learn more about parts of speech including nouns, verbs, and adjectives.  We will also work on adding details to our writing pieces.
Math
We are moving on to unit 2 (Should I add or subtract?).  This week, we are learning about symbols in addition and subtraction problems.  We will solve number stories with missing numbers and use units to label our answers.  We will also explore tools that help with solving these problems – the number grid and number line. 
Reading
In reading, we will work on decoding strategies that can help us figure out tricky words in our reading.  This week’s strategies include look at the picture, get your mouth ready, look for chunks, and reread.
Social Studies
Mrs. Hammons will also visit our class this week and discuss the difference between a small and a big problem.

Related Arts
Monday " Wednesday – PE
Thursday " Friday - Art

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Thursday, September 6, 2012

It's a Girl!


Fufu, our Monarch butterfly, came out of her cocoon today at 10:54am.  She's beautiful!  (Based on the size of her veins - we are pretty sure she's a girl.  Males have thin veins on their wings and females have thicker markings.)

Talented Teacher's Pet


We have a talented hula hooper in our class!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Just for Fun...


Look who is learning how to read! :) It's hard having a teacher as a Mommy!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Weekly News

*Most children received a cd of kindergarten word wall words last year (songs by Heidi Butkus).  If you did not or you need a new copy, please let me know this week.  I will make copies for those who need them this weekend.  What a fun way to review our old word wall words! (Heidi has not created songs for 1st grade words, so we will create our own chants in the classroom.)
*If you did not attend Parent Orientation, please review the classroom handbook and let me know if you have any questions.  Remember, homework started Tuesday so make sure you read over that section carefully.
*Please make sure to check your child’s take-home folder every night and discuss what we are working on in school.  You may keep the completed work that comes home.  Promptly return any paperwork. Also make sure to read and sign your child’s planner nightly.  Please jot down what your child did for homework on the right side (i.e. math facts, www, & read would be sufficient instead of writing down addition facts, word wall word flashcards, and the title of the book).
*Be sure to send a healthy snack and bottle of water each day for snack time. 
*Classroom wish list:
-Barbie clothes for recess
-refill glue sticks for glue gun
-colored and white cardstock paper
*Please, please, please consider this…We are in need of one more parent volunteer for reading groups.  The volunteer will meet with a small group of children every Friday from 10:45-11:15am starting in September.  Are you interested and available?
*A few things for 1st graders to start practicing at home: tying shoes, memorizing home address, and memorizing home and/or parent cell number(s). 
*School breakfast has been a bit of an issue for many students in our class this year.  Unlike past years, buses are dropping students off at school closer and closer to 7:50am – the start of the school day.  The cafeteria sells breakfast from 7:30-7:45am.  Children who arrive past 7:35am are struggling to get through the breakfast line, eat their food in the cafeteria, and get to class before the bell rings at 7:50am.  If this affects your child, please feel free to send in a box of breakfast bars.  I’m happy to store them in our classroom for days that he/she doesn’t have time for breakfast at home.  We have snack between 9-9:30am and that’s a long time for these little guys to wait to eat if they haven’t had breakfast at home.  Thanks for your help with this!

Important Dates
September 7 –Field Trip forms due with $4, Library Day (please return your books)
September 28 –Pack Activity (please wear GREEN – your 1st grade shirt is perfect for this!)
October 3 –Early Release Day (students dismiss at 12:25pm)
October 5 -  Field Trip (please wear sneakers and your 1st grade t-shirt and bring a sack lunch)

What are we learning?
Word Work
This is week 3 on Spelling City.  Our new 1st grade word wall words are say, use, both.  We are reviewing these kindergarten words:  I, at, that.  We are also studying consonant digraphs (ch, sh, th, wh, ph). 

Writing
We will continue learning about the mechanics of writing including capital letters (beginning of each sentence, the word I, and for special names) and punctuation (ending marks including .?!).  We will also explore verbs.
Math
We are continuing unit 1 (How do mathematicians communicate their mathematical ideas?).  This week, we are learning about key words in addition and subtraction and answering word problems by acting out and using manipulatives.
Reading
In reading, we will learn the expectations of guided reading groups and what to do if we are not in a group. 
Social Studies
This week, we will continue to build community in our classroom by learning about our classroom jobs, establishing important rules for our class, and determining ways we can build friendships and be good friends to each other.  Mrs. Hammons will also visit our class three times this week and discuss the difference between a small and a big problem.

Related Arts
Tuesday - Music
Wednesday " Friday - PE


Guidance with Mrs. Hammons

Mrs. Hammons is teaching us about conflict resolution. We are learning how to solve big and small problems at school.