8-25-17

Dear Unicorn Families!

Next week will mark our third full week of school.  The mornings are even starting to cool off just a bit, of course, I could just be hopeful that the end of another Tucson summer is near.  The children are starting get some of our routines.  The unicorns love to talk, so we are working on the appropriate times to talk.  It is all a part of learning how to be a part of a new classroom.  As we continue to discuss interpersonal skills as a part of our health unit, we will also move on to healthy bodies.  This will include foods we eat, exercise, and teeth.  In writing we have started learning about writing small moment stories.  An example of a small moment story is riding one roller coaster on a trip to Disneyland.  Taking that one adventure and adding the details to make it a small moment in time.  In reading we will look at books and how to make connections to what we have read.  We will start with general ideas next week and move into an author study soon after Labor Day.  Finally, in math, we are examining the steps we need to go through to solve word problems.  We are also exploring number comparison, accuracy when counting/writing numbers, and manipulating numbers in multiple ways.  I am seeing some number reversals right know, please know that they are developmentally appropriate through the beginning of second grade (also true for letters), but I will begin to work with the children to look for them.  If you see an underline under a number, on a paper, it usually means there was a reversal there.  Give your child time to start turning these around before you focus on it.

Your child’s first homework is in the Friday folder this week.  There are two parts.  The first is a reading log.  We hope your child will read (by him/herself, to a family member, or by a family member) every day for 10 to 15 minutes.  Everyone’s routines are different, so find a time that works best for you.  Some like the night, while others have early risers and prefer to read in the morning.  The second page of the homework is a worksheet that each child will keep in their writing folder.  Please read it with your child, cut out the phrases that fit and glue it in the jar.  It will give them ideas to write about when they are stuck and can’t think of a small moment story.  If you have questions, please feel free to ask. 

In your child’s folder is their DIBELS score report.   This is a nationally standardized reading assessment and is one of multiple ways we assess your child.  The beginning of the year assessment looks at letter naming, and the reading of nonsense words (both individual sounds and whole words read).  This assessment is done 3 times a year.  If you have more questions that are not answered by the literature that comes home with the scores, please let me know and we can find a time to meet.  This is not something that I can quickly discuss at drop off or parent pick up. 

Finally, Tuesday is Curriculum Night for First Grade.  There is a presentation in the MPR for the fine arts program and all the changes for this year starting at 5:30 (This presentation will happen all 3 nights).   A group presentation for all 4 classrooms will start at 6:00 pm and go for 20 minutes.  Then we will head to the classroom where I will talk about specifics for the Unicorn class.  The evening will end by 7:00 pm 

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend.  I look forward to seeing you all next week.

       Mrs. Berk

8-18-17

Dear Unicorn Families!

I can’t believe the first week has disappeared already.  It has been a busy week of learning about our classmates, taking assessments, talking about expectations, and learning routines.  We are almost done with the beginning of the year assessments.  Although we have started some of our curriculum, we will begin with more pieces of it next week.  In reading, we will discuss ways to help us read books (no matter the level) and why we practice reading every day.  In writing, we will focus on handwriting, learning what a small moment (personal narrative) is and how we write them.  We started our new phonemic awareness program on Monday and that is a 35-week program.  We started reviewing in math and we will continue a bit a review next week, making sure they have accurate counting skills as we move forward in the year.  Once next week is over, we will start introducing new math concepts.  For the most part, we will alternate between a science unit and a social studies unit every 4 to 6 weeks this year.  We are currently working on our health unit for social studies.  It includes interpersonal skills, healthy bodies, and healthy foods.

Monday will be the exception next week.  We will spend the day on science concepts related to the sun.  After specials, we will learn about the solar eclipse.  Then those who have returned their permission slips will be able to go view the solar eclipse through pinhole viewers.  Please know that if you are not comfortable with your child going to view the eclipse, there will be a fun alternate activity during those times.  The rest of the day will relate to sun safety and other information about the sun. 

Please return folders on Monday this week.  Once homework begins, you can keep the homework folder until Friday and return it with homework.  The Curriculum night is on Tuesday, August 29^th from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm.  It is for parents only.  On the Sunrise Drive Flash, it states that CARE will be open until for parents if you are registered for care.  Please communicate with CARE if you would like to use this option.  If you are not able to make it, I can send home any paperwork that I hand out.  Please remember that the 1^st Grade Handbook is on the blog on the tab that says Other Information. 

In your child’s folder is a book order form.  I will pass out orders about every 6 weeks.  You can order from this form or you can look at any other form online and order from that.  Each order will be due a week later.  This order is due by August 25^th.  You can place an order online with a credit card using activation code GYL4Z after you make an account at www.scholastic.com and choose Book Clubs.  Then go to create parent account.  If you have any questions, please ask. 

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend.

       Mrs. Berk

8-11-17

Dear Unicorn Families!

Welcome to Unicorn Tales.  Each year I have the children choose an animal that becomes our mascot.  This creates belonging and makes the classroom ours instead of mine.  We voted on a class mascot today and much to my surprise we became the unicorn class.  Along with talking about the Spirit of Sunrise (rules), going to art, taking a tour of the school, writing about something we did over the summer, and drawing unicorns for the window, the children shared that they loved making new friends today.  Friday will have similar activities as we continue to learn about our classroom and new classmates.

Next week we will start learning our regular routines, take some beginning of the year assessments, and continue to learn about our classmates and the Spirit of Sunrise.  Our regular specials schedule is as follows:  Music is Monday and Wednesday, P.E. is on Tuesday and Friday, Art is on Thursday and Spanish is everyday but Thursday.  As soon as we have a library time, I will let you know.

Here are a couple of other reminders.  We do not have a sink or drinking fountain in the classroom, there is one right outside the door near the bathroom.  Please send a water bottle to school each day.  This way the children can get a drink quickly and not lose learning time.  Lunch is from 11:30 to 12:10 each day.  They will eat first and then go to the playground.  We have a morning snack each day.  Today we talked about not sharing food at snack or lunch time.  We do have children with food allergies including peanuts.  Please continue to reinforce this message at home.

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend and I am looking forward to seeing more smiling faces next week.

       Mrs. Berk