october

Dear Parents,                                                                                      October 1, 2001

     The first week of October is very important to us because it is the last full week of the first quarter. Many students have been working hard at home and it shows. Please take at least 15 to 20 minutes nightly to work with your child if they are struggling in the areas of reading, writing, and/or math. As we continue this year it will get a little more challenging and harder for some of the students. I need your assistance at home to practice what we have been learning at school. You would be amazed how much it helps when we all work together to ensure the success of your child in first grade.

Math Minutes with Miss Powell:
This month in Math, we will continue learning about subtraction facts from 12 and begin learning about addition facts to 12.

In Ch. 5, the students will be able to:
1.   Find other names for sums and differences.
2.   Learn subtraction facts for 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.
3.   Find differences on a number line.
4.   Explore subtraction patterns.
5.   Apply subtraction strategies.
6.   Check subtraction by adding.
7.   Write fact families for addition and subtraction.
8.   Solve problems by using a model.

In Ch. 4, the students will be able to:
1. Model the part-part-whole meaning of addition.
2. Learn and name related addition facts.
3. Find sums on a number line.
4. Explore addition problems.
5. Explore doubles and near doubles in addition.
6. Group addends for sums of three numbers.
7. Apply addition strategies.
8. Solve problems by choosing the operation.
9. Solve problems by asking a question.

"Pumpkins, Spiders, Skeletons, Oh, My!"
This month in Science, we will be learning about fire safety, pumpkins, spiders, and skeletons. We will discuss what to do if there is a fire at home or at school. Mr. Perez has volunteered to come into our classroom to talk about fire safety. We are grateful that we have a dad that is a firefighter. We will also be discussing how pumpkins come to be, how spiders are arachnids, and which bones make up our skeletal system.

Land Ho!
In Social Studies, we will be reading the story In 1492 to learn about Christopher Columbus. We will be making a timeline of his life during the week of October 8th.

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
In Language Arts, we will be reading stories about the weather. We will be incorporating phonics and grammar skills within our stories. Many of the students did very well on our first Unit test. I am very proud of them. We have begun our centers, which allow more time for me to meet with smaller groups of children to practice reading with them . It is important that you continue to read to and with your child every night and record it in their daily reading log. This is part of their grade in homework as well as in reading. It needs to be in your child's homework folder. Thanks!

On the Write Track!
We will begin Writer's Workshop in the afternoons. This is a time that children will be able to write a story as a class with my guidance, write with a partner, or write by themselves. While the students write, it will allow me to meet with individuals for a writing conference. We will be able to discuss what areas they need to improve in. Remember, for writing it is okay for children to phonetically spell words using inventive spelling. I am not looking for words to be perfect. As long as we are able to read what the child was saying, they are progressing in the right direction.

Jesus Teaches Us to Pray to Our Father!
This month, we will be discussing the prayer "Our Father" and what it means. We will be having our first unit test this Friday and begin Unit 2 the second week of October. Our goal for this month will be that the children will know the story of the Fall and the story of God's fulfillment of the promise of a Savior.

Some important dates:
10/2   (Tues.) Ident-A-Kid
10/9   (Tues.) Quarter 1 ends
10/10 (Wed.) Quarter 2 begins
10/12 (Fri.) Book Orders are due for Scholastic and Troll (CHECKS ONLY please)
10/13     (Sat.) Fall Festival (Mass at 4:30 p.m.)
10/17     (Wed.) 7:30 p.m. PTC meeting (Report cards will be distributed)
10/18    (Thurs.) Noon Dismissal (Parent Teacher Conference 1:30 - 5:00)
10/19     (Fri.) No School
10/24    (Wed.) 8:30 a.m. Rosary
10/29    (Mon.) Picture Retakes
10/31    (Wed.) Character Day (Dress up like your favorite book character)