Brrrrrr!!!!!  This week is crazy...but short!  Take a peek below...

No homework this week!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE have your child read over break.  They have put in a lot of hard work to get to the level they are at right now, and no reading over the break could drop them back down.  Read books from home, or feel free to get on RAZKids...they have their new updated level ready to go!

Splash Math would also be a good thing for them to do a few times over break.  It will help them continue to work on their math skills while not at school.  I will be looking to see who has logged on, and if they do over break, they can earn 1 pirate coin, and 1 pirates gold when they return!

Thursday is Pajama Day!  So your child is allowed to wear their pajamas to school.  They earned this by doing a nice job in the cafeteria during lunch!  This is a half day so dismissal will be at 11:30.

Friday is our Winter party and sing-a-long in the gym.  The sing-a-long starts at 9:45 and the party will follow at 10:00.  Room parents who have helped plan the party can set up for the party during the sing-a-long.  Parents and family members are welcome to attend.  Dismissal will be at 11:30.  If you plan on taking your child with you, you will need to sign them out in the office.

If you have any questions please feel free to call or email me!  Have a wonderful holiday!

Hi everyone!  Winter break is creeping near!  Just a few things...

There will be NO HOMEWORK next week!  But PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure your child is reading at home...ESPECIALLY OVER WINTER BREAK.  All of the kids have made so much progress this last quarter and we don't want to see any regression.  Use the strategy sheets that are in the kiwi bag while reading.

Both December 18th and 19th will be half days of school.  Therefore, dismissal will be at 11:30 both days.

Our Winter party is on Friday, Dec. 19th.  The sing-a-long will start at 9:45, and the party will begin at 10:00 in our classroom.  If you would like to take your child home after the party that is fine, but please make sure you sign them out in the office.

Our free trial for Splash Math has expired.  Therefore, it has now been purchased!  Please use it at home to practice all first grade math standards.  It is a great educational website, and has a lot to offer parents, teachers, and students.  The kids will also be using it here in the classroom during our math block, and during free time.

There are a few student supplies running low.  At the beginning of the year the kids brought two sets of crayons, so I will be giving them their brand new set before they leave for break.  However, markers have gotten lost, or dried out and might need to be replaced.  Talk with your child to see if they need a new set.  They can bring them in anytime before break and we will put names on them.  As far as pencils, glue sticks, and dry-erase markers we are good to go!  Thank you to all of the parents who graciously donate supplies and needed items to the classroom.  It is appreciated!!!

If you have any questions please feel free to call or email me!

Hello everyone!  My apologies for such a late start on our December news!  Take a peek...

Newsletter- I am sending home the December newsletter this week so please be looking for it.  December is a short month, but a busy one!

Reading testing- is taking place and I will be finished before winter break.  I will also let you know what your child's current level is before break begins.

Half Days- we have a half day of school on both the 18th and 19th, so dismissal will be at 11:30.

Winter Party- our winter party will be on the 19th.  The sing-a-long will start in the gym at 9:45 and the party will follow at 10:00 in the classroom.  The room parents will be putting it all together.  But, all parents, grandparents or any other family members are welcome to come and join in on the fun!

Parent Contacts- I will be contacting parents sometime before winter break through phone or email about their child's progress and current goals.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to call or email me.  Have a great rest of the week.

Hey everyone!  So this week has been crazy!!!  Read below and I will tell you why...

So, our wonderful Technology teacher wrote a grant and received money to purchase a class set of iPads for the school to share and bring into their room for an entire day.  Our class was the first to try it out.  We had the entire iPad cart in our room Thursday and Friday this week.  The kids absolutely loved it and they each had their own for the entire day.  We found apps to use to fit with our daily curriculum of math, reading, and science and the kids had a blast!  Sadly, the iPad cart is now going to another first grade classroom to be used :(.  But, it was exciting and hopefully we will get to have them again!

Next week is so short (2 days and then Turkey break!) so there will be some changes.  Check them out below!

No Homework- there will not be any because that is silly and I don't want to give any for Thanksgiving break.  However, please make sure you kiddo is still READING!  2nd quarter reading testing is coming up in December and we want to continue seeing those reading levels move up!

No Spelling- we will not have a spelling test either.  I did notice that some kids practiced for this week's test by using the Family Times sheet, I saw much better scores!  Way to go!

December newsletter- will be sent home next week so be looking for that!  I will also have it here on our website!

Splash Math- a new, fun, kid-friendly, educational math website that I found that the kids will be using here in the classroom.  It correlates with our new Common Core State Standards for first grade and is also engaging!  It allows the teacher to look at data and measure progress for how the students are doing in certain concepts (ex: addition, subtraction, geometry, etc.)  We will start using this website Monday during math.  Each student will have their log in.  I also have it set up to where they can bring their log in information home and can get on the website at home for extra practice.  With your permission, I can add your parent email to our classroom account and you will be sent a weekly email from the website that allows you to see their progress.  I will send home a slip with the kids Monday and you may choose yes for a weekly email, or no.  If you want to check it out for yourself the link is below!

https://www.splashmath.com/

That is all I have for the our short week coming up.  If you have any questions or concerns please let me know.  Have a wonderful weekend!
 

We have a full 5 days of teaching and learning this week!  Take a peek below to find out what is going on...

Field Trip- it was a success!  It turned out to be a really nice day out, and we got to see most of the animals!  We actually saw more than we did last year during the spring.  The kids looked like they had a great time, and thank you parents for joining us!

Purple Take Home Folders- I know life at home is busy and can be hectic at times, but please make sure you are checking your child's back pack and purple folder every night.  I do send home some things, and the school does as well.  To stay informed the folder and back pack need to be checked frequently throughout the week.  Some of the kids' folders are so full they are about to explode!  This worries me a little, and makes me think that you might not be seeing their graded work, or other informational notes that are coming home...Eeeekkk!

Grades- Please make sure you are actually looking at their work that is coming home, especially things that have been graded by me.  This will give you a good idea of how they are doing with certain concepts or skills.  I try to grade, and enter grades onto Skyward as quick as I can but sometimes it takes me a while.  If you ever have any questions about a score that comes home please call or email me.

Kiwi bag- Please make sure this is being checked nightly as well.  The kids have nightly reading homework with their book.  Use the blue and green "helpful" sheets in there as well when reading with your child.  And please make sure the books go back into the bag and come to school everyday.

Weekly Homework- I was just putting in spelling grades and noticed that I don't think some of the kids are getting enough practice with the weekly skill.  When grading homework I have noticed that some are doing the "Family Times" worksheet activities, which is AWESOME!  That sheet has the weekly spelling list words on it and gives you things you can do at home to practice.  If you notice that your child is missing a few words on their tests, then this would be a good thing to do.  The school does not want us sending home a "spelling list" to practice and memorize, but if you do these activities if will help their spelling score tremendously.  And the activities don't take longer than 5 minutes.

Please remember how important it is to check back packs and folders, and to also read nightly!

If you have any questions or concerns please call or email me!

Have a great week!  Brrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!  

Hello everyone!  Hope you had a nice weekend.  Below is some information for this week so take a peek!

November newsletter- I sent it home in their backpacks today so take a peek!

Zoo Field Trip- I sent home a blue reminder sheet with lots of information on it, so check it out and read through all of it! We will be going to the zoo this Friday!  If you are a parent that is coming, I should already have you marked down, but I will be handing out Parent Volunteer sheets Friday morning before we get on the buses to leave.  We usually pair kids up with volunteers, and we have plenty parents going so some will be paired and some won't.  You of course will get to walk around with your own child :)

Homework- this week's homework is fun!  Today we read the story called "Turkey Trouble," and the turkey disguised himself as different things so the farmer wouldn't eat him on Thanksgiving.  Well, I sent home a blank turkey template so the kids can have fun and disguise their turkey for Thanksgiving.  I attached directions to go a long with it.  There is no writing or anything needed, just decorating :)  Have fun with it!

That is all I have for this week.  If you have any questions or concerns please call or email me.

Have a wonderful week!

Hi everyone!  We are back to a normal week...sort of!  :)

Parent/Teacher conferences- went well!  I really enjoyed talking to each and every one of you about your child.  Thank you so much for coming and making your child's education a big deal!

Homework- we do have it this week.  It was handed out today and is due Friday morning.

Field Trip- is next week on Friday Nov. 7th!  I have most permission slips turned back in, so thank you!  If you haven't please get that turned in to school ASAP because we need to turn in a lunch count to those who are getting a sack lunch from the school.

Halloween Fiesta- will be this Friday in our classroom!  The kids may wear their costumes to school because the parade will be in the morning from starting at 9:30 and the party will follow at 9:45.  If you are a room parent you are more than welcome to come early and set up while we are in the gym showing off our costumes.  The party will end at 10:30.  At that time, we will start taking off our costumes for lunch, so please have your child pack some clothes so they can change.  In the afternoon, the kids will be watching a Halloween movie in the gym :)

Kiwi bags- please remember to read at home every night with your child.  The more they read, they better they will get!  Also, please remember to put the books back in the bag because we use them here at school as well.  The thick colored sheets of paper that are inside the plastic Ziploc baggie are tools to use with your child when sounding out words, and comprehension.  Please refer to this because theses are skills that will help them move up in reading levels.

Red Ribbon week- a small sheet was sent home last week with all of the details for each spirit day this week.  Today was crazy sock day, tomorrow is favorite team shirt day, Wednesday is hat day, Thursday is crazy hair day, and Friday is costumes!

Box Tops- Congratulations to Madi Droge for bringing in the most box tops in our class!  She will be getting a special treat at lunch from me.

That is all I have for this week.  If you have any questions or concerns please call or email me!  Have a great week.

GO ROYALS!

This week and next week are going to feel crazy!  Lots going on!  Take a peek...

Parent Teacher conferences are this week.  I sent out an email attachment with our schedule just as a reminder for your time.  I am looking forward to seeing everyone and talking about your kiddo!

No Homework- we don't have any this week due to the short week.  Some of the kids came up to me today saying that I forgot to hand it out, but really they forgot I told them we didn't have any because it was a basically a three day week.

Field Trip- I have had a few forms come in this week, thanks for turning them in!  If you need another copy please let me know so your kiddo can bring it back to school.  I have to have the form turned back in so I know what their plan is for lunch.

Halloween party- is next week.  The parade in the gym to show off costumes is at 9:30.  The party is in the classroom starting at 9:45 and ending at 10:30.  The kids may wear their costumes to school that morning, and we will change out of their costumes before lunch.

If you have any other questions or concerns please call or email me!  See you soon!

Hey everyone!  Hope everyone had a great weekend.  Again, GO ROYALS!

Below is some information for this week, so take a peek!

Field Trip- I sent the blue permission slip/informational note home with the kids last week.  I have already gotten like 10 back, so I am still waiting on some to be returned.  Your child can not go without turning it back in to me.  That slips lets me know what they are doing for lunch, and if you are or are not coming.  Very important :).  Also, grandparents are more than welcome to be the adult that comes along!

Spelling- We only have four days this week and three days next week so we are combining them with the same spelling list.  The Family Times sheet attached to the weekly homework includes the words that will be tested.  But, they won't be tested until next week so no spelling test this week.

Clorox wipes- I am in need of some so if you would like to donate some to the classroom that would be AMAZING!

Parent Teacher conferences- I have sent out emails, but tonight I sent home an orange reminder slip of your day and time you are conferencing with me.  I am looking forward to meeting with each and every one of you about your child :)

Great behavior- I sent an email out Friday about our great monthly behavior reward.  Every year, I like to allow the students who have good behavior each month each lunch with me in the classroom.  They love it, and I enjoy it as well.  I checked everyone's purple Take Home Folder last week, and if they didn't have any yellow, orange, or red days I have them a Star Student sticker for the month of Aug. and Sept. (since Aug was short).  If they have a sticker they will be eating lunch with me this Friday in the classroom!

That is all I have for this week.  Four day week- remember no school Friday!

If you have any questions or concerns please call or email me.

Hi everyone, hope you had a great weekend...what about those ROYALS!  So exciting!

Anyway, below is some new information for this week so take a peek!

October newsletter- will be handed out tomorrow, and it has a lot of information on it about this busy month!  There is also information about our Halloween party!

Zoo Field Trip- we usually take our field trip in the spring, but decided to take it now in the fall.  We will be going on November 7th.  The first grade teachers are just now getting an informational letter out now because we had to wait on it to be approved.  This field trip informational letter will be coming home tomorrow as well, so please look it over!

Reading testing- I have started testing, and will have your child's reading level information for you at conferences.

Weekly Homework- thank you for spending some time with your child to get their weekly homework done.  It shows your child that you care about their education, and that school is important!  It also teaches them responsibility, because they have to complete it on time and turn it in to me on Fridays.  I try to make homework stuff that takes less than 15 minutes, so hopefully finding time to complete it isn't hard.

Community Family Projects- we are finally done sharing them!  Thank you for spending some time with your child and completing this project with them, they had fun making and sharing!  They also did a great job presenting, and it will go toward their Speaking and Listening grade on their grade card.

That is all I have, if you have any questions or concerns please call or email me!

Have a great week!  

Hi everyone!  Hope you had a wonderful weekend.  Go Royals :)

Here is some important information about this week so take a peek...

Parent/Teacher conferences- last week got a little busy so I apologize if you haven't gotten a phone call or email from me yet about your scheduled time and an overview of what we will discuss.  If I haven't reached out to you yet, it will be by the middle of this week.  I will be sending out reminders of your date and time a week before.

Community Projects- they look fantastic and the kids are so excited to share!  Thank you for putting in the time and effort with them!  They had fun learning about their community.

October newsletter- will hopefully go home later this week, probably on Friday so be looking for that because it will be a BUSY month!

October book orders- will go home next Monday, and will be due back in by the 10th.  There are some really great Halloween and Fall books in the order.

Box Tops contest- end this week on Friday, so please turn in any that you have.  It raises money for our school!  The top class gets a pizza party, and the top kiddo in our class gets a nice treat from me to eat at lunch!

Fall (Halloween) class party- Mrs. Grable is finalizing plans and will be getting the information out to us this week and in the newsletter so we can get everyone informed.  The parties will be on Friday Oct. 31st.  There was talk about some grades having their party in the morning, and some having it in the afternoon.  It has not been officially decided, but I thought I would give you a heads up in case you were planning to take off for work or make arrangements to come.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Have a great week!

Hi!  I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!  Below is some important information for this week.

Homework- this week's homework is special, because it involves family time!  Right now we are learning about community in Social Studies, so I have given the kids a fun family project to do at home this week and over the weekend.  The instructions and guidelines are attached to their weekly homework sheet.  We will start sharing their projects next week.  I can't wait to see what they come up with!

Take Home Folders and Kiwi Bags- Please make sure you are checking both nightly.  I have noticed that some folders are full and need to be emptied out.  Also, if you take something out of the kiwi bag to work on at home, please make sure you put it back in because I like to use it during reading groups.

Pictures- I will be adding pictures for your enjoyment to the blog!  So far, I have taken first day of school pictures and birthday pictures.  I will add those as soon as I can.  I will also add pictures from our different classroom parties once I take those!

Handwriting- I have noticed that some kiddos are still struggling with capital and lowercase letters.  Please help me practice with them at home, because we are working hard at school too.  On spelling tests, we keep all letters lowercase, except for the sentence.  Please encourage neat handwriting as well.

Conferences- They are coming up next month.  If you have not signed up for a time yet, I will be contacting you ASAP to get that worked out.  If you do have a time, I will be sending home reminders soon as well.  I will also be emailing or calling each and every parent this week to give you a little heads up on what we will be discussing at our conference.

If you have any questions or concerns please call or email me!  Have a great week!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!  Below are some updates for this week...

Reviewing behaviors- I have been seeing a lot of touching going on in our room.  Therefore, I addressed it again with the kids this morning.  We had a serious talk about how we need to keep our hands to ourselves and they should never be on others.  We talked about the consequences, and we also discussed how even if they are trying to be nice (give a hug, tell a friend something, etc.) that they don't need to put their hands on them.  Hopefully the discussion today helped.

Picture Day- is Friday!  We have our pictures around 11:00, and there will be no Piper Purple that day.  Make sure the order form is filled out and sent to school with your child Friday morning, unless you did it online.  But, I still need the printed out form if you completed your order online.

New Student- two weeks ago we had a student move away, so we went down to 23.  We got a new student in our class on Monday and the kids were excited, so now we are back up to 24.  I went ahead and edited the class list and class directory here on the website.  The kids are already familiar with their class number and everything so the new student is not in alphabetical order, I put him the open spot to make it easier.  If you would like a new copy sent home please email me and let me know.

MAP test- the kids will be taking their first MAP test this year during computer class this week.  I will be in there with them to see how they do.  I will share the results with you at Conferences in October!

If you have any questions or concerns please call or email me, have a great week!

Hi everyone!  Hope you had a great weekend, it was so beautiful outside!

Below are some of this week's updates so take a peek...

RAZkids- is up and running!  The kids have access, and I will be sending all of the sign information home tomorrow so that you can use it at home for reading as well!

Kiwi Bags- were sent home today!  Please remember to have your child read every night for 10-15 minutes.  There are things in the Kiwi bags for you to help them with as well.

Homework- I sent it home today, it is due back on Friday...don't forget the parent signature, and have your child color in their nightly reading.  Also, if you see that your child is struggling with the weekly spelling tests, please consider doing the activities on the Family Times Sheet.  The list of spelling words is on there.

Picture Day flyer- School pictures are coming up, and there will be a flyer coming home with the kids tomorrow in their purple Take Home Folder so be looking for that.

Fundraiser flyer- will be sent home tomorrow.  It is a small purple slip about the fundraiser so please check it out.

If you have any concerns or questions please call or email me!  Have a great week!

Hi everyone!  Hope you enjoyed your three-day weekend!  Below are some updates and reminders for this week!

Homework- Please remember to have your child turn it in on Friday.  Also, don't forget your parent signature.  Make sure your kiddo is reading every night and they are coloring in their reading on the back of their homework.

School Fundraiser- An informational packet went home last week to kick off our school fundraiser!  When the kids sell items they earn prizes.  The child that earns the most in their grade gets to ride in a limo and eat lunch with Mrs. Grable!

Class Directory- It is done, and will be coming home tomorrow.  I have uploaded it to the website under "Classroom Info."

Sept. Newsletter- this was also uploaded to the website, and will be coming home tomorrow as well.

Book orders- I will turn them in tomorrow and it will take about a week for them to come in.

Parent Helpers and Room Parents- I will be contacting you ASAP this week so we can get the ball rolling so be looking for an email from me!

If you have any questions or concerns please call or email me.  Have a great week!

Thank you to all who came out to the 1st grade Parent Meeting last night!  I hope you left feeling informed and prepared :)  Below is the link to click to watch our video that I couldn't show last night...take a peek!

1st Grade Quest for Learning video

For those who couldn't make it, I sent home a Ziploc baggie of all the information that was handed out.  Some of the sheets need to be returned, but some do not.  If you could return those sheets into me ASAP that would be great!

I will try and get the Class Directory copied and handed out early next week so be looking for that to come home in the purple Take Home folder!

Also, please keep in mind that our class schedule and 1st Grade Handbook is located in the back of your child's purple folder...and also the website!  So, use it as needed.

Also, if you filled out a Parent Helper sheet, I will be contacting you within a week or so to work out the details...I will put you to work no worries! :)  Thanks for volunteering your time, the kids and I really appreciate it!

Reminders...
*Homework is due Friday (don't have kiwi bag books yet so read from home)
*Book orders are due Tuesday, Sept. 2nd
*No school Monday

If you have any questions or concerns, please call or email me!

Have a great rest of the week, and enjoy the 3-day weekend!

The kids and I had a WONDERFUL first day!  Thank you for entrusting me with your child, we are going to have a great year...I am really excited!  I attached two really cute pictures for you to look at! 

A few things for this week... 


If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call or email me.  Have a great week!

Hope everyone had a wonderful long weekend…the weather helped!  Below is some important information so take a peek…
Conferences went great. Thank you for coming and talking with me about your child!  If we didn’t have a conference, I will be emailing or calling you sometime this week to discuss where your child is right now and what our goals are for the end of the year.

MAP test- last year the kids took the CPAA computer test to see where they stand in math and reading compared the other kids in Kindergarten.  Piper has decided to do away with that test and adopt the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress).  It too is a test taken on the computer and covers math and reading.  The data from this test measures where your child stands compared to all first graders around the country who have taken this test.

Our first graders took the reading portion for the first time at the end of January and then took the math portion at the beginning of February.  I have the results, and am sending them home today.  It will be a white piece of paper in your child’s plastic pocket in their purple folder.  Please try and read all of the information on the sheet so you will be more familiar with the test and how it works.
*If you met with me at conferences, I already gave you this sheet

Reading testing will be happening before spring break, that is when 3^rd quarter will be over.  I will let you know at that time what reading level your child is on, and their grade card will be coming home then as well. When doing homework, please try to encourage neat handwriting as well as correct conventions (capitals, periods, finger spaces).
I am starting to always look for these things in their writing and it will be on their grade card.  If you have any questions or concerns please call or email me.

Thanks and have a great, warm, short 4-day week!

Miss A. Brown

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  Below are some important things for upcoming events...

Parent/Teacher conferences will be on Wednesday, Feb. 12th from 4-8 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 13th from 1-8 p.m.  I sent a note home last week letting you know if I felt a conference was needed or not.  Please make sure the date and time work for you, if they don't please email or call me ASAP so we can reschedule for a time that works.  If I will not be meeting with you, I will still be contacting you through phone or email before grade cards come out about your child's progress this quarter.  

Thursday, Feb. 13th will be a half-day of school due to conferences.  It will also be the day that we have our classroom Valentines party.  It will start at 10:30 and the kids will be dismissed from school at 11:30.  If you plan on taking your child home that day please make sure to sign the sign-out sheet.

Next week's homework is important.  The kids will be making their own Valentine's box to use to keep their valentines in.  I will have directions and information attached to next week's homework!

I am also sending home our February newsletter this week.  On the back, I have included our class list for valentine purposes.  Please encourage your child to write them :).  Also, remember that there is a class list of names on our webpage!!!

That is all I can think of right now, if you have any questions or concerns please call or email me.  Have a great week!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  Below are some updates for this week (not many)...

NO SCHOOL next Monday January 20th due to Martin Luther King, Jr. day :)

Our Java Joe's fundraiser ends this Friday Jan. 17th.  So please make sure you get your order forms turned in that day.

February conferences are coming up soon.  However these conferences are on a needed basis only.  I will be sending out slips soon letting you know if I think we need to meet or not about your kiddo :).
Whether I meet with you or not, I will still be contacting parents in February letting you know about your child's progress.

We will be having our Star Student lunch in the class this Friday, Jan. 17th!  I went ahead and already checked the kids' folders and put a star sticker on December if they went both November and December without getting any yellow, orange, or red days.  I will be sending home a reminder in their purple folders about it.  Make sure to check your child's folder to congratulate them on their awesome behavior in school!

Have a great week!

Miss A. Brown