Dear Parents,

Another rainy day today meant, we were inside ALL DAY!  Whew!  However, I must say, for the past few days we have been getting a lot done!  Yesterday, during our Prayer Partner time, we practiced our two songs that we will be singing in church in a few weeks (Sunday, November 8^th, at the 10:30 service).  The songs are pretty catchy and, of course, are in praise to our God!  So thankful that we are able to do that daily! 

Every morning (except Wednesdays), the teachers gather together to share devotions with each other, discuss important school-related items, and tell what is going on in our classrooms.  This week has been Mrs. Klauer’s turn to share a devotions with the rest of us, and today she brought a selfie stick that her daughter gave her.  We took a “selfie” picture of all of us together and then she shared her devotion.  

                    

It really got me thinking about our “selfie” culture and how much we rely on ourselves.  Maybe not with everything in our lives, but for many things. Take me, for example….  I am single and I take pleasure in knowing that I can do many things on my own and for myself.  But, really? Am I truly on my own?  Isn’t that what being a Christian is all about?  Knowing and accepting that WE CAN NOT do everything alone.

AND we certainly would not be able to enjoy the gift of salvation, without the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  He paid for my sins. He paid for your sins.  He alone did that. Praise GOD! 

So, while there are lots of things that we may be able to do by ourselves, take a moment, and thank God that HE gave us freedom, without OUR help. 

In Social Studies, we have been talking about where we live (continents, country, state, and city) and looking at maps more in depth.  We have also been talking about cardinal directions.  Quiz your firstie about what they are and when you are traveling in your car, point out what direction you are going. As with everything, the more they hear about it and apply it to real life, the better it will stick with them.

The results are in!  The first grade WON the All For Books contest!  We averaged $2.87 per student (which actually says A LOT since there are only 11 students and one teacher). Thank you for sending in your change and extra dollar bills!  For our prizes. the firsties will be having doughnuts on Monday and I got to pick out a book for our classroom!!!  Can’t wait to read it with them! 

Book orders are due tomorrow!  Harvest party tomorrow!  Memory test tomorrow!  Spelling test tomorrow!  Math test (part 2) is tomorrow! It is going to be a crazy day…..prayers for us all! 

Blessings!

Miss Gallagher

Dear Parents,

Did you know that October is Popcorn Month??? It's true!!! And how crazy is it that we read a story about popcorn?  Hmm……. Does that tie in? How about we do a few different activities that celebrates this wonderful month….? Okay!  That is just what we did!  Last Friday, we talked about where popcorn comes from (and watched a video or two about it! We even got to watch popcorn popping in s-l-o-w motion...which was pretty awesome!).                            

 We measured ourselves against a stalk of corn,   

 we made words with “popcorn letters”, 

each firstie guessed how many kernels were in a small mason jar (Wyatt guessed the closest number without going over), and we got to make small rain sticks with popcorn kernels.   

With four different flavor choices, we charted using information that was gathered, and discovered that butter flavored is our favorite.

I made popcorn for each student (and we shared some with others in the building) and sent home a min-bag for each firstie to share with you!  All in all, I think that we had a great learning afternoon!  

 Speaking of food, we have been talking about the Israelites entering the desert after they were saved from being enslaved in Egypt, and what did they do?? They complained.  They complained about not having food and not being taken care of.  God heard them and provided for them.  Ask your firstie what food God sent to them. Recounting this from the Bible always causes me to think about and to remember how very blessed I am…how blessed we ALL are!  Praise God for all that He provides to us. 

There will be a Memory test this week and Spelling tests resume as well.  Please help your firstie to prepare for each of these tests.  All of the information for the tests can be found on the green October calendar.  If you need another, please don’t hesitate to ask!! I always make extras!

Book orders are due at the end of the week and if you don’t want to wait that long to get your books, visit the Book Fair this week in the library.  The first grade had our “preview”  today and we will be actually going to the Fair on Wednesday.  If you want your child to buy books, that would be the day to send in money.  Also, don’t forget to send in change so that our “monster” gets “fed”! 

Blessings,

Miss Gallagher

Dear Parents,

Today we celebrated the upcoming U of M vs. Michigan State game with our “spirit wear”.  The whole school was involved, which of course, made our whole day more fun!  BOTH fight songs were played at morning announcements so that it was FAIR. The 7&8 grades took a poll on which team had the most representation.....Guess which team won?!?! Ask your firstie!

BTW, announcements this year are different than they have been in the past.  The 7&8 grade class handles the announcements each day (the intercom system is used) and to begin with they lead the whole school in “Luther’s Morning Prayer”.  Then we all recite the pledge to the American Flag and verse of the month is repeated.  Other important announcements are shared and then we go on to start our day.  I think it is an awesome way to start our day as a school family!

We have been working hard this week reviewing subtraction concepts-especially the tricky ones!  We took the test over and both copies will be coming home next week. 

In Religion we have been talking about the last (and worst!) plague God sent because Pharaoh wouldn’t let the people of Israel go.  God sent an angel to kill the first-born sons of the families that didn’t have the blood of a spotless lamb painted above their doors.   We talked about how Jesus is also called the Lamb of God and how He died on the cross to save us from our sins. That though He was perfect, He still had to die and shed His blood for us, so that we can be free!  We “painted” our classroom door to help remind us of what Jesus did for us and that we have freedom only HE can give!  

We have been reading as a whole group, reading to me, reading to each other, and reading to ourselves…..we are just reading fools in First Grade!  Please continue to practice reading at home. Have your firstie read to you and you read to your firsite! 

Just as a reminder- Next week will be a shortened week because of the teacher’s conference in Detroit on Thursday and Friday.  We will NOT be having a memory test or spelling test next week.  

The school carnival is tonight!  It’s from 6-8:30!  Come one and come all!  There will be games and prizes and food and fun!

Blessings on your weekend!

Love,

Miss Gallagher

Dear Parents,

Today was a very productive day!  A few of the students were able to redeem their earned “prizes
from their Progress Calendars…..good stuff!  Please encourage your firstie to try their hardest to stay on green and follow our classroom rules each and every day!

In Math, we had a test on Friday, and we didn’t do as well as I had hoped.  So….we are taking a little step back and spending more time on subtraction concepts.  Especially when working on word problems, we talk A LOT about what information we have already been given to solve the problem and what question needs to be answered.  I have the firsties underline the question and highlight important words in our “word problems” (we use a yellow crayon).  You can do this at home too!  

BOOK IT information went home last week! Your child should be reading 20 minutes, 5 times a week, and then they can color in the pumpkin for that day.  If, at the end of the month, the calendar is filled up according to the guidelines, send it back in, and your child earns a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut  (YUM!). 

The firsties have been learning lots of new words in Spanish class…ask them!  See what they remember!  

 

 Don’t forget that there is a ½ day THIS Thursday, because of NWEA training for the teachers, and though Friday is a full day here, no bus service on either day. 

Study for our Memory Test and study the spelling words (short e) for our practice test on Wednesday.

Blessings on your week!

Miss Gallagher

Dear Parents,

Today we tried something new!  In Spelling class, we experime two different ways to write our words.  Ask  your firstie what goo writing is!!! We wrote our words in sparkly goo and we also used letters to form all of our spelling words. We continue to practice forming our letters correctly; from the top to the bottom, top to the bottom, from the top to the bottom.  Please continue to emphasize this practice at home.

In Math, we learned how number sentences can be related!  

For example 7-5=2 

                                                                                      7-2=5 

                   5+2=7

                                                                                                                                                                           

We have been practicing whole-part=part &  part+part=whole.  Try practicing real life examples of this at home…a whole pizza, if you take away part of it, you are left with only part. The more the firsties are able to practice and see how all of this “math stuff” relates to real life, the better!  

Moses and Pharaoh were the topics of conversation today in Religion class. Ask your firstie what God directed Moses to say Pharaoh over and over again….(Let my people go!)…and then how Pharaoh replied, every time. Also ask, if your child remembers any of the plagues…. We will be reviewing them again on Thursday. 

Homework for tonight is Math, study for our Memory test, and study for our Spelling practice test tomorrow.

See you in the morning!