Dear Parents,

This is going to be a little longer post than usual…..

The last week we did a couple of neat-o things!  We did a Science experiment, we finished some group work in Language class, and we made our very own suitcases!

In Language class, we have been talking about how to summarize a story and what that means.

The firsties worked in groups on summarizing the story that we read, “Moving Day”.  They had to decide, as a group, what to write about what happened in the beginning of the story, the middle of the story, and the end of the story.  It took two days, but they really are getting better about working together in groups.  

Then I posed the question “If you were moving today, what would you bring with you, that is super special to you?”  We made little “suitcases” with pictures of our special things.   

   

Some of their special things were quite interesting!  Make sure to ask your firstie what they chose, and why.   

To go along with moving, we also talked about packing and stacking boxes.  The kiddos were split into small groups or pairs, and working together, they had to come up with two different ways to stack the boxes so that they wouldn’t fall (one of the bigger boxes didn’t have a lid…..I got a little tricky on them ;) ) 

Yesterday, with the substitute teacher, the firsties thought about different kinds of homes, and what kind of home they would like to live in.  They wrote about what kind of home and who they want to have with them in their homes.  Again, a job well done!  I am excited to send the writings home for you to read!

In Science we have been learning about animal habitats and how animals are geared towards their specific environments.  For example, you don't see many penguins in the desert...right?  Turkeys do not spend a lot of time in the deep ocean.....so, our little Science experiment proved that an animal's fur really does help keep them warm in colder habitats. 

 

 

 

Thank you for all of your hard work with the "Tom the Turkey" family projects....they turned out fantastic! I will let your firstie identify each hidden turkey. 

The other students in the school voted on the most “well hidden” turkey…..AND……. AND……...you’ll just have to wait until after Thanksgiving!

I am so thankful for all of you and your constant support.  Have a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving break! See you on Monday!

Love,

Miss Gallagher

Dear Parents

We began our day with Chapel and Pastor spoke about being thankful.  He emphasized that we don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to be thankful…..we can be thankful all year long!  God gives us so many blessings….each and every day. 

The family project turkeys that I have received, are up!  They are on one of the windows in the office, right when you come in the front door.  Very creative ideas so far!  Tom the Turkey doesn’t seem to be in danger because he is disguised so well! 

We started “Topic 5” in math today.  Throughout this topic we will be practicing the strategies that we have learned in the previous topics.  The worksheet that we did today was about doubles! 

We took our spelling “practice” test today!  I graded them and they are coming home today.  The list for this week was a little tricky because the words didn’t follow a pattern and we didn’t concentrate on one sound.  Please continue to practice them and remember because of our shortened week, no spelling words next week!  

   

 

Continue to practice memory so that your child is ready for our test on Friday (Matthew 28:20).

Also, if you were planning on buying a “spirit wear” shirt, those orders are due on Friday as well.  If you need an order form, the office has extras!

Blessings on the rest of your week!

Miss Gallagher

Dear Parents,

I am so proud of the firsties!  Our Veteran’s Day service last Wednesday, was so wonderful and I heard nothing but good things from everyone that attended.  I really think that the students (NOT just the first grade class) got something out of it and were proud that the veterans were honored. 

Mrs. Dent's father brought his Trench Art Collection.....It was AWESOME!

  One of the neatest parts of the service was at the end, when all of the veterans lined up and the kids all shook their hands (I saw some high-fives too!).  The looks, on the veteran’s faces, were priceless.  Thank you to all that were able to attend and help out with this fantastic event.  

Our story in our Reading book last week was called “Cloudy Day, Sunny Day”.  The firsties wrote “weather reports” and used their weather word maps that we created as a class.  

 They also painted pictures what they like to do on a sunny day and what they like to do on a cloudy day.  

 

It is awesome how much all of the students’ vocabulary has grown (and will continue to grow!) in even the last few weeks.  Keep reading with them at home!  Keep practicing our spelling words!  They are learning SO MUCH!!!

Thank you for the little messages of support and encouragement!  I appreciated them so much and really enjoyed speaking with all of you at conferences last week.

Has your firstie hung up their picture that we made in Religion? If not, ask them about it! Help them hang it somewhere prominent so that your whole family can be reminded that “The Lord, our God, will be with us wherever we go.”  Joshua 1:9

Standing on the MANY promises of God,

Miss Gallagher

Dear Parents,

Well, we had a VERY interesting start to our day on Friday!  I live in Bay City, and I honestly didn’t hear anything!  I did know that it was raining, but I didn’t see that it rained hard by me. I didn’t even lose power!  So, when I arrived at school, and some classrooms had lights, and some didn’t…well, let’s just say that it was surprise!  Luckily, first grade was one of the classrooms that had lights and power was restored to the whole school, around quarter after 10.  So we all survived just fine.

In Religion, we have been discussing the people of Israel and how God asked them to build a “church tent”.  We learned that they gave all kinds of things to help build it and they gave those things willingly. We talked about what WE can give and I must say that I was impressed with some the first grade responses.  They said that they could give food, give clothes that they don’t need anymore, and they can give their praises to God. So, even though we don’t need to give stuff to make a church, we are still able to give.  And we don’t just have to give our things, but we can give our time and share with others things that we are good at.

In Math, we continue to learn different strategies on how to add.  We have been using our ten-frames, using our number lines, and we have been counting on in our heads.  I don’t want to confuse them, just give them other ways to add and not have them rely on their little fingers so much.  

Send in your family projects at any time!  Just remember that they are due NO Later than Friday, November 20^th. 

I am looking forward to speaking with you all this week at our Parent/Teacher Conferences.  Thank you for your commitment to your child’s education. 

See you in the morning!   

Miss Gallagher