What you'll need in addition to what we sent home for first grade:
One package of dry erase markers (EXPO Brand)
3 rolls of paper towels
1 spiral notebook
1 box of quart sized sandwich bags
1 inch three ring binder
2 boxes of tissues
1 or 2 bottles of hand sanitizer
what you'll need in addition to what we sent home for second grade:
2 large pink erasers
2 red ink pens
2 rolls of paper towels
2 boxes of tissues
1 zippered pencil bag (no pencil boxes)
2 highlighters (yellow or pink)
1 pack of dry erase markers (EXPO Brand)
1 box of ziploc bags
1 large bottle of hand sanitizer
Hope that helps everyone's shopping!
Enjoy!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
First and Second grade list....
I'll be sure to post the first and second grade list when I get a hold of them. I'm putting it on my to-do list tomorrow. I have to be in the Staples plaza tomorrow anyway so I'll check it out.
I have to admit that I've been slacking at making those calendars. I've got September and October done. Although, I have a good excuse! We got a Wii and now a Wii Fit. It's safe to say, I love it.
I'm going to be working on them though and I'm going to ask Michael to see if there is a way that I can post all of them to the website. This way, you can access them at any point and take a sneak peak at all the projects! I'll let you know as we work on this together. I might actually have to cook him dinner once to convince him to do this, but it would be worth it.
Hope you are all enjoying yourselves!
:-)
I have to admit that I've been slacking at making those calendars. I've got September and October done. Although, I have a good excuse! We got a Wii and now a Wii Fit. It's safe to say, I love it.
I'm going to be working on them though and I'm going to ask Michael to see if there is a way that I can post all of them to the website. This way, you can access them at any point and take a sneak peak at all the projects! I'll let you know as we work on this together. I might actually have to cook him dinner once to convince him to do this, but it would be worth it.
Hope you are all enjoying yourselves!
:-)
Monday, July 21, 2008
Another note about homework
While last year, the homework was geared for just practice and building a routine for you and your child. This year, it is based off of Virginia state standards. They are working on building your child's ability to do all the things that are asked of them. They are responsible for all of the work as eventually, they will have to complete the same SOL tests that all children in Virginia are responsible for (these exams are sooner than you think!). I know that everyone's schedules are hard and filled with other things (errands, extra curriculars, other children, etc) but it is important that homework gets done and you are setting the tone now for the rest of your child's schooling.
I've found that for some of the more resistant students, setting a visible schedule of what happens when they come home helps greatly. For example, get off bus, have snack, play game for 15 minutes, homework, set table for dinner, eat, play game, take bath, get ready for bed, read, lights out. If you'd like me to create it as I have a program on the computer that can print icons that may help, please call me and tell me what you'd like on it and I'd be more than willing to create one for you!
Homework should be no more than 10-15 minutes a night if the child is willing to sit right down and get it done. If it is taking longer, please talk to me about it. In no way, shape, or form should they be working for a half hour! You can always adapt an assignment if it's not working. Just jot a note beside it that says "not cooperating and read and retold story instead". It's not a problem. That being said, something should be accomplished every night. I can't just assign reading and retelling since I have to check on the report card that it is done and have to have solid evidence in order to do that.
Please let me know if you have any concerns. We're going to get through it together. :-)
I've found that for some of the more resistant students, setting a visible schedule of what happens when they come home helps greatly. For example, get off bus, have snack, play game for 15 minutes, homework, set table for dinner, eat, play game, take bath, get ready for bed, read, lights out. If you'd like me to create it as I have a program on the computer that can print icons that may help, please call me and tell me what you'd like on it and I'd be more than willing to create one for you!
Homework should be no more than 10-15 minutes a night if the child is willing to sit right down and get it done. If it is taking longer, please talk to me about it. In no way, shape, or form should they be working for a half hour! You can always adapt an assignment if it's not working. Just jot a note beside it that says "not cooperating and read and retold story instead". It's not a problem. That being said, something should be accomplished every night. I can't just assign reading and retelling since I have to check on the report card that it is done and have to have solid evidence in order to do that.
Please let me know if you have any concerns. We're going to get through it together. :-)
Doing something different this year.....
I want to incorporate more into the homework calendars. That's right folks, HOMEWORK. I know that it's a lot but this year, it's vital. Not only is it vital, but it's on the report cards!
I'm not really going to focus on the same things as last year on the homework, this year, I want to branch out and really incorporate the standards of learning. I'm using a site called
theschoolbell.com and am following their sight word lists. Every month, your child will be responsible for the accuracy of their sight words. Sight words are just that, they should be able to read them upon sight, not first have to sound them out. This will be easier for some than for others. In addition, now that we are all in first grade and some in second, the students are also responsible for the spelling of these words in their writing!
In addition, we're going to have monthly projects for AT HOME. Yes, they have to be done because we're going to display them in class. I'm going to leave one week per month where the only homework is to work on these projects. However, since it's the third week of the month that I'm going to leave (so far anyway as I'm working on the homework calendars for the year this week), you have the option to work on it well ahead of time. I'm not expecting amazing pieces of work (parents/adults may help but please make it the child's project). Again, I know that it's tough and priorities can be elsewhere, but it's time together and feel free to get the whole family involved!
Projects are mainly going to focus around science and social studies standards (for example: September's project is to make a time line of yourself). We're only talking about 5-8 years here but think of things that are important in that time. Maybe you documented when they took their first step, lost their first tooth, went to school, said "mommy" for the first time, broke their first bone, finally got a joke, made a mess of the kitchen. Whatever it is, pick out some great ones together and make it fun! Other projects may include: making a map of a faraway land using a map legend and other elements to be determined, creating a list of rules or "laws" as they are in your house, science experiments of what mixes with whatever and what doesn't, five senses experiment. These are only some that I'm working on developing for home enjoyment. I really want to showcase these projects in our classroom to show what our boys are capable of and with the schedule of therapies, social skills, block scheduling (YAY INCLUSION), and enrichment rotations, some of the more fun projects, have to be shifted home. Again, more will be forthcoming as I work up the calendars this week.
Hope you're enjoying yourselves!
I'm not really going to focus on the same things as last year on the homework, this year, I want to branch out and really incorporate the standards of learning. I'm using a site called
theschoolbell.com and am following their sight word lists. Every month, your child will be responsible for the accuracy of their sight words. Sight words are just that, they should be able to read them upon sight, not first have to sound them out. This will be easier for some than for others. In addition, now that we are all in first grade and some in second, the students are also responsible for the spelling of these words in their writing!
In addition, we're going to have monthly projects for AT HOME. Yes, they have to be done because we're going to display them in class. I'm going to leave one week per month where the only homework is to work on these projects. However, since it's the third week of the month that I'm going to leave (so far anyway as I'm working on the homework calendars for the year this week), you have the option to work on it well ahead of time. I'm not expecting amazing pieces of work (parents/adults may help but please make it the child's project). Again, I know that it's tough and priorities can be elsewhere, but it's time together and feel free to get the whole family involved!
Projects are mainly going to focus around science and social studies standards (for example: September's project is to make a time line of yourself). We're only talking about 5-8 years here but think of things that are important in that time. Maybe you documented when they took their first step, lost their first tooth, went to school, said "mommy" for the first time, broke their first bone, finally got a joke, made a mess of the kitchen. Whatever it is, pick out some great ones together and make it fun! Other projects may include: making a map of a faraway land using a map legend and other elements to be determined, creating a list of rules or "laws" as they are in your house, science experiments of what mixes with whatever and what doesn't, five senses experiment. These are only some that I'm working on developing for home enjoyment. I really want to showcase these projects in our classroom to show what our boys are capable of and with the schedule of therapies, social skills, block scheduling (YAY INCLUSION), and enrichment rotations, some of the more fun projects, have to be shifted home. Again, more will be forthcoming as I work up the calendars this week.
Hope you're enjoying yourselves!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Real Simple-August Edition
There is an article in Real Simple for August about a child with Autism and his family. Rather interesting read. If you want a copy, I have a subscription so just let me know.
Anyway, I have an addition to the school list. Apparently, the science/social studies teacher desires a three ring notebook (I think 1" should be fine since I don't know any differently). Basically, to be safe, if you go to a local store and find the weems list, make sure you have those things (MINUS:crayons, markers, pencils, erasers, composition/spiral notebooks, index cards, scissors, glue). I think that's about everything since our list had mostly everything else that I could think that they would want. If you are wondering if you should pick something up, shoot me an email or give me a call.
On that note, the month of August, I will be in and out of availability. At any time you can feel free to email me it may take me a while to get back to you. Please don't think that I'm ignoring you. Dates of limited (read: non-existant) availability: August 1-5 (not available at all but Mike can take messages if you call); August 7-10 (email will be able to be checked but not phone); August 16-24 (unreachable; so please, email if you need something as phone messages are usually something I forget to check).
In the meantime, I hope that everyone is out and about enjoying your summers! I personally have been enjoying the freedom center in the morning and the nothingness of summer in the afternoon. It's rather glorious but I'm anxious to hear how everyone else is doing!
:-)
Anyway, I have an addition to the school list. Apparently, the science/social studies teacher desires a three ring notebook (I think 1" should be fine since I don't know any differently). Basically, to be safe, if you go to a local store and find the weems list, make sure you have those things (MINUS:crayons, markers, pencils, erasers, composition/spiral notebooks, index cards, scissors, glue). I think that's about everything since our list had mostly everything else that I could think that they would want. If you are wondering if you should pick something up, shoot me an email or give me a call.
On that note, the month of August, I will be in and out of availability. At any time you can feel free to email me it may take me a while to get back to you. Please don't think that I'm ignoring you. Dates of limited (read: non-existant) availability: August 1-5 (not available at all but Mike can take messages if you call); August 7-10 (email will be able to be checked but not phone); August 16-24 (unreachable; so please, email if you need something as phone messages are usually something I forget to check).
In the meantime, I hope that everyone is out and about enjoying your summers! I personally have been enjoying the freedom center in the morning and the nothingness of summer in the afternoon. It's rather glorious but I'm anxious to hear how everyone else is doing!
:-)
Thursday, July 10, 2008
I have one photo
I promised photos but I really have none to share from the wedding besides this one. I'll have more hopefully later in the summer, but I figured that I should put one up here (at least for a while)
Also, I just wanted to say that I hope all of you are having a great summer. They are indeed using our room for summer school so there won't be any programs. However, if you have any questions or need any suggestions for things over the summer, don't hesitate to call. I will be at the freedom center most days (at least in the morning) in the pool if you truly miss me that much.
Other than that, rest up, enjoy the heat, and I'll see you all soon!
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