We keep winning the compliment parties for first grade for our great behavior. This would be great if our students knew what it meant to be given a compliment.
As a result of this knowledge that they don't understand what they are, we had a lesson in complimenting today. We had to tell our friends what we like about them. We FINALLY got the hang of it and told people that we like their shirts, black shoes, hair, eyes, and ears. Yes, that's right, if you are having a bad ear day, just talk to Patrick and he'll tell you that they are great!
To continue on with our learning, we took it to the "streets" aka hallway. We sat in the hallway and watched as people walked and handed out compliments. "Nice walking", "Great Jacket", "Nice hairstyle", etc. It's great.
After we did all of this, we had our compliment party. Hot cocoa and marshmallows. So, if your child suffered from a sudden loss of energy, they were crashing from the entire bag of mini marshmallows that they devoured!
Tomorrow continues our Valentine's studying. Don't forget to find those 100 day of school shirts for next week!!!
:-)
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
WE NEED YOUR BOX TOPS!!!!!!
Hi Friends and Family,
You know that you have them and now you know that we want them!
Box Tops are found on products all over, Kleenex, Cheerios, Kotex, Huggies, Fruit snacks, etc. For a full list, go to www.boxtops4education.com and look at the participating products list.
We need those little pink coupons that come on these products. We have to send them in for the credit (they are worth 10 cents a piece) by February 28th and so we need to receive them beforehand. I know you might not think that you have a lot, but I've heard it all year and so far, we've raised over 1200 dollars, TEN CENTS AT A TIME!
Please, send them in. You have them, we can use them, and in the end, it's free money for our students.
If you need the school's mailing address, just let me know. You can send them to my attention.
THANKS!!!!!!!
You know that you have them and now you know that we want them!
Box Tops are found on products all over, Kleenex, Cheerios, Kotex, Huggies, Fruit snacks, etc. For a full list, go to www.boxtops4education.com and look at the participating products list.
We need those little pink coupons that come on these products. We have to send them in for the credit (they are worth 10 cents a piece) by February 28th and so we need to receive them beforehand. I know you might not think that you have a lot, but I've heard it all year and so far, we've raised over 1200 dollars, TEN CENTS AT A TIME!
Please, send them in. You have them, we can use them, and in the end, it's free money for our students.
If you need the school's mailing address, just let me know. You can send them to my attention.
THANKS!!!!!!!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
A little bit of this, a little bit of that
Update from last post: I have obtained outside funds for our book program which means, that means that there will be paper books once again! Yes!
Homework: I've opted to stop doing homework calendars. Not everyone has been participating in them and most of those that were are also receiving homework from other teachers and I don't want anyone to be overwhelmed. There still will be projects, but we'll probably do most of them at school.
Valentine's/100th day: We would like to have celebrations. They have to be tied to the curriculum which I can handle. However, I could use some donations. Specifically needed: Fruit Loops (we need 600 total...I don't know how many "come in a box", M&Ms (we need 600 total), marshmallows (we need 60...they can be mini), and big bag of pretzels. This would all be for the 100th day celebration (tentatively set on February 18th....provided no more snow days).
For Valentine's Day, I can't say that we were planning an all out party as most of the boys don't appear to overly enjoy tons of treats. I have fruit snacks, pretzels, popcorn and the like which they would probably thoroughly enjoy for treats for the day. What I really need for most of our activities are those candy conversation hearts and lots of them. Ideally, I'd need these by Monday so that we can really get into the activities and not just have them jammed packed into the Friday before. If you do want to send something in, there are six boys, no allergies. To save yourself, they are currently in love with stickers, letter chunks, fun pencils, things that move (all transportation is okay by then), and Canada. I'm unsure where the last one came from, but it's all I hear about during recess as they set up the trains to go there.
Other than that, if you would like a conference on February 16th, please let me know. I'm going to try to call everyone that I haven't touched base with yet to see if you would like one. Also know, even after conference day, you are more than welcome to request one.
Hope everyone is staying warm. I was happy that Sunny informed me today that "Ms. Stern, your snow's back!" I love it! :-)
Homework: I've opted to stop doing homework calendars. Not everyone has been participating in them and most of those that were are also receiving homework from other teachers and I don't want anyone to be overwhelmed. There still will be projects, but we'll probably do most of them at school.
Valentine's/100th day: We would like to have celebrations. They have to be tied to the curriculum which I can handle. However, I could use some donations. Specifically needed: Fruit Loops (we need 600 total...I don't know how many "come in a box", M&Ms (we need 600 total), marshmallows (we need 60...they can be mini), and big bag of pretzels. This would all be for the 100th day celebration (tentatively set on February 18th....provided no more snow days).
For Valentine's Day, I can't say that we were planning an all out party as most of the boys don't appear to overly enjoy tons of treats. I have fruit snacks, pretzels, popcorn and the like which they would probably thoroughly enjoy for treats for the day. What I really need for most of our activities are those candy conversation hearts and lots of them. Ideally, I'd need these by Monday so that we can really get into the activities and not just have them jammed packed into the Friday before. If you do want to send something in, there are six boys, no allergies. To save yourself, they are currently in love with stickers, letter chunks, fun pencils, things that move (all transportation is okay by then), and Canada. I'm unsure where the last one came from, but it's all I hear about during recess as they set up the trains to go there.
Other than that, if you would like a conference on February 16th, please let me know. I'm going to try to call everyone that I haven't touched base with yet to see if you would like one. Also know, even after conference day, you are more than welcome to request one.
Hope everyone is staying warm. I was happy that Sunny informed me today that "Ms. Stern, your snow's back!" I love it! :-)
Monday, January 26, 2009
A long interesting day (and a much needed update)
Today was utilized for filling in the beloved report cards and IEP updates. That was interesting to say the least as I had some interesting conversations regarding the boys and some of the teachers who have them outside of my class. Essentially, everyone has different expectations of them and therefore, different grades resulted. I'd like to think that I'm now on the same page with everyone and that no longer will I get grades from them that I don't know already are coming. Basically, if I'm not expecting something other than an "S" or "S+", we should have already had a conversation, at least once, and I explained that they would be responsible for also informing the parents of this. Gone are the days of the homeroom teacher having to field all the questions, especially for classes that I don't attend!
On a sadder note, they stopped funding the book program that we've been utilizing at Weems. All those fun paper books that come home will most likely stop since there's no more funding of it. I'm still trying to find someone who has a working login or otherwise, I've been contemplating just paying the 85 dollar subscription fee. We'll see what happens.
We are tentatively all set up for our field trips. March, April and May. The pool, house of bounce and bowling (those are out of order). More information will come home as soon as I know that they are all sorts of approved.
We've finished our mid-year testing of PALs/DRA and I am happy to announce that ALL of our boys improved!!! I was really excited with their progress and know that we'll see even more come spring.
Other than that, nothing new and exciting has been happening.
Don't forget to wear your pjs inside out for some S-N-O-W!!! :-)
On a sadder note, they stopped funding the book program that we've been utilizing at Weems. All those fun paper books that come home will most likely stop since there's no more funding of it. I'm still trying to find someone who has a working login or otherwise, I've been contemplating just paying the 85 dollar subscription fee. We'll see what happens.
We are tentatively all set up for our field trips. March, April and May. The pool, house of bounce and bowling (those are out of order). More information will come home as soon as I know that they are all sorts of approved.
We've finished our mid-year testing of PALs/DRA and I am happy to announce that ALL of our boys improved!!! I was really excited with their progress and know that we'll see even more come spring.
Other than that, nothing new and exciting has been happening.
Don't forget to wear your pjs inside out for some S-N-O-W!!! :-)
Friday, January 9, 2009
Spring Field Trips
I'm in the process of setting up our Spring Field Trips.
So far, I've set up House of Bounce.
Other places that are in consideration:
Freedom Center for the pool again
Skate N Fun Zone
Bowling
Movies (although, I think there is nothing appropriate playing so this is most likely out)
Police Station (we went to the fire station last year and it was awesome!)
Do YOU have any other suggestions?!?! (Requirements: Relatively inexpensive and within Manassas or five miles surrounding)
So far, I've set up House of Bounce.
Other places that are in consideration:
Freedom Center for the pool again
Skate N Fun Zone
Bowling
Movies (although, I think there is nothing appropriate playing so this is most likely out)
Police Station (we went to the fire station last year and it was awesome!)
Do YOU have any other suggestions?!?! (Requirements: Relatively inexpensive and within Manassas or five miles surrounding)
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Happy New Year!
Welcome back from what sounds to be a great break (at least according to the boys!)
Things are going well. Everyone for the most part is back into the swing of things and we are off and running to a great start!
We are currently going into PALs testing for mid-year. So far, these new scores are looking great!
In terms of curriculum, we are currently learning about ordinal numbers in math. We are also practicing touch math to help make addition and subtraction easier. I will send home a sheet soon so that you can see what touch math looks like.
We are chugging away at reading. Some of our friends are working on the "silent e" in their writing while others are obsessing over reading chunks and blends.
Today, we are celebrating having the most compliments for first grade with a cookie party thrown by Mrs. Cassarino in addition to having the best behavior at lunch with a fine dining experience! It's going to be a great day!
Things are going well. Everyone for the most part is back into the swing of things and we are off and running to a great start!
We are currently going into PALs testing for mid-year. So far, these new scores are looking great!
In terms of curriculum, we are currently learning about ordinal numbers in math. We are also practicing touch math to help make addition and subtraction easier. I will send home a sheet soon so that you can see what touch math looks like.
We are chugging away at reading. Some of our friends are working on the "silent e" in their writing while others are obsessing over reading chunks and blends.
Today, we are celebrating having the most compliments for first grade with a cookie party thrown by Mrs. Cassarino in addition to having the best behavior at lunch with a fine dining experience! It's going to be a great day!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Okay, first, I have to say, that our class had the cutest 2nd grader in the entire concert. I'm biased, but others have told me this too. All the boys congratulated Darius when he got off the stage and told him that he did a great job. It was all really cute. I have to admit, the first time I saw him, I cried. Darius has come a long way in the time that we've been together.
In other news, I know that all of you are anxiously awaiting our trip to Santa. I know, it's overwhelming with excitement kind of times. Well, we'll be meeting you at the mall entrance right by IHOP.
In case your students have come to you talking about a new friend, believe the rumors, it's true. After break, we will have a kindergarten friend joining our group for a large portion of the day. He's already been joining us for pieces to help with the transition and everyone has been quite welcoming and accepting of him.
Alright, hope you have a great day!
In other news, I know that all of you are anxiously awaiting our trip to Santa. I know, it's overwhelming with excitement kind of times. Well, we'll be meeting you at the mall entrance right by IHOP.
In case your students have come to you talking about a new friend, believe the rumors, it's true. After break, we will have a kindergarten friend joining our group for a large portion of the day. He's already been joining us for pieces to help with the transition and everyone has been quite welcoming and accepting of him.
Alright, hope you have a great day!
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