September 27, 2015

Can you believe it's almost October?! September flew by! We are pretty adjusted to our classroom routine and schedule at this point. Please take a moment to read below regarding some friendly reminders and what we've been working on in first grade!

Halloween is Approaching! 

We will celebrate at school with a parade and classroom party on October 31st. As you begin planning and preparing costumes at home, please keep a few things in mind. All costumes should be "kid friendly." There should be no masks, no weapons (real or fake), no blood, or scary factor as part of the costume. All costumes must follow the school dress code as well. Please see Mrs. Gluck's Principal Message for more information. Additional information regarding our school celebration will come closer to the date. 

From the PTO

It's Fall Book Fair Time! All classes were able to preview the book fair on Monday and each student made their very own wish list. You may use this as a tool to help decide which books your child is interested in purchasing. You may send money to school with your child (exact cash or check payments only) or you may choose to attend Ivy Hall's Ice Cream Social on Wednesday night from 6:30-8:00 and visit the Book Fair as a family. Check the Virtual Backpack for more information about the Fall Book Fair hours, payment/ordering options, and how to volunteer at this event. 

**Be sure to check the PTO Blog for more information regarding upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.

                                     Writing

We have finished our narrative writing unit and began our opinion unit. Students have continued to practice analyzing writing prompts with the TAK model (topic, audience, keywords), and then brainstorming their ideas with the use of a circle map. Students have also been using a t-chart to organize their ideas. We recently were introduced to the "Core 4" topic and closing sentences. These are different types of sentences we can use for an opening and closing statement. Last week we read the story Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! by Mo Willems and had to decided if we thought the Pigeon should be allowed to stay up late. Students used information from the text as well as their own thoughts to support their opinions. This week we read a story titled Duck! Rabbit! Students will look closely at the picture and decide if the image they see is a duck or a rabbit and use supporting details to explain why they formed that opinion. 

                                                                              Words Their Way

We are excited to finally begin our differentiated word study groups! Each child received a packet explaining the Words Their Way program and our expectations for word study homework. The last 2 pages of the packet were sorting cards and a sorting mat. This is your child's sort for the week. The black and white copy in the packet is yours to keep at home. You can look at the headers on the sorting mat to determine how your child should sort their cards. Some sorts are pictures, some sorts are words, and some sorts include pictures and words - it just depends on the sort. The blue sheet included in the packet explains the different ways you can sort at home each night. Please sign off on the sheet and return just the blue sheet to school on Monday. Feel free to email me with questions as we get this up and running!

                          Reading

We have wrapped up Unit 1 in our ReadyGen reading curriculum. Together, we've read literary and informational texts over the course of this unit. While reading literary texts we worked on our understanding of story elements. Story elements include characters, setting, important events, the main idea and central message. Students have been working on retelling stories while using these elements in their retell. While reading informational texts we focused on identifying the different text features such as the table of contents, headings, and illustrations as well as identifying the main topic and details to support our understanding. Unit 2 will focus on many of these same skills. We began a shared reading text titled A Fine, Fine, School this week. See if your child can retell it to you at home including important story elements!

                                                                                                Math

Number Bond Model

What is fact fluency? Fact fluency is the idea that certain numbers have a relationship, such as 7, 3, and 10. If we understand that those numbers are related, we can easily solve addition or subtraction problems where those numbers are involved. For example: 7+3=10, 3+7=10, 10-7=3, or 10-3=7. Fact fluency also includes being able to compose and decompose numbers quickly. Composing numbers is when we take two numbers and put them together to get a total. Decomposing numbers is when we start with a number and break it down into two parts. For example, I can take 10 and break it down into 7 & 3,  6 & 4 or 8 & 2. Number bonds are a great model that help us understand fact fluency. 

This past week students were solving addition and subtraction word problems. Students were asked to find key words and act out story problems with cubes or other items to determine if they were adding or subtracting. They were asked to draw a picture and write a number sentence that corresponded. This week we will revisit adding and subtracting using various strategies (fingers, number lines, number bonds, counting on, etc) to build our fact fluency. We will also review the equal sign and our understanding of a balanced equation. Please review your child's math CFA's (Common Formative Assessments) to see your child's progress towards these targets. Our Unit 1 math test will be on Friday this week. We will begin Unit 2 next week which will be a continuation of addition and subtraction math skills. 

Social Studies

We have been discussing what patriotic symbols are and what they stand for. Some symbols we have talked about include the American Flag, Bald Eagle, White House, Washington Monument, Liberty Bell, and Statue of Liberty. We will also be talking about our current president, Barak Obama, and his role in our country.

                                                                                        Science

We are continuing to study plants and animals in science. This week our discussion is focused around the parts of a plant including the roots, stem, leaves, and flowers. We each even planted our own lima bean plant! We are very excited to make observations as they grow over the next few weeks. Next week we will also be getting a special delivery - our class is getting hermit crabs to observe and study! Students have not been informed of our unique class pet yet so it will be a special surprise!

Please check the IH School Calendar for other events that may not be listed.

September 26-28 - PTO Book Fair (during school hours)

September 28 - PTO Book Fair and Ice Cream Social 6:30PM

October 3 - NO SCHOOL - District Holiday 

October 7 - PTO Movie Night (1st & 2nd Grade) 6:30PM

October 10 - NO SCHOOL - Columbus Day

October 11 - NO SCHOOL - District Holiday

October 12 - NO SCHOOL - District Holiday 

October 13 - Math Night for Parents (1st & 2nd Grade) 6:00PM

Library Checkout

Yesterday our class checked out library books! Our class will have library checkout every Tuesday at 9:00. Your child will keep the book they checked out for the week and they should bring it back the following Tuesday to return. If you child fails to bring their book back, they will not be able to check a new book out until our next library checkout. If you have any questions, please let me know. Happy Reading!

September 11, 2016

I hope everyone got out and enjoyed the beautiful weekend! Below you will find updates to what we've been working on the past few weeks in first grade. It is my goal to keep our blog updated every 2 weeks. You may notice some areas contain the same information as we are continuing to build our understanding on these targets. 

Just a reminder, our classroom can get pretty chilly during the day. Your child may want to bring a sweater or leave one in their locker in case they get cold throughout the day.

What is a Mystery Reader? A Mystery Reader is an adult volunteer who would like to surprise our class at school to read a story to us. They can be parents, grandparents, or other special family members. If you would like to volunteer to be a mystery reader, please just send me an email and we will figure out a day/time that works best. Please keep in mind that we would like to have mystery readers all year long so I may suggest a date in the winter or spring. When it is your day to be a mystery reader, the class will know someone is coming in but they won't know who, so please keep it a secret! You will check in at the office and then surprise us in our classroom. We would love to have you come visit us!

                            Writing

We are becoming authors in first grade! We are currently writing narrative stories and understanding the writing process. Students were introduced to a TAK Brainstorm Map (Topic, Audience, and Key Words) to help analyze a writing prompt. Students were then introduced to an I-Chart which is a planning document that helps them organize their thoughts. This organizer includes the characters in their narrative, the setting, problem, events, and a conclusion or reflection of their narrative. This past week our prompt came from the story Time to Sleep. In this story a little boy discovers that people and animals sleep in many different ways and places. Students were asked to write about a time they had a sleepover or when someone else slept at their house. Ask your child what they chose to write about!

Spelling

We have been introduced to what our spelling sorts look like and the different ways we can sort. We learned about a closed sort where we give them the headings and they sort their picture cards. We have practiced a buddy sort and also a timed sort. We will begin differentiate sorts on September 26th and this is when spelling homework will be sent home. 

                        Reading

We have finished our shared reading texts, Stellaluna and Frog and Toad. While reading those stories we discussed important story elements such as characters, setting, problem/solution, and the central message. Students have been working towards the goal of retelling a story using these elements. When retelling, we want students to be able to give the most important events and details in order. They might even include a conclusion they reached or emotions the characters were feeling at certain points in the story. You can practice retelling at home too!

We are continuing to build our reading stamina at school and I'm sure you are at home too! Please remember to record your minutes at home on your reading calendar. The expectation is that you are reading 15-20 minutes a night. I will collect reading calendars at the end of September and your will get a new one for October. As your child is continuing to build their reading stamina, you might start by having your child read 5 minutes on their own, and maybe 10 minutes with a parent or older sibling. When you see that 5 minutes seems easy for them to maintain focus on reading, then increase their time to 7 minutes on their own. You can continue to build stamina by increasing their "on their own" time. Don't forget to check the back of your reading calendar for different ways you and your child can read!

                           Math
First graders will be focusing on addition and subtraction strategies in the coming weeks. We want students to have a range of hands-on and mental strategies they can use to solve addition and subtraction problems. Our goal is that they are fluent with addition and subtraction up to 10. We will begin addition timed tests in November. To get your child ready, practice using flash cards at home!

First graders will also be working on their ability to put numbers together and take them apart quickly. You may hear the terms part-part-whole, or number bonds. These are models that help our children understand the relationships between numbers. We will also be working on multiple ways to make a given number. For example, 2+3 is 5, and 1+4 is another way to make 5. 

First graders are continuing to develop their understanding of the = sign. Sometimes we see number sentences written different ways. The = sign means "the same as" or "balanced" so whichever way a problem is presented a student should be able to determine if it is true or false.

In the coming weeks we will be moving toward solving story problems for addition and subtraction. 


                                                                 Social Studies
We will begin our social studies unit by discussing American symbols. We will look at symbols we see every day as well as important patriotic symbols such as the Bald Eagle and the American Flag. We will also discuss the role of our president and the important jobs he has.


                              Science
We have begun our amazing journey in science focused on plants and animals. We have discussed how plants and animals have similar characteristics but can also be different. Students have been introduced to the terms offspring and adult. We played a matching game where students were given animal cards and the adults had to find their offspring by giving them clues about themselves. We will continue our plant and animal unit in the next few weeks. 

Important Dates

Please check the IH School Calendar for other events that may not be listed.

September 13 - PTO Special Lunch (Culver's)

September 15 - PTO Fundraising - Culver's Night 

September 25 - PTO D96 Dash

September 27 - Early Release 2:00PM

September 26-28 - PTO Book Fair (During School Hours)

September 28 - PTO Book Fair and Ice Cream Social 6:00PM

October 3 - NO SCHOOL

August 30, 2016

Thank you to those of you who were able to attend curriculum night this past week! I enjoyed connecting with you and working together to ensure a successful year for your child. If you were not able to attend or would like more information, please don't hesitate to contact me.

We have been so busy in first grade getting to know each other and our classroom routines and expectations! Routines are so important at school so these next few weeks we will build our understanding in our literacy and math routines. We will also be working on our beginning and end of the day routines as well. 

What's going on in literacy? 

In our shared reading time we've been reading different stories that link to the common theme of friendship. Stellaluna and Frog and Toad are two stories that we've spent some time on. After reading each story, students are asked varying levels of comprehension questions to get them thinking deeper. We have focused on retelling this week and will continue to work on how to retell a story by including the character's names, setting, and sequenced events. Retelling may also include character's feelings or inferences made while reading. Inferences are conclusions we come to by using what we read in a text and what we know about the world around us. For example: "She did not get a lot of sleep last night." I know that she is probably tired from getting little sleep. 

                                        Spelling & Writing

This past week we took our baseline spelling test for Words Their Way. This assessment is used to place students into their first spelling sort group. We will begin Words Their Way next week by learning the process and different ways to sort. Differentiated word sorts will not begin until the middle of September. We also wrote our first narrative story about a favorite summer memory. This week we will continue to focus on narrative writing by talking about the planning process. We will be writing about a playdate we've had with a friend or family member. 

                                            Math

We began math by taking our first pre-test for Unit 1. In this unit students will be asked to add numbers up to 10,  subtract single digit numbers, solve one step word problems for addition and subtraction, and determine if number sentences are true or false. We began this week by reviewing what the +, -, and = symbols mean as well as how to tell if an equation is true (equal) or false (not equal). 

Friendly Reminders

**Homework will begin this week! Please be on the look out for any math papers labeled as "homework" and the first monthly reading calendar coming home September 1st. Words their Way sorts will not begin until mid September. Homework is a great way for you to connect with your child on what we're learning in the classroom :)

**If you would like to order Ivy Hall spirit wear please place your orders before Friday, 9/2. Orders will be passed out by September 23rd. Please click here for the direct link to order. You can also click the link in the Ivy Hall Virtual Backpack. 

Please check the Ivy Hall School Calendar for other events that may not be listed below.

September 5 - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

September 7 - Picture Day 

September 13 - PTO Special Lunch

September 27 - Early Release 2:00PM

October 3 - NO SCHOOL

Welcome Back to School!

We survived our first day of first grade! Parents, students, and myself included :) We had a fun filled day learning about our new school, our classroom, and meeting new friends. Below are just a few reminders...

If your child is having lunch at school, it may be helpful to discuss with them what they are having prior to coming in the morning. You can find the school lunch menu here or on the district's website.

Please remember we will have snack every afternoon. If your child eats snack it MUST be from the approved snack list (you can find that here). If it is not, I will send it home with a note attached and your child will have to get an approved snack from the nurse. 

THANK YOU for all your patience with first day dismissal! Just as a reminder we have four dismissal areas. Please see Mrs. Gluck's principal message for more information. (It seems like there is some confusion between parent pick-up and walkers. Parent pick-up is for car riders only. If your child is a walker, you may still pick them up at the walker door but they are not labeled as parent pick-up students). Any changes in transportation must be communicated to the office in writing - note or email.

For your knowledge, our behavior management tool is a color coded system. You can find more about this system under the Behavior Expectations link. On top of using the color coded system I pass out "bee bucks" to boys and girls making good choices. You will see a lot of bee bucks over the next few weeks to promote positive behavior. Each bee buck will earn them a sticker on their behavior punch card. When a child receives 20 stickers, they can pick a reward from our behavior binder. Rewards include prizes from the treasure chest, sitting at the teachers desk, extra iPad time, teacher's helper, etc. You may also have noticed a behavior chart in your child's folder today. I use this as a communication tool so you can see how your child's day was. Please keep this in your child's folder for the week. I would appreciate your help in praising your child for green and blue days and providing small consequences for yellow and red days. This will help keep consistency in the classroom and ensure that the system works the way it's intended :) 

If you are looking to get involved at Ivy Hall this year please reference the district website. There are a lot of fun ways to get involved through the PTO! You can also follow their blog here.

I can tell we are going to have a great year ahead of us! I'm sure we will all sleep well tonight. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me - kschutt@kcsd96.org. Have a great night!

Miss Schutt

Welcome to First Grade!

Hello and welcome to our classroom blog! My name is Miss Kendra Schutt and I'm excited to be joining the Ivy Hall team this year. I'm even more thrilled to be beginning this journey with you!

This year will be my sixth year teaching, but my first at Ivy Hall. I spent the past five years teaching mostly kindergarten and I taught one year of first grade in Shorewood, IL. I graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2010 with a B.S. in Elementary Education and obtained my ESL certification in 2012. I love watching my students grow and am looking forward to doing the same this year!

First grade is an exciting time as children embark upon new adventures in the world of learning. This year your child will continue to grow as readers, writers, mathematicians, and so much more. I hope to make your child's learning experience a fun and exciting one while instilling a love of learning that will last a lifetime. With so much going on it is extremely important that we build on small successes. Each child will progress at his/her own rate, acquiring skills as they are developmentally ready. Maintaining each child's self-esteem and building a secure foundation for future growth with always remain a priority in my classroom.

Throughout the year I will be posting updates on curriculum goals and important events happening in first grade. I plan to keep an open line of communication with you and hope you will not hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns that may arise throughout the year. The easiest and most immediate way to reach me is through a note or email, but I can also be reached before or after school over the phone. I am looking forward to a great school year and working closely with you to ensure nothing but the best for your child!

 Miss Schutt

Below are a few reminders and things to consider....

Meet the Teacher - Tuesday, August 16th, 8:30AM-9:30AM
Please come see our classroom, drop off supplies and get to know me! I look forward to seeing you!

Curriculum Night - Thursday August 25th, 6:00PM-7:00PM
Please join us for curriculum night to hear all about first grade. From curriculum, to birthdays, and homework - we will discuss it all! I look forward to seeing you there!

**We will have snack each day. Please send your child with a nutritious and delicious snack each day. Please note that ALL snacks MUST be off of the approved snack list. Please click here to see the approved snack list.

**Birthday treats are allowed but they MUST be off of the approved snack list. Please drop your treats off in the AM to the school office so the nurse can check them before we pass them out. Please note that if the treats are not from the safe snack list we will not be able to pass them out. 

**We will have P.E. (gym) every day. Please make sure to send your child to school in gym shoes or you may leave an extra pair in their locker for them to change into. Students are required to wear gym shoes to keep them safe.

**Spare clothing in lockers is not required, but preferred. Accidents can happen - naturally or by nature!

Please also check our School Calendar 
for other events that may not be listed below!

August 16 - Meet the Teacher  8:30AM - 9:30AM

August 17 - First Day of School  Early Release 2:00PM

August 22 - September 2 - District MAP Testing (during school hours)

August 25 - Curriculum Night 6:00PM - 7:00PM

August 30 - Early Release 2:00PM

September 5 - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

September 13 - PTO Special Lunch

September 25 - PTO D96 Dash

September 27 - Early Release 2:00PM