Welcome to the 1st & 2nd Grade Class webpage. 

September 11, 2009

*A Little Humor*

Teacher: Why have you got cotton wool in your ears, do you have an infection ?
Student: You keep saying that things go in one ear and out the other so I am trying to keep them it all in!

GENERAL SCHOOL TIDBITS:

• Today is September 11th.  We briefly talked about what happened that day.  Spend some time as a family discussing where you were and what effect it has had on your life.
• YARD SALE IS THIS SATURDAY.  WE NEED YOUR HELP.  Please return the pink sign up sheets to let us know when you can come help.  Also if you would like to contribute anything for the bake sale, please bring it Friday or Saturday.
• 1:00 p.m. dismissal on next Friday, September 18th.
• Tuesday, September 15th is NO DRESS CODE DAY.
• Progress reports come home on Wednesday, September 16th.

GENERAL CLASSROOM TIDBITS:

• Out “Star Student” this week will be Danny!!
• The theme for Show & Tell this week is: “Travel.”  Help your child find something they have because of a place they, or someone else, has traveled.
• In the mornings during Circle Prayer this year we are learning about Saints.  This week we have learned many things about St. Peter Claver!  Ask the children.  They really know their stuff.
• Our caterpillar did hatch, but unfortunately I think it was on Sunday and he was no longer with us when we got to school on Tuesday.  L
• Keep working on those AR books at home!  Our test taking has really slowed down.
• Each week the students have challenge words in their spelling list.  I keep track of how many challenge words they get correct each week and post them on a poster in the room.  The goal for first grade is to get 20 challenge words correct during this quarter.  The goal for second grades is to get 30 challenge words correct during this quarter.  If a student achieves the goal, they will receive a treat the week after the quarter ends! 

1ST GRADE TIDBITS:

• We have been working with the short /i/ sound.  The children are really doing well decoding.  Their reading skills get better and better each week.
• The first graders are rockin’ at addition!  They are doing super!  Hopefully you will see that in the papers that have been sent home.  It’s never too early to begin working with flash cards in order to make sure the students learn the facts with automaticity.
• At open house I sent home a set of 100 sight words flash cards.  Please take the time to cut those out and practice them with your child.  From what I can tell, the sight word flash cards are not being used.  It really makes a big difference and creates less frustration for your child while he/she reads.  Please commit to working with these sight words.

2nd GRADE TIDBITS:

• We have moved into subtraction and so far it seems to be going well.  I am not surprised as all 6 students do really well with their addition facts with sums to 10.  In addition to subtraction, we are relating  addition and subtraction facts and working with fact families.  The students are doing really well.
• This week in reading we worked with the long /a/ and /e/ sounds when they are formed by the letter combinations ai and ay and ee, ea, and ie.

You can find this letter and more information about the school and other classrooms at www.stspeterpaul.org.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Thanks!

Sincerely,

Ms. Aguilera