Site of the week

It was so great seeing everyone at Open House! I was glad you got a chance to see our Smart Board in action. We have been accessing so many great websites on it and practicing them together. One site was a lot of fun this week and will be used at a computer station center next week. Here's the site:

http://www.earobics.com/gamegoo/gooeylo.html

We played "Tina's World Bug Trails". We practiced following 3-step directions which correlated with our skill of the week, SEQUENCING. There are a lot of other fun things to practice on that page. The activities get more difficult as you work your way to the top.

Class T-shirts

You will have the opportunity to purchase a class T-shirt for your child. We wear these shirts periodically throughout the year during special events, field trips, and play day. Shirts are extremely reasonable at $4 each. I will have a sample shirt to show at Open House. Please be on the look out for an order form in your child's folder.

Sites of the week

I think there was a problem with last weeks links. I have reposted that article with new links.
Here's another two websites to try out!

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/picturematch/

http://teacher.scholastic.com/clifford1/flash/phonics/index.htm

Accelerated Reader (AR)

A Renaissance Home-Connect Letter went home with your child on Friday. This is part of our AR program. I will be sending home a more detailed letter about AR next week after the students have had the chance to take the STAR test in the computer lab. This test allows me to get a better idea of what level of books your child should be checking out from the library.

After a child reads their library book and it is written in their reading log, they can take a 5-10 question quiz on the computer to assess their comprehension of the story. I (or a parent volunteer) will write their score in the "AR SCORE" column on their reading log. This will help you to know how they did. You can also follow the directions on the Home-Connect letter to get e-mail updates on their progress.

If a child gets an 80% or better, they get to fill out a little slip of paper that goes into a school-wide drawing at the end of the week. If their name is drawn, they get it announced on our morning news show. We've already had one (congrats Charlotte!).

In addition to that incentive, our wonderful PTA holds an AR store three times per year where the children can spend the points they earn for doing well on tests to buy little toys.

If you still have additional questions about this program, please let me know after the letter goes home next week.

Public Library Cards

Every year, the public library sends library card applications home to first graders. Every child in our room received an application last week. They make it really convenient for your child to have their own library card. All you have to do is fill out the application and send it back to school. I will make sure our media specialist gets it and he sends it to the library. Your child's new card will come back to school and I will send it home. If you're interested, fill out the application and send it back!

Scholastic Book Club

Today in your child's folder you will see a stapled packet of order forms for our first Scholastic book club order. The top sheet is a peach/salmon color and has all of the directions about how to order. Ultimately, there are two ways you can submit your order:

1. Place your order securely online by going to www.Scholastic.com/bookclubs
You'll have to create your own user name and password which can be used for future orders. Be sure to enter our unique order code listed on the colored sheet. This will change every time.

2. Send in ONE check for books you would like to purchase from any of the club flyer's.
Please write your child's name on each order form, mark the books you would like to purchase, and total the individual orders.

Parent ordering online is a lot easier for me since the money exchange is being handled through the website. It also allows for fewer ordering errors. As an extra incentive, Scholastic will give me a free book pick for each parent order done online!!

Orders are due FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17. All books purchased earn points for our room, allowing me to order needed books and supplies. Let me know if you have any questions.

Homework

Although it is a four-day school week I am going to incorporate spelling homework. I will include a detailed letter on how I choose the spelling patterns for your child. I use a program called "Words Their Way" which allows me to individualize spelling lists for groups of students.

It can be a little confusing at first, so feel free to ask questions.

My suggestions for completing homework:

1 section each of math and spelling per night. There is typically four sections total for the week. Be sure to practice a spelling test on Thursday night so your child is ready for their test on Friday!

Homework is not meant to be completed in one sitting. It is to be practiced each and every night.

Sites of the week

We've been using internet sites on the Smart Board during our skills block to review beginning letter sounds and practice rhyming words. Here are two sites the children have enjoyed:

Beginning Consonant Practice:
http://professorgarfield.org/phonics/fishing/fishing.html

http://www.funfonix.com/games/intromenu.php (3 games to choose from)

Rhyming:
http://www.quia.com/mc/65870.html

I would love to try and post new sites every few weeks. I hope you will be able to utilize them at home. They offer great additional practice... and they're FUN!

Mark Your Calendars

We will be having "Johnny Appleseed Day" on Friday, October 1 in honor of his birthday on September 26. More details will be coming your way in an e-vite invitation. We will probably do most of our activities in the morning, so if you're interested in coming, block off from about 9:00-11:00. Looking forward to seeing everyone!