Parade cancelled :(

Sadly the parade at 1:00 has been cancelled:(  If you need to drop off anything, please do so by noon.  Thank you.

Halloween Parade

We are hopeful that the weather will not be what is forecast for tomorrow.  However wind and rain are in our future.  In the event of rain, the parade will be canceled.  A decision will be made by 10:00 tomorrow morning and posted on the school website.  In the event that the parade is canceled, we will have a small celebration at school.  Due the the volume of families, parents will not be invited.  I am sorry in advance.  Please check the school web address, or this blog to see what decision has been made.  Thank you.

Last Day to Place an Order!

 Today is the last day to place an order online.  Please follow the steps below to place your order online and earn free books for our classroom.  Thank you!

Online Ordering Information
Web address:
www.scholastic.com/bookclubs
 Class Activation Code: GXH64

Dear Parents,

September and October book orders have gone home and are online for you to fill out at your convenience.  Remember, we earn a FREE book for the classroom library every time a parent places an order online, and you get a $5 coupon to use the next time that you place an order.

This month you may place an order from the Seesaw catalog.

Orders are due by Friday, October 18th.  Thank you.

Please Follow Our Blog

We would love to see who is following our blog. If you find this blog helpful and enjoy following what we do in the classroom, please take a minute to "Follow this Blog" by clicking on the Google Follow button to the right of this post. As work and projects are posted throughout the school year, the students become very proud of their hard work and would love to see who is visiting our blog. Thanks!

On a side note, if you choose to "follow by email" (also an option located on the right hand toolbar), you will receive an email notification each time I post to our blog. Simply type in your email and click the submit button. You will then receive email notification of new posts, it is just that simple!

Writing Rubric

On Monday, your child will be bringing home their first graded papers.  Each week a grade is recorded for their spelling test and written assignment.  Spelling papers are graded out of 100, and writing is graded out of 4.  The rubric for written work is outlined below.

Papers that receive a:

4-

• well focused on the topic
• contain clear ideas
• are logically organized
• are written in a logical sequence
• includes a 'growing artist' picture that is detailed, realistic, and matches the words

3-

• somewhat focused on the topic
• contain mostly clear ideas
• are in general, logically organized
• are written with some logical sequence
• includes a less detailed  'growing artist' picture

2-

• may stray from the topic
• contain ideas that may be somewhat unclear
• are less logically organized with some lapses
• are written with few to little transitions, word choice is limited
• includes less detailed  'growing artist' picture that does not match the words

1-

• not focused on the topic
• contain unclear ideas
• unorganized and shows confusion
• shows no transitions or word choice
• includes no effort of a  'growing artist' picture

Parent Conferece Sign Up

 

Please click on this link to sign up for a parent conference in November.  

This year, I will hold conferences on Thursday, Friday, and Monday, November 14, 15, and 18th.  Times vary, so please sign up for a time that is best for you.  Report cards will not be sent home with your child, or mailed to you.  You must sign up for a conference to receive your child's report card.  Conferences will last no more than 20 minutes.  This will give me an opportunity to meet with you, discuss your child's progress and answer any questions that you may have.

A little late, but not forgotten!

Digital slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Volunteer to help with t-shirts!

We're using VolunteerSpot (the leading online signup and reminder tool) to organize our upcoming activity. Please follow the instructions below.  You will also notice the new link in the menu bar above.

Please sign up for Tie-dye T-shirts - here's how it works in 3 easy steps:   
1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/tV1ufM
2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on VolunteerSpot)
3. Sign up! Choose your spots - VolunteerSpot will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy! Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.

Spelling Test and Friday Assessments

Tomorrow is our first spelling test.  Each Friday your first grader will take at least 2 assessments, and on occasion 3.  Friday testing will consist of a spelling test and a written prompt.  On occasion, I may give a mini math assessment.

Spelling tests will test the words that your child brings home each Monday.  This list is the last page of the spelling packet that goes home the first of the week.  (The words on cardstock are high frequency words and should be cut out, stored at home and practiced often.)  Spelling tests will be graded out of 100 (10 points per word).  Students may earn an additional 3 points (1 per bonus word) if they get all 3 bonus words right.  An 80 or above is an acceptable score in first grade.  Less than 60 is a failing grade. 

Written assessments in the form of a prompt will be given each Friday.  Written assessments are graded 1, 2, 3, 4.  The rubric of each will be outlined in an upcoming weekend blog post.

Spelling tests and other Friday assessments will be handed back on Monday. 

Still time to order...

As you know, today was picture day.  If you forgot to send in money, or wish to still order, orders can be placed online at WMF Photography through Friday, October 4th.  Pictures will arrive some time before or around Thanksgiving break.

Picture Day Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is picture day.  No worries- our pictures will be taken before gym at 9:50.  If you have order forms and money please be sure to send them in to school in your child's B.E.E. Folder tomorrow.  I will collect forms when I check your child in tomorrow morning.  

 

It is also a library day tomorrow.  Please send in your child's library books. Thank you.

Now Collectin Box Tops

We are now collecting Box Tops for Education.  We are competing with the other first grade classes to see who can collect the most box tops!  The winner will receive something special.  Box tops can be collected until October 18th!  Last year our school raised over $3,000 in box top collections for our school.  Thank you in advance for your donations!