We’ve have a great beginning to an awesome school year. The kids have been fantastic first graders. Several notes have gone home and some were sent home at Meet the Teacher. Be sure and fill out anything that needs to be filled out and sent back to me and always read all the notes that go home.Be sure to always check your child’s planner for any notes I have written or your child has written. This is the best way to correspond because I check them every morning for a note from you and/or your signature indicating that you checked their message and checked their behavior report (busy bee stamp).

This week we will begin Guided Reading Stations and Math Stations. This will take most of the week to learn expectations and guidelines for this. I will begin reading with each student to try to find their exact reading levels. This could take up to 2+ weeks. On Wednesday, they will begin bringing home their book and reading log. This will come with directions for you. The book they bring home may be too easy or too hard. Remember I haven’t found their reading levels yet. If it’s too easy, have them read it several time to improve fluency. If it is too hard, then help them read it or read it to them. This home reading will be their daily homework. Sometimes, about once a week, they will have math homework.

I have enjoyed meeting your children and look forward to teaching them this year. Always feel free to email me if you have questions or concerns. Some parents have donated things for the class; snacks, treasure box items, cardstock, and other items. Thank you to all who helped in this way.

We Can Be the Difference,

Mrs. Benson

Can you believe it? I can’t! These last few days we have left will be a lot of cycling around to some things we need to go back to. We will continue to have guided reading groups when I am not testing each student for end of the year levels, but blue Guided Reading folders will not go home again.

We have several up-coming events to mark on your calendar:

May 10th- Field Trip to Penick Park 9:00-2:00 (about) Parents are welcome to come out. Students need their sack lunch with 2 drinks. We will have games and activities for them.

May 17th- First Grade Field Day 12:30-2:30 at the football Practice Field. Parents are welcome.

May 25th and 26th are Early Release days at 11:00

Thanks for all of your support!

Mrs. Benson

We are on the last home stretch. We have lots of things coming up so please keep them on your calendar.

First of all, we have our Read-a-Thon going on until May 12th. I urge you to set up your child’s profile and donate any amount if you have not already done so. We are reading daily in class and logging our times in. You should do the same with their daily reading homework. The students are working so hard. If you have already donated, then I say, “Thank you!”

This week we also celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week. I know some of you have donated food, etc. I can’t tell you how much this means to all of us. Thank you in advance for your support.

This Tuesday, the 2nd, we will have class pictures. Please send your money in the envelope  that was sent home last week.

On Wednesday, May 10th, first grade will be going on our short field trip to Penick Park. We will be leaving about 9:00 and returning about 2:00. Please see the note for details.

In the classroom, we are working hard on enhancing our writing skills and reading for understanding. In math, we are adding and subtracting double-digit numbers, expanding greater numbers, using numbers to 120, analyzing 3-D Shapes, and fractions. Please be aware of Monday’s graded papers.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Benson

This week will be a short week with Easter vacation being this Friday and Monday of next week. Our party will be Thursday at 11:30. The first grade all hunts eggs together. Our assigned area is in the grass between the Primary Building and the bus barns. First grade is limited to the area on the right side of the pick-up road that runs through the middle. I hope that’s clear. Remember, to send your 12 candy-filled Easter eggs tomorrow and the students can bring their basket or bucket for hunting on party day. If you are checking your child out after the party, please sign them out with me.

This week we will continue guided reading groups, writing and reading about Easter, reading comprehension and there will be no spelling words this week. In math, we will use base ten blocks to begin adding two-digit numbers.

Some upcoming dates to remember:

April 13-Easter Party @11:30

April 14 &17-School Holidays

Thanks and have a great week!

Mrs. Benson

Man, what a rainy day! I hope everyone is home safe, out of this weather. We’ve had a busy couple of weeks learning and researching about Texas and its symbols. For the next couple of weeks, until Easter, we will be reading about and comparing/contrasting our seasons with an emphasis on spring.

Guided Reading: This will continue along with testing for some to check fluency and comprehension. Be sure and watch for Guided Reading blue folders to come home. Always list this book on their reading log along with any others.

Math: We will decomposing numbers this week and adding and subtracting with bigger numbers (double-digits). We got into both of these just a little last week so we will continue. Remember, problem solving, time, money, and addition and subtraction always continue.

Writing: What can I say? WRITING! WRITING! WRITING! We are doing a lot of writing along with critiquing each other so that we can help each other know if the reader or listener is getting everything out of our writing that the writer wants them to. They need a beginning, middle and ending with details in each. Then revising, so that their mechanics (capitals, punctuation, spacing, penmanship) are in check is crucial.

Spelling: We will get 5 new words this week and then we will have 100 words! Test on Friday.

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

April 13-Easter Party @ 11:30-A note will go home this week with details.

April 14-17 – Easter Holiday

Thanks for being a great group of parents!

Mrs. Benson

This Friday at 9:00, the first grade will be performing  “A Year With Frog and Toad.” This will be in the Elementary Cafeteria. I hope you all can come. Remember, students are to wear a black shirt with blue jeans or dark colored pants.

This week in class:

Guided Reading: Groups will continue along with lots of discussion and modeling of good comprehension skills.

Word Work: We will continue working with capitals and begin using all kinds of punctuation. This will also be assessed in their writing.

No spelling this week.

Math: Students will begin adding groups by skip counting to get the correct sum.

Writing: More writing, revising, and publishing. Checking for well-developed beginning, middle and ending; staying on topic;  capitals, punctuation  and spelling of all sight words.

Dates to Remember:

March 6: Visit from Spencer Ortho. at 2:00

March 10: “A Year With Frog and Toad” performance at 9:00

March 13-17: Spring Break

March 22: Spring Pictures

Thanks for everything,

Mrs. Benson

I hope you all enjoyed your day off today. I enjoyed mine. Yesterday was a beautiful day and today we all received some much needed rain. This is a short school week, but there is a lot to learn.

Guided Reading: This week some groups will have their blue Guided Reading folders brought home; while others will be tested for improvement on levels and/or fluency.

Spelling: No spelling this week.

Word Work: Students will continue using synonyms in their writing and will add homophones to their list of words to identify.

Math: Students will apply patterning to understanding number patterns. Adding collections of coins will also spiral back through.

Social Studies/Writing: Students will read and research important presidents in history and write about them and how important the president is to the United States.

Upcoming important dates:

February 22nd: Early student release at 11:30

March 6th: Chocolate Bunny Fundraiser orders and money will be due.

March 13-17th: Spring Break

 

Thank you for all you do,

Mrs. Benson

 

 

I first want to say the kids did GREAT last week at our Champs Assembly! Thank you to all of the parents that came to watch and lend their support. I hope to see all of you this week at the Valentine Party. It will be tomorrow at 11:30 in our classroom. If you plan on taking your child after the party please sign them out in the classroom.

This week:

Guided Reading: Students will be reading in their groups and some will be bringing home their blue Guided Reading folder with their book to read and an activity or sight words to go over. Be sure and list the book on your child’s reading log.

Word Work: This week the students will be identifying and using symonyms to enhance their writing.

Spelling: This week’s words… now, my, why, people, its  Test will be this Friday.

Math: We begin analyzing, continuing, and developing patterns.

Social Studies: This week and next week we will be reading and researching to learn more about our past and present presidents.

Dates to remember:

February 14-Valentine Party at 11:30

February 20- Presdident’s Day Holiday

February 22- Early Student Release at 11:30