I hope everyone enjoyed their 3-day weekend. As we get back into the flow of things this week we will get a lot done in just four days.

Reading: I will conclude TPRI testing early this week and guided reading groups will resume. Levels have changed for all the students and new expectations have been put in place. Some are reading higher levels, while some are expected to read a chapter book a week. They know what their levels have changed to and if they are reading the chapter books. Some of the parents have probably already noticed these coming home.

Word Work: Nouns and adjectives will continue to cycle through while compound words will be introduced this week.

Writing: We are currently writing a class book that is an adaptation of one of their favorite Audrey Woods books. Independently, they are writing a biography to describe themselves. Using adjectives to make their writing more exciting is the goal along with using the writing process.

Math: This week our problem solving will based on the “SPARKLE” #10. Writing equations, both addition and subtraction, counting by 10’s and tools that represent 10.

Please check your emails and school calls verifying that all of the White Oak School District will be closed to the students on February 8th.  It is an early release day for students on January 27th at 11:30 and another school holiday on February 15th. MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Again, if there ever any concerns or things to share please email me and let me know. Thank you.

Mrs. Benson

The class has gotten off to a great start this year! They have a lot more to learn and a short time to get there so remember to read each evening, look for math homework and encourage good work habits.

Last week we analyzed nouns and began our discussion of adjectives. We will continue identifying and using adjectives in our writing this week and next. Last week, we learned how to measure using different units of measurement. This week we will be focusing on using these measurements in everyday problem solving by answering the question, “How much longer/shorter is …?” This is usually a difficult concept for our first graders. So be aware to maybe work on this subtraction skill at home. In reading this week, the students will be tested with the mid-year TPRI to show their progress. This is an individualized test that was performed at the beginning of the year and will be done at the end of the year as well.  In Social Studies this week, the class will read, discuss, and learn about Martin Luther King Jr. and The Golden Rule.

I want to thank the moms who helped put together our Christmas Party. The kids had a great time and it was all very nice. Our Valentine’s Party will be on Friday, February 12th. I know it will be a big success!

Upcoming Dates:

Jan 18th. –  School Holiday

Jan 27th – Student Early Dismissal @ 11:30

Thank you for all you do and your support,

Mrs. Benson

It has been a great Thanksgiving holiday. I hope you enjoyed your time with your family and friends. I know I did, rain and all!

We will get back to work this week with guided reading groups and activities. Our reading stations will be reviewing  syllables, ABC order, and identifying some problematic sight words.

Our word work this week will be reading and writing with another inflectional ending- ed. This suffix makes 3 different sounds, /d/, /t/, and /ed/.  There also will be new spelling words this week with the test on Friday.

In math this week, we will begin our 2 week study of quick surveys, data, and graphing. As usual adding, subtracting, skip counting, numbers to 100, and problem solving will continue.

We will continue to write, edit, and publish in our writing process and apply what we have learned about capitals, punctuation, spelling, and penmanship.

Mrs. Young will begin planning our Christmas party this month. Thank you for all who volunteered to help with our parties. I’m sure she will be contacting you. And thanks again to those who have sent snacks to share with the class.

We will be having our Book Fair December 7-11. I have not sent home a book order in hopes that many students will be able to purchase books from our book fair. More information will be sent home about this later this week.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Benson

This is a short week with not a lot to share. I would like to say that I hope to see you all at our little Thanksgiving Readers’ Theater tomorrow, Monday, at 11:30 in our classroom. I’m sure many students will leave afterward and that is fine, just remember to sign them out before taking them. The program will not last long; about 20-30 minutes. I would like to say how thankful I am for all of my students. They each are special to me and all have grown so much already this year. I am thankful for all you, the parents, have done also. Thank you for your support and help through the year.

Remember, Tuesday is an early release day at 11:00. I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving with your family.

Mrs. Benson

Don’t forget this Wednesday is an Early Release Day for students at 11:30. Please send any transportation changes in the planner. Also, our campus Canned Food Drive will begin this Monday. Please send non-perishable food items with your childe to help our grade win the contest and to help those in need from our community.

Word Work: This week the students will be using the inflectional endings /s/ and /es/ in their writing and their reading.

Spelling: There will be no new spelling words this week.

Guided Reading: Students will be tested on the next reading benchmark this week and next week. Continue to read each and every night.

Math: Analyzing and using the 100’s Chart will be the focus this week. First graders are held accountable for numbers to 120. They must be able to count, identify and manipulate this amount. So we will be exploring patterns on the 100’s Grid to help us with this task.

Social Studies: We will be comparing/contrasting Thanksgiving Past and Thanksgiving Present.

Monday your child will come home with their part to our First Grade Thanksgiving Readers’ Theater entitled, “Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving.” Please read the attached note and practice this with your child at home as we will be practicing this and a couple other presentations at school. We will present our performance to the parents on Monday, November 23.

As usual thank you for all you do,

Mrs. Benson

**SEND BOX-TOPS**

The students and teachers survived Red Ribbon Week and Halloween! The parents will have to deal with the aftermath of all the candy. I know we all had a good time!

This week in Guided Reading we will be meeting with our groups. Be sure and look for the “Guided Reading” folder to come home. Always read the book, list it on the reading log and go over the sight words or do the activity included. Our Word Work will continue with alphabetical order to the second or third letter.

In math this week, we will continue using subtraction in problem solving, computation and mixed with addition.

Spelling words this week are we, there, can, an, and your. The spelling test will be Friday. Please go over all spelling words at home regularly. If dictation is more difficult for your child, make up sentences at home for them to practice writing their words. Remember all of the words are on display in the room for them to check.

In Social Studies this week, the students will begin learning about American Symbols and the importance of these symbols to our American history.

Here are some upcoming dates to remember:

Nov. 11-Early Student Release at 11:30

Nov 18-Fall picture retakes

Nov 24 Early Release at 11:00

Nov 25-27 Thanksgiving Holiday

Thank you,

Mrs. Benson

This is Red Ribbon Week so show your support of Drug Awareness by getting involved.

Monday: Wear Something Red

Tuesday: Look to the future! Wear your favorite college or White Oak T-Shirt.

Wednesday: Keep your head on straight-don’t do drugs! Wear a hat.

Thursday: Peace and hugs instead of drugs! Wear tie dye and/or bring a stuffed animal.

Friday: Spook out drugs! Wear Halloween costume. ( No masks or handheld props allowed. Costumes must follow dress code.)

This week in class:

Reading: We will continue guided reading groups and will reevaluate levels. Our word-work will focus on Alphabetical Order to the first letter. Spelling words this week are but, what, all, were, and when. The test will be on Friday.

Math: We will continue using shapes in our math stations while we also go deeper into subtraction problem solving and computation.

We will continue to apply what we have learned in our writing. We are working on capitals, punctuation, spaces, and applying our sight words.

Upcoming events to be aware of:

Nov. 11-Early Student Release @ 11:30–Teacher Staff Development

Nov. 18-Fall picture retakes

Nov. 24-Early release @ 11:00

Nov. 25-27-Thanksgiving Holiday

Thanks everyone for everything you do,

Mrs. Benson

This is the last week of this Nine Week Grading Period. Report cards will go home the following week on Thursday. I hope you all have checked your child’s grades and work each Monday when they are sent home and always go over the work. This week is also Homecoming Week and there will be an early release on Friday. Car Pick-Ups will be released at 1:15 and Bus Riders will be out at 1:30. I hope anyone that wishes to attend the Homecoming Pep Rally will be able to do so. It will be held at Roughneck Stadium at 2:30.

Spelling: This week’s words are or, by, one, had, and not. Students will get their new words on Monday but there will be no test this week. The test will be next Tuesday.

Word Work: This week we will use digraphs- sh, th, ch, wh, ph – in our reading and writing

Guided Reading: Groups will continue by reading and doing activities with their book. We will also continue our author study of Leo Lionni and changes that occur in his literature.

Writer’s Workshop: This week we will begin writing our spooky class story and individual spooky stories.

Math: We will be working with 2-dimensional shapes but always continuing problem solving and addition computation.

Thank you all for all you do,

Mrs. Benson

P.S. SEND YOUR BOXTOPS:)

Thank you, Ava’s Mom, for sending snacks for the class. The kids and I both appreciate the donation. Also, this Wednesday, is an early release day. The students will get out at 11:30 so we can have a staff development work day. Please send any notes for change in transportation in students’ planners.

Reading: Students are working in their Guided Reading Groups to complete their book and activity.

Word Work: We will continue to work on blends in our reading and writing.

Spelling: Our spelling words this week are: be, this, from, I, and have. The spelling test will be Friday with dictation. Please study the words at home for extra practice.

Math: Nothing new this week;  just some more of the same but deeper. Problem solving with bigger numbers, addition with bigger numbers, and quantities of  bigger numbers

Writing: We will be writing about our favorite season and illustrating this season in art. We are working on writing more details.

We will also begin an author study of Leo Lionni and share all of the “Changes” that occur in his literature.

Thanks for all you do,

Mrs. Benson