Happy Friday!

I hope you all had a wonderful week!  It was our first FULL week in first grade and it flew by!

This week, we started getting more into our daily routines.  The students are still learning all the different classroom procedures, but are coming along quite nicely and will have it all down in no time!

We just started our first topic in Math, Topic 3.  We went out of order with the topics because our team felt that this topic was better suited to start off our math series.  In this topic, we are learning all about Making ten and the different parts of ten.  Reinforce the idea of a part and a whole.  We learned today that parts are the smaller numbers and when put together, they equal the whole which is the largest number.  When we come back to school, we will discuss Missing Parts of Ten.  We will have our very first math quiz and test on Thursday and Friday, respectively.  The first few tests and quizzes are done in a guided manner on the overhead.  You will receive a study guide on Wednesday.  Please sit down with your child to complete this page to help them prepare for their test.

We finished reviewing all the letters and sounds of the alphabet, so now we are going to start our official first grade curriculum!  Our first story we read is called "The Hat".  We will be focusing on story sequencing, complete vs. incomplete sentences, and spelling with the short a sound.  The spelling list will go home on Tuesday, but I've posted the words in the Spelling Corner if you'd like to get a head start.  The spelling test will be on Friday.  Our vocabulary words from the story (story words) will serve as "bonus words" on the spelling test if your child would like to challenge his or herself to learn to spell those words. 

I will also be sending homework for Reading and Math this week.  Math will go home on Tuesday and Reading on Wednesday.  Please return homework to school the following day!

OK!  I think that's it!  I hope you all have a fantastic LONG weekend!  I'm planning on enjoying the beautiful weather and catching a Cubs game at Wrigley on Sunday with some friends.  Best way to officially send off summer!

:) See you on Tuesday!