I’m finally posting to my blog! Sorry for the gaps in time. I was having issues with my login, but I think all the wrinkles have been ironed out. We all hope the weather holds out and that spring is finally here! Students that wish to play on the snowhills and in the grass will still need to wear snow boots and snow pants. If they play on the pea rocks or the black top, they will no longer need to wear winter clothes!

We will be working on the long o sound this week, spelled (o-e). Visit www.spellingcity.com for the list and fun games to play with it.

At the end of this week we will also be having the HF Word List 4 test. Here is the link:  http://hi002.k12.sd.us/HFList4.mht!HFList4_files/frame.htm

On April 9th, we will be having our school picture. First graders are going to be wearing green for it!

The circus is coming! All students will receive a ticket for the circus. We’ll be making clowns in art today to celebrate.

Report cards will be sent home this Thursday! Be sure to sign and return your report card envelope.

Have a great week!

We had a blast at our Valentine’s Day party! We passed out our valentines and that took a while considering we had over 1500! We also at popcorn, cupcakes, and floats. We squeezed in some time to watch part of the movie Everyone’s Hero. It is a great movie and the kids may be asking to rent it since we only got to watch a little bit. 

This week we will be reading the story At Home Around the World . We will be studying the long e sound spelled with a y (as in bunny and jelly). The spelling list for this week is available at www.spellingcity.com.

Midterms were sent home on Thursday–please let me know if you didn’t receive one. The students had a lot to carry home on Thursday and I hope everything made it!

Have a great week!

Hopefully everyone had the chance to go shopping this weekend and buy valentines and party supplies. Be sure to check the list that was sent home on Friday about our Valetine’s Day party. Our class is in charge of serving this time since Mrs. Knecht’s class served Christimas. Contact me if you have any questions! Thanks in advance for all you do!!

We’ll be studying the long a (a-e) sound this week. Visit www.spellingcity.com for the new spelling list.

The high frequency word list is now available. Here’s the link:  http://hi002.k12.sd.us/HFList4.mht 

Midterm reports will be sent home Friday. Be sure to contact me if you have any questions!!

Boxtop collection is this Thursday! Send your boxtops to school!!

Have a great week!

We had a great time today celebrating being 100 days smarter! The students drew pictures of what they will look like when they are 100 years old. We wrote about how we would spend 100 dollars–amazing! Did you know 100 dollars will buy you a new boat? or a mansion? or a vacation to Hawaii? We loved our 100 day snack. We borrowed Mrs. Nehl’s 100 year old bowl and hand PLENTY to go around! We also wrote the numbers to 100 for our math 100 club!

Conferences will be Tuesday from 2:30-9. I can’t wait to see everyone again! If your time doesn’t work, be sure to call ahead. I will do my best to be on time-although it’s hard. Keep in mind that we are scheduled for 20 minutes and others are waiting after you. If we need more time, we can schedule it for later in the week. Thanks so much! DON’T FORGET–SCHOOL DISMISSES AT 2:10!!

We will continue with the High Frequency Words List 3 assessment this week. Most of the students are doing awesome. I will have List 4 posted soon.

In Math we will continue working with building numbers to 100. We’ll read the story A Bed Full of Catsand study the long e sound (spelled e as in me, ee as in feet, ea as in bean). Visit www.spellingcity.com for practice!

Have a great week!

Once again it’s time for conferences. I’m looking forward to meeting with everyone again! If you haven’t gotten something in the mail from the office, please contact Mrs. Eikamp at 397-2317. My conferences will be held this Wednesday (Jan. 28th) in the afternoon and next Tuesday (Feb. 3rd) in the afternoon and evening.

The high frequency words test will be this Friday and next Monday. Be sure that your student knows these words by heart. Here is the link:

http://hi002.k12.sd.us/Links%20for%20Parents.htm  And then link on HF words list 3.

The new spelling list is available at www.spellingcity.com We are working on the long o sound spelled ow and oa (as in low and boat).

Our 100 days of school celebration will be next Monday. Every student needs to bring 100 snacks in a baggy. It is a great counting lesson. We’ll be making a big snack mix for everyone to share! It’s a fun day! The students draw pictures of what they will look like when they are 100 years old and write about how they would spend 100 dollars! Watch for more information about our celebration!!

Have a great week!

Friday marked the end of the 2nd Quarter. That means we are half done with school! Report cards will be sent home on Thursday. Conferences are scheduled for Feb. 3rd. Be watching for more information about conferences. Grades this quarter are based on each student’s individual performance. Please call me if you have any questions about report cards!

This week we are studying the /er/ sound-spelled ir, ur, er. Please visit www.spellingcity.com for the list and fun practice games.

We are collecting dollars for Derrick-one of our kindergarten students-who was diagnosed with a brain tumor and remains in the hospital. He’s a very sick little boy and every dollar will help this family in need!

We’ll be making penguins in art this week. For Social Studies, we will be learning about Martin Luther King, Jr. and this special holiday.

Have a great week!

It’s hard to believe that Winter Break is already over! I hope the students are all anxious to get back to our normal routine–I know I am. December was a crazy month full of special events and lots of activities. Although it is fun and exciting, getting back into our normal routine will be a breath of fresh air!

I apologize for my lack of posting the past month. It was difficult at times to juggle everything that was going on!

Thank you for all the wonderful Christmas presents. I sincerely appreciate your thoughtfulness!

The new spelling list is on www.spellingcity.com. Click on Find A List and type in my name and look for this week’s date.

Don’t forget to practice the High Frequency words–especially if your student doesn’t know them yet. We’ll be having the test sometime in the next few weeks. Here is the link:

http://hi002.k12.sd.us/HFWords3.mht!HFWords3_files/frame.htm

Have a super week!

December is an exciting month in first grade! We are all anxiously awaiting the arrival of Christmas (and our extended winter break)! We have lots of things going on this month. Here are a few dates to keep handy:

Dec. 11:  DIBELS testing-Be sure your child eats a hearty breakfast and gets plenty of rest!

Dec. 12:  Book Orders due-Just in time for Christmas!

Dec. 15:  DIBELS testing continues

Dec. 15-19:  Red Ribbon Week (school-wide)–watch for more information

Dec. 15-19:   Polar Express Week in First Grade!

Dec. 19:  Christmas Program at 2 p.m. We will dismiss from there.

Dec. 19:  Smokey Bear/Woodsy Wol posters due. We would love EVERY student to turn one in!!

Dec. 23:  Holiday party at 1 p.m. Mrs. Knecht’s class will serve the party. We will be serving Valentine’s Day. Watch for a letter to come home about the party.

Dec. 23;  Vacation begins. DISMISS AT 2 P.M.!

A few other things–Be sure to return your picture packets or money ASAP. These are the Christmas picture packets that were sent home last week.  The elementary is also holding a food drive. We are asking all students to bring in one canned good for our drive. Thank you!

We have started Accelerated Reader in first grade!! The students are excited–and very eager to read and take quizzes. AR is not graded. It is a comprehension program that is incentive-based. We give out prizes for reaching some goals. The school also has incentive parties throughout the year for students who reach their goals. Watch for information about your child’s points and goals.

We also have a new list for High Frequency words. They are SO important to make reading more fluent. Students should be able to recognize these words WITHOUT sounding them out. Word attack skills typically don’t work for these words. Here’s the link:  http://hi002.k12.sd.us//HFWords3.mht

Be sure to visit www.spellingcity.com to practice weekly spelling lists. We practice both the High Frequency words and spelling words daily in class. However, some students need the extra practice at home.

Have a great week!!

It’s going to be a short week! Only two days of school, then let the turkey fun begin! I hope everyone enjoys this special time with family and friends! I know I’ll be busy stuffing the turkey, making all the fixings, and recalling all the things I am thankful for–like having such an awesome job!!

Don’t forget on Tuesday is our Feast and each student should plan to bring a snack. If everyone remembers we’ll have plenty of food and it will be a blast! The teachers will be providing the utensils and the beverages.

We will not have homework this week and we won’t start a new story in Reading. However, this week is our 2nd High Frequency Words assessment. Be sure your students know these words by sight! Here is the link once again:

http://hi002.k12.sd.us/HF%20Words2_files/frame.htm

Tomorrow we will be meeting with our third grade partners to do a fun snack project! We will be making turkeys out of oreos, frosting, candy corn, and whoppers! The students will then practice sequencing by putting the directions in order. It should be lots of fun!

It’s midterm time already! Reports will be sent home on Tuesday. If you have questions regarding your child’s progress, please let me know. The students are completing more assignments indepdently and grades reflect their own progress.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Conferences were great! It is always exciting to be able to sit down with all the parents and discuss the students in my class. Thanks for taking interest in your child’s education. We make an awesome team!

Next Tuesday (Nov. 25) we will be having a Thanksgiving Feast with the second graders! It is a tradition at Groton Elementary and so much fun! The first graders are in charge of bringing the snacks. A note will be sent home tomrrow regarding the feast. Thanks for helping make it successful!

This week we will be working on the /sh/ sound like in ship. The spelling list is available at:

www.spellingcity.com

Click on Find A List and type in:  Imrie

Next week we will also take our High Frequency words assessment for list 2. These words are essential to reading fluency–especially in the beginning reading stages. Be sure to practice! Here is the link:

http://hi002.k12.sd.us/HF%20Words2_files/frame.htm

We will be taking the Unit 2 test in math on Wednesday. I suspect the students will be ready! In art today we made the most adorable turkeys! They will be on display in our room until Thanksgiving. In Social Studies this week we will be learning all about the first Thanksgiving!

Have a great week!!