Reeder's Wonderful Readers

We have some students who are very diligent about reading 100 words every week and returning the planner (signed) each Friday or Monday. We have some students who have read more than 100 minutes every week. Because of these wonderful readers, we have read more than any other class in Kindergarten, first or second grade. But we need every student to read 100 minutes and return their planners every week. We would love to have the ramster in our room again. We can't do it without everyone's help. Please join us and read every day for at least 20 minutes - even Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then if something comes up, you'll still have your 100 minutes.
Thanks,
Mrs. Reeder

Something's Coming!

Thank you to all the wonderful parents and grandparents who went to the zoo with us. We really enjoyed it. We have written about a favorite animal. (I can't believe how many children loved the penguins.) I am putting it in a little booklet that the children can keep. It will be like a mini-coloring book. I hope that the children enjoy reading and using it.

This next week we will be learning about pets. If you have a pet and are able to bring it to school (and take it home after we share) please send me a note. It would be best for us at 8:30 or at 12:00 (except on Tuesday because we have gym) or at 2:50 (except on Wed. which is early out.) If you could send me a note, I'll try to schedule the visits.

If we need to go into the next week, that will be okay. I just have a few minutes each day to do it and I'd rather only have one animal at a time. Please help your child think about how they care for the animal or what they like about the animal or a story about the animal to share. Thank you, again for all you do to help us.
Mrs. Reeder

ZOO

Our zoo trip is Tues, October 6th (in case your child didn't get the note home to you.) We would love to have parents go with us. But parents will have to furnish their own transportation (you can car pool) and we can't have siblings on the trip. I'm sorry. We can only take one bus and we can't fit everyone on it.
We are excited because the baby tiger triplets and the baby elephant will be out where we can see them. Please check the weather for that day and have the children dress accordingly.
Thanks,
Mrs. Reeder

Show and Teach
In first grade, I have changed Show and Tell to Show and Teach. This helps us do more than "this is my favorite toy. I like to drive it." or "This is my stuffed animal. I sleep with it. I like to throw it up in the air like this." Since we are having a story on growing, it seems the perfect time to have a Show and Teach session. If you would like, please send a picture of your child when they were a baby or a toddler. It would be wonderful if you would tell them a story they could share with us about when they were young and learning new things. We will share the stories and put the pictures up on the wall for the children to look at and return them to you during the week after the 9th of October. It would help if you could send the picture(s) in an envelope so that they would be protected. Thank you.
Please send in the reading log on Monday. Since you would read Wed. evening and Thursday, I would like those minutes to go with that week. As usual, any minutes you read on Fri/Sat and Sun would go on the next week. We would like to keep that reading habit going, if possible. I am so pleased with much of the growth that I'm seeing already. Please keep it up.
Thanks again, Mrs. Reeder

Thanks!!

I want to give you a big thanks for helping your child get their 100 minutes of reading practice in during the first few weeks. It is so important that we practice this new skill. We are now ready to start our spelling words and the weekly vocabulary words. You will notice that most of the vocabulary words are on the lists of the most frequently used words. Check out the lists we have. Thanks for all you do.

We are finished reviewing and off to a running start in math. I will be sending home the math review with the planner next Monday. I want to look over it with them to help them. I often make notes on the pages - I know that not all of the children can read the notes yet. Will you please help them understand what is missing as you look over their work? Hearts around a number or a letter means that I love this. You wrote it so carefully.
This is our last week for reviewing in reading. I hope that we all remembered our planners with our reading minutes signed in it. I realize that I had so much information to give you at the conference that sometimes things get overlooked or mis-communicated. In first grade, we ask for the planner to be returned on Friday (or Thursday if there is no school on Friday) and then we will send them back to you on Monday. If you forget on Friday, you can return them on Monday. (We are just learning about being responsible in first grade.) Minutes read on Fri., Sat., and Sun. can be added in the planner when you get it on Monday.
We will start our spelling next week. The first test will be on the 18th with short "a" words. I'll post the list on Friday the 11th.
Thanks so much for your support.
Mrs. Reeder

Off to a great start!

Wow! What super readers! Even though we didn't have a full week with our planners, we still had half of our class read and return them. I will add their time to next week's total. Some of you will get two slips in the drawing! Remember - believe in yourself, there's power in you. We can unlock that power by practicing! I'm so proud of you.
Love,
Mrs. Reeder

Slower Paced Conference

Our Parent/teacher conferences felt rushed this time. 10 minutes barely allowed me to relay necessary information to you and didn't give us much time to discuss our individual expectations for the year. With most of you, I missed hearing about your child's and your needs and would love to hear more.

In case you felt as rushed as I did, here is what I'm expecting of you and your child this year:

Routine:
Procedures for birthdays, checking kids in and out of school, what to send with your child, ect. will be explained in a letter from the first grade teachers (printed on yellow paper), in your child's folder.

Reading:
Our minimum goal is to have each child read 100 minutes a week. Although, if you read together for 20 minutes each day, you will more than amply meet this goal. Practice is what develops this important skill. I wish I could read with every student 1 on 1 each day, but beyond some small group interaction, I don't get enough opportunities.

For a little variety, if your child has read 20 minutes and wants to do more, I would be happy to count time spent reading on Starfall.com. It is excellent for beginning readers and doesn't link to other sites. However, this site shouldn't be the only reading practice they get.

Please document all reading minutes in the planner, send it with your child on FRIDAY, and I'll return it to you on Monday. Anything read on Friday through Monday can be written in under the comments section.

Please note there are two copies of the list of high frequency words. Please give one to Grandma, Dad, Babysitter, or to anyone that your child spends much time with that would be willing to practice with them. (or if you're like me, you may want save the extra list in case you lose the first one) If your child passes off all six lists before the middle of April, they will get to play outside with Mrs. Anderson at a special extra recess.

Please work on these lists. It will make a huge difference in your child's reading ability. I realize some of your children already know most of the words, so we can quickly pass their lists off and let them make a necklace as soon as possible.

Math drills:
Please practice putting numbers in order from 1 to 20 and descending from 20 to 1, which will help prepare them for adding and subtracting. Choose 2 numbers and talk about bigger, smaller; greater than, less than; more and fewer. Please discuss and use all of these terms so your child will become familiar with them. When they are good with 2 numbers, choose 4 and have them put the numbers in order from the least to the greatest.
I hope this helps. I feel like I was running a race as we talked. I wish I could have heard more from you. Please use the planner to write me notes about your child or e-mail using the address I showed you on the book order form.

I am looking forward to collaborating with your child and you this year. If we work together, we will successfully advance your child's education and have a positive experience in the process.
Thank you.
Mrs. Reeder

Wow! That summer went by quickly and now it is time to meet a whole new group of friends. I'm getting excited and working to get your desks and crayons and pencils ready for you. We are sending out appointments for you to come and talk with me so that we can let you know the things we will be doing this year. First grade is the greatest grade to be in because we learn to read! I know many of you read well but this year, we will all learn to read! YEA!!!
This is where you can check to see our spelling words and vocabulary words when we start that. You can also check for reminders about field trips and other important things we are doing. There are also some sites you can click on. My favorite is Starfall.com.
I hope you enjoy the last few days of vacation. See you on Monday.
Love,
Mrs. Reeder