Olaf

As I am sure you heard, we had Olaf visit our classroom this week. Unfortunately it was a bit too warm and he melted! Students in first grade are responsible for explaining how water changes states and can melt,freeze, and evaporate.

In the Science Lab the students talked about tools we use to measure weather. They created a wind vane and visited the one we have here at school.

On Think Through it Thursday we had a fun challenge. Students were given 1 piece of paper and were asked to created the longest paper chain they could. Mira was our winner!

Congratulations Libby! She was elected by her classmates as our first Leader of the Month!

Foundation

Parents,
Please see the following information and considering making a donation to our foundation.
Thank you!

The Foundation Funding Drive is running through September 9.  This is the Foundation's largest fundraiser for the year to help continue to keep our Science Lab going as well as provide other enrichment for the students and resources for Addison. The new digital marquee out front is a gift from Foundation, as well as $15,000 worth of new iPads this year for the classrooms!  The top two classes participating in the Drive in each grade level will receive an additional iPad, too!!  A percentage of the funds raised also comes directly into our classroom.

And...

When we hit $20,000, Mrs. Hallmark and Mr. Cohen will spend some time up on the roof for all to see!!!

When we hit $25,000, they will KISS A PIG!!

When we hit $30,000, the kids will get to tape Mrs. Hallmark and Mr. Cohen to the WALL. 

Please support us in this effort! Visit www.foundation4addison.org for details on Foundation and the Funding Drive.  

Thunder Cake

We have had a super busy week. We have been learning about the seasons and types of weather. The students worked with partners to create season posters. We also drew pictures of different kids of weather. Today we listened to a thunderstorm and ready a book about a little girls afraid of thunder. Her grandma made thunder cake with her and she wasn't afraid anymore. We made thunder cake in class. It was delicious. Next week we will focus on types of precipitation.

In math we will be moving from graphing into numbers and place value. We will be showing numbers in many ways including using base ten blocks. Practicing counting by tens this weekend will really help!

We introduced 2 more activities in out Daily 5. We did words work and partner reading. The students loved both!

All of the students turned in their homework this week. Yippie! Just a few clarifications.... 1 spelling activity must be completed each day. The activities can be found in the front cover of their homework notebook. These activities will remain the same for the 9 weeks. Then we will trade them out. Their words can be found in their agenda in their GATOR book as well as on the top of the math sheet in their homework journal. They will have 10 new words for practice each week.

Pizza!

We had a super delicious treat this afternoon... pizza. We took a break before reading to fill up our tummies. Thanks for your participation in Papa Johns Night!

Open House

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me for Open House. I enjoyed talking with you and sharing what we do in our class. As always, if you have any questions please feel free to email me or write a note in your child's GATOR book.

This week we visited the Science Lab and reviewed the rules and practice with some tool. Coming up we will be working on weather tools. Please consider joining the Addison Foundation if you haven't already. They fund the Science Lab which the children really enjoy.

Many of your students said Friday was the best thing about school. On Fridays, we have Free Friday activities after morning work. Take a peek at what that looks like and you'll know why Friday's are the best!

Have a super weekend!

First Week of First Grade

We made it through the first week of first grade! This week we spent a lot of time going over our classroom and school rules and procedures. Our class rules are Be respectful, be responsible, be helpful, and be safe. The students came up with a list of how we can show each of the "Be's".

Thank you for signing and returning GATOR books. This is a very important part of our routine. Students will write something we did in class and mark their behavior each day. Please ask them about what they have written.

In reading we are working on building our independent stamina. The students are doing great! We have made it to 9 minutes without disruption. In math we have been graphing.

Open House will be next Thursday at 5:00. See you then! Have a great weekend

First Day of School

We are off to a fantastic start! The students have started to develop our class rules and have learned many of the procedures in our classroom.

We also learned a new game called my turn your turn. Have your child teach it to you . At home you can use 9 pennies to play.


You will have lots of paperwork to complete. Please send papers in as you complete them.

Our Specials schedule is:
Monday   PE
Tuesday   Math Lab
Wednesday  PE
Thursday   Art
Friday   Music