First Grade Falcon Newsletter

Hello First Grade Falcon Families,

October has been a very busy month! Fall festivities, classroom studies, and conferences have made the time go by very quickly. November is nearly here, and below you will find what we've been up to in the classroom, what's coming next, and ideas on how you can support your student at home.


Riggs
We have finished reviewing the first 26 phonograms and are currently reviewing multi-letter phonograms.  Please continue to review the phonograms with your student at home. If you have Riggs cards, use them to practice the phonogram sounds. Your student's phonogram homework is also a great tool to practice the formation and sound of each multi-letter phonogram.


Support Idea(s):

• Focus on handwriting and memorization of the sounds. Review the phonogram cards with your student as often as possible.  Students should practice saying and correctly forming the phonograms every night.  Get creative with how you help your student practice!  Here are some ideas:
• Use glue and glitter or rice to write and decorate the phonograms
• “Rainbow write” the phonograms by using many colors of marker or colored pencil
• Use alphabet magnets to show the phonograms on your fridge

IEW
We are continuing to  read, recite and examine poetry during IEW time.  We have learned many poems, including Sing a Song of People by Eloise Greenfield.  The students will focus on verbs, nouns, and adjectives in the upcoming poems.  They will also focus on finding the main idea in and summarizing poems.

Support Idea(s):

• When reading with your student, ask them to identify the verbs, adjectives, and nouns in the text.
• Help your student read and recite the poem, Hope by Langston Hughes.  Have them practice reciting it to friends and relatives.

Reading
During read aloud time, the students have been listening to both fiction and nonfiction texts.  They have been working on identifying information in the text and sequencing the main events in the text.  Soon they will be working on comparing and contrasting different texts.  During guided reading groups, the students have continued working on many different skills to improve reading and comprehension. Some of these skills include: book sense, retelling, and identifying genre, characters, main idea, setting, information and table of contents.  They have also been working on remembering their phonograms through hands-on games.

Support Idea(s):

• After reading with your student, ask them to retell the story to you.  What were the main events?  What happened first, in the middle, and last?  

Math
During math, these are some of the concepts we have been and will be working on:

• Big Ideas: number and operations, process skills, measurement, geometry
• an addition and subtraction fact family has two addition and two subtraction facts that all use the same three numbers
• numbers are used to describe temperature
• geometric shapes can be sorted by attribute
• a number sentence shows which operation will be used to solve a word problem

Support Idea(s):

• Before you correct your student’s math homework, help them double-check their work to be sure that it’s correct.
• Use a thermometer to track the temperature (to the nearest 10 degrees) at your home.

History
During history, we have culminated learning about the early civilizations of the Americas.  We are now beginning to learn about the early American explorers.  Some key concepts we will be learning about include:

• A review of Columbus and his journey to the Bahamas
• The subsequent journeys of the Spanish Conquistadors, Hernan Cortez and Francisco Pizzaro
• The conquistadors’ desire for gold, silver, spices, and riches
• The Spanish explorers brought disease with them to the Americas, and many Native American Indians died as a result

Support Idea(s):

• Talk with your student about what they have learned during our science and history lessons at school. Ask questions and see if they are able to answer them. If they are unable to answer your questions, provide extra support for them by reading books (from the library), or finding appropriate websites on the topics we're studying. Ask questions during and after the reading to encourage involvement and comprehension.

Field Trip Friday - The Who, What, Where, When, Why and How Of It
What: “Field Trip Friday” Field trip to Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals and Zenger Farm
When: Friday, November 9th, 2012
Where:

• Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals - 26385 Northwest Groveland Drive, Hillsboro, OR
• Zenger Farm - 11741 Southeast Foster Road, Portland, OR

Why:  As a part of the first grade Core Knowledge Sequence, we study about the the layers of the Earth and types of rocks and minerals.  We also study about living things, including plants and the plant cycle of growth.
How: By bus if funds allow, or by parent drivers

We are still looking for chaperons.  If you are interested please contact our classroom field trip volunteer coordinators, Mrs. Sanborn and Mrs. Higgins.

Classroom Wish List

• 28 medium (canteloupe-sized or slightly smaller) pumpkins
• We will need these pumpkins for our Ancient Egypt Unit which will be starting the third week in November.  Do you know of a farm or grocery store that is willing to donate the left over pumpkins after Halloween?  If you can help me collect these pumpkins or have any ideas, please contact me A.S.A.P.

SCHOOL-WIDE NEWS

Jog-a-thon
Thank you for supporting our 6th Annual Cascade Heights Jog-a-thon.  This jog-a-thon helps keep our students physically fit and our school financially fit as well. 100% of the funds go directly to our teachers for stipends to enhance the learning environment for our students at CHPCS and to support our PTA mission.  Please remember to turn in your money  ASAP so we can continue to support our staff and our students.


Calendar at a Glance:

Monday, October 29th - Friday, November 2nd	Parent-Teacher Conferences
Saturday, November 3rd	Riggs Class for Parents
Tuesday, November 6th	Election Day!
Thursday, November 8th	Sock Hop -  3:45-4:30pm, Run by Mr. Weaver
Friday, November 9th	Field Trip Friday - Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Zenger Farm
Monday, November 12th	NO SCHOOL - Veteran’s Day
Thursday, November 15th	PTA Pizza and BINGO Night, 5:00PM
Wednesday, November 21st  and Thursday, November 22nd	NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break

Thank you for your continued support and have a great week!

~Mrs. Varis

FIRST GRADE FALCON UPDATE

Hello First Grade Falcon Families,

Below are some updates including upcoming event reminders and classroom needs.  Thank you for reading!

CLASSROOM UPDATES

Homework
Please make sure that your student is doing their very best work, the very first time.  Take the time to watch how your student is forming letters during Riggs homework.  Are they taking their time, going slowly, and starting all letters from the appropriate point on the line?  If so, praise them for their excellent work.  If not, help them form their letters in the correct way.

Upcoming Field Trip - Chaperones needed!
We have a field trip coming up in November.  Below are the details. We are in need of six parent volunteers to chaperon.  If you would like to volunteer, please contact our classroom field trip volunteer coordinators, Mrs. Sanborn and Mrs. Higgins.

Field Trip Friday - The Who, What, When, Where, Why and How Of It
What: “Field Trip Friday” Field trip to Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals and Zenger Farm
When: Friday, November 9th, 2012
Where:

• Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals - 26385 Northwest Groveland Drive, Hillsboro, OR
• Zenger Farm - 11741 Southeast Foster Road, Portland, OR

Why:  As a part of the first grade Core Knowledge Sequence, we study about the the layers of the Earth and types of rocks and minerals.  We also study about living things, including plants and the plant cycle of growth.
How: By bus if funds allow, or by parent drivers

Classroom Needs
Calling all paper towel and toilet paper rolls!  First grade needs you for our Early Explorers unit!!  Please donate to the first grade telescope project by sending in any and all paper towel and toilet paper rolls--the part you usually toss in the recycling.  

SCHOOL-WIDE NEWS

PTA Social - Friday, October 19th at 1:00PM
Come one, come all, to the second PTA Social!!!
This Friday, at 1pm in the school Library, the PTA will host another event!
By now you've certainly heard some of the raving about the first meeting.
You don't want to miss out again, do you?
Don't you find ice cream delicious?
Don't you appreciate door prizes?
See you there!!

Calendar Reminders

• Jog-A-Thon $ Due this Thursday, October 18th
• The Harvest Festival  is this Thursday, October 18th from 6:00-7:30PM

Thank you,

Mrs. Varis

FIRST GRADE FALCON NEWSLETTER

Hello First Grade Falcon Families,

September is over and it seems fall is surely setting in.  We have been learning so much in first grade yet it feels like the year has just begun!  Below you will find descriptions of what we’ve been learning and what is to come.

Riggs
We have finished reviewing letter strokes and are continuing to review the first 26 phonograms.   As we spend time strengthening our base for reading and writing with the review of the phonograms, it would be very helpful for you to spend time reviewing them at home with your child.

Support Idea(s):

• Review the phonogram cards with your student as often as possible.  Students should practice saying and correctly forming the phonograms.  Get creative with how you help your student practice!  Here are some ideas:
• Use salt dough to form and say phonogram sounds
• If you’re making cookies for your family, have your student help you by forming the dough into phonograms!
• Using a tray filled with rice or cornmeal, have your student trace the phonograms.
• Use sidewalk chalk to form the phonograms outside.

IEW
We have been reading, reciting and examining poetry during IEW time.  In the poems Rope Rhyme and Jump and Jiggle, we have been looking for verbs and synonyms.  The students have been trying to memorize Rope Rhyme, and, when they’re ready, they’ll each have a chance to recite the poem in front of the class.  (The students each have a poetry booklet that includes poems form the Core Knowledge sequence.  They are encouraged to take that booklet home when they need extra practice on a poem, and then to return it to school as we will be using it throughout the year.)

Support Idea(s):

• When reading with your student, ask them to identify the verbs (we say: “Verb, verb, action word!”) in the text.
• Help your student read and recite the poem, Rope Rhyme.  Have them practice reciting it to friends and relatives.

Reading
During read aloud time, the students have been listening to both fiction and nonfiction texts.  They have been working on: identifying information in the text, finding the moral in fables, retelling stories, and identifying the main characters and the setting in stories.  During guided reading groups, the students have been working on many different skills to improve reading and comprehension. Some of these skills include: book sense, retelling, and identifying genre, characters, main idea, setting, information and table of contents.  They have also been working on remembering their phonograms through hands-on games.

Support Idea(s):

• When reading with your student, ask them to identify the front cover, title, back cover, spine and title page of the book.  Ask them to tell you what type of story the book is (i.e. fiction, nonfiction, realistic fiction, fantasy, fable).

Math
During math, these are some of the concepts we have been and will be working on:

• Big Ideas: number and operations, process skills, algebra, measurement, geometry, data analysis and probability
• fractions are used to name equal parts of a whole
• the appropriate arithmetic operation must be chosen to solve a problem
• mathematical language is used to tell the place and position of something when things are in a row
• there are different pattern rules

Support Idea(s):

• Creative math: use food to show understanding of fractions and ordinal numbers!
• If you’re feeding your child something that can be cut into equal parts, give them a fractions mini-lesson.  (i.e. cut a sandwich into four equal parts to show one-fourth, cut an apple in half to show one-half)
• If your child is eating Cheerios or another cereal, have them lay out 12 pieces and count the order.  Quiz them by asking questions such as, “where is the fourth Cheerio?”

History
During history, we have been learning about the early civilizations of the Americas.  The Maya, Incas and Aztecs were some of the first people groups to create civilizations in the Americas.  The students have learned that civilization is a big word that means “city” in short.  We will continue to learn a little bit about each of these early civilizations, and then culminate this unit by celebrating with an “Early American Civilizations Lunch” (see below for details).

Support Idea(s):

• Talk with your student about what they have learned during our science and history lessons at school. Ask questions and see if they are able to answer them. If they are unable to answer your questions, provide extra support for them by reading books (from the library), or finding appropriate websites on the topics we're studying. Ask questions during and after the reading to encourage involvement and comprehension.

Early American Civilizations Lunch, Thursday, October 11th, 11:00-11:45AM
First grade will be eating lunch like the Maya, Incas, and Aztecs on Thursday, October 11th!  You are welcome to help with the setup, cooking, and gathering of supplies for this low-key event.  You may also just join us to share in the tastes of these early civilizations.  Please R.S.V.P. or ask how you can help by contacting our first grade room parents, Mrs. Bethke and Mrs. Gilliam.  Students will not need to bring or buy a lunch that day (unless dietary restrictions will prohibit them from enjoying the food).  The menu will include: corn tortillas (Maya. Ingredients: masa, water), quinoa with pinto beans and potatoes (Inca), and honey-sweetened “hot chocolate” (Aztec.  Ingredients: dark chocolate, honey, cinnamon and/or cayenne pepper, hot water).

Field Trip to Wildwood Recreational Area, October 12th, 2012
Our first field trip of the school year will be to Wildwood Recreational Area on October 12th, 2012. In addition to paying close attention to the wildlife at Wildwood, we will use our imaginations to go back in time and think like the earliest man, from hunting and gathering to farming and settling. Field trip Fridays are considered regular school days and students must be present at school for a full school day. On the day of the field trip, please send your student to school with:

• A regular uniform on OR red field trip shirt, jeans, and comfortable shoes. We will be outside all day and the students will most likely need a red sweater and a jacket.
• A sack lunch, snack, and a full water bottle.    

If you are volunteering to chaperon or drive for the field trip, please be sure that you have completed and submitted all necessary documents to Mrs. Marlatt in the front office.  

Classroom Wish List

• Medium-large succulent plants for the classroom

Here are some supplies we still need and will be using in the classroom over the next few weeks that you may have lying around your house.  Please do not purchase any of these items, but search your home and send any that you have and do not need to school with your student:

   1. Shoe boxes (4 more!): Any shape and size welcome! Send in more than one if you have extra.
   2. Tiny plastic toys: Do you have any tiny plastic toys laying around that your children are tired of that can be donated to our Mesoamerican artifact collection? Send them in!
   3. Gold spray paint: Did you happen to buy gold spray paint and then forget about it? Send it in!


SCHOOL-WIDE NEWS

Birthdays
We appreciate individual family traditions for the celebration of individual achievements such as living a year longer. Please be sensitive to family traditions that do not celebrate birthdays and other holidays.  If you do wish to acknowledge your child's birthday in a public way, please respect the guidelines outlined in the student planner.

Jog-a-thon
Pledge sheets were due on 10/4/12!  Please make your student turns this in by Monday if they haven’t already.  Want to help out at the Jog-A-Thon?  Find Mrs. Stores on Monday and she’ll get you connected where help is needed!  Lap Markers, Cheering Section, Water Bottle Fillers, Cheering Section, Pledge Counters, Cheering Section, General Help...and, of course a Cheering Section!

V.I.P. Day (formerly known as “Grandparents Day”)
Attend the Jog-a-thon, the book fair and/or some class time with students on Monday, October 8th!  The VIPs for 1st grade should show up at 8:50AM near the track for a morning welcome by Mrs. Denman.  The 1st graders will be running at 9:00AM, and there will be coffee and tea for the VIPs and other adults helping with the Jog-a-thon.

Low Cost Internet Access
The link below is information about inexpensive internet access for people in need.  If you are getting this email you already have internet service but please spread the word to those you know with a need for inexpensive service. Not having internet access at home can make school a bit more difficult and this is an nice opportunity for families to be able to afford service. http://www.internetessentials.com/how/default.aspx

Lunch Room Volunteers
The good weather will last a bit longer, which is wonderful at lunchtime: it reduces our need to clean the cafeteria! But when the rain starts we will again need volunteers to help sweep and mop the cafeteria floor every day. If you are able to commit to a day or more per week, from 12:30 to 1:30, please contact volunteer@chpcs.org We appreciate your support!

Family Night Out is Coming
Mark your calendars!! CHPCS Family Dinner Nights! Come support our school and enjoy a tasty dinner at California Pizza Kitchen from Tuesday, October 9 through Thursday, October 11. California Pizza Kitchen donates a fraction of their profits to our school. More details to come.

Harvest Festival

Join the CHPCS community on October 18th for a fun filled evening of free family frivolity.

The Harvest Festival is a chance for CHPCS families and friends to get together and celebrate the turning of the season with music, games, and a baking contest. Hayrides, pumpkin decorating, tug o war, and needle in a haystack will keep the young and old entertained for hours. The fun begins at 6:00 p.m. and ends at 7:30 p.m.

Are you a baker? Are you the keeper of Great Granny’s apple pie recipe? Now’s the time to put on your chef hat, dust off your apron, and whip up your favorite apple or pumpkin themed recipe!  The baking contest is open to all adult/child pairs. Baking with children is not only fun, but is great math practice and provides one on one time that encourages open communication. All baking entries are due on October 18th no later than 3:30 p.m. for judging. After ribbons are awarded, the baked goods will be sold at the Harvest Festival for $1.00 a piece.

Calendar at a Glance:

Saturday, October 6th, 2012	Riggs     Class for Parents
Monday, October 8th, 2012	Jog-a-thon, V.I.P. Day and Book Fair
Thursday, October 11th, 2012	1st Grade Early American Civilizations Lunch (Maya, Inca, Aztec), 11:00-11:45
Friday, October 12th, 2012	Field Trip to Wildwood Recreational Area
Thursday, October 18th, 2012	Harvest Festival, 6:00-7:30PM
Thursday, October 25th, 2012	All School Assembly, 2:45PM (7th Grade Hosting)
Monday, October 29th - Friday, November 2nd	Parent-Teacher Conferences

Thank you for your continued support and have a great week!

~Mrs. Varis