Weekly Update

Hi Everyone!

It's been so refreshing to see the sun!  I think we've had more inside recess days than outside ones this year.  I hope your spirit has been renewed by the sunshine too.

I have a few things to tell you this week...

Important Information About School Pictures:
Fall pictures will be taken Wednesday, October 3rd.  I sent home information about pictures in yesterday's Thursday folder.  This will be a day for individual pictures only; a whole-class picture will be taken in the Spring.  Following are some guidelines to help facilitate your picture order / purchase:

• If possible, please order your child's pictures online.  It's the fastest, easiest, and most convenient way to order your child's pictures.  If you order online, you do not need to send anything to school with your child on Picture Day!
• If you are not ordering online, please fill out the payment envelope, enclose your payment, and send it to school on picture day.  Your payment envelope must include your child's name, my name, your "look" (or background) selection, your package selection, and your payment.
• Picture purchase is optional.

Fall Literacy Testing:

Our Fall literacy screenings are underway.  I am administering both the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) and the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) to each student.  I've received several questions about the DRA, and will send an overview of this assessment to you in the middle of next week.  I look forward to discussing the results of your child's assessments at our Fall Conference in October.

Donuts with Dads:
The PTA is hosting a "Donuts with Dads" on Friday, September 28th from 7:00 - 7:30 am at school.  All dads and kids are welcome.  To ensure there are enough doughnuts for everyone in attendance, please complete the Donuts with Dads RSVP form found on the Pinebrook homepage.

Focus Areas for the Coming Week:

• Reading:  We will talk about good reader habits. We will talk about rereading to smooth out our voices, scooping up words in phrases, and giving reminders to our reading partners.
• Writing:  We will learn about editing marks and practice editing our writing.
• Math:  We will begin our sorting and patterns unit.  We will discuss sorting attributes, such as size, color, thickness.  We will learn about growing and repeating patterns and pattern units (the part of the pattern that repeats). You can help by asking your child to sort things at home (laundry, buttons, coins, etc.), and by asking your child to look for and describe patterns in the environment.  
• Science:  We will learn about apples and the life cycle of an apple.
• Social Studies:  Throughout first grade, we will talk about various Famous Americans, and their contributions to our country.  Next week, we will talk about John Chapman, also known as "Johnny Appleseed", and Eleanor Roosevelt.

As always, I welcome your feedback.  Please let me know if you have any questions!  

We are going to a "fancy dinner" for my husband's company this weekend, so I am looking forward to wearing lipstick and heels!  Here's to a wonderful weekend!