Weekly Update

Hi Everyone,

It's been a busy week!  We spent time learning about repeating and growing patterns, playing in the Fall sunshine, making "BFF Words", and crafting Otis the tractor.  #ourbusyfirstgradelife

My son, Savey ("Say-vee"), is in the Educators Rising Club at Champe.  As part of the club, he'll be coming to Pinebrook each Tuesday morning to spend an hour in our class before going to his school.  The kids are really enjoying him, and he's having a ball with them. Savey has a real heart for little ones.  He's going to love his time in our class!

Pumpkins:
We will complete an in-class pumpkin investigation.  Each child will need his/her own small pumpkin.  I sent a note home about this in yesterday's Thursday folder. Please send your child's small pumpkin to school by Wednesday, October 23rd.  Please write your child's name on the bottom of his/her pumpkin.  (Black permanent marker works best for this.)

Fall Party:
Please mark your calendar for our Fall party on Thursday, October 31st.  The final time is yet to be determined, but the party will start sometime around noon and last until 1:15 pm. All families are welcome to attend!  (NO costumes, please.)  I will send a food permission slip home before the party. Our awesome Room Mom, Mrs. Lackey, and I thank you for your donations. Your funds will be put to good use as she plans for our class celebrations.  If you signed up to help with our Fall Party, Mrs. Lackey may contact you with further details.

Extra Clothes:
Because first graders are still prone to bathroom accidents and playground slips, please consider tucking an extra set of clothing (to include underclothes) into your child's backpack.  I will not collect and store the clothes in our classroom. The extra set of clothing will simply sit at the bottom of your child's backpack until it may be needed.  Thank you!

Water Bottles:
If you're not already doing so, please be sure to send a water bottle to school each day with your child.  We do NOT have an in-class water fountain.  The kids get tired and thirsty over the course of our day, and water goes a long way toward helping them stay energetic and attentive.  

Focus Areas for the Coming Week:

• Reading:  We will finish our first reading unit as we summarize the good reader habits we have learned, and the good partner habits we have learned.  
• Writing:  We will study published authors' work, and try applying some craft moves from mentor authors to our own writing. 
• Math:  We will finish our patterns unit.  We will predict what comes next in a pattern, solve pattern word problems, and review growing and repeating patterns.
• Social Studies:  We will finish talking about Famous Virginians and their contributions to our country.  We are learning about Christopher Newport, Powhatan, Pocahontas, Thomas Jefferson, Maggie Walker, and Arthur Ashe.

I sincerely hope you are beginning to feel settled in the year.  Reach out anytime with questions, comments, and feedback!

I am so excited for the long and sunny weekend!  We are going to visit the Renaissance Fair in Maryland, and spend time around the fire pit.  Leo will put something on the grill, and we will catch up on our family time.  Jonah and I may visit Savey at Cox Farms too.  

I hope you enjoy the long weekend!