St Patricks Elementary School

We are off to a great start. I really enjoyed working with the students last week.
This week we will be covering the following:
Language Arts We are are reading the story of Old Yeller and learning about the importance of the setting of a story.
Our section test for this story wil be on Thursday. This test will include vocabulary, comprehension quetions and from our grammar studies, the 4 types of sentences.

This week’s writiing lesson will be a personal narrative in the form of a memoir.

Math We will work on place value, number sense, and a quick review of addition and subtraction. We will cover chapter 1 in the Math textbook.

Social Studies We will be studying chapter 1 - World Regions

ScienceWe will begin Chapter 1

During the week we will also be taking a baseline reading test.

We will also continue to work on setting goals for our classroom. Each student will also be selecting a goal that they would like to achieve this year and one for the first nine weeks.

I want to thank all the parents who donated the supplies for our room.

I am looking forward to meeting the parent of my students during our open house which will be Thursday August 28th at 7:00 pm Please bring your child with you and he/she can show you around our room.

 Welcome to First Grade.  We are off to a wonderful start.  I am very excited to share many wonderful things with your child.  First Grade is the beginning of an amazing journey of learning.  This will be an exciting year for both you and your child.

Reading Language Arts

  This week we will begin our reading curriculum.  Our unit theme is animals.  Your child will have a Reading Bag (we call it the R Bag–that is easier to write in the Planner).  Homework for Reading Language Arts will travel home and back to school in the R Bag.  Your child will have a Weekly Homework Sheet with information about the nightly routine.  It may be to study spelling words, read the Weekly Story, read a Leveled Reader, or various other types of drill and practice items.  Your child will have an x indicating the homework for that night.  Spelling words are located in your child’s planner at the beginning of each week. 

Math

We will be completing a baseline Math test this week.  Our focus will be on number recognition, formation and place value.  We will also be counting forward and backward.

Social Studies

We will be looking at various jobs and the “responsibilities” of those jobs.  Your child will get to be a Veterinarian in the Social Studies Center. 

Classroom News

Please be sure to sign your child’s planner each night.  Don’t forget to praise those Green Planet marks–they work very hard to achieve good behavior!!!

We will be having an Open House on Thursday at 7:00.  I hope to see you there.  I will be meeting with parents to discuss our First Grade Routine. 

Your child may have a water bottle in the classroom–this allows them to easily get a drink as they need it.  We have snack daily at 9:00–be sure to send something healthy.

Thank you to all the parents for sending the classroom supplies.  It is very much appreciated.

We have a secret word only found in our classroom blog.  Share this word with your child and they will recieve a cool surprise.  This week’s word is “responsibility”

Our first two days of school went great. I am looking forward to another great week.

Language Arts:
Reading: We will be reading Because of Winn Dixie this week. The focus this week will be author’s purpose. Test will be Thursday. This story’s vocabulary words are:

Vocabulary Word Meaning
memorial-monument
selecting-choosing
prideful- vain
peculiar- strange
recalls-remembers
positive- certain
grand-wonderful

Spelling: This weeks spelling words will be in their assignment books as well as on this page. The test will be on Friday.
Spelling Words: admire, magnet, contest, method, custom, rally, soccer, engine, sudden, finger, accident, mitten, intend, fabric, flatten, rascal, gutter, mammal, happen, cannon, dungeon, magnify, festival, thunderstorm, injury
Language: Introduction of declarative and interrogative sentences. Test will be on Thursday.
Writing: We will focus on memoir writing this week.

Math: The students will be starting Chapter 1 and 2 in our Math Book. This will cover Place Value, Comparing Numbers, and Rounding.

Science: We will begin Chapter 1 All Living Things. The students will bring home vocabulary notecards to review.

Social Studies: Students will be starting to learn about West Virginia. We will be learning the state symbols.

Classroom News:
Please remember to sign and return all papers to school.

Book Orders are due on Sept. 5. If you are writing a check, please make the check out to Scholastic. It will be sent with the order.

Please make sure to sign your child’s assignment book every night.

Thank you for sending in classroom supplies. It is greatly appreciated.

There will be an Open House on Thursday. Information will be sent home about this.

Secret Word Labor Day

Welcome to third grade! The school year is off to a great start! I am so excited to begin this year with such a wonderful group of students!

Language Arts

This week we will be reading a chapter book entitled Flat Stanley. This is an excellent book for beginning novel readers. In third grade the students make the transition from learning the basics of phonics to reading for meaning and hopefully, enjoyment. It is my desire to help your child develop a love for reading. Therefore, we will be weaving classic novels in with the third grade reading curriculum throughout the year! Flat Stanley is a humorous tale of a boy who becomes “flat” when his bulletin board falls on him. Stanley realizes that there are several advantages to being flat, such as the ability to slide under doors, through bars, and yes, being mailed in an envelope for long trips. We will be completing several writing projects based on this book. The students will also be mailing their own Flat Stanley out to explore the world. Details will be given later on in the week. The vocabulary words for this book are listed below.

altered, bulged, enormous, fragile, jealous, museum, occasion, patient, permission, valuable

We will also begin our focus on Formula Three. We will be studying the consonant and n-k pals. A pal is a combination of two, three, four, or five letters which almost always sounds the same way. The students will begin making a PALS study ring. They will periodically bring this study ring home to review with you. This week’s spelling words will include these pals.

when, whole, where, bath, thin, ship, bush, phone, elephant, chair, such, bank, drank, wink, sink, chemical

During the week we will also be completing a baseline reading test.

Math

We will review basic addition and subtraction facts and operations this week. Last Friday the students completed a math baseline test.

Science

We will become familiar with the Science Text Book and identify real-world reasons to learn Science!

Social Studies

Students will begin to learn about a community.

Classroom News

Please remember to sign and return all school forms if you have not already done so.

I would like to thank all the parents who donated supplies for our classroom!

Please check and sign your child’s planner every evening!

We will have an Open House on Thursday at 7:00. I hope to see you there!

Please share the secret word phrase below with your child. This is to be sure that parents are reading the weekly newsletter. If your child knows the secret word phrase, he/she will recieve a small reward. Be sure to tell them that it is TOP SECRET!

Secret Word Phrase: Jump into a Good Book!

Welcome back to school! I am so excited to be teaching 5th grade again this year. I am sure we are going to have a great year.

LANGUAGE ARTS
This week we will be reading Frindle, a humorous fiction by Andrew Clements. The comprehension skill for the week is character and plot. Our grammar lesson will be concentrating on the four kinds of sentences: declarative, interogative, imperative, and exclamatory. This week we will also learn what a character sketch is and how to write one. Spelling words are: distance, method, anger, problem, butter, petals, enjoy, perhaps, figure, channel, admire, comedy, husband, tissue, mustard, shuttle, advance, drummer, regular, and denim. The challenge words are: avalanche, monopoly, reluctant, adequate, and tangerine. Vocabulary words to learn this week are: acquainted, assignment, essential, guaranteed, procedures, reputation, and worshipped. The spelling test and reading comprehension test will be on Friday.

MATH
We will be working on chapters one and two this week. Please look in planners because there will be homework.

SCIENCE
Chapter 1 - Classifying Organisms

SOCIAL STUDIES
Chapter 1

CLASSROOM NEWS
Please remember to check planners each evening for homework and other news. Also, planners need to be signed by a parent or guardian each evening.

Open house will be Thursday, August 28 beginning at 7:00. Your child will be showing you our classroom and talking about some of the things we are doing. I am looking forward to meeting each of you.

Book orders are due on September 8. If you are writing a check, please make it out to Schoolastic.

Thank you for sending in the school supplies so quickly.

Please remember our service project and send in any school supplies for those in need.

Secret Phrase - Go Mountaineers!

  Wow–It is hard to believe that the last week of school is here.  I have enjoyed teaching each of these very special First Graders.  Just because school is “closed” for the summer, doesn’t mean that learning stops.  Please read with your child and allow him/her many opportunities to read to you.  A great series for the summer is “The Magic Tree House” books.  You can find these at our local library, Target and Borders.  They are wonderful stories and will challenge your child’s fluency and comprehension skills. If you have any questions about things to do with your child to maintain mastered skills over the summer, you may e-mail me sherrihardmanjackson@gmail.com.  I have prepared a Summer Packet for your child.  He/she may return their completed packet to me at the beginning of the new school year.  I will have a surprise for them.

I have enjoyed working with you over the past two years as a team to help your child do their best.  Thank you for all the support and enthusiasm your have shown. 

What’s Happening This Week?

Talent Show - Tuesday 10:00 - 11:00 4-6 grades/12:15 - 2:15 K-3

Movie Day - Wednesday (bring a blanket or sleeping bag for the floor)

Prayer Service - Thursday 2:00

Picnic - Friday at the Lewis County Park

I can’t believe that the school year has come to an end, boy has it flown by! I have enjoyed having each of your children in my class this year. It has been such an honor watching them grow in so many ways. They ALL have truly made this year unforgettable!
I will be sending home a Summer Bridge Packet this week for your child to do over the summer. This packet also has a list of suggested reading for Kindergarten. Please help them stay on track by completing this booklet and continuing to provide them with chance to learn by reading with them and to them on a regular basis. The story list that I have provided offers wonderful books that will challenge your child and help them with fluency and comprehension skills.
This week we will be doing a lot of fun activities to celebrate Kindergarten’s hard work this year. On Monday, Mrs. Droppleman and I are surprising the students with a trip to the Fire Department and dessert at the Ice Cream Barn. On Tuesday, our school will be having their talent show at 10:00 - 11:00 4-6 grades/12:15 - 2:15 K-3. On Wednesday, we will be having “Movie Day”. Thursday is an extremely busy day. In the morning, Kindergarten will be moving up to Mrs. Jackson’s room for a short period of time. This is a great way for the students to become familiar with their upcoming teacher and the classroom. In the afternoon, we will be having our End of Year Prayer Service. Friday, we will be at the Lewis County Park all day for a cookout and swimming.

*Mrs. Droppleman would like to thank everyone who participated and donated for the Relay for Life. Every bit counts and surely can make a difference!

 It is hard to believe that the last week of school is here.  I have enjoyed teaching third grade this year.  I believe they are the best students in the world.  They are hard-working, kind, and enthusiastic children and it has been my privilege to be their teacher.

Just because school is “closed” for the summer, doesn’t mean that learning stops.  Please read with your child and allow him/her many opportunities to read to you.  Your child will have a Third Grade Summer Reading list with some awesome suggestions for summer literature.  You can find many of these titles at our local library, Target and Borders.  I will also be sending home a summer packet for your child including ideas for helping your child maintain third grade skills over the summer.  If you have any questions about things to do with your child to maintain mastered skills over the summer, you may e-mail me shellykraus@gmail.com.   Your child may return their completed packet to me at the beginning of the new school year for a little surprise!

I will be sending home a Parent Survey this week to help provide feedback for ways to improve my classroom in the future.  Please take a few moments to complete and return this survey.

Again, thank you for the opportunity to work with your children.  It has been a wonderful year.  They will each be in my prayers always!

   What’s Happening This Week?                                    

Missionary Presentation- Monday morning

Movie Day- Monday afternoon

Talent Show - Tuesday 10:00 - 11:00 4-6 grades/12:15 - 2:15 K-3

Field Trip- Wednesday (Look in backpacks for details!)

Step-Up Day- Thursday morning (The students will be visiting the fourth grade classroom for a few moments to experience what Life in the Fourth Grade will be like!)

Sports Party- (for improved multiplication facts) Thursday 12:50

Prayer Service - Thursday 2:00

Picnic - Friday at the Lewis County Park      

Language ArtsWe will continue reading and discussing the novel “Caesar’s Story; 1759″. We will have a test on the complete book next week. This week’s spelling is taken from chapters 9-12 of the novel. The students have a copy of the words and their difinitions.
Math We will continue working with angles.
Social StudiesWe will have a test on Australia and New Zealand, Thursday
Science We had a very successful Science Fair. We would like to congratulate all the students who took part in the fair.

News; On Thursday we will be taking a walking field trip to tour the first floor of the Old State Hospital. Each students needs to bring in a permission slip and $5.00. All adults going on the trip will also need to pay $5.00 for the tour. Any parent may come along and help with the trip. We also need several blankets to sit on, if you have a blanket please bring it with you. Students and adults need to pack a lunch. We will also need several large blankets to set on. This should be an interesting trip.

  What a WILD time we had at the Pittsburgh Zoo.  The students were very well behaved and had a super time.  Thank you a million times to all the parents that help in making this trip such a success.  I truly could not have done it without you.  First Grade did a wonderful job  performing at the Spring Music Concert last Tuesday. 

Reading Language Arts  This week we will look at another great scientist and inventor.  We will be reading a variety of stories as we finish our reading books.  Continue to practice fluency as your child reads to you at home.