Miss Galpin's First Grade Welcome to our class website!  I update this page often with important information, school and classroom news and events, as well as what we're currently learning.  Please check back frequently.  You never know what good stuff you'll find!  updated 12/1/09 IMPORTANT INFORMATION PTO Meeting on Wednesday, December 2nd at 7pm in the JTPS Cafeteria. Giving Tree items are due on Friday, December 4th. Tuesday, December 8th is a half day.  Dismissal is at 1:25 p.m. Good Ideas Holiday Shopping Spree from 8:30-10 p.m. on Thursday, December 10th. Friday, December 18th is POLAR EXPRESS DAY!!! Wear your pajamas! Wednesday, December 23rd is a half day.  Dismissal is at 1:25 p.m. Winter Vacation: December 24-January 3   What We're Learning Language Arts Harcourt StoryTown Lesson 11 Phonological Awareness: Phoneme blending Phonics: r-controlled /or/ or and ore High Frequency Words: animals, cold, fish, from, their, under, very Reading: Sid Scores, Land of Ice Comprehension Skill: Plot - beginning, middle, ending Robust Vocabulary: nuzzled, pranced, raging Grammar: special names and titles Writing: interview questions **Please review the High Frequency Words that go home at the beginning of each lesson** We are always working on making strong connections to the stories we read.  A connection is a meaningful relationship that your child can make between a story he/she has read and their prior knowledge.  We make text to self, text to text and text to world connections. Mathematics Addison-Wesley Chapter 7 - Counting to 100 Numbers to 19 Counting by 10s to 100 Hundred Chart Counting with Groups of 10 and Leftovers Estimating with Groups of 10 Skip-Counting Patterns Using Skip Counting Before, After and Between Odd and Even Numbers Ordinal Numbers through 20 Vocabulary: Social Studies We are working on a unit that coincides with the upcoming Holiday season.  We are learning about character and the qualities of good character. We are learning about the First Thanksgiving.  We have been studying the Native Americans and the Pilgrims.  We are looking at the similarities and differences between our ways of living. Science Coming soon! Harcourt Lesson 11 Spelling List November 18-24   1. or  6. more  2. for  7. long  3. form  8. bring  4. sort  9. your  5. store         10. head *A fun spelling website...make your own games and quiz yourself* Clicking on this link will take you out of the Watertown Public Schools Site Fun Websites *Clicking on any of these links will take you away from the Watertown Public Schools site*  Starfall.com - a great literacy site with fun reading and writing activities Funbrain.com - a great variety of reading and math activities A+ Math - more fun math games! First Grade Math Skills - great math practice broken down by each skill Build Your Wild Self - the Bronx Zoo's hilarious creature creation, now with Madagascar parts! PBS Kids - fun education games with your favorite characters Seussville - everything Dr. Seuss! Specials Schedule Monday P.E. Mr. McQueeney Tuesday  Music Mr. Skelton Wednesday   Library Mrs. Valunas Thursday  Art Mrs. Elwell Friday Computers Mrs. Dufresne  Our Rules Our "umbrella" rule is: Always follow the teacher's directions We also follow "The Golden Rule" in our room: We are kind to others so that they will be kind to us. We thought of the following class rules together: We agree to: 1. keep our bodies to ourselves. 2. always sit on our bottoms. 3. take turns speaking by raising our hands to talk. 4. listen to the speaker. 5. walk when we are inside. 6. use only what belongs to us. Families, please talk with your child about these rules and the importance of making good choices in school.  It will help your child become responsible for their actions and feel in control of their own bodies if they know what is expected of them.  Discussing school rules at home also shows your child that families and teachers form a meaningful partnership. If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to contact me by note, phone (945-2776) or e-mail at galpinsa@watertownps.org