Aug. 26

 Hello  families!

Next week we are going to be doing 1st Grade testing on our computers. Several students have already had trouble with their headphones. So please check with your student and see if they need new ones. We will be testing Monday and Tuesday morning. Also please be sure their computer is charged and ready.

Academics: 

Moral focus: Wisdom is knowing the difference between right and wrong and choosing to do the right thing. This is the first grade definition! Please review this with your student.

Phonics: We will focus on short O words like hop, top, tot, etc.

Writing: We are continuing to work on our Handwriting.

Read aloud: We will be working on visualizing. Visualizing is making a mental movie in our heads of what is happening in the story.

Math: We will continue to work on our 10 pairs (numbers that add up to 10).

Social Studies: We will compare and contrast families! 

Aug. 19th

Hello Families!

This week was full of learning!

Parent Action Items:

1. I am still missing some checks. If you have not turned in your supply list checks please do so as soon as possible. $5 made out to Scholastic and $5 made out to Landmark Academy for Leader In ME.
2. Chromebooks are coming home today for those who are new and/or did not have them checked out for the summer. Please review some expectations with your student about Chromebook responsibilities. Chromebooks need to be charged by the student overnight, then brought to school EVERY DAY. I would suggest that you find one consistent place to charge and to make it part of your student's routine. Come home hang up your backpack and plug in your computer or whatever works best for your family. Chromebooks come to school but chargers can stay at home.
3. Fall pictures are on the 25th. Please fill out this survey (some already have!) about picture day. This survey helps keeps things organized on my end Fall Picture Survey
4. If you are looking to volunteer to help there is a link for you to do some clerical work for the First grade teachers. Clerical work would include copies, laminating, cutting, sorting, etc. If you are interested click HERE
5. LABEL all items of your student. This includes LUNCHBOXES, sweaters, coats, water bottles, etc. If items are lost they can be returned to your student. 

Important Dates:

Aug 24th: Curriculum Night 5:00-5:30pm (k-2)

Aug 25th: Picture day/ Free Dress

Sept. 2 No School

Sept. 5 No School

Academics:

Moral Focus: We will be talking about Wisdom. Our first grade definition is knowing right and wrong. 

Phonics: We will be looking at words with short i in it. Words like sit, fit, nip, kit, and dip. Students will also learn the following high frequency words: what, to, do, this

Comprehension: We will studying the parts of books (cover, title page, author, illustrator, etc.) and making predictions. A prediction is a good guess as to what happens next. This helps readers track their understanding of the story.

Writing: We are continuing to work on our handwriting skills.

Math: Students will be exploring different ways to make 10. We will also be diving into the parts of an equation (equal sign, addends, sum, and addition sign). We will be reviewing this for several weeks.

Social Studies: We going to go over our Landmark creed. As a class we will discuss the meaning.

    "I am a Landmark student. I strive to achieve academic excellence. I exemplify high moral character. I will work diligently to prepare for the future. I know that my success in life is dependent on my own efforts."

Aug. 12th

 Hello Families!

I have a 'Parent Action Item' area below to communicate important actions that need to be done. These might range from a quick survey to just reading some important information. I will also encourage you to be reading the other school communications like the Landmark Lead.

Parent Action Items:

1. Purple Folders: These come home every Friday afternoon. These need to be emptied at home and returned on Monday. These will contain work from the week, flyers, and other important items. Please look through them. 

2. Leadership application: Students will be bringing home a leadership job application in their purple. On one side it has a menu of classroom jobs that I have in my class. On the other side it has an application. Assist your student in reading and completing this application. It is due by Wednesday 17th. All students will get a leadership opportunity but they may not get the exact one they want. We will change positions as needed.

3. Make sure you bring your orange dismissal number each day to pick up your kid! It will speed up the process!

4. Fall Picture Survey: Fall pictures are scheduled for August 25th. Students can be in Free Dress (non uniform outfit). All students will get a photo taken for the yearbook. Please click HERE to fill out a quick survey on whether or not you are going to order pictures. This helps me keep things organized.

5. I am going to need some parent volunteers this year to help make some resources for our classroom. For right now it will be mostly clerical work (printing, laminating, cutting, etc). I am hopeful that I can have classroom volunteers later in the year. I am in the process of making a sign up for our specific class and will have it out soon. You can get ahead start and sign up with the school volunteer list if you would like at the LANDMARK VOLUNTEER.

Important Reminders:

Chromebooks have not been issued out yet. I am hopefully everyone will have one by early next week.

2 snacks per day

1 full water bottle

Make sure your student KNOWS what kind of lunch they have (home or hot)

Make sure your student KNOWS how they are getting home, especially if you change it up.

Important Dates:

August 24th: Curriculum Night 5:00-5:30 PM

August 25th: Picture Day (Free Dress)

September 2-5: Labor Day Weekend

Academics:

Phonics: Phonics is the fundamentals of reading. We are going to start our phonics curriculum on Monday. Students will review their short vowel sounds while establishing our academic routines for the section of our day.

Reading Comprehension: This week we will work on establish healthy habits of reading. This starts with listening skills and being able to verbally identifying your favorite part of a story. We will also focus on naming the physical parts of a book. 

Writing: We will be working on handwriting for several weeks. In addition to handwriting, I will model identifying my favorite part of a story and how to take my verbal response and turn it into a written response. 

Math: We will be working on our counting skills. Counting by 1s, and 2s. We will also establish our routines and procedures for our math centers.

Social Studies: We will be taking this week to go over emergency procedures like fire, severe weather, and lock downs. 

First Grade Specifics

 Hello Families!

I wanted to reach back out with more specifics about the day to day life in First Grade but also get some information about your student. 

Parent Action Items:

1. Please fill out this survey about your student. Fill it out once per student. Click HERE for the survey.
2. Read the entire blog.
3. Get your student and their supplies to Supply drop off on Aug. 8th 4pm-6pm!
4. Keep checking your emails, the school and I will be sending more important info about the year.

Supply Drop Off:

• Aug. 8th 4-6pm! 
• Please bring all the supplies on the supply list! Please read the list carefully and only label what needs to be. 
• Do NOT fill your student's pencil box. We will have an activity on the first day to do this.
• You will get your Driveline Number which is very important for dismissal.

What to Bring DAILY:

• Good Attitude!
• Backpack
• School Issued Chromebook *if you do not have one, your student will be assigned one once school starts.
• 2 Snacks ( we will have two snack times a day)
• Full water bottle (Pop tops, no straws)
• Home Lunch if preferred
• Jacket or sweater
• LABEL PERSONAL ITEMS
• NO toys.

Important Things to consider:

• Slowly get into a school schedule. It does take practice and time to get this one down. Don't wait till the first day to wake your student up early. It will not go well for anyone! Doors open at 7:45 am at school and then students are expected to be in their classrooms not later than 8:10.
• Set up a spot for Chromebook charging at home. Your student will need to charge it every night so make a specific area for it. 
• Talk with your student about the new school year. See if they have any questions!
• If you want to go the extra mile you could start teaching your student how to tie shoes! This helps not only your child but me! With 30 coming into our class it tends to be a lot of shoes that need to be tied. My back thanks you! 😜

Daily Schedule:

• Arrival is staggered. Students with the last name starting with A-M arrive from 7:45-7:55 and last names with N-Z arrive 7:55-8:05. School starts at 8:10. 
• Lunch and Recess is at 12:10-12:50pm. Please avoid checking out students for appointments during this time.
• Specials is from 12:50-1:30 pm. 
• Dismissal is at 3:25 pm. *If you are going to check out your student early I would suggest checking them out before 2:45 pm.