Lady bug math

The 4 Seasons

Here are a few of the songs we have learned to remember about the seasons:

Our Earth

"I am Earth, big and round

Here is my orbit I follow around.

I'm tilted on my axis,

the sun shines down on me,

that's why the seasons change

so much you see!"

(sing to tune of I'm a little teapot)

Seasons

"Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Summer, Fall, Summer, Fall
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
The year has four seasons in all."
(Sing to the tune of London Bridge is falling down)

Summer
"Summer's hot and school is out
school is out, school is out,
Summer's hot and school is out,
June, July, and August."
(Sing to the tune of London Bridge is falling down)

We have been learning about the 4 seasons. As part of this unit we made a Sun and Earth model to show how the Earth revolves around the sun. We learned that the Earth is tilted on it's axis.

Reading Centers

Writing around the room.

Reading around the room.

Reading big books by yourself or with a partner.

Reading a book from our class library.

Reading with a partner.

Every day in our class we have reading group and reading centers. To get ready for this we have been learning the rules and routines for centers. We have had fun getting to use new things and learn what it looks like and sounds like. Some of our center choices are: reading a big book, non-fiction book, or class library book by yourself or with a partner, reading around the room, and writing around the room.

Patterns

We have been working on learning rules and routines for the many different things we'll do in our class this year. One of the things we do throughout the year is use math manipulative's. We have been practicing what it should look like and sound like when we use our "math tools". Here are some pictures of our class doing this. We were sorting and making patterns.

Classroom News September 3rd

Dear Parents and students,
How are you? We had a great first week of school. We have been learning and practicing rules and routines for our classroom. We are getting better at this each day. Please ask your child about our class rules and how they are doing. I will be sending home a tracker with your child on Tuesday. They will also be bringing home unit 1.1 homework Tuesdau.
A BIG THANK YOU to all who have donated so generously to our class supplies and for Weekly reader! I really appreciate all that you do with your child at home. It takes parents and teachers working together to help each child be successful at school.
I will be using our class blog to post classroom news and important updates as well as pictures and information about some of the things we do in class. In order to help save paper and copies I would like to use this as my main form of communication with you. Please let me know if you do not have access to the internet and I will print off our news for you.
September book orders are due by Wednesday September 15th. You can order them online at http://clubs.scholastic.com. Our class access code is GJR3X. You may also send your order and money in an envelope with your child's name on it.
Each child in our class received a bag at back to school night. One of the things in the bag was a person for them to decorate at home to look like them. Please help your child do this and return it to school. If your child has lost theirs, please send a note and I will get them a new one.
Thanks for all you do!
Mrs.Shaffer

September Book orders are due September 15th!

You can order online at scholastic.com/bookclubs. Our Class Activation code is: GJR3X. For each online order made our class gets to choose one free book. Thanks for your support!

WELCOME 2010-2011 Students

August 2010
Dear Parents and Students,
How are you? My name is Mrs. KayDee Shaffer. I will be your child’s 1st grade teacher. I am excited to get to know your child and enjoy a year of learning and fun.
1st grade is such an important year in your child’s life. There is so much they will need to learn. You can help them by reading this year. Read to them, with them, or if they can, let them read to you. Another way you can help your child is to practice their numbers up to 20. If your child is ready start practicing basic addition and subtraction facts. To help with writing practice, help your child write a letter to me and send it to: I will send a letter back to each student who sends one to me.
Just a few things about me: this year will be my fifth year of teaching 1st grade at Garland Elementary. I love reading and learning. I received my Masters in Education May 2009 and continue to learn how to better meet the needs of my students. I have a daughter who is almost 18 months old. It is so fun to watch her learn and grow! My husband is a teacher too. He teaching Agricultural Education classes to high school students. I like to go camping, four-wheeling and spend time with my family. This summer I have been busy helping my family with our produce business.
As you start your school shopping these are a few things we need for our classroom next year: pencils, glue sticks, tissue boxes, and Clorox/Lysol wipes. If you feel you are able to donate any of these items, please do.
The first few weeks of 1st grade tend to be very warm and your child may bring a water bottle with them. Please feel welcome to send a snack with them as well. They may be hungry those first few weeks as they adjust to being at school all day.
I look forward to working with you next year and hope you have had a fun and safe summer. I hope to see you at our back to school night in a few weeks!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Shaffer