A Note from Ms. Oglesby

Hello Everyone!

Wow! I can't believe it is the third week of school! It has been wonderful getting to know your children and I am ecstatic to be assigned to such a great group. I wanted to reach out to you all and give an update on what is happening in class with the student teacher! Mrs. Koenig and I began splitting subjects this week, and I am starting with morning meeting and word study. We have been getting to know one another more in depth in our morning meetings. We talk about our favorite things, what we want to be when we grow up, and more! We will continue to build our community during this time and really practice our Panther Pride. In word study, we dove head first into vowels and will be continuing learning about all the vowels for the next few weeks. I plan on sending updates throughout the semester to keep you all updated with our class! Thank you all for allowing me to get to know your wonderful kids! 

Sincerely,

Ms. Oglesby 

Math - Unit 1 - Addition and Subtraction

Our first math unit this year will be on addition and subtraction. This is the first of two units on addition and subtraction. The first focuses on basics that we will use to build on and later in the school year our second unit on addition and subtraction will deal with larger numbers.

Our first unit will guide students in how to solve addition and subtraction problems that model real-life situations. Each type of situation demonstrates how real-life problems can be modeled with math.

Students are working towards fluency with addition and subtraction within 10. Having automaticity  with facts will make students more efficient problem-solvers. We will also study various strategies to solve math problems. Strategies include counting on and counting back, using doubles and near doubles, adding with 5, adding ten, adding in any order, and thinking addition to subtract. Key strategies are taught and practiced for solving addition and subtraction facts to 20.

Workbooks: Last year we adopted a new math resource. It includes a lengthy 2-volume workbook set. You will see pages coming home from time to time. We do not complete all the pages for each lesson. From time to time I may send a page home for additional practice of a skill. When we finish volume 1, it will be sent home and you may either use it for additional practice or toss it. ;)

Word Work - Vowels

We always start the first few weeks of school by introducing the vowels and doing practice with the short vowel sounds. Each week we will focus on a letter. This week has been short A. Next week will be E, and so on. Knowing the vowel sounds is key in reading and writing and the short sounds provide important foundational components for our literacy work this year!

We practice the vowel sounds through writing, reading, songs, partner work, and independent practice. Ms. Oglesby has begun teaching our word work lessons and will continue to create daily lessons for our vowel work.

After we get through the vowels we will begin working on grade-level spelling patterns and the accountable words!

Essential Questions

We have a set of essential questions which go along with all of our curriculum units of study. These questions get the students thinking about the concepts and are great discussion starters both at school and home. I will share the essential questions for each unit with you. I encourage you to ask your students these questions at home. They're great conversation starters! Many times if you ask a first grader what they learned at school, they will say "nothing" or "I can't remember". These questions will spark their memory of their learning from school! Here is the first set of EQ's:

Writing:

-What habits help me build stamina?

-How do I write tricky words?

-How do I stretch out a personal narrative?

Math:

- How does knowing many strategies help me to be a better problem solver?

- How can the relationship between addition and subtraction help me to solve problems?

- How can I communicate my math thinking?

- How does knowing many strategies help me to be a better problem solver?

- How can the relationship between addition and subtraction help me to solve problems?

- How can I communicate my math thinking?

Reading:

- What habits help me as a reader?

- What do I do when words are tricky?

- How do reading partners work together?

- What makes an effective community?

Social Studies:

- How can I help make my community a better place to be?

- How do my school and community influence each other?

- What are my rights and responsibilities in my community?

Reminders - Dates

August 28 - Fall Picture Day (9-11 am)
August 31 - K-5 Curriculum Night for Parents (6:30-8 pm)
September 4 - No School (Labor Day)
September 6 - 2-Hour Late Start Day (11:05 am)
September 12 - Room Parent Mtg & 5th gr Celebration Mtg (6:15 pm)
September 12 - PTO Meeting (7-8 pm)
September 12 - 5th gr Celebration Mtg (8 pm)

Fun Eclipse Song

We sang this Monday and the kiddos really enjoyed it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6AakZ2gwzs

Library Check Out

Library check-out will be on D days for our class. All books will be returned EVERY Tuesday. :)

Writing Ideas Homework

A few students have asked about homework. We will have weekly homework beginning after Curriculum Night.

This week I am sending home a writing ideas list. Could you please help your child brainstorm some ideas for writing topics? Trips you've taken, activities your child likes to do? Please return by Monday 8-28.

THANKS!

Highlights Magazine

There is a Highlights Magazine form coming home this evening for those interested. I think it's a pretty great publication for children. My son and niece have a subscription and it's a nice alternative to books sometimes (and easier to take in the car!) Whether you are interested or not in the subscription, if you sign and return it we can earn free stuff for our classroom. If it isn't too much trouble and you could sign and return, that would be great! :)

It was a Totality Awesome Day!

Excuse the terrible pun.... but what a day! The students did such a fabulous job following ALL directions today! I'm sure they won't fully appreciate the experience for several years, but it was awesome making memories with them.

Word Study

Throughout the year we will work on a set of first grade accountable words. We will also be working with many grade-level spelling patterns, blends, and digraphs. Here are the essential questions for our word study curriculum which we will be working on throughout the year. Much of this work will be embedded in our reading and writing work.

1. How does using words help readers and writers communicate?
2. How do readers and writers use strategies to solve unknown words?
3. How does learning about ‘how words work’ help readers and writers?
4. How does a writer’s spelling impact communication?

Here are K and First Grade accountable words:

K - and at* can* dad* go I in* is it* like me mom my see the to we First and last name

1st -  all* am are as back* be best* big by came* can’t day* did do for get* got* had has he her him his if look* love make* no of on one or play saw she stop* tell* that the they thing* this up was went* when will* with yes you

Panther Paws/Leader in Me

This is an exciting year as we are implementing the Leader in Me program more and more. We are going to continue using our panther paws as well. For those of you new to our building, or those who need a little refresher:


P- Practice Safety
R- React Responsibly
I - Initiate Kindness
D - Demonstrate Respect
E - Embrace Cooperation

The Leader in Me habits are:

1- Be Proactive
2. Begin With the End in Mind
3. Put First Things First
4. Think Win-Win
5. Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
6. Synergize
7. Sharpen the Saw

Here is how the habits relate to our Panther PRIDE:

Practice Safety/ Be Proactive, Begin with the End in Mind
React Responsibly/ Put First Things First, Begin with the End in Mind
Initiate Kindness/Seek First to Understand, Sharpen the Saw
Demonstrate Respect/Seek First to Understand
Embrace Cooperation/ Think Win-Win, Synergize

If your child gets "caught" showing any of these character traits they will receive a panther paw! We are also working as a class to earn golden paws. We can earn a golden paw when the entire class demonstrates one or more characteristic.

Save the dates...

Here are reminders from the PTO:

Sunday, September 17, 2017 - Fall Biathlon, 7:30 a.m.
Tuesday, September 19, 2017 – Chick-Fil-A fundraiser, 5-8 p.m.
Tuesday, October 10, 2017 – Presentation on Anxiety by Dr. Chad Sylvester from Washington University
Thursday, October 12, 2017 – Fun With Dads kickball tournament
Friday, October 27, 2017 – Trunk or Treat
Friday, October 31, 2017 – Halloween Class Party
Thursday, November 16, 2017 – California Pizza Kitchen Fundraiser https://www.groupraise.com/events/33068
Friday, November 17, 2017 – Bingo Night
Saturday, February 3, 2018– Pancake Breakfast
Saturday, February 10, 2018 – Trivia Night, theme of “The 90s”

Take Home Folders

On the first day of school, each child received a take home folder. Please help this come to and from school each day. Most handouts will be distributed on Fridays. Once and awhile there may be time sensitive items throughout the week. I will try to post on Fridays about what is coming home so you know what to look for.

Today look for:
-Student handbook: Please find some time to read through this so you know about procedures :0)
-K-12 accident insurance
-Technology contract: Please discuss this with your child, sign and return the form. I need these before your child may use our classroom chrome books.

Leader In Me Parent Resources

Here is a great site to keep parents in the "know" about the Leader in Me program. It will be great to share common language at home and school. :0)

http://www.theleaderinme.org/parents/

Great First Day, folks!

Good Evening!

I wanted to send a quick note and let you know that we had a fabulous first day of first grade (despite a very soggy dismissal, ha!!) I have loved beginning to get to know each of the students and they have had fun getting to know each other also. We have already begun building community through a morning meeting, writing and sharing about ourselves, and some other fun activities. We are working on establishing routines and procedures to make for a smooth year.

A couple of reminders:

-If you were unable to attend meet the teacher look in your child’s take home folder for some paperwork. Please fill out and return the GOLD transportation form and emergency dismissal form as soon as possible.

-We will have an afternoon snack each day. Please send a healthy snack with your child if you would like them to have one. Remember we are a nut-free environment. :0)

-Coming home with your child tomorrow will be a Social Studies assignment I need your help with. It is called the “Me Bag” and instructions will be attached. Please help by sending these items in next Monday, August 21st.

Do not hesitate to contact me with questions.

We’re going to have a great year of learning together!

Sincerely,

Heather Koenig

First Week

I am really looking forward to jumping right in with the students this week! The beginning of each new year is so exciting!

In first grade we spend the first several days building community, practicing routines and procedures, and setting the tone for a special school year together. A large focus in the first few days is establishing our norms for morning meetings. These morning meetings ensure our days run smoothly.

We will also become familiar with the Panther PRIDE language by having lessons around:
P practicing safety
R reacting responsibly
I initiating kindness
D demonstrating respect
E embracing cooperation

Beginning the third week of school, our buddy class (4th graders) will start teaching us about the 7 Habits of Happy Kids in conjunction with our Leader in Me initiative. Much more to come on this topic! :0)

When we begin diving into the curriculum, I will be posting essential questions and information regarding our learning and try to give examples of how you can reinforce at home.

Transportation Forms and Dismissal Procedures

If you attended meet the teacher this afternoon, you had the opportunity to fill out the dismissal form and the emergency dismissal forms. If you missed our event this afternoon, I will send these forms home with you to complete. Please send them back to me as soon as possible so I can make sure to send all students home the appropriate way each day!

Should you have a special arrangement or a change in a usual dismissal plan for the day, please make sure you let me know as soon as you are able. You can send a note to school with your child, or an e-mail works. If you send an e-mail and do not hear back from me by noon, please follow up with a call to the office. At times I may be in meetings or development and unable to check my e-mail.

First Grade Schedule

Mrs. Koenig’s Class Schedule

2017-2018

9:10-9:20  Morning Meeting

9:20-10:15  Writing Workshop

10:15-10:30 Recess

10:30-11:25  Math

11:25-11:55 Lunch

11:55-12:35  PMI / Word Work

12:35-12:50  Recess

12:50-1:45  Science / Social Studies

1:45-2:45  Specials

A- Art  

B-PE/Music  

C- PE/Music

D- PE/Library (check-out day)

E- PE/Library

2:45-3:50  Reading

3:50-4:00 Dismissal

Welcome Letter

Dear Families,

Hello and welcome to another exciting school year! I am thrilled to be your child’s first grade teacher! First grade is so much fun. I wanted to share a little bit about myself with you…

This is my seventh year teaching first grade at Shenandoah Valley. I love the pure joy and enthusiasm that first graders bring into the classroom. It is such an exciting time of growth and development, and definitely where my heart and passion are as an educator.

My personal philosophy for teaching focuses on the whole-child. I value your child’s social, emotional, and academic intelligence and strive to support them in all areas. Our classroom is a safe, warm community which fosters independence, problem-solving, and student growth. I am big on relationships and make that my first goal. I want to get to know each child so I can meet their individual needs. I value communication and make every effort to communicate effectively regarding your child’s progress.

On a more personal note, my husband and I have been married six years and we have a two-year old son, Gavin. We are very family-oriented and spend most of our free time with family and close friends. Being a parent myself has helped me truly appreciate that you all are entrusting me with your most precious treasures!!!

I look forward to the learning ahead of us! Never hesitate to contact me. I appreciate your partnership to ensure your child makes great strides this school year.

Most Sincerely,

Mrs. Heather R. Koenig

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” -Benjamin Franklin