Jan. 28-Feb.1

Dear Parents,
    We have a lot to be excited about in our class after this past week! We had a very successful week of Small Groups, where the students were engaged in three separate and meaningful activities. Thank you to all of the volunteers! I hope that you had as much fun as I did! We also launched "Read-a-Thon" with a pep rally last Thursday and a Read All Day Pajama Day on Friday. This upcoming week we will be looking at another Junior Great Books' story. This week we will be diving into Eeyore Has A Birthday.

Here's a look into the curriculum this week:

Reading: Reading, Analyzing and Discussing Eeyore Has A Birthday. 

Words to Know

kind

by

idea

house

knew

far

curious

friends

Phonics: SMART sound /ou/ ( ouch, pout, sour) Review /ee/ (feet, keep) Introduce: /ea/ (eat, each) and /e/ (be, me)

Grammar: Reviewing Proper Nouns, past and present tense verbs.

Math: Telling Time to the half hour and to the hour.

Writing: Continue researching, writing and presenting Polar Animals.

Announcements and Reminders:

• On February 1st, First Grade will be going on our 2nd Field Trip to see Clifford the Dog. Please make sure to send in whether your child will be needing a sack lunch to the cafeteria by Monday morning. 
•  As we continue the Read-A-Thon, please make sure to sign your initials beside each minute that your child reads at home in their yellow booklet. These yellow booklets should be returned back to school each day. 

Thank you for your support! Please e-mail me if you have any questions. 

Sincerely, 

     Mrs. Peake 

Jan. 22-25

Hello Parents,
      I hope everyone enjoyed their nice, long weekend! The children and I have been so busy in the classroom working on various different projects, one including an "in class project" on the Polar Animal of their choice. I apologize for my delayed posting, as I usually post every Sunday before a full week of school. We launched our first week of Small Groups this week and the students have absolutely LOVED it! They look forward to seeing parents in the classroom and have benefitted from the different activities. Thank you for volunteering your time to be in our classroom! We have also been getting excited about the "Read-a-thon" that will be kickstarted tomorrow, Thursday January 24th at 8:30 a.m. with a fun-filled pep-rally. Please make sure to ask your child about the Read-a-thon each day!

Here's what your child is learning this week: 

Reading: Comparing and Contrasting throughout all reading.

Words to know:

know

were

when

go

so

no

their

would

great

warm

cold

(I know, it's a lot! Some of these words are review)

Phonics: /ai/ /ay/ (long vowel sound) ex: pail, pay, ray, train, SMART sound /oy/ ex: toy, boy, soy, joy

Grammar: Identifying compound words (playground, cookbook)

Social Studies: Researching and studying more about the animals that live in the Arctic and Antarctic.

Math: Measuring using non-standard and standard units

Writing: Writing a persuasive report on a favorite book. 

Important Updates and Reminders:

• We are having an ALL DAY READING PAJAMA DAY on Friday, January 25th in honor of the Read-a-thon. This will serve as our "Fun Friday"! We will be devoting our day to reading as many minutes as possible to raise money for our school. "Team Peake" loves a good challenge and we are excited to do our best. 
• Please continue to sign up for Small Groups! It has been such a great success so far, thanks to great volunteers!
• Our next Field trip is scheduled for February 1st to see "Clifford the Dog." More information will come home soon regarding sack lunches. 

Thank you for all your support!

Sincerely, 

    Mrs. Peake 

January 14-18

Dear Parents, 
      We had a very productive and fun-filled week back at school! Some of the highlights include: discussing the story Rumpelstiltskin, researching polar animals using technology and books, and concluding our study of fractions. We had a great week and are getting closer to filling our big bucket of fuzzies for the 2nd time! Last time they filled the bucket, they earned a class pet! Who knows what the grand prize will be this time...

Here's a look into the curriculum for this upcoming week:

Reading: Using inferences and drawing conclusions throughout all reading.

Words to know:

work

after

old

find

new

creation

done

terrific

Grammar: Using has/have properly in speaking and writing.

Phonics: Focus on Vowel Valley sound and spelling /oi/ Example: coin

Science: Researching Polar animals and the ways in which they adapt in order to survive in their habitats.

Math: Sorting, Comparing and Ordering numbers.

Writing:  Completing a persuasive piece inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King's historical "I Have a Dream" speech.

Important Announcements and Reminders:

• If you are able, please attend a short informational meeting about our upcoming Small Groups this Tuesday, January 15th @ 10 a.m. in the classroom.
• Small Groups begin January 22nd-24th! Thank you to those of you who have already volunteered. 
• Please check our class' Shutterfly website to sign up for important volunteer opportunities in the classroom, including Small Groups and Mystery Reader (we have changed MR to Tuesday at the same time). Thank you Luci Phillips for being wonderful and keeping our class informed!
• I will be out of the classroom on Thursday, January 17th due to an APS Seminar on Assessing Student Learning. If you have any transportation changes, they will need to be made through the Front Office as I will be away from e-mail. 

Thank you for your continued support! Please let me know if you have any questions. 

Sincerely, 

       Mrs. Peake 

2013!

Dear Parents,

    I can’t believe it is already January! This year has completely flown by and I am amazed at how much each child has grown since the first day of school. We have some very exciting adventures coming up in the month of January including our new unit of inquiry, another Junior Great Book Story and the kickstart to our Read-A-Thon. Our last I.B. Unit: “Helping Others” was a true success! The students really gained a sense of ownership as they earned money and collected items for the Ronald McDonald House. It is my hope that their responsibility to serve others will follow them throughout their lives.

     Our next unit of study will be more science-based as we research the Polar Regions and more specifically the animals that live there. Our goal will be to better understand how living things adapt in order to survive. For the first couple of weeks we will study the climate, complete a list of polar animals, define important terms, and discuss the differences between The Artic and Antarctica. We will also participate in a few fun experiments! After the students have a deep understanding of the Polar Regions and a knowledge of which animals can survive in these areas, they will choose one animal to research for an “in school” project. More information will be sent home, however, this will mostly be completed in school.

     This week we will also be diving into another JGB Story!     Hooray! This weeks’ story is “Rumpelstiltskin”.

The students have LOVED JGB so far! Please make sure to follow the homework guidelines carefully and to not go ahead to any other stories J Your extra support at home during JGB has been wonderful! Keep up the good work.

Here’s a look into this week’s curriculum:

Reading: Listening to, discussing and responding to Rumpelstiltskin. Using inferences throughout all reading.

Words to Know:

saw

opened

soon

every

any

Phonics:  /ue/ ex: blue, clue, rue & long “o” ex: tote, poke, probe

Grammar: Using the verbs “was” and “were” correctly. Review Proper Nouns.

Math: Reviewing Fractions and place value and solving story problems using multiple strategies.

Social Studies: Studying Polar Regions and the animals that live there.

Writing: Brainstorming, editing, and publishing a personal narrative about the Winter Break.

 Announcements and Friendly Reminders:

§  *  Thank you so much for the amazing class gifts that you so generously gave to me at our Holiday Party. I am continuously overwhelmed by how appreciated each of you make me feel! I cannot say thank you enough!

* JGB Homework and this weeks’ Spelling Words will be sent home in your child’s Red Folder on Monday.

* We will begin “Small Groups” this month, where you will have the opportunity to lead a group of 6-7 children in a learning activity related to our study of Polar Animals. I will be sending you important information in your child’s Red Folder this Wednesday, January 9^th that may answer any questions that you may have. I am excited about beginning our class’ Small Groups, as it will be a very enriching experience for the children.

*  Please make sure that your child arrives on time or early to school each morning. I know that this first week will be more difficult as the children try to get back into their schedules. However, mornings are a very important and peaceful time for the students to get settled and focused for the day. Mornings are also a great time for students to review important skills, take AR quizzes and study spelling words. We order lunches and send attendance to the Front Office immediately following announcements at 8:05 where we then promptly have our Morning Meeting/Calendar Time. When all students are on time, this allows for a smooth and stress-free start to the day! J

Thank you so much for your continued support. As always please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Sincerely,

    Mrs. Peake 

Dec. 10-14

Dear Parents,

 I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! We have been very busy in the classroom lately learning new skills and participating in our community service projects to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. I want to say a special thank you to those of you who volunteered your time last week to help sell Candy Cane Grams. Our second Community Outreach service project will be our 1^st Grade teacher raffle. Raffle tickets will go on sale Tuesday, December 11^th and Wednesday, December 12^th from 7:30-8:00 in the auditorium.

 Students will have the chance to buy as many raffle tickets as they want for the opportunity to spend the afternoon with any of the fabulous first grade teachers or to be a Media Specialist or Assistant Principal for the day. Raffle tickets are $1 each and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Ronald McDonald House.

         In other exciting news, our class’ Holiday party is scheduled for December 18^th from 1:15-2:00.

 We will participate in our Book Exchange as well as celebrate together before the Holiday Break.

 Please make sure to have your book wrapped and sent to school by Thursday, December 13^th.

 I know this is such a busy time of year, so I thank you for all of your help in these upcoming events J

Here is a look into the week ahead:

Reading: Identifying character and setting.

Words to Know:

about

give

read

say

says

should

could

would

were

Phonics: /ie/ (ex: tie, lie, pie) and words with triple consonant blends (ex: strap, scrape, stripe)

Grammar: Reading, and writing contractions.

Social Studies: Comparing and Contrasting different Holidays around the World.

Math: Continuing to practice using Fractions.

Writing: Writing an opinion piece on why we think it is better to give than to receive.

Please let me know if you have any questions throughout the week!

Have a Marvelous day!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Peake



Dec. 3-7

Dear Parents,

       We had a great week back from Thanksgiving Break! The students have been working hard to prepare for our upcoming events to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House and have been showing a strong desire to help those in need. The children are very curious about how they can better help those in our community, so this would be a great opportunity to ask them questions! To take our idea of “responsibility” even further, you might want to give your child opportunities around the house to earn quarters that they can use them to buy candy grams this week. It will give them such a great sense of pride when they know that they have earned the opportunity to help others. I am looking forward to seeing our school come together to help such a worthy cause this week. Please read the following announcements and reminders for ways you can volunteer your time J

            Here is a look into the following week:

Reading: Students will continue making predictions throughout a given text.

Words to Know:

call

how

more

funny

there

so

Phonics: Vowel Valley sounds  /oo/ (boot) and /oo/ (foot)

Also, reviewing i_e words. ( hike, like, pile, mice)

Grammar: Using the verbs (is and are) in sentences. Identifying that when using the verb, is, we are talking about one person, place or thing. When we use the verb, are, we are talking about more than one person, place or thing.

Ex: She is playing soccer.

They are playing soccer.

Social Studies: Reviewing wants, needs and services. Preparing and advertising for the Candy Cane Gram Sale.

Math: Introducing fractions.

Writing: Choosing a gift to give to the world and writing a letter to the world explaining why that gift is important.

Important Announcements and Reminders:

•             Dec. 4^th-5^thwill be our two selling days for the Candy Grams. Please check our Shutterfly website to volunteer for the remaining 3 spots! Our class will be selling grams at the IC from 7:20-8:15 @ the table near the front office.
•         Thank you to our three wonderful volunteers for helping with our first small groups!  The students loved having you visit our classroom and help us create posters!
• Dec. 11th-12th- 7:30-8:15, students can buy raffle tickets for $1  each for a Teacher Outing. 
•           Dec. 13^th- will be our Holiday Book Exchange. A letter with details will be going home in your child’s Red Folder on Monday.

Thank you all for your continued support!!

    Sincerely,

             Mrs. Peake 

November 26-30

Dear Parents,
     I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break! I want to thank those of you who attended, served, and brought dishes to our Thanksgiving Feast. It was a huge success! It's hard to believe that December is almost here. In the month of December we will be studying our responsibility of helping others. All first grade classes will participate in a candy gram sale to raise money for the local Ronald McDonald House. More information will go home in your child's Red Folder detailing volunteer opportunities for this special project.

Here's a look into this upcoming week:

Reading: Junior Great Books! We will be reading, discussing, and responding to the story: Imagination.

Phonics:Reading, spelling, and writing words with oe. (ex: toe, goes)

Social Studies:Discussing and Introducing wants and needs.

Math: Building number fluency (automatic addition and subtraction problems) composing/decomposing numbers, and solving number stories using different strategies.

Writing: Students will begin writing their first persuasive piece. 

Announcements and Reminders:

• Please remember to practice the spelling words for the week as our words become more difficult. 
• Please bring in 5 boxes of traditional or flavored candy canes for our candy cane gram sale benefiting the Ronald McDonald House. 

Thank you for your continued support at home!

                                                       Mrs. Peake