1. Mrs. Kurth’s Classroom News October 12 th – 14 th, 2015

2. Dates to save: October 8 th, 12 th, 13 th : Conferences October 14 th : Fire Safety at School October 15 – 16 th : MEA= NO SCHOOL October 29 th : Fundraiser items can be picked up October 30 th : Sock Hop 5:30-8:00 Volunteers are needed, please see the sign up genius to sign up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040a45acae2fa75-delano

3. No School This Thursday or Friday No spelling test this week No reading homework this week No book baggies sent on Friday Family Journals begin this week. Fire Safety Homework will go home Friday (Optional)

4. Family Journals We will start family journals this week. At the end of each week, your child will bring home a journal labeled “Family Journal”. We will spend part of our day brainstorming what we have done throughout the week and will then write and/or draw in our journals to share this with families at home. Families are asked to read what your child wrote and make a short comment. On Monday, students will receive a sticker to decorate their journal if they have returned their notebook with a comment. It is a great way for students to practice their writing skills and a great keepsake to remember the things we are doing in first grade!

5. Conferences: I really enjoyed meeting with each of you that came on Thursday this past week! I appreciate your time as well as the information that you shared. Final conferences are on Monday and Tuesday this week. Let me know if the date/time does not work for you – we’ll look for a new time! I look forward to meeting everyone else either Monday or Tuesday!

6. Book Fair/Book Orders: The media center will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair during conferences. We invite you to visit the book fair on October 12th or 13th from 4-8pm. I will not be sending home Book Orders home this month due to the Book Fair opportunity.

7. Box Top Collection: The first 6 classrooms to collect $75 in box tops can pick a bonus bag of box tops (already trimmed and counted). Each bonus bag has at least 250 box tops in them. These can be added to our classroom total. We are working towards a class party so we need as many as we can! So add your box tops up and let's give those other teachers a run for their money! This runs October 1 st – 14th

8. Fire Safety: We will be learning about fire safety this week Firefighters from Delano will share tips for staying safe We might even have a chance to explore some fire trucks! Homework over the break: practice how to get out of your house in case of a fire

9. FRED Night DES is hosting a FRED (Father’s Reading Every Day) Night on Thursday, October 22nd. It is a free event sponsored by the Delano Lions. Please return the bright green sheet if you are interested in attending.

10. Volunteering The media center is also looking for volunteers to help shelve books. In the past, some parents have volunteered in the library right before coming to our room to volunteer. Thank you for ALL your help! We couldn’t do it without you!!!

11. Volunteering Please sign up for no more than one day a week to ensure all parents have the opportunity to participate, especially in the beginning of the year. Sign Up With Students http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4faaab2da4fe3- volunteer Sign Up Without Students www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0C4FAAAB2DA4FE3- volunteer2

12. Upcoming Academics: This will change each week!

13. Reading : Main Story: Pumpkin, Pumpkin Word Wall Words: keep practicing the words we’ve done so far Comprehension Strategy: sequence of events Phonics: short vowel review: a, i, o Grammar: review nouns and action verbs Writing: Using labels in their pictures; writing sentences; capitalization, punctuation

14. Spelling Spelling Words: –No new words this week –Keep reviewing words that were wrong on previous test = they will continue to be a part of the sentences on the spelling test

15. Math Concepts for this week in class: Number Grids, Numbers All Around, Compliments of 10, Labels for Numbers, Clocks Anticipated Homework: Monday: 2.3 Two-Fisted Penny Addition Tuesday: 2.4 Numbers Before and After Wednesday: No homework Thursday: No School Friday: No School

16. More Math…. Here is the link if you need to reprint homework pages: http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/parents/1st-grade/em-at- home/unit_2/http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/parents/1st-grade/em-at- home/unit_2/ Things you can practice at home if you are looking for additional ideas: -Identify and write numbers 1-20 (encourage them to write them without reversals) -Count by 1's, 5's, 10's -Count backwards from 20-1 -Count from 1-130. -Calendar (Days of the week. Months of the Year. What is the date? What will tomorrow be… etc. -Weather (What do you wear when it’s 80 degrees, what do you wear when it’s 30 degrees. - More or Less (What number comes before 13? What number comes after 26?)

17. Word of the Week Extra: Each week, your child can receive a sticker for their sticker book by writing down our special word/phrase of the week along with a parent signature. They love stickers! Phrase of the week: Fire Safety

18. General Homework Expectations Mondays: Spelling words and word wall words will come home (practice these words to be ready for the spelling test on Friday Wednesdays: Wednesday work: students complete the comprehension page as well as practice reading the words on the opposite side. When you feel your child is confident in knowing the words and has completed the comprehension page, please return it to the classroom. It is due by the following Tuesday at the latest. Monday through Friday: Math homework will be sent home each day, except Wednesdays. I expect each page to come back the following day.

19. Contact Information Angie Kurth 1 st GradeTeacher – rm. 102 763-972-6200 ext.4102, angie.kurth@delanoschools.org angie.kurth@delanoschools.org Classroom Website/Blog: http://www.delano.k12.mn.us/elementary- school/gradesstaff/first-grade/mrs-kurth