October 1st

Howdy Tiger Readers! Hopefully everyone had a great weekend, with a bit of rain, and a lot of fun. I apologize for missing the cookout Friday, I hope it was a blast for all. I hope our Dads and family enjoyed coming to school and enjoying our classroom!

This week is THE WEEK. Fall Fair is this Saturday, October 6th from 11-3. Stop by to enjoy the fun. See the teachers and staff and all of your tiger friends as we work the booths, have fun playing games, and visit the silent auction. Bid on your favorite baskets and teacher auction items. This year's fair promises to be full of fun and family time. We hope to see you there.

Thanks to all the parents who have donated items for the treasure box and snacks for students. We are very blessed to have such supportive parents!

Parent conferences are coming up. What you can expect in these goal setting conferences -

• written information from your student's teacher that will give information on your child's academic and behavioral progress; and further tips and ideas for working with your child;
• students will lead the conference by sharing goals that they have developed using reflective questioning and actions steps that they will have started and ask for your input on;
• students will share journals and work samples;
• parent, teacher, and students will sign the goals and action steps, and these goals will guide student instruction, assessment, and learning plans for the year.

Other notes about parent conferences:

• Conferences may look a little different in each classroom. Ours will be scheduled 10 minutes a part and will last approximately 20 minutes. Students will be in charge of sharing information. I will visit the conferences, but students will be leading and sharing about their goals. 
• If you have any questions about information that has been shared, there will be an opportunity to set up a conference for concerns that you may have. These conferences are for student sharing and goal setting. Additional conferences may be set directly after at the "individual conference" time frame (we will combine goal-setting if this type of conference is needed). It is my goal to have as many student led conferences as possible :)
• since the conferences are student-led, students will need to be present.
• conference times:
• 7:00-11:00 in 10 minute intervals - student led goal conferences (no parent concerns at this time) - these will over lap and there may be many conferences going on at one time -Please email me and select a time - I will send a confirmation :)
• 1:00-3:00 in 30 minute intervals - student-parent-teacher goal conferences (15 minutes for student sharing and goal setting; 15 minutes for additional discussions, questions or concerns). Also, you may email me and select a time; I will confirm your time via email. Please list in the email your reason for concern, and I will collect information, thoughts, and ideas as well as determine time frame needed for discussion

My goal is to have a full conference day with a conference opportunity that meets each student and family need, Please let me know how best I can serve you :)

Curriculum:

Reading: Characterization and Inference; Sequencing of Events continued; Guided Reading and Tiger Time groups for eligible students

Math: Addition Concepts and Problem Solving Expectations; Subitization (Number Stability - 10 is always 10, no matter which model you use)

Science: Properties of Matter

Leadership: Putting First Things First

Reminders:

Please be sure that students are following dress code and all other code of conduct rules. In the last week, our class has struggled a bit with "Doing the Right Thing When No One is Looking." I have had missing pawprints (students earning Tiger Tickets when I am sure that I have not given them that many pawprints); and make up and toys have showed up at school. Make up is never allowed, and toys can be distracting. The one exception would be if a toy was earned THAT day at school, or as a teacher choice (my discretion) I have allowed a student to bring a toy as a reward for a tiger ticket.

This week in class we discussed our Resolution of Respect. We discussed thoroughly every student and their right to learn. Procedures for reporting when a student felt like their right to learn had been taken away were reviewed, and the importance of communication and reporting emphasized. Please feel free to report if you feel like something is interfering in your child's right to learn.

Thanks again for your support and communication. I look forward to Student Led Conferences. Please sign up soon to get your spot :)

Calendar:

October 4th: Rock Solid Fire Safety Assembly

October 6th: FALL FAIR (Be there or be quadrilateral)

October 8th: Parent Conferences as Scheduled. Students ARE required to be present.

October 16th: Student Leadership Council Meeting

September 24th

Happy 5th week of school! This year has gone really well and most students are following first grade rules very well. Please remind all students of campus wide expectations that are located in the student agenda. This will help to make sure that all students are following expectations in and out of the classroom.

This week:

Education Go Get It Week - We will be wearing college attire every day this week, discussing the leadership skills that professionals use, and attending presentations. Our class will be attending a business presentation and a pediatric dentist presentation. I cannot wait to see what we learn.

We will also be having student elections for Student Council representative. We have two candidates, so the winner will serve by sharing out service learning ideas with the Student Council and continue to be our voice throughout the year. The other student after elections, will serve as our alternate and assistant. This will help in case we do not have representation at the meeting.

This week we discussed service learning and our class came up with several great ideas but seemed to love the idea of donating stuffed animals for children in crisis (i.e. having to take a ride in a police car). This is the idea we will share with the student council. Even if it doesn't get chosen by the campus as a whole, we will try to create such a service project within our classroom. What a great idea!

Reading groups are still in the formation stage. All students will read in groups daily, some more than once. Please continue to let me know when you see difficulties at home. I try to challenge students and also give them some weeks when they are working on easier pieces for fluency. They will learn the language as we learn together and they will learn to tell you whether they are working on accuracy, comprehension, or fluency.

Reading: Groups; Characters and Story Maps
Writing: Where do writers get ideas and what type of things do they write; conventions of sentences and writing process as we write and conference
Math: Addition concepts (combining) embedded in problem solving; use of models such as ten frames, unifix cubes and other ones based models, base ten blocks, and a place value chart and 100's chart. Students are also still working on counting to 100 and identifying skip counting by 5's and 10's as practiced in calendar.
Science: Matter - properties - smaller, larger, lighter, heavier, smooth, rough; ordering objects based on properties; using describing words to describe and observe - gummy worms, Popscicles and balloons as they are heated and cooled

Reminders:

• Last minute basket items are due for Fall Fair October 6th!
• Don't forget to buy your wristbands or sign up to work at a booth - check our PTA webpage.
• We have a room mom - Kelly Ramirez - Thanks Kelly for taking on this impnt ortant task!
• Thanks to everyone for their help in donating supplies! The kids are loving it

Items needed in the near future:

• Pumpkins-more details later
• Scotch Thermal laminating Film (Walgreen's or Walmart) I think around 5.00 - I am laminating much of what we are using this year as well as items for student leadership notebooks
• more gently used early chapter books - we have a LOT of high readers
• instructional books for teaching character, story elements, etc.
• tickets (carnival style) for use as pawprints
• party favors for our treasure box; we have some items, but are in need of high interest items like bouncy balls, stickers, small notepads, colored pens, etc

Thanks for all that you do - I am so blessed and leave school with a smile on my face knowing that I work with your children. We have great leaders and Heroes.

Week Four: Rockin Readers!

This week we have had a a lot of fun learning.

• I learned that 9 is more than 7. Ethan
• I learned that in math that 10 is bigger than 9. Kasey
• I learned that 4 is smaller than 5. - Ainsley
• I learned how to read better.  Zachary
• I learned math with 10's and 1's - Carson
• I learned that the brain is a very important cell of your body. Luke
• I learned to always wear safety goggles in science. Jack
• I learned that the sould is something that you really need in your body - Aidan
• I learned to be a better leader. Ella
• I learned to be a better writer. Joyce
• I learned that a numeral is a one digit number. - Rory
• I learned how to count by twos. - Kimiya
• I learned to count by twos. Landon
• I learned how to count by 10's - Ethan
• I learned that atoms are smaller than molecules. Noah
• I learned that everything around you is made of matter. Luke
• I learned that your tongue is the strongest sense in your body. Kimiya
• I learned to be a good leader in reading and writing workshop. - Kyra

Have a great weekend!

Week Four: I can;t believe it!

I can't believe it is already the fourth week of school! We have learned and done so many things. I am excited about what great leadership we have in the classroom! Students volunteer to help without being asked, are respectful of each other, and of school property, They hardly seem like first graders at all.

As a grade level, we are practicing treating each other kindly with words and actions. We have sent home a bully free contract for each child, and will sign our resolution of respect, pledging to be a No Place for Hate campus. Please feel free to report any instances in which your child feels uncomfortable or when unkind words or actions are used. We want to make sure that everyone feels safe at school.

Reminders:

• Don't forget to buy your Fall Fair tickets! The wristbands are a really good deal :) If you need an order form, please let me know.
• Our basket is Hot Wheels and Once Upon a Time. Please send items for our class basket to school this week. We are hoping that this will be a big money maker for our PTA!
• We are still in need of a room parent. This parent is a communicator between PTA and classroom parents for the purposes of teacher appreciation and other PTA sponsored events.
• Don't forget to sign up for a time to help at our Fall Fair booth. We are doing the "Bean Bag Toss" booth - always a fun time for all kiddoes - everyone's a winner!
• Book orders are due on the 25th. I have sent order forms with the kids. I am opting not to do online orders this year, so any orders need to be sent to school and I will submit by mail.

This week:

• Wednesday is an Early Release day. Students will leave at 12:45. Please let us know any changes in departure for this day in advance.
• Curriculum:
• Writing: Writing Process; Quality Writing; How Writers get Ideas
• Reading: Reader Response: Describing Characters and Beginning, Middle, and End. Guided Groups start this week if they haven't already - look for reading folders and books :)
• Math: Place Value using the concept of tens and ones. 
• Science: Matter - How can we describe matter? What are properties of matter?
• Our regular library check out schedule begins this week: Ms. Heine's class goes on Tuesday from 8:30-9:00.
• This week is a counselor week for us on Wednesday at 9:00.
• On early release day, Wednesday, we will have our first Leadership Block (the whole school will be working on leadership on Wednesday Morning). We will be focusing on Service Learning and Student Leadership Council. Remember that students interested in running will need to turn in an application and understand the after school commitment. Our voting will be in the near future and will be democratic in nature. Students who turn in application for the Leadership Council need to understand that there is a possibility that they may not be selected by our class and that will be okay, as there are so many campus wide opportunities of which this is only one :)

Safety: Please continue to talk to students about being aware of their surroundings when outside. With the weather changes, there can be unexpected wildlife in areas where the children play. Please know that our first grade teachers and all Teravista staff have been alerted to this and are checking the playground daily as well.

Thanks again for entrusting me with your child and their education and leadership development, I feel incredibly lucky!

Great Week Repost

Our students had a great week in first grade this week. We learned how to write about things that mattered to us, check out books, problem solve, share our expertise with others and be scientists. This week, we will be extending that learning by devoting time discussing story maps, writing conferences and discussions, draftbook expectations, place value, and yes, more science tools and leaders.

We have a classroom full of leaders. This nine weeks, our leaders in class are as follows. I have been working with the students and watching them, to see what type of classroom position will best suit them. Students will soon also be allowed to run for student council.

Campus wide leaders in our class right now include:

• Madison and Luke, who shared about the 7 Habits at Meet the Teacher Night - Way to Go guys!
• Ainsley and Kyra , who will be our classes Junior Librarians, becoming experts in how to use the TVE Library and helping their classmates to check out and use Library Resources

Classroom Helpers for the first nine weeks are:

o    Line Leader: Melania

o    Pledge Leader: Aidan

o    Tiger Time: Jack and Kasey

o    Computers: Luke and Joyce

o    Junior Librarians: Kyra and Ainsley

o    Classroom Manager: Noah

o    Lunch Leaders: Ella and Tanner

o    Watt Watcher: Kimiya

o    Mission Manager: Ethan

o    Recess Ready: Landon

o    Calendar: Zachary

o    Line Monitor: Alexis

o    Personal Assistant: Rory

We also are beginning our Hero of the Week. This special hero will share about their life and leadership this week, and we will be learning about Rory, this week. 

Reminders:

• Pictures are Tuesday, September 11

Thanks and Appreciation:

• Grandparents' Day lunch was a success! Thanks to all parents who came out - it was a blast seeing the kiddoes with their family. We appreciate our families for all that they do for us!
• Donations for our classroom have come in almost daily for the last two weeks. What wonderful and thoughtful families we have!

Fall Fair is Coming Up!

We are looking forward to the upcoming Fall Fair and their are several items that may be of interest to our Heroic Families:

• Our basket, though not confirmed (I will email out when I get confirmation) is Hot Wheels and Once Upon a Time. We are looking for either Hot Wheels type car donations or Princess (Non-Disney) Items 
• Tickets are on sale! Order forms were sent Friday for wristbands and tickets. You may send these in when ready. Feel free to contact me if you need another and I would be happy to provide it/
• Silent Auction Teacher Donation items will be available. I have offered a movie with a child from TVE with their friend. I can't wait - it is always a good time at movie time! 

Calling Tiger Leaders

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am to be teaching and learning with your child this year. We had a great week last week, are learning a lot already and I am so thrilled to see our leaders ready to hop into another great year!

Reminders:

• Make sure that your child has an agenda and a blue folder come home every day. These both have important information for you on behavior and academics.
• Be sure that your child brings a healthy snack that is wrapped separately from lunch. This helps them to make sure they are eating the right nutritional balance for this time of morning (10 am). I am seeing a few students complaining of being still hungry and then returning to their backpacks for more from their lunch.
• Please remember that in the morning, students are to sit with their class, back to the wall, reading or browsing a book. We have a lot of students and this helps us to set a good model for the day and to maintain student safety during this time of the day.
• Please also remember that students who are parent pick ups (someone physically gets out of the car to come to the front of the school to get them), need to make their way to the first grade spot (located by the second double set of windows). Please wait for them to be seated, and then when they see you, they may get up to say goodbye. This time of day can be really hectic, and it is in the interest of safety that we would like to see them and say goodbye everyday. Mrs. Santiago and Ms. Heine are at this post, so students may say good bye to them.

This week is B week. We have Art on Tuesday and Thursday. PE on Wednesday and Friday.

Sept. 4 - Reading Rally starts (Students will be bringing home information on this home this Tuesday). Student rewards are given daily, so the sooner you get them in, the more prize opportunities our leaders have.

Sept. 4 - WatchDOG kickoff rally 6:30 P.M.

Sept. 7 - Grandparents' Lunch - It is beneficial to get here at lunch time (11:49 as there will be parking limitations and possible delays. We can't wait to see you)

Sept. 19 - Early Release day

Curriculum Notes:

Language Arts: 

• Writing process and introduction to Reading and Writing Workshop
• Learning about school and class procedures
• Leadership and the Seven Habits

Math: Place Value and counting/representing to 100

Science: What is Science?

Thanks to all the parents and students who have made the week great! I am especially grateful for the time and leadership opportunities that we have available to our class because of our families and communities. I am appreciative of the sweet notes and contributions that have allowed our class to purchase books, use post its to mark our places and writing patterns, picture frames for exemplary work, and playing cards for math games. I have been overwhelmed as your child's teacher at the generosity and kindness shared with our classroom community :) Thanks!

A Mission Statement for Our Class

In Ms. Heine's Class, we come to school to learn, have fun, and become better people. Learning to be good leaders will help us to reach our goals, and to feel good about ourselves as we help others to learn and grow.