Mrs. Spring's Site

2011-02-26T20:26:00.000-08:00

Stoplight
     The stoplight works like this: every child has a clothespin. If a rule is broken, he/she has to move their clothespin to the green light. The green light is just a warning to remember "Green Light" behavior.
     The second offense would result in the clothespin being moved to the yellow light. A clothespin on yellow means "No Mustang Dollar" for the day.
     If a student can't behave the third time, he/she will move the clothespin to the red light and report to Mr. Whittier. He will call the student's parents and determine what action needs to be taken. Usually a red light means a missed recess or time in the skills room.
     Each day we put the clothespins away and start over. If the student has reoccurring red lights he/she will be referred to the Skills Teacher to develop a behavioral plan and/or behavior tracker.

2011-02-26T20:24:00.000-08:00

It won't be long until you hear your child talking about "The Daily Five." I would like to fill you in on what The Daily Five is all about, so you don't have to nod your head while wondering what in the world your child is referring to.The Daily 5 is a way of structuring the reading block so every student is independently engaged in meaningful literacy tasks. These research based tasks are ones that will have the biggest impact on student reading and writing achievement, as well as help foster children who love to read and write. Students receive explicit whole group instruction and then are given instruction to individuals and small groups of students.
When it is up and running smoothly, students will be engaged in The Daily Five, which are comprised of:

Read to Self

Work on Writing

Read to Someone

Listen to Reading

Word Work

There are very specific behavior expectations that go with each Daily 5 component. We will spend our first weeks working intensely on building our reading and writing stamina, learning the behaviors of the Daily 5 and fostering our classroom community. We will also spend time learning about your child's strengths and greatest needs as a reader in order to best plan for each student's instruction. Therefore we will be inviting reading volunteers into the classroom after we have accomplished this important work. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.
One thing you'll notice that may be a change for you is a direct decrease in the number of worksheets your child brings home. While worksheets keep students busy, they don't really result in the high level of learning we want for your child. Instead, your child will be taught to select "Good Fit Books" or books they can read, understand, and are interested in, which they will read during Daily 5. They will be spending most of their time actually reading, which research supports as the number one way to improve reading. We anticipate the motivation and enjoyment of reading will skyrocket when this gift of choosing their own books is accompanied by extended practice and specific reading instruction for each individual child.

2011-02-26T20:22:00.001-08:00

Here’s the “Scoop” on First Grade

• Spelling: Spelling tests are given on Fridays.Spelling homework is sent home each Monday and due by Friday.

• Home Reading: In September your child should start reading books from home or from the library. In First Grade parents can still read TO the children until November. The school Take Home Library will start in October. After that, each night your child will bring home a book that he/she can read to you. Twenty minutes per night of Home reading is required of First Graders. Look for the monthly Home Reading Calendars to track your minutes!

• Math: Our math program Saxon, has a homework component. Each night (Monday-Thursday) your child will be required to complete two homework pages. The homework is a continuation of what we did in class that day. It should be easy and not take more than 10 minutes each night. The homework will come home in a Math folder. It should be completed and returned in the same folder. Students that consistently do homework perform better on tests than students that don’t do homework. Completing homework and returning it to school helps build responsibility in the primary grades.

• Coin Cup: Please put the coins listed below in the container and send it back to school on the first day. Your child will use the coins during math lessons throughout the school year. At the end of the year your child will bring the coins home.

o Pennies-25
o Nickles-10
o Dimes-10
o Quarter-1

• Grades: Quarterly Grade Reports will be sent home. Your child will be grades on weekly Math Tests, Spelling Tests, and Sight Word Tests. This year all Math Written Assessments will be given on Friday Afternoons. PLEASE don’t take off early on Fridays. It is hard for me to make up a lot of math tests because I have to read the test to each student.

• Backpacks: Please send one each day. Make sure your child’s name is on it.

• Friday Folders: Each Friday your child will bring home his/her the Friday Folder. The Friday Folder will contain all of the papers your child has finished and the Weekly Evaluation. (except Math which comes home in the RED Folder). PLEASE empty and return the Friday Folder each Monday.

• Book Orders: I send them each month. We get free books for our classroom for each dollar spent,

• Sharing: We don’t have Show and Tell. In order to promote oral language development we have Sharing instead. Each day after lunch the students have an opportunity to tell the class anything that is important to them. Please don’t allow your child to bring any toys or valuables to school!

• Snacks: First Grade can be difficult for students at the first of the year. They aren’t used to such a LONG day. You are welcome to send a snack every day with your child. I will let them eat it at morning recess.

2011-02-26T20:17:00.000-08:00

Online Ordering Information

Web address: scholastic.com/bookclubs

Class Activation Code: GM2CF

Dear Parent,

Now it's easier than ever to find the right books for your child — and help us earn FREE books for our classroom library at the same time! With new online ordering from Scholastic Book Clubs, you can choose from a much wider selection of books than in the printed flyer. Plus, you can send your orders directly to me online and use your credit card. Best of all, our class earns a FREE book every time a parent places their order online. It's so simple! Here's how it works:

SIGN UP at www.Scholastic.com/bookclubs. On the parent page, click the "Don't have a User Name and Password?" link, then register for your own username and password. When prompted, enter the one-time Class Activation Code shown above. This code ensures that your order is sent to me. SELECT the books you'd like to order from over 500 titles available online...and take advantage of online-only specials and discounts. SEND your order to me online by the due date. Books will be delivered directly to our classroom, as always. Of course, you can still order using the form from the printed flyer. But why not experience for yourself how convenient it is to order online? Ordering online is fast, easy, and secure. Plus our whole class benefits thanks to the FREE books we'll earn with every parent online order.

Go to www.Scholastic.com/bookclubs now to get started.

Thank you,

Mrs. Spring

2011-02-18T13:54:00.000-08:00

Theme: Symbols of the USA

Monday - No School
Tuesday - The Statue of Liberty; Computers; Sums of 10.
Wednesday - Library; Drawing Congruent Shapes; Early Out.
Thursday - America The Beautiful; Measuring and Drawing Line segments to the nearest inch; PE.
Friday - American Symbols book; Dental Health presentation; Art; Spelling Test; Math Test; Comparing the size of the unit and the Number of Units Used to Measure and Object.

Important Dates: 2/21 NO SCHOOL; 3/2 February Reading Calendars Due; 3/2 Dr. Seuss Read-a-Thon; 3/7-3/11 SEP Conferences (out at 2:30 all week); 3/15 Spring Picture Day

Spelling Words: once, gave, around, was, eat, tell, our, think

There has been a large number of students turning in homework that isn't complete. Could I please have parents check over it nightly, before it gets turned in? Sentences must start with a capital and end with punctuation. Math sometimes asks for certain colors of crayons. Make sure cent signs are written when they're adding/subtracting cents, etc.

2011-02-11T13:22:00.000-08:00

Theme: USA

Monday - Valentines Day; Party; Adding 10 to a Number; P.E.
Tuesday - American Flag; Computers; Comparing and Ordering Numbers to 100.
Wednesday - Bald Eagle; Counting by 100's, Library; Early Out!
Thursday - The White House; P.E.; Sums of 10 and Missing Addends.
Friday - Spelling Test; Math Test; Kids College; Art.

Spelling Words: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

Important Dates: 2/14 Valentine's Day Party; 2/18 Kid's College; 2/21 NO SCHOOL; 3/2 February Reading Calendars Due; 3/7-3/11 SEP Conferences (out at 2:30 all week); 3/15 Spring Picture Day

My student teacher Mrs. Eliason's last day will be Monday. She has been unbelievable! We will really miss her.

2011-02-04T13:08:00.000-08:00

Theme: Utah Symbols and Landmarks

Monday - Regrouping using dimes and pennies; Utah Symbols Interactive Presentation; PE.
Tuesday - Telling time to the 1/2 hour; Utah Symbol flip book; Computers.
Wednesday - Library; Dividing a shape into fourths and halves; George Washington Portraits; Early Out!
Thursday - Adding 10 to a number; National Symbols; SUU Orchestra Concert; PE.
Friday - Spelling Test; Math Test; Abraham Lincoln Portrait; Art.

Spelling Words: by,don't, them, went, some, had, very, old

Valentines: I'm sending a note home on Monday with the class names. Don't bring valentines until the 14th please. We will have a party and pass out valentines in the afternoon of the 14th. I will give the children bags to carry them in. This will also be Mrs. Eliason's(student teacher)last day.

2011-01-28T15:22:00.000-08:00

Theme: Community

Monday- Hundreds Day! Showing how many more on a graph; Hundreds BINGO; PE.
Tuesday- Identifying and Making Congruent Shapes; School Symbols; Computers.
Wednesday- Library; Groundhog's Day Activity; Counting Large Collections; Early Out.
Thursday- Using concrete and pictorial models to represent two-digit numbers; Neighborhood Landmarks; PE.
Friday- Trading Dimes for Pennies; Building a Community; Spelling and Math Test; January Reading Relay(for all students that read 400 minutes this month).

Spelling Words: could, take, laugh, drink, has, of, far, walk

Thanks so much for ordering books this month. I was able to get 7 more sets of books/cd's!

Important Dates: 1/31 100th Day of School; 2/1 January Reading Calendar Due; 2/9 School Reading Incentive Party; 2/10 Domino's Pizza Fundraiser; 2/18 Kid's College; 2/21 NO SCHOOL

2011-01-21T13:14:00.000-08:00

Theme: Sink and Float

Monday- Doubles plus one facts; What sinks? What floats? PE.
Tuesday- Doubles plus one facts; Predicting sink or float; Computers.
Wednesday- Doubles plus one facts; Library.
Thursday- Adding double digit numbers without regrouping; Thick or thin liquids; PE.
Friday- Math and Spelling Test; How can you make something float? Art.

Spelling Words: him, please, her, upon, why, fast, for, down.

This week's spelling homework asks students to cut out LETTERS from magazines, newspapers, etc. They only get credit if this is done correctly. They shouldn't find the words, just the letters to make the words.

Important Dates: 1/31 100th Day of School; 2/1 January Reading Calendar Due; 2/9 School Reading Incentive Party; 2/10 Domino's Pizza Fundraiser; 2/18 Kid's College; 2/21 NO SCHOOL

2011-01-14T15:06:00.000-08:00

Theme: States of Matter

Tuesday: Fact assessment; Counting dimes and pennies; Solids; Computers.
Wednesday: Library, New Addition Fact - "Double plus one;"
Thursday: Liquids; PE; Doubles plus one addition facts.
Friday: Gas; Math test; Combining shapes to make new geometric shapes;Art.

Spelling Words: NO Homework this week! It is a review week. I will be sending the words home on cards so you can practice reading and spelling them at home this week.

Our class did so well on DIBELS! It was the highest scores I have ever seen!!! Thanks for all your hard work at home.

IMPORTANT: I had 8 students turn in math on Friday and it wasn't completed. PLEASE make sure you check over the work each night so they don't have a "late" assignment.

2011-01-07T13:08:00.000-08:00

Theme: Matter

Important Dates: 1/13 Domino's Pizza Fundraiser; 1/13 DIBELs Testing; 1/17 NO SCHOOL; 1/31 100th Day of School; 2/1 January Reading Calendar Due

Monday: Using a Ruler to Draw a Line Segment; P.E. Properties of matter.
Tuesday: Sorting Common Objects; Art; Introduce Matter.
Wednesday: Adding Two Digit Numbers Without Regrouping Using Dimes and Pennies; Early Out; Library.
Thursday: Adding Two Digit Numbers Without Regrouping Using Dimes and Pennies; P.E.; Domino's Pizza Fundraiser; States of Matter; DIBELS.
Friday: Drawing a Picture to Solve a Problem; Spelling and Math Test; Spelling Packet Due; Art; Martin Luther King Jr; Spirit Day!

Spelling Words:
sleep, they, up, as, use, give, how, Saturday

Miscellaneous:
We will be doing our Winter DIBELs testing on Thursday. Please make sure that your child is well rested and eats a good breakfast that morning.

Don't forget to read each night for 20 minutes. Each month needs to have a total of 400 minutes. Homework is part of your child's grade.

There are still students coming to school not dressed appropriately for the weather. PLEASE send your child with a COAT. Mr. Whittier likes for the students to be outside for recess if at all possible, even when it is cold outside. They need the break with the fresh air and sunshine!

2011-01-03T15:32:00.000-08:00

What a fun day back! I enjoyed catching up with the students today. It sounds like everyone had a great time off from school. Now back to the grind. Thanks for all of the nice Christmas gifts. You are very thoughtful.

We have an addition to our classroom! Her name is Mrs. Eliason. She will be student teaching with me for the next 5 weeks. She is wonderful!

This Week's Theme: Winter (And aren't we glad we have that kind of weather this week)

Tuesday - Winter words and winter poem; Subtracting 2 from a number; Computers.
Wednesday - Library; Winter Tree Photo; Subtracting 2 facts; Early Out.
Thursday - Winter Book; Making Tally Marks; Counting by 5's; P.E.
Friday - Math Test, Spelling Test; Art.

Spelling Words: an, yes, cold, now, who, about, today, Friday

2010-12-10T14:44:00.000-08:00

Theme: Christmas Traditions

Monday: Spelling number words; Christmas Favorites; PE.
Tuesday: Pairs; Christmas Giving; Computers.
Wednesday: Graphing and coloring a design; Library.
Thursday: Writing money amounts and paying for items using dimes and pennies; My senses at Christmas Time; PE.
Friday: Polar Express Day! Kids can wear their pajamas and bring a pillow and blanket to school! We still have the spelling test and Art. We will also have a school sing with Christmas songs.

Spelling Words: red, pink, black, brown, blue, green, yellow, orange, white, purple

Announcements: Please don't take your child out early on Friday. We have things planned until the last minute! Also, keep your child reading over the Christmas break. They still need 400 minutes to participate in the reading activity!

2010-12-03T15:22:00.000-08:00

Theme: Christmas Traditions

Monday: Identifying the odd numbers; PE.
Tuesday: Covering a design with pattern blocks; Sorting, ordering, and graphing pattern blocks; Computers.
Wednesday: Library; Adding 2 to a number(8+2); Early Out.
Thursday: Comparing and ordering objects by length; Measuring length using nonstandard units; PE.
Friday: Looking for a pattern to solve a problem; Math/Spelling Test; Holiday Traditions; Art.

Spelling Words: where, friend, put, at, get, it, be, Thursday

White Christmas: Monday all the students that read a minimum of 20 minutes per night will walk to Canyon View High School to see a shortened version of White Christmas. Please make sure to dress your child properly for the weather AND walking!

Holiday Traditions: This week we will be talking about family traditions. Please share ONE favorite holiday tradition with your child. On Friday we will be drawing pictures of them. They need to know WHY it's considered a tradition.

2010-11-19T15:33:00.000-08:00

Theme: Thanksgiving

Monday: Drawing a line of symmetry; Adjectives, Being Thankful, PE.
Tuesday: Giving Thanks Book; Assembly, Computers.
Wednesday - Sunday: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Announcements: NO spelling this week. Have a great vacation!

2010-11-12T15:29:00.000-08:00

Theme: The First Thanksgiving

Monday - Capacity; Pilgrims; PE.
Tuesday - Even Numbers; Virtual field trip to Plymoth; Computers.
Wednesday - Identifying numbers on the 100's chart; Library; Santa Art project; Pilgrims first winter.
Thursday - Counting dimes and pennies; Comparing Pilgrim and Indian Homes; PE.
Friday - Spelling and Math test; The Feast; Art; Book order DUE.

Spelling Words - good, have, read, any, did, or, too, Tuesday

Upcoming Events: I'm sending the last book order before Christmas this Friday. If you want anything to be a secret, please let me know!

2010-11-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

Theme: Rocks

Monday - Counting dimes; metamorphic rocks; PE; McDonalds Fundraiser 6:00 - 8:00.
Tuesday - Counting by 2's; Sorting rocks; Computers; Fire safety puppet show.
Wednesday - Fossils; Telling time to the hour; Paper plate pilgrims; Library.
Thursday - Subtracting 0 and subtracting a number from itself; Rock Book; PE.
Friday - Spelling test; Math Test; Finish Rock Book; Then and Now; Art.

Spelling Words: keep, ran, if, away, can't, this, on, Monday.

2010-10-29T16:45:00.000-07:00

Theme: ROCKS!

Monday: Adding 0; PE;
Tuesday: Covering a design in different ways; Rock Collecting; Computers
Wednesday: Field Trip to see the dress rehersal of Cedar High's The Wizard of Oz! Counting by 10's to 100.
Thursday: Subtracting 1 from a number; Sedimentary Rocks; October home reading award - walking to Arctic Circle; PE.
Friday: Subtracting 1; Fact Test; Spelling Test; Art

Spelling Words: work, ride, help, there, find, Sunday

Thanks to all the moms that helped with our Halloween Party! It was "Swash Buckling Good!"

2010-10-20T16:25:00.000-07:00

Theme: FALL/Red Ribbon Week

Tuesday: Sorting items and creating a graph; Four Seasons; Fall Book; Computers; "Turn your back on clothes" - wear your clothes backwards.
Wednesday: Weighing with non-standard units; Library; "It's hot not to use drugs" - wear as much red as possible.
Thursday: Finding a sum by counting on; Indian Corn art; Autumn book; PE; "Put a cap on drugs" - wear a hat.
Friday: Math Assessment; School Holiday Sing; Halloween Party; Art; Say "BOO" to drugs - wear your Halloween costume to school.

Upcoming Events:

NO Spelling test this week. We are reviewing the words we've learned so far. There is homework. I copied the words for you to cut apart and use for the games.
Please turn in the "Interesting Words" bag I sent home for writing. We need it on Tuesday.

2010-10-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

Theme: FALL

Monday: Adding one to a number; Fall poems; Adding details to your writing; P.E.
Tuesday: Adding one to a number; Tissue paper leaves; Collecting words for writing; Computers.
Wednesday: Library; Measuring length with nonstandard units; Writing question marks.

NO Spelling this week! Have a great long weekend. See ya Tuesday!

2010-10-08T15:08:00.000-07:00

Theme: Pumpkins
Spelling Words: house, let, no, in, said, come

Monday: Ordering numbers 1 -20 and adding 1 to a number; Will a pumpkin sink or float? P.E.
Tuesday: Writing addition sentences and creating subtraction stories; growing cycle of a pumpkin; Computers
Wednesday: Library; Counting backwards from 10 -1.
Thursday: Identifying morning, afternoon, evening, and night; Counting pumpkin seeds; P.E.
Friday: Math Assessment; Measuring length; Field Trip to the pumpkin patch; Fun activities with the pumpkins; Art

Upcoming Events: Don't forget to check the weather for Friday and dress your child accordingly. Good shoes are a must! Fall Break - October 20 - 25. It was great to talk to you about your wonderful kids at SEP's last week! Thanks for being so supportive. I got 100%!

2010-10-01T16:03:00.000-07:00

Theme: Columbus/Maps

Spelling Words: call, what, see, jump, my, us

Monday: Double addition facts; Columbus; P.E.

Tuesday: Using a balance to identify lighter and heavier; Globes; Computers.

Wednesday: Library; Double addition facts.

Thursday: Covering designs with pattern blocks; Compass Rose and Cardinal Directions; P.E.

Friday: Written Math Assessment; Spelling test; Art; Maps.

Things You Need To Know: Home Reading Reward for September is a fun game day on Wednesday. Your child needs to turn in the September reading calendar by Monday in order to go. Please get the Bedroom Map done by Friday. We are doing a fun map activity that day. Remember SEP's this week! I can't wait to brag about how wonderful your children are! We get out at 2:30 all week, even on Wednesday!

2010-09-27T19:14:00.000-07:00

Peek The Week:

Theme: Apples

Monday: Identifying a Rectangle, Identifying the Number of Sides and Angles of a Rectangle; P.E.
Tuesday: Writing Number Sentences for "Some, Some More" Stories, Creating Addition Problem Situations; Computers
Wednesday: Library; Creating and Reading a Repeating Pattern; Early Out (dismiss at 1:30)
Thursday: Addition Facts: Doubles with Sums to 18; P.E.
Friday: Identifying the Attributes of Pattern Blocks; Math Test; Spelling Test; Art

Spelling Words: pretty, am, me, make, will

SEP's are next week. Please send home the slip as soon as you can. I'll try to accomodate everyone.

September Home Reading Calendars are due on Friday. The children that return them and have read 20 minutes each night will get to play Minute to Win It!

2010-09-17T14:45:00.000-07:00

Theme: Friends/Pets

Monday: In math we will be counting from 0 - 23. We will do a Friends in School name graph for social studies. We will also learn the last Daily 5 called "Listen to Reading." Today is P.E.

Tuesday: In math we will write addition number sentences. In social studies we will make "Friend Coupons."

Wednesday: In math we will identify ordinal number positions to the sixth place. We also have Library today!

Thursday: In math we will learn our first Math Facts. They're called the "Doubles." We will just be learning sums to 10. Today is P.E. For social studies we will talk about Pets and pet care.

Friday: We have a spelling and a math test today.

Spelling Words: she, are, he, funny, with

I've sure enjoyed these kids! Home reading books should start coming home soon. Please get your pledge money in from the Walk-a-thon this week!

2010-09-10T17:55:00.000-07:00

A lot is happening in First Grade! The kids are doing sooooo well! Here's what will be happening next:

Theme: Families

Monday - Pennies, families.
Tuesday - Identifying a number between 2 numbers, families work and play together.
Wednesday - using apples to divide a shape in half, library.
Thursday- Walk-a-Thon! We walk at, graphing a picture on a pictograph.
Friday - DIBELS testing, Sorting by one attribute, written math assessment, spelling test, relative booklets.

Upcoming Events: I will be gone for a few days(family emergency) but am leaving the children in GREAT hands with Mrs. Cindy Davidson. She is wonderful and a good friend of mine.

2010-09-05T13:03:00.000-07:00

Here's a "Peek" at the next First Grade Week!

Theme: One of a Kind

Math: On Tuesday we will be acting out some - some went away(subtraction) and some - some more(addition) Math Stories. On Wednesday we will be Identifying a Triangle and sorting shapes by one attribute. On Thursday we will make shapes on a "Geoboard." On Friday we will be drawing pictures for addition and subtraction stories.

Spelling Words: the, not, do, want, you.

Daily 5: We are building our stamina on Read to Self and Work on Writing. We are also learning how to do Work on Words!

Upcoming Events: Flag Ceremony Friday at 9:00. Keep working on the Walk-a-thon pledges. Library is Wednesday.

2010-08-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

Theme: One of a Kind

Important Dates: 9/2- Picture Day, 9/6- Labor Day (No School)

Peek at Next Week:
Monday: Writing the Numbers 0, 6, 8, and 9; P.E.
Tuesday: Ordering Sets from Smallest to Largest; Computers; Assembly
Wednesday: Matching a Number to a Set; Library; Early Out (dismiss at 1:30)
Thursday: Identifying: Morning, Afternoon, First, Last, Between, Middle, Second, and Third; P.E.
Friday: Identifying the Steps in the Problem Solving Process; Math Test; Art; Spelling Test

Spelling Words: like, cat, to, and, dog

Please check your child's homework folder each night. Take out papers in the stay home side, and help your child complete their homework.

Spelling homework comes home each Monday and is due the Following Friday.

Reading calendars for September are now in your child's homework folder. I slid them in the back pocket so they would be easy for you to take in and out. Please read 20 minutes per night, either to your child or with your child. We have fun activities to reward students that read and turn in the monthly calendars.

Sight word lists have been sent home. Please read through these each night until your child can read them automatically. They should be able to instantly recognize the word without sounding it out. Sign the form and send back to school to get the next list. I try to test for sight words on Wednesdays.

I sure had a terrific week with your children. They are all wonderful and make me happy each day! Keep up the good work!

2010-08-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

Well we completed 2 very successful days in first grade! Your children were wonderful and made me love my job and be excited about starting another year! Here's what's coming up next week:

MATH: Reviewing Numbers(graphing and writing). Circles, Squares, and Angles.
Social Studies: We alternate Social studies with Science topics. This week we are learning about Rules/Consequences at home, at school, and in the community.
Daily 5: We are learning the 3 ways to read a book and we are building our "Stamina" for Read to self.
Spelling: We start spelling this week! The words are: we, a, can, run, I,and play. I will send the homework on Monday. There are four pages. You can do one a day, or do them all and turn them in before Friday.

Have a Great Weekend,

2010-08-18T07:42:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed meeting all of you last night. It looks like we'll have a great year! Your kids are all really cute and as excited as I am! I forgot to tell some of you that the label inside the folder I gave you contains your loin information to check your child's grades online. Please get all of the papers back to me (that you needed to sign) on Thursday.

2010-07-02T14:37:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Esplin discovered this fun blog: Imagination Soup. There are many great things on this site, but my favorite is the Top 7 1/2 Summer Books to Read for Kids post (there is a reason for the 1/2, read to find the post to find out why). What a fun way to start the summer off! Maybe you and your child can sit down together and make your own list of books they would like to read throughout the summer. I know I have a growing list of my own.

Happy Reading!

2010-07-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

Scholastic has created a great way for you to determine if the books they are reading at home are a "Good Fit Book." Just type the name of the book you are wondering about in the widget found at the bottom of this page and it will redirect you to the Scholastic web site. In the top right hand corner of the page make sure you select the "Guided Reading Level" radial button and then click set. If Scholastic has that book in their system, it will tell you the guided reading level of that particular book.

Our goal is to have all our first graders reading at an "G" by January, and an "I" or "J" reading level by the end of first grade. I would be happy to share with you your child's reading level at school to help you in your endeavors.