Happy Thanksgiving!

Creative Crafting for Winter!
As we wind down and get ready for Thanksgiving break, we took some time to prepare our classroom for the next season-- WINTER! First, we made some winter pine trees. We talked about the steps an illustrator needs to take in order to create a piece.

• Stop and THINK! -- What do I want to make? What do I want it to look like?
• Make a LIST! -- What will I need to make my project?
• DRAW first -- Drawing before cutting makes it easier to be sure our piece comes out just how we want it!

We practiced following these steps as a class to make our pine trees. After we were done, we noticed that even though we all followed the same directions and had the same materials, our trees all looked a little bit different.

Next up-- we were faced with a BIG creative challenge -- to follow the steps to create a project of our very own. We first brainstormed a list of winter wonders that may make a great project. Some included- mittens, penguins, skating, snowflakes, snowmen, and our list went on! Once we chose our topic, we got to writing our list of materials. We went “shopping” in our school store to get what we needed. Then we got to work! Once our masterpieces were complete, we wrote about them. Some writers chose to write about what they made, others chose to write about how they made it, why they made it, or even made up a silly story about it! All of the students worked hard and should be proud of their creativity. We all learned that creativity can be tricky, but in the end-- it is worth it!

Creative Writers At Work!

 

Narrative Books!
We are officially PUBLISHED AUTHORS! Our narrative stories have been published into books and we are OVER THE MOON! Please take some time to celebrate your child’s writing with them and be sure to take a peek at our stories on our bookshelf when you visit for conferences next week!

Conferences & Progress Reports
Please note that report cards will be sent home on Monday, November 30th. Parent/ Teacher Conferences are scheduled for that week. Inside your first grader’s progress report folder you will find a reminder with you scheduled conference time. If that time is no longer convenient for you, please let me know and I will do my best to find a time that works for you.

Talking Tidbits

• Learning about Thanksgiving
• The creative process and what we made!
• Doubles & Near Doubles
• More practice with glued sounds am, an, all
• Filling the ticket jar-- Bring a stuffed friend to school day!
• Words of the Week: do, does, have, from
• Watching the TURKEY TROT!
• Walk - a - thon

PG Walk-a-thon!

Hope Everyone Had A Wonderful Thanksgiving!

More From 104!

Parent Questionnaire
A parent survey was sent home with your child yesterday. We would appreciate your help in completing the questionnaire regarding your student and their learning at school. We would also appreciate your feedback about this year so far. If possible, we would like to have all questionnaires returned by Tuesday, November 24th. Thanks for your ongoing support and for your participation!

Writing
We are just about finished with our personal narratives! First graders have been working extremely hard and have become master writers, editors, and publishers. Throughout our writing process, we have learned how to add more details, “touch each word” while editing, use an editing checklist, and create an interesting title that grabs the reader’s attention. Ask your child all about their stories and what they have been learning about during writing. Be on the lookout - rough drafts of this unit will be sent home in the near future. There is space for you to write a note to your first grade writers about their piece. Please return it to school in the attached envelope and we will open them at school.

Turkey Trot/Walk-a-thon
Next Wednesday, November 25th, Pine Glen will hold it’s annual Turkey Trot and Walk-a-thon! Weather permitting, first graders will be outside for a good portion of the morning. Please make sure your child has sneakers and also a warm coat, gloves, hats, scarves, etc. for the occasion.

Spirit Day/Food Pantry Donations
Next Wednesday is also Pine Glen Spirit Day! Your child is encouraged to wear Pine Glen attire and/or green. If possible, please have your child bring a canned food item to help support the Burlington Food Pantry.

½ Day Snack
Next Wednesday is a half day. We will be dismissed at 11:30am. Since we will not be having lunch on that day your child may bring in one small snack and drink. Please remember that all students must bring in ONLY peanut- and tree-nut free products for snack.

Book Fair December 2nd!
First graders have been scheduled to go down to the Pine Glen Book Fair on Wednesday December 2nd. The book fair will also be open for parents on December 3rd during the day. Book Fair flyers have been sent home with more information.


Talking Tidbits

• Veteran’s Day
• Drafting & publishing our narratives!
• Bus Safety
• Glued sounds all, am, and an
• Earning hoot cards

B-U-S-Y Busy!

Though November is a short, choppy month of school, first graders were B-U-S-Y! We learned new rules in phonics, started a new math topic, and started writing a narrative story. Use the talking tidbits below to chat with your first grader about their week!

NED Assembly
This week we were very fortunate to attend the NED Show! Ned is a cartoon character whose name is an acronym standing for Never give up, Encourage others, Do you best. During the assembly, our host Meghan used yoyo tricks to teach us these important life skills. The assembly was engaging and motivating. Ned Show yoyos will be for sale at Pine Glen until Friday 11/13. If your child is interested in buying one, please send their money to school in their green folder. Money raised from the yoyo sales will go towards helping another school have a Ned Show just like a school had done for us! We learned that his is called “paying it forward.” For more information the NED Show, you may visit here. Thank you to Miss Z for organizing this event for Pine Glen!

Writing
During writing this week we worked on choosing a topic for our narrative stories. We discussed the difference between big moments and small moments. We learned that when we write about small moments we can include more detail and make our readers more interested. Big moments are sometimes too big for a written story!

Once we decided upon our topic, we illustrated our stories using crayons and water colors. We worked really hard to include as much detail in our illustrations as possible. Next up-- we will use our pictures to orally tell our stories to a friend. Then, we will let our pencils do the talking and begin to draft the beginning, middle, and ending of our stories!

Math
In math this week we began Topic 3, Five and Ten Relationships. We will be working with ten frames and learning the different parts of 10. Continue to practice math facts at home with your first grader whenever possible!

Talking Tidbits

•  NED Assembly
•  Phonics: Bonus Letters (f, l, s) and Glued Sound (all)
•  Starting our narratives
•  November Author - Cynthia Rylant