Rumplestiltskin

Dear Parents, I just wanted to let you know that your children were excellently behaved at the play we saw today. They were an attentive and polite audience. They even thanked the actors as we left the auditorium! I was so proud and I knew you would be also. Thank you for all you do, Brook Bauer

News and Notes

This is the last week of the grading term and all AR tests need to be taken by Wednesday for the points to count toward this quarter's AR party. Please encourage your child to do his or her best this week. I am having trouble getting the newsletter to attach again. The spelling words are: us bus bug rug mug must with then she use The sight words are: do how their if gives out people green zero of Please practice these and the fluency passage every night. I can not wait to see you all tomorrow at parent night! Don't forget the book nook is open every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30 - 5:00.

Extra Tidbits from Mrs. Bauer

This week we are completing a writing assignment.  Your child had to identify characters and setting.  They had to write a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end.  We used a graphic organizer to get our thoughts in the right order.  Then we edited our spelling and added details and transition words.  We are finishing this writing assignment by putting our completed work down in our very best handwriting.  I can't wait to show it to you!

We are almost finished with The Wizard of Oz.  We have really enjoyed learning about the characters in that book.  I can not wait until October 8th for you to see our Yellow Brick Sight Word Road!  We had some super parent and grandparent volunteers who did so much work on it and the 1st grade teachers are so thankful!  Our class will be submitting the Tin Man from the book as our pumpkin for the Fall Festival pumpkin contest. 

We are reading "Boots for Beth" this week as our comprehension story.  The th sound is our spelling and phonics focus. 

We are working with number sense to 120 in math.  We are working with number lines, number charts, tally charts, and graphs.  We are also learning to use pictures to help us solve addition and subtraction problems.  We are learning to use number sentences.  We are learning to represent numbers in many ways.  We are also learning to explain how we arrived at our answers. 

We are continuing to work with the water cycle in science.  This week we are doing some work with literature about the water cycle.  For example, today we read the book Follow the Water from the Brook to the Ocean.  We will also be learning about rainbows this week. 


Rainbow Experiment


This week in social studies we are working with map skills and we are revisiting the continents and oceans as we do an activity with the book How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World. 

News and Notes - October 1st

I am so sorry that our newsletter was not put on the blog last week.  I was having issues with the internet and I just could not get the newsletter to attach. 

Here is the one for this week:

September 16

Here is today's news. I am so silly! I completely forgot to staple the fluency onto the newsletter and homework - even though it was right there! I am attaching it here for those of you who really want to keep up with it and I have already put it in the students' cubbies to go home tomorrow for those of you who will let it wait until tomorrow.

We are working on the water cycle and the forms of water in science. Please let your child do some simple experiments with water.
-Put some water in a bowl near a window and see how long it takes it to evaporate. You might want to put another bowl outside and see if that water evaporates faster or slower.
-Allow your child to freeze some water and observe it melting.
Encourage them to take pictures of it and write about it.

We are learning about landforms in social studies. Let your child find one interesting fact about mountains in general, a mountain range, or an individual mountain to bring in and share with us this week. If you have any pictures of mountains from vacations or places you have lives, please send some to share.

Building Fluency
 Listening to your child read builds his/her fluency and is something you can do to help your student become a better reader. This activity will only take about 2 minutes per evening.
 Set the timer for 1 minute and let your child read without any assistance from you.
 As you listen, circle each word your child misses. However, if your child misses the word, but then corrects himself, do not circle it. When the timer goes off at the end of the minute, mark where the child stopped.  Count the total number of words that your child read and then subtract the number of words you circled.
 We want to see the number of errors go down and the number of words correct per minute (WCPM) go up.
 Your child should read the passage each night, Monday through Thursday. Celebrate with your child as you watch his fluency improve. Students will receive a grade on their fluency readings in class on Mondays. We will let you know your child’s goal and how they will be graded once we start grading procedures.
Practice reading nightly to help your child become a better reader!

Visiting Aunt Rose

My Aunt Rose invited me to spend the weekend. Aunt Rose doesn’t 12
have kids. She said I could be her kid for two days. She’s like my big sister. 29
I like to go to visit my Aunt Rose’s home. She likes to do the same 45
things I like. I like to go swimming. So does my Aunt Rose. The pool where 61
she goes also has a hot tub. I like to sit in the hot tub. So does my Aunt Rose. 84
I always bring my swimming suit when I visit. 90

If your child finishes before the 1 minute, have him/her read it again!


Please do not hesitate to call or email me if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you so much for letting me work with your sweet children every day.

WEATHER

Here is the tornado in a jar activity that we did in class. On this site you will also find a lot of other information and activities about weather. http://www.weatherwizkids.com/experiments-tornado-jar.htm

News and Notes for Labor Day Week!

• 

• Progress reports go home tomorrow.

• Don't forget the Back to School Dance tomorrow night --- 1st graders must be chaperoned.

• Please do the fluency check with your child and study the sight words and spelling words every night.

• Ask your child what he or she has learned about weather and seasons.

• Ask your child to name the 4 oceans and the 7 continents.  They should all be able to do that and tell you some facts about each one of the continents. 

• Encourage your child to read his or her library book nightly and take at least two AR tests a week.

• Thank you for all you do!  Your children are amazing and I know it is because they have wonderful parents. 

News and Notes for the Week of August 26

For the week of August 19

First Grade Notes and News!

Week of August 19, 2013

Joseph Martin Elementary School

 

 

 

 

Spelling Words

· Each week we will have a new set of words.  These words give the students an extra look at patterns that appear in words. 

· We will test on Friday. 

· Please practice all of these words.   Some ways to practice are by having your child read the words, spell the words aloud, spell the words on paper, or write the words and cut apart the letters and put them back together.

am bad cap go

ham bag mad

had rag up

 

Sight Word List 1

and down go in

is it run up

 

Dates to Remember:

August 27:  Back to School Night 6:00—7:30

September 2-3:  Labor Day Holidays

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homework   A packet will come home on Monday with these assignments

 

Place a check next to completed assignments.

 

Monday

___1.  Math Sheet 1

___2.  Review sight word list 1

___3.  Read fluency story and record the score

___4.  Practice spelling words

Tuesday

___1.  Language Sheet 1

___2.  Review sight word list 1

___3.  Read fluency story and record the score

___4.  Practice spelling words

Wednesday

___1.  Math Sheet 2

___2.  Review sight word list 1

___3.  Read fluency story and record the score

___4.  Practice spelling words

Thursday

___1.  Language Sheet 2

___2.  Review sight word list 1

___3.  Read fluency story and record the score

___4.  Practice spelling words

This week we checked out our first library books of the year.  Please read at home with your child each night and encourage AR tests whenever possible.  I will send home the results of the STAR Reading Inventory on Monday so you can see how your child scored and some areas on which to focus at home.

Thank you so much for all you do.  You are the most important people in the lives of your children and I am so happy to be working with you this year. 

 

Newsletter and Homework August 12, 2013

Mrs. Bauer’s First Grade

Joseph Martin Elementary

August 12, 2013

This week we will be learning the concepts of more, less, and the same in math.  We will be working with comparing and doing tally charts.  Please reinforce these concepts at home. 

We are reading some stories together in class focusing on consonant, vowel, consonant words such as hat, got, and put.  We are doing a phonics lesson each day and a grammar lesson each day.  We work on sight words and reading fluency individually, in whole group, and in small group throughout the week.  We will begin going to the library and checking out AR books next week.  You should see a report from me with some information about your child’s individual reading level next week. 

We are beginning our study of The Wizard of Oz this week.  We are learning about the different elements of stories, especially fairy tales.  Expect to hear a lot about the Land of Oz in the next few weeks.  We have a great time reading and doing activities with that book!

We will be observing the weather and learning about different types in science.  We will be learning all about the oceans and continents in Social Studies for the next two weeks and then we will move on to landforms. 

Please remember to send your child’s folder to school each day. 

If you need anything, please send a note in his or her folder or an email to bbauer@liberty.k12.ga.us

Please follow my blog http://bauerjme.blogspot.com/

Homework for this week:

·         Complete math worksheet

·         Read and color Phonics reader.  Circle all the Consonant/Vowel/Consonant pattern words and discuss

·         Watch the weather forecast on television or read the weather in the newspaper at least once this week and write a sentence about it. 

·         Optional Social Studies Project:  Choose one of the seven continents to do a project.  It may be a poster, a written report, a Power Point presentation, or any other format your child chooses.  They should include information about the geography, weather, and people.  This can be as elaborate or as simple as your family chooses.  These will be presented in class the week of August 26.  They need to be at school by that day. 

·         Spelling words for this week: 

down, got, up, at, hat, cat, can, cap, tap, map, mad, a, the

Welcome to Mrs. Bauer's Class

I am so excited to have your sweet children in my class this year!  We are going to learn so much and have so much fun.  Monday, you will have homework packet and newsletter in the behavior folder.  Please work with your child on the skills addressed in these.  Homework packets will always be sent home on Monday and will be due back on Friday unless otherwise noted. 

The behavior sheet and your child's folder should go home and return to school every day.  Thank you for helping me keep track of this and for keeping communication open between school and home.  I appreciate all you do to help your child be academically successful and I am willing to work with you to make things as easy for you as possible.  Please let me know if you need me to send home additional resources or extra assignments. 

Please do not hesitate to email me bbauer@liberty.k12.ga.us
or send me a note in your child's folder if you need anything. 

I am looking forward to working with you and making this the best first grade year for your child!

Brook Bauer

Homework and news for the week :-)

Mrs. Bauer’s Newsletter

Joseph Martin Elementary                  1^st Grade                      April 22, 2013

Friday is field day!  Please read the letter that went home last week carefully for information. 

**If your child has done a science project, please make sure it is completed and turned in no later than Monday, April 29.  If you need a tri-fold backboard, I probably have enough to give you one.  Just let me know you need it tomorrow.   Don’t forget that it needs to have all of the elements on the board with pictures.  If you have any questions, please email me. 

The easiest way to contact me is through email at bbauer@liberty.k12.ga.us

Be sure to visit our blog:  Bauerjme.blogspot.com.  I will be putting up pictures from Valentines and of our animal projects this week. 

HOMEWORK

Decodable books

Practice spelling and sight words

Read your library book

Math practice pages

Spelling List:

Lead, Read, Head, Bread, Ready, Heavy, Use, Few, Boy, Rule

Sight Words:  afternoon, bicycle, parents, carry, hours

Field Trip

Thank you so much for your support of our field trip last week.  We had a blast!  Here are some pictures of the day.

 The girls seeing our first animal - the warthog!

 The boys looking at a rhino.

 Waiting to feed the giraffe.

 Feeding the giraffe.

The class loved the big elephants almost as much as the real-live ones!

 Our class singing "Move-It, Move-It" in front of the Lemurs. 

The bus on the way home was really quiet!!!!

April 15

Here is this week's newsletter and homework:

Mrs. Bauer’s Newsletter

Joseph Martin Elementary                  1^st Grade                      April 15, 2013

Tomorrow is our trip to the zoo. 

-Students must wear uniforms.

-Students must ride the bus to and from the zoo and stay with their class at all times.

-Students must eat a school lunch or bring a lunchbox.  We will not be buying food at the concession stand.

-We will not be buying souvenirs or going into the gift shop.  Please do not send money with your child to make these purchases. 

The easiest way to contact me is through email at bbauer@liberty.k12.ga.us

Be sure to visit our blog:  Bauerjme.blogspot.com.  I will be putting up pictures from Valentines and of our animal projects this week. 

HOMEWORK

Decodable books

Practice spelling and sight words

Read your library book

*Please have your science project ready to be turned in on Thursday, April 25.  If you need a tri-fold backboard, let me know by this Friday.

*I am doing light homework this week because of the field trip, CRCT, and so many of you are finishing up your science projects. 

Spelling List:

Tube, cube, cute, use, rule, huge, page, fudge, angry, sorry

Sight Words:  boy, brought, few, read, head

AR Finder

http://www.arbookfind.com/UserType.aspx

The above link is a great way to find out if the books you have at home are AR books.  You can search to see if the book is on your child's reading level.  They can always bring their books from home to school and take a test if the book is an AR book. 

***I am so sorry that I neglected to send the newsletter home today.  Here is a copy of it with the spelling words.  The paper copy will come home in the student folders tomorrow.  I was in such a hurry trying to make sure the progress reports went home today that I just did not see the stack of newsletters until the children were gone. 

Mrs. Bauer’s Newsletter

Joseph Martin Elementary                  1^st Grade                      February 25, 2013

·         Please remember to send in your child’s science fair topic and title if you have not already. 

·         If your child was chosen for the county competition for the media festival, please complete the paperwork packet and return it to me by Thursday.      

·         Please read with your child every night and encourage him or her to take AR tests on their library books. 

·         We are testing measurement and time in math this week.  We will be doing a lot of adding and subtracting next. 

·        Sometimes the yucky weather makes the children feel like not doing their best.  Please encourage your child to give 100% this week. 

The easiest way to contact me is through email at bbauer@liberty.k12.ga.us

Be sure to visit our blog:  Bauerjme.blogspot.com.  I will be putting up pictures from Valentines and of our animal projects this week. 

HOMEWORK

Decodable books

Practice spelling words

Practice sight words

Math practice pages

Language practice pages

Read your library book

Spelling List:

Bone, rode, code, cone, those, rose, any, try, again, blue

Sight Words:  field, touch, another, wild, change, wait, twelve

·         Go over the difference between fiction and nonfiction with your child at home this week.  They should be able to give you some examples of stories we have read and in which category they belong. 

January 23, 2013

I hope everyone had a fantastic long weekend.  We are working hard this week. 

• We are measuring length in math and will start soon on time.
• We are reading lots of different kinds of books and writing friendly, persuasive letters in reading. 
• We are experimenting with plants in science. 
• We will be learning about Teddy Roosevelt this week and next week in social studies. 

In science, we put red and purple food coloring in water.  We put celery stalks in and observed the stem carry that water into the leaves.  We have also planted carrots, beets, and radishes in a container with a clear bottom - so we can observe the roots grow too!  We will be planting seeds in our own personal pots tomorrow.  These pots, if anything actually grows, will come home with the students in the spring. 

Please remind your child to do his or her best on everything we do.  Also, please listen to your child read every day if you can.  It is so important.  

Here is our newsletter for the week:   

Mrs. Bauer’s Newsletter

Joseph Martin Elementary                  1^st Grade                      January 22, 2013

·         We will have no additional homework this week.

·         Thanks to the generous people who donated to my project on www.donorschoose.org, our class will be receiving over 50 new biographies on a first and second grade reading level!

·         Please read with your child every night and encourage him or her to take AR tests on their library books. 

·         We are measuring length and learning about time in math.  Help me at home by letting your child help you measure something with a ruler or tape measure.  Also point out clocks and talk about time whenever you can. 

HOMEWORK

Decodable books

Practice spelling words

Practice sight words

Math practice pages

Language practice pages

Read your library book

Science practice pages

Spelling List: (Sight words will be the challenge words for the week)

Jelly   Belly  Bunny Funny   World   

Furry              Hurry  Take    Came       Over

Sight Words:  Above, Different, Hold, Old, Water, Warm, Years



Animal Projects, Donors Choose, and Newsletter

The students did a wonderful job on their animal presentations.  They were creative and fun!  They were excellent at presenting their projects and being a good audience for others.  I will post some pictures of them with their projects soon. 

I have written a grant for biography books that are on the students' independent reading level.  Over half of the project has been funded.  Please take a look at the project and pass it on if you know of anyone who would like to help us get some new books.  http://www.donorschoose.org/project/using-biographies-to-increase-informatio/944164/

Here is this week's newsletter and homework:

Mrs. Bauer’s Newsletter

Joseph Martin Elementary                  1^st Grade                      January 14, 2013

Additional Homework Project

Next Tuesday is the 100^th day of school!  Please help your child bring in either a sandwich bag filled with 100 of any small item or a poster board with 100 items attached.  The items can be anything that can easily be counted such as beans, cotton balls, paper clips, etc.   Please send these in on Friday so they can be displayed on the 100^th day. 

*We will not have school on Monday in observance of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

The easiest way to contact me is through email at bbauer@liberty.k12.ga.us

 HOMEWORK

Decodable books

Practice spelling words

Practice sight words

Math practice Page

Venus Flytrap science and reading

Read your library book

100 items activity

Spelling List: (Challenge in Bold)

Me                  Mean              Be

Bean               Beet                Feet

Low                Road               Who

Door               Also               Know

Should         Anything

Sight Words:  also, anything, know, moved, only, room, should, those, write