Week of September 19th!

"In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf”

― Eric Carle, The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The students have been working on a very creative piece of art work that will be auctioned off at this years golf tournament. The project can be viewed in the courtyard on Thursday and Friday morning! It turned so great and I can't wait to see who bids... I am so disappointed that I won't be at the tournament this year but am looking forward to hearing all about it and seeing all the fantastic pictures!

Here is a picture of the art piece that the students worked on for the auction!

This week the students are working on building and blending short /o/ words and words with -ed ending. The students are also learning and identifying nouns...wow!

After weeks of working on sentence structure and handwriting, the students are ready for their first formal writing assignment this week. The students first brainstorm as a class ideas for the topic focusing on the six traits of writing. This week the students are focusing on conventions. Next, the students work on a rough draft. Then, the students will meet for a writing conference with the teacher. **this is a great time for one on one instruction and teachable moments between the student and teacher**. The students will then work on their final draft focusing on fixing the things discussed with the teacher and peers.

In math the students continue to work on addition. This week they are focusing on the strategy "adding on" (starting with the larger number and then adding the smaller number onto that... 9+3 becomes 9...10..11..12.

This week in religion the students are learning all about original sin. Ask your child about Adam and Eve..

In social studies this week the students continue to discuss family, rules and transportation.

We love our SPECIALS!  Here are some pictures from music and art...

What a wonderful week of learning!

God bless you all,
Mrs. Hack

week of September 12th

"Individually, we are one drop.  Together, we are an ocean..." -Unknown

What a fitting quote for this week.  In literacy our theme is teamwork and I think teamwork is the perfect word to define our class.  I was able to pop in and visit the class last week and was so excited to see all the great things going on.  The students were telling me all about the fire drill and the star student presentation and were just all in all excited about school.  I saw a great sense of teamwork going on as the students spoke and listened to one another.  :)  I am excited to see them again soon!

This week in literacy the students are building and blending words with final blends (-nk, -nt, -nk, -st).  The students will be working on  words that have cvcc patterns (consonant, vowel, consonant, consonant).  In grammar, the students will understand what a complete sentence is by identifying what is missing and reviewing the properties of a sentence.  Each week literacy skills and strategies are accomplished by teaching in many different methods to assure that we are reaching each individual learning style.  Some of the methods are whole group, oral language, oral vocabulary, listening comprehension, phonemic awareness, word studies, guiding reading and independent practice. 

My little spelling bee's are doing so wonderful learning the different spelling strategies that will help them become lifelong spellers.  I am so proud of them!!  This week they are working on the Sitton Strategy: Add It!  They will use the strategy Add It to words ending in -in and short /a/ along with making lists of words that wend the same way (-ab, -voiced /th/).  The students will also be recalling antonyms using the structure "Not __, but_____" (-you,me, -in, out, -hot, cold).  What a fun game to play at home with your child.  You can start the chant by saying, "Not me"... and your child can end with..."but me".  Have fun!!! 

My mathematicians are hard at work learning a great math strategy!  Touch Math is a great strategy that helps the students visualize the amount in each number.  As your child learns the touch points this week for each number have them teach it to you!  What great teamwork that would be!   :)

Religion is always a favorite subject for the students!  It is a wonderful time of prayer, reflection and learning!  This week the students will show their understanding of concepts covered in the first four chapters by taking a unit test.  The students will also be recalling that Adam and Eve were the first humans, created by God.  They will learn all about the Garden of Eden and how it had everything that Adam and Eve needed.  Ask your child about the gift of grace...

This week in social studies the students are learning all about families and the different celebrations and special times that they have.  They will be identifying human characteristics of places where people live and the similarities and differences of how they meet the need for shelter.  The students will be discussing the need for rules at home.  You can recall with your child the rules that are set in your home and why they are important. 

This week the students are working on the vocabulary word angel.  The students will continue to use our vocabulary packet to explore the meaning of the word. 

Again as I speak with Mrs. Moeller every couple of days and I am so happy to hear all the wonderful things going on in our class.  What a great group of students we have.  I look forward to returning soon and teaching the students again!  You are all in my prayers each day.  God Bless you all!   

Brayden is doing wonderful!  We are enjoying our time with him so much.  We are still getting used to routines of feeding and sleeping.  We are just truly blessed with our gift and love him so much. 

Week of August 29th!

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” 

Henry Ford

This week Mary Hepsen came in to 1B to talk to the students about our anti bullying program called Olweus.  It is a wonderful program that helps empower the students to stand up for each other and treat one another with respect.  We hold class meetings each week before Mass to promote and build a positive classroom community.  Without using names we discuss things that are weighing heavy on our hearts and also things that are going great in our classroom.  We then say a prayer and give it up to God.  God truly answers our prayers and it is a wonderful moment of team building in our classrooms!

I miss the students so much and enjoy talking with Mrs. Moeller and hearing all the wonderful things that are said and done in the classroom. 

Here are just a few of the many things going on in our first grade class this week!

In literacy the students are blending and building words short /i/.  The students love using their wipe boards to write words and then orally segmenting words with Mrs. Moeller.  The students are reading many books together and working on using the strategy sequence of events to become great readers!  We are continuing to work on fluency and comprehension... very important for early readers. 

In grammar the students are learning that statements tell us something and end with a period.  The students will continue to identify statements. 

In spelling the students are working on Sitton Spelling strategies and using the core words of, a, to, too, over.  The students are also working on homophones!!!  Ask your child to find homophones  (to, too, two/be, bee).  What a fun game to play at dinner.  Look for homophones in magazines or books!   

In math we are continuing to work on number bonds.  Wow...what great math skills the students are working on.  The students worked together to work on the number bonds.  What a great introduction to addition and subtractions! 

In religion the students are learning one of my favorite lessons about creation and angels.  The students are understanding the difference between creating and making and that only God can create.  We are also learning that angels are invisible spirits created by God to be his helpers.  Ask your child about those angels that turned away from God.  :(

We continue to do some wonderful work in vocabulary.  This week our vocabulary words is addition.  What a wonderful way to integrate math and vocabulary together!  Number bonds are a great introduction to vocabulary.

These are just a few of the great things going on in 1B this week.  Again I am so proud of the students and their wonderful work!!!

I have received the many letters from the students of 1B.  How blessed I feel to have such wonderful students.  Also a huge thank you to all of the families of 1B... your prayers, love, well wishes and support mean so much to us!  :) 

My husband and I feel very blessed that God entrusted us with such a precious baby boy.  Brayden Edward Hack was born on August 24th at 11:59pm.  8lbs 3oz 20 inches long.  He is just a dream come true!  We are so in love! 

Here is a link to some more photos if you would like to view them!  They will be available for viewing until September 11th. 

http://www.myfirstdayphotogallery.com/gallery/azs082611bbrayden-635093

The passcode is:  AZS082611bBrayden

God Bless you all!

Mrs. Hack