Newsletter and Spelling Words
Newsletter for the Week of May 5th, 2025
Hello! This first full week of May contains many schedule changes. On Monday, we will attend May Crowning in Church. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will have iReady Testing for Math, and on Thursday, we will have iReady Testing for Reading. The following Monday, we will continue the iReady Reading test. As suggested in the past, please ensure your student has plenty of sleep and a good breakfast, especially before the testing days.
Please join us for Mass on Friday! Our class will host the 1A Mass. Mass parts have been assigned. Most students with speaking parts were given a copy of the Mass sheet to practice. Please have your student recite their part in a moderate cadence and pause at commas and periods before moving on to the next section or sentence.
In addition to iReady testing, here is what we will be learning this week:
In Religion, the students will practice their Mass parts in preparation for the Mass on Friday.
In Reading, the students will begin the last Superkids unit of the year. They will be introduced to words containing the -oo sounds, as in moon and book.
In Spelling, the students will spell -oo words such as spoon and stood. Please see the spelling list below.
In Language Arts, the students will begin to make a memory book filled with stories and poems.
In Math, the students will learn about shapes and their attributes.
In Social Studies, the students will begin a new lesson on where families live.
In Science, we will look at a bee's leg through a microscope and draw what we see.
Here is this week's spelling list:
moon
spoon
room
broom
book
took
shook
hood
wood
stood
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a wonderful weekend,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of April 28, 2025
Hello! The end of April and beginning of May is this week! We have many activities to look forward to during this full week of school.
On Tuesday, the students will have their Spring Religion Assessment during their Religion period. On Thursday, the students will receive the Mass parts for our Mass which will take place on Friday, May 9th at 8:30 am. If you can come to Mass that day, that would be terrific!
This is what we will be learning this week:
In Religion, we will finish learning about Easter. Please look for the Blest Are We packet on Monday. The Easter Test will be on Wednesday.
In Reading, the students will be introduced to -ow words that sound like a long o, as in grow and low. They will also learn how to determine where to break words into syllables.
In Spelling, the students will spell -ow words and the Memory Words that were introduced last week. Please find the spelling list below.
In Language Arts/Writing, the students will finish their informational piece and publish it in book form.
In Math, the students will continue to learn about time and review adding coins. Their Topic 13 Money and Time Test will be on Thursday.
In Science, we will begin our last lesson on Stars.
In Social Studies, we will review How Are Families Special and the students will have an assessment on Thursday.
Here is the Spelling List:
low
blow
grow
slow
snow
Memory Words
warm
walk
once
give
done
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the week of April 21, 2025
Hello! This week will be short as we do not have school on Easter Monday!
Here is what we will be learning this week:
In Religion, the students will learn about Easter from our Blest Are We book.
In Reading, the students will be introduced to words with the—ou and—ow sounds, such as cloud and town.
The students will spell words with -ou and -ow. Please see the spelling list below.
In Language Arts, the students will choose an informative/non-fiction book they have read and write a factual piece about their topic of choice.
In Math, the students will continue reviewing/counting pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters, and will be introduced to learning how to tell time on an analog and digital clock. Please have your student count loose change periodically, and tell time by the hour and half hour.
The students will begin a new unit, How Are Families Special, in Social Studies.
In Science, students will learn how bees make honey.
Here are the spelling words for this week:
loud
cloud
proud
found
round
sound
town
clown
brown
frown
I will be going on vacation on Wednesday, April 23rd, and will be back on Monday, April 28th. If you have any questions during that time, please email the office at the schoolinfo link.
Until then, if you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a wonderful Easter weekend,
Nancy Chappell
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Newsletter for the Week of April 7, 2025
Hello! This will be our first full week of April. We are well into the 4th Quarter. Please encourage your students to practice their spelling words, math facts, and complete their iReady lessons.
Our first-grade has been asked to contribute to a school-wide Lenten activity. If you could donate 1" pompoms of various colors to benefit the Mount St. Joseph residents, it would be much appreciated. The donations are due by April 14th.
Mrs. Mastores, the lunch lady, has asked that we update the menu choices for the following dates:
On April 11th, a grilled cheese with piknik stix will be offered.
On April 25th, buttermilk waffles with sausage and hashbrowns will be available.
Here is what we will be learning this week:
In Religion, we will complete some Lenten activities, writing thoughtful notes to neighbors and personal prayers.
In Reading, the students will be introduced to -oi and -oy words, such as coin and toy. We will also revisit cause and effect in stories and identify the characters, setting, problem, and solution of each story we read.
The students will spell -oi and -oy words this week. Please look for the spelling list below.
In Language Arts, we will begin our poetry unit.
In Math, we will begin our topic on measurement. The students will need to decide whether or not they can use just a rigid solid object (ie, paper clip, penny, or ruler) to measure the length of an item or if they need to use a string with the rigid object to determine the item's length. (If an item follows a straight line, a rigid object like a paper clip or ruler can be used to measure that item's length. If, however, the item is curved, the student must use a string to follow the item's curved length and then uncurl the string to measure it with a rigid object to determine the item's length).
In Social Studies, we will finish our studies of maps by reviewing the map title, map keys, map symbols, and the compass rose on various types of maps.
In Science, the students will take a test on the stars and their daily patterns.
Here is this week's spelling list:
oil
boil
soil
coin
join
point
joint
joy
toy
boy
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you, and have a fantastic weekend!
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of March 31, 2025
Hello! I hope you had a fantastic Spring Break!
We will resume iReady lessons this week. Please ensure that your student completes two iReady Math and two iReady Reading lessons by April 5th. On Thursday, the students will go to A Wind in the Willows play at Carmel Catholic High School. Please pack an extra snack for your student as we will eat lunch later than usual. Also, report cards will be sent home this Friday.
Here is what we will be learning this week:
In Religion, we will continue learning about loving God and others in our Blessed Are We books. Please watch for the Religion review packet that will be sent home on Tuesday. The test is on Thursday.
In Reading, the students will learn the -ir, -ur, and review the -er sounds in words such as bird and fur.
In Spelling, the students will spell -ir and -ur words, and the Memory words that were introduced the week of March 17th. Please see the Spelling words below.
In Language Arts, the students will finish their Narrative writing story.
Students will finish Topic 11, Subtracting Tens, in Math. Their assessment will be on Friday.
In Science, the students will learn about stars and their daily patterns.
In Social Studies, the students will continue to identify the title, symbols, compass rose, and map key on various types of maps.
Here are the Spelling words:
bird
third
turn
burn
Memory Words
cold
know
does
laugh
both
again
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of March 24, 2025
Hello,
Have a wonderful Spring Break!
Mrs. Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of March 17, 2025
Hello! Happy St. Patrick's Day weekend! This is the first week of the 4th quarter and the last week before Spring Break. Please have your student complete their iReady lessons for the week, two for Reading and two for Math. Students may wear green in honor of St. Patrick on Monday. On Friday, we will participate in the March Madness basketball fundraiser. It's not too late to send in your donation/permission slip to shoot baskets ($5 for three shots); please do so early this coming week. If your student will be leaving early (before Friday) for the break, please let me know so they can take any quizzes or tests before their vacation, otherwise, they will need to be prepared to take the quizzes/tests the day they return.
Here is what we will be learning this week:
In Religion, we will begin a new chapter in our Blessed Are We books, Loving God and Others. We will also focus on individual written prayers throughout this Lenten season.
In Reading, the students will: be introduced to the -ar and -or sounds in words; continue to state the beginning, middle, and end of the stories read; and note the setting, problem and solution of each story.
In Spelling, the students will spell -ar and -or words such as car and born. Please find the spelling words below.
In Language Arts, the students will plan a narrative story with characters, setting, problem, solution, and dialogue.
In Math, the students will subtract tens from given numbers using a hundreds chart, open number line, and place-value blocks.
In Science, we will continue learning/reviewing the moon's phases and have our assessment on Wednesday.
In Social Studies, we will continue learning about reading maps by locating the compass rose, and determining where places are based on the map key and scale.
Here are the spelling words:
car
far
star
card
hard
born
corn
horn
short
sport
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a marvelous weekend,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of March 10, 2025
Hello! This is the last week of the third quarter. Time is flying by! In two weeks, it will be Spring Break! If you haven't already sent in the permission slip and money for the field trip to Carmel Catholic School to see the Wind in the Willows play, please do so before the break.
Here is what we will learn this week:
In Religion, we will continue learning about Lent. Please look for the Lenten packet that will be sent home to review on Tuesday. We will have an assessment on Lent on Thursday.
In Reading the students will: decode words with -aw, as in saw and lawn; note cause and effect in stories; and retell the beginning, middle, and/or end of a story.
The students will spell -aw words and the Memory words introduced last week. Please see the Spelling list below.
In Language Arts, the students will write a descriptive story using their senses.
In Math, the students will take their Topic 10 Math test adding two-digit numbers.
In Social Studies, we will begin a new unit on Geography. The students will learn how to read a map using a map key.
In Science, the students will learn about the phases of the moon by watching a video and creating a moon book.
Please make sure your student is completing their two iReady Reading and two iReady Math lessons for this week and studying their fact fluency sheets nightly. New math fact fluency sheets will be sent home on Monday.
Here is the Spelling list:
law
saw
dawn
lawn
crawl
Memory Words
come
coming
they
our
put
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a great weekend!
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of March 3, 2025
Hello! Welcome to March! This week, we will be celebrating the beginning of Lent. Please join us for the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Ash Wednesday, if your schedule allows.
Here is what we will be learning this week:
In Religion, we will prepare ourselves for Lent, the 40 days before our Lord's Passion. This past week, the students colored a cross, wrote a prayer, and wrote what they could do during Lent to prepare themselves for celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. We will continue learning about Lent in our Blest Are We books this week.
In Reading, we will learn words with -all, as in basketball and taller. We will also determine how many syllables are in a word noticing patterns with the long a sound as in tail or paper.
In Spelling, the students will spell words with -all in them. Please see the spelling list below.
In Language Arts, the students will be writing descriptive pieces using adjectives and adverbs and will learn to write a compound sentence.
In Math, the students will continue adding tens and ones using place value blocks, number lines, and models.
In Social Studies, the students will review activities that good neighbors do and will have their test on Tuesday.
In Science, the students will review the length of sunlight in the summer versus the winter and will have their assessment on that topic on Thursday. Please look for the Summer Sunshine booklets, Parts 1 & 2, that will be sent home on Wednesday.
Here is the spelling list for the week:
call
mall
small
stall
wall
baseball
basketball
hallway
fallen
taller
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a marvelous weekend,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of February 24, 2025
Hello,
This week, February 24-28, the NJHS is holding a raffle for fun gift baskets. Your student may view the pictures of the basket items in the lobby from Monday through Friday and enter the raffle for $1 per ticket.
We will have a full week of school this week. Hopefully, all will be rested and ready to learn.
Here is a sneak peek of our learning objectives:
In Religion, we will finish our Growing in Love program learning to be strong, safe, and close to God. Then, we will begin preparing for Lent which starts on Ash Wednesday, March 5th.
In Reading, we will learn the long vowel-tricker words, which have a long vowel in the first syllable and a short vowel at the end of the word. Paper and spider are two examples.
In Spelling, the students will spell long vowel-tricker words and the Memory words introduced last week. These can be tricky, so please have your student practice often. Please find the Spelling words below.
In Language Arts, the students will write a Book Review.
In Math, we will begin Topic 10 and learn to add multi-digit numbers using place-value blocks and number lines.
In Science, we will study daylight and the seasonal patterns.
In Social Studies, we will learn what good neighbors do.
Here are the Spelling words for this week:
paper
even
silent
open
super
Memory Words
their
now
always
because
been
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a wonderful weekend!
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of February 17, 2025
Hello! Thank you to Mrs. Braun, Mrs. Craig, Mrs. Grajeda, Mrs. Maciejewski, and Mrs. Miazga for making our Valentine's Day party fun! The students had a great time!
Please note, we have a shortened week due to our President's Day holiday on Monday.
Here is what we will be learning this week:
In Religion, we will continue our Growing in Love program learning how to be strong, safe, and close to God. Please have your student complete the white extension worksheet and review it with them each night as it relates to the information the students are learning in class.
In Reading, the students will be introduced to additional contractions, note the problems and solutions of the stories they read, and understand the meanings of figurative language phrases.
In Spelling, the students will spell contractions such as I'll and we're and note their meanings. Please see the Spelling list below.
In Language Arts, the students will write opinion pieces giving reasons for their opinions.
The students will take their Topic 9 Math test on Thursday comparing numbers using greater than, less than, or equal to words and symbols.
In Science, we will continue to learn about the patterns of the sun and complete a science activity noting the cardinal directions of where the sun rises and sets.
In Social Studies, we will begin a new topic, What Do Good Neighbors Do?
Please ensure your student completes two iReady Math and two iReady Reading lessons each week.
Here is the Spelling List:
I'm
he's
she's
it's
we're
you're
I'll
he'll
she'll
you'll
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a terrific three-day weekend!
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of February 10, 2025
Hello! We will have a shortened week as Friday is an early release day. There isn't an afternoon bus on that day either. We will have our Valentine's Day party from 10 - 11 am Friday. Please have your student bring a card/treats for everyone in the class if you decide you would like to participate.
Here is what your student will be learning:
In Religion, on Monday, a mid-year assessment will show what your student has learned thus far. We will also be continuing our Growing with God unit. Your student will learn about growing up safe, strong, and closer to God with assistance from Blaze, the puppet. Your student should have brought home a Blaze puppet they created last Friday. Pages will be sent home each day to supplement their learning. Please read and complete these with your student as the pages reinforce what they learn in class.
In Reading, the students will be introduced to adding a suffix to two-syllable words ending in y (that sound like a long e) after a consonant. Students must change the y to an i when comparing two or more things as in happier and happiest.
In Spelling, students will practice spelling -ay words, comparative and superlative words, and the Memory words introduced last week. Please find the spelling list below.
In Language Arts, the students will finish writing and illustrating their How-to text.
In Math, the students will determine one more, one less, ten more, and ten less of a given number. Please have your student practice their Math Fact Fluency paper. A Fluency quiz is given every Friday.
In Social Studies, the students will take their How Families Take Care of Each Other assessment on Tuesday.
In Science, the students will learn about the sun, its daily patterns, and how the sun can help you in case you are lost.
Please ensure your student completes at least two iReady Math and two iReady Reading lessons per week. This will help them reach their Typical Growth and/or Stretch Growth goals for the year
Here is this week's spelling list:
say
may
play
happier
happiest
down
too
work
many
first
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a wonderful weekend,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of February 3, 2025
Hello and welcome to February! We have a shortened week as there isn't school on Friday. I will give your student their iPad on Thursday so that they may continue working on their iReadys for the week. Normal tests and quizzes will be moved from Friday to Thursday.
Here is what we will be learning this week:
In Religion, we will have our Baptism test on Tuesday. Please review the packet that was sent home last week.
In Reading, the students will be introduced to ending -y words that sound like a long e or a long i. A typical rule of thumb is if the word has more than one syllable the y usually has the long e sound at the end, as in puppy and happy. If the word is one-syllable, the y most likely sounds like a long i, as in fry and cry. The students will also learn that words with the letters ay in them will make a long a sound as in pay and play.
In Spelling, the students will spell words ending in -y. Please see the Spelling list below. Our spelling test will be on Thursday.
In Language Arts, the students will learn how to write an explanatory piece/how-to text.
In Math, the students will take their Topic 8 test on tens and ones on Wednesday.
In Science, we will continue learning about shadows and the sun.
In Social Studies, we will continue learning about families.
Here is this week's Spelling list:
by
fly
cry
try
belly
jelly
smelly
bunny
funny
sunny
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a terrific weekend,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of January 27, 2025
Hello! This week we celebrate Catholic Schools with many fun activities and service project opportunities. On Monday, your student is encouraged to bring in a nonperishable food item. If they do so, they can be out of uniform on Tuesday. On Tuesday, students will have 30 minutes of supervised free time before their lunch hour and will watch the Talent Show in the afternoon. Tuesday is a no-homework night. On Wednesday, if your student brings in a minimum of $5 to be donated to wildfire victims in California, they may be out of uniform and can wear red, white, and blue. We will celebrate our 100 Days Party in the afternoon.
Please note, we will resume iReady requirements beginning Sunday, January 26th. Please encourage your student to complete two iReady Math and two iReady Reading lessons each week. Lessons are to be completed within the week Sunday to Saturday.
Here is what your student will be learning this week:
In Religion, we will continue our study of the Sacrament of Baptism. Thank you to all who sent in the baptismal photos. They are hanging in our 1A classroom for all to see.
In Reading, the students will learn the meanings of irregular contractions and read small chapter stories.
In Spelling, the students will spell three irregular contractions and the Memory words introduced last week. Please see the spelling list below.
In Language Arts, the students will finish their personal narratives and write them in book form.
In Math, the students will continue using place value blocks and note how to add tens and ones. Furthermore, the students will determine different ways to represent a given number. For example, 36 can be represented as 36 ones, three tens and 6 ones, or two tens and 16 ones.
In Social Studies, the kids will explore how families take care of each other.
In Science, we will continue our studies of the sun and shadows.
Here is the Spelling list for the week:
can't
won't
don't
Memory Words
boy
girl
two
four
about
over
before
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a super weekend,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of January 20, 2025
Hello! We will have a shortened week in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.s birthday celebration on Monday.
Please remember: the 100 Days Poster is due on Friday. Please check the previous Newsletter and the handout for details. Also, please review your student's report card, sign the cover, and have your student return the cover to me this week.
The iReady lesson requirement will begin next Sunday. I will send iPads home on Friday. Two Math and two Reading iReady lessons are due each week.
Here is what we will learn:
In Religion, we will be learning about Baptism. If you have not already done so, please send in a picture of your student's Baptism. We will continue pulling from our Kindness Jar. The students have been looking forward to acting out or completing an activity that shows kindness to others.
In Reading, the students will learn the contraction for not, n't. They will receive a new workbook and Reader titled More Adventures of the Superkids.
In Spelling the students will spell contractions with "n't" such as wasn't and couldn't. Please find the Spelling list below.
In Language Arts, the students will begin writing a personal narrative.
In Math, we will begin a new topic, Understanding Place Value. We will be working with different manipulatives and place value blocks.
In Science, we will continue our study of shadows. Hopefully, it will warm up during the later part of the week so we can go out and complete an experiment on shadows.
In Social Studies, we will begin a new lesson, How do Families Care for Each Other?
Here are the Spelling words for the week:
isn't
didn't
hasn't
hadn't
aren't
wasn't
weren't
haven't
couldn't
wouldn't
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a warm, long, fun weekend,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of January 12, 2025
Hello! This week there is iReady Diagnostic Testing for Math on Monday and Tuesday morning and iReady Diagnostic Testing for Reading on Wednesday and Thursday morning. Please ensure your student has plenty of rest, eats a healthy breakfast, and tries their best each day as it tends to correlate with the growth seen in the classroom.
Last Friday, I sent home directions for the 100 Days of School poster activity. Your student is responsible for selecting 100 items and gluing them on a poster in groups of fives, tens, twenties, or twenty-fives. Their posters are due January 24th or before so they can be hung in the halls for our 100 Days Party on January 29th. I am excited to see the designs that your students will create!
This week, your student will receive a Scholastic Book Club form. Many of the students indicated they would like to read new books, so this is an opportunity for them to express their interest in the books they would like to read and for me to order some additional books via points for the classroom. If you would like to order books for your student, please visit the clubs.scholastic.com website, enter the school's zip code, 60047, select our school, and find my name under the teacher drop-down box. Please complete the order by Friday, January 17th, if you choose to order any books. Thank you in advance for earning our class points to stock our classroom library with new books.
Here is what we will be learning this week:
In Religion, we will continue to learn about Baptism. Please send your student in with a baptismal photo of themselves this week.
In Reading, we will continue to learn CVVC words, focusing on—ue and—ie words.
In Spelling, we will read and spell CVVC words along with the Memory Words that were introduced last week. The Memory words can be difficult to spell as there are many silent letters in each. Please review these words often with your student. Please see the Spelling words below.
In Language Arts, the students will debate their opinions in a group setting.
In Math, the students will finish their topic, Counting by 1s and 10s from 1 to 120, and will take their Topic 7 test on Thursday.
In Science, the students will continue learning about how the sun and light cast shadows. We will be completing an activity with gnomes and different light sources.
In Social Studies, we will finish our lesson on What a Family Needs and Wants. Please have your student study the sheet that came home noting the definitions of the words good, market, need, want, price, and shelter. They should also be able to give examples of each. The test is on Thursday.
I will not send the students' iPads home this week as we are in the iReady testing mode. Therefore, I won't list a grade for iReady lessons this week.
Here are this week's Spelling words:
blue
tie
heat
keep
Memory Words
would
could
some
one
new
were
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a terrific weekend,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of January 6, 2025
Hello! Happy New Year to you and your family!
The first week back to school will be shortened as Monday is a teacher institute day. We will begin class on Tuesday. I can't wait to see your student and hear about their Christmas break! Grades are due at the end of this week for the second quarter. Please have your student complete any work they did not complete if it is in their possession.
Here is what we will be learning:
In Religion, we will be learning about Baptism. If you have a picture of your student being baptized, please send it in by Monday, January 13th, as we will make a Baptismal Class poster. If your child was not baptized, please send a picture of them when they were between the ages of an infant and toddler.
In Reading, the students will be introduced to CVVC words such as mail and boat. Students will learn that the first vowel is long, (says its letter name), while the second vowel is silent.
The students will spell CVVC words during Spelling. Please start working on these words early as the second vowel is not heard and students will need practice saying, spelling, and writing these words often. The Spelling list can be found below.
In Language Arts/Writing, the students will write an opinion paragraph.
In Math, we will continue counting to 120 by ones and tens. On Friday, the students will take a Math Fact Fluency quiz and Math quiz counting to 120.
In Social Studies, the students will learn what families need or want and begin by defining the following vocabulary terms: goods, market, need, price, shelter, and want.
In Science, the students will learn about the sun, shadows, and daily patterns.
Here is the Spelling word list:
mail
nail
tail
rain
train
boat
coat
float
load
road
There will not be a required iReady grade this week as we will be getting ready for the iReady Winter Diagnostic which will occur the following week, January 13-16, Monday through Thursday.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a fantastic weekend,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of December 22, 2024
Hello! Thank you to Mrs. Grajeda, Mrs. Miazga, Mrs. Renick, Mrs. Stumpf, and all the other parents who supervised or worked behind the scenes to make the Christmas party fun for our 1A students. Thank you, too, for sending me off to break with early birthday wishes, a homemade card with a Cooper's Hawk treat, a delicious chocolate cake, and many other wonderful goodies too many to mention. My heart is filled with warmth and gratitude.
I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a blessed Happy New Year!
Have an amazing Christmas break with your loved ones,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of December 16, 2024
Hello,
Thank you for supporting and preparing your student for their Christmas Concert, Mass presentations. and tests. It is hard to believe, but this is the last week of the second quarter. Please ensure your student completes their iReady lessons by the end of the day this Saturday, December 14th. We will be taking our iReady winter diagnostic in January.
We will attend Candy Cane Corner on Monday from 9:20 to 9:55. Our 7th-grade Buddies will help the first- graders shop. On Wednesday the students will watch a Christmas movie during the second and third periods. On Thursday, our class earned enough behavior poms to have a dress-up day. Friday is our Christmas party from 1-2 p.m. Because of the various activities, our schedule will be a bit light.
Here is what we will be doing academically:
In Religion, we will learn about Christmas and the birth of Jesus.
In Reading, the students will learn how to add -ing and -ed endings to CVCe words. They need to remember that the silent e is dropped before adding the -ing or -ed ending such as baking or smiled. This rule ensures that the vowel in the base word stays long.
In Spelling, the students will spell CVCe words with the -ing or -ed endings plus the Memory words they were introduced to last week. Please find the Spelling list below.
In Language Arts/Writing, we will write a friendly letter.
In Math, we will begin a new topic on counting to 120 by ones and tens using math manipulatives and a number chart as a guide.
During Social Studies and Science, we will use our cardinal and intermediate directions to locate objects on a map.
Here are this week's Spelling words:
baking
baked
smiling
smiled
Memory Words
oh
any
day
good
very
want
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a terrific weekend,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of December 9, 2024
Hello,
This week is very special because we have our Christmas Concert in the church on Thursday evening, December 12th (please have students arrive by 6:45 p.m. dressed in their best), and will host the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Friday, December 13th. It would be terrific if you could come to celebrate with us! The students who have speaking parts should practice with you nightly. We will also practice for our Mass during some of our Religion periods this week.
Also during the week, your student can purchase Candy Cane Messages for $1/each. The messages can be filled out during our Writing periods. The completed messages will be given to the Student Council, who will attach them to candy canes and deliver them to the respective homerooms on the last day of the quarter.
This is the second to the last week of the second quarter. Here is what we will be learning:
In Reading, we will learn how to read CVCe + s words, such as bakes and snakes. The students will also learn they should add an -es to words ending in -x, -ss, -ch, or -sh such as boxes or dishes.
In Spelling, the students will spell CVCe + s words with the long a, i, and o vowel sounds. Please see the Spelling list below.
In Language Arts, the students will be making signs.
In Math the students will finish their Data Topic lessons and will have their Math test on Wednesday.
In Science, we will learn about the cardinal and intermediate directions. Students will locate the direction the sun comes up and sets and be able to locate where one object is in relation to another.
In Social Studies, we will begin our studies of What Do Families Need and Want.
Here is the Spelling list:
bakes
cakes
makes
takes
snakes
bikes
likes
hikes
hopes
ropes
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a wonderful weekend!
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of November 25 and December 2, 2024
Hello,
Thank you to everyone who donated toys to the Gift of Love program. Over 150 toys were donated. Out-of-uniform passes will be given to those who contributed.
I hope everyone enjoys our week-long break between November 25th and November 29th. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
The week we come back to school will be quite busy and festive. Here is a sneak peek into what we will be learning:
In Religion, we will continue our study of Advent. We will enjoy stories, participate in activities, and prepare to celebrate Jesus' birth. We will finish our Advent chapter in our Blest Are We book and have a short assessment on Wednesday. Please review the review packet with them. It will be sent home on Monday.
Mass parts have been given to your student. If your student has a speaking part, please have them review it nightly so it is fluent and easy to understand. Encourage them to speak at an even pace and to pause at periods. Our Mass is on Friday, December 13th, at 8:30 A.M. I hope you can join us.
In Reading, we will read the long vowel sounds in words, specifically those with the CV and CVCe patterns. The students will learn that when a word has one vowel between a consonant and an e, the "Super silent e makes the first vowel say its letter name and the ending e is silent," such as game and bone.
In Spelling, the students will spell CVCe words and the Memory words they were introduced to the week of November 18th. Please study these words with your student often as they can be tricky. Please find the Spelling list below.
In Language Arts, the students will be writing Informational paragraphs.
In Math, we will start a new topic on data. The students will organize, collect, represent, and interpret data.
In Social Studies, we will finish the Who works in our school? lesson and will have an assessment on Friday.
In Science, the students will state what all plants need and label parts of a plant.
Here is the Spelling list:
game
same
ride
side
Memory Words
said
only
you
out
of
here
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a fantastic week with your family,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of November 18, 2024
Hello! This week will be the last full school week in November before our week-long Thanksgiving break. Mass parts for our upcoming Mass on December 13th will be distributed at the end of this week. If your student will be leaving early for break, please email me.
Here is what we will be learning:
In Religion, we will begin our study of the Advent season. Your student will receive Mass parts, as stated above. If they receive a reading part, please have them practice it with you.
In Reading, the students will be introduced to the long vowel CV words. We will distinguish between long and short vowels by drawing a straight line over the vowel if it is long and a smiley face if the vowel has a short sound. The students will learn that they should use the long vowel sound if they see a CV word, and try short and then long for vowels in words they do not recognize.
In Spelling, the students will spell CV long vowel words. Please find the Spelling list below.
In Language Arts, the students will begin informational writing by writing facts about something they know.
In Math, the students will finish Topic 5, writing true equations and adding three addends. Their test is on Friday. Please look out for their review packet on Thursday.
In Science, the students will view plants through a microscope and learn about dangerous plants from the Mystery Science website.
In Social Studies, we will begin our Economics Unit with a lesson on who works at your school.
Here is the CV Spelling list:
go
no
so
be
he
me
she
we
hi
flu
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Have a fantastic weekend,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of November 11, 2024
Hello! I hope that you are enjoying your three-day weekend! When your student arrives at school on Monday, we will be busy. We will determine the date for our next class fun day as the students earned enough poms for great behavior.
If you are able and would like to contribute to the Gift of Love program, please donate a new unwrapped toy that is age-appropriate for your student and have your student bring it to our homeroom. The toy will make Christmas a bit brighter for less fortunate children. Your student will also earn an out-of-uniform pass for helping others.
Here is what we will learn next week:
In Religion, we will finish Chapter 5, God is Our Loving Father. Please look for the review packet on Wednesday. We will have our test on Friday.
In Reading, we will continue reading CVC and CVCC words with -ed and -ing endings. This week, the students will be introduced to -er endings.
In Spelling, the students will spell CVC and CVCC words with the -ed and -ing endings. Please go over the rule for adding endings with your student: a word must have two consonants after the vowel in a CVC word before adding the ending -ed or -ing. For example, hug is a CVC word, but we must add another g before adding an =ed or -ing to spell hugged or hugging. Help, however, already has two consonants after the short vowel, so we just add and -ed or -ing. We will continue working on this in class. Please find the Spelling words below. They include the Memory Words that were introduced last week.
In Language Arts, the students will finish creating a monster out of scraps of cloth and yarn. Then they will describe how it looks and acts. I will hang these in the hallway as soon as we finish writing about them.
In Math, we will begin a new topic on addition and subtraction equations. Finding unknown numbers in equations, determining if equations are true or false, making true equations, and adding three numbers are goals for this week.
In Science, we will finish our activity by creating an umbrella like a tree so that it is less likely to blow down in the wind.
In Social Studies, we will finish our lesson on determining which groups we belong to. We will take our Group Test on Thursday.
Here are the Spelling words for this week:
flipping
flipped
stepping
stepped
Memory Words
there
from
be
to
we
or
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of November 4, 2024
Hello! We will have a shortened week. Friday is a Teacher Institute Day.
Here is what we will be learning:
In Religion, we will start a new chapter, God is Our Loving Father.
In Reading, the students will read CVC and CVCC words with endings such as hug, hugging, help, and helping. Please note that when the base word has one vowel followed by one consonant, we must double the vowel before adding and ending. When the base word has one vowel followed by two consonants, we just add the ending.
In Spelling, we will spell the CVC and CVCC words with endings such as grinning and asked.
In Language Arts, we will start our descriptive writing unit.
In Math, we will be finishing our subtraction unit. Our subtraction test will be on Thursday, November 7th.
In Social Studies, we will discuss what groups we belong to.
In Science, we will finish our lesson regarding why trees do not blow down during normal windy days.
Here are the Spelling words for the week:
helping
helped
asking
asked
hugging
hugged
shopping
shopped
grinning
grinned
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected]. I will be out of the country October 31-November 3 and will return an email as soon as I return to the classroom.
Thank you and have a terrific four days!
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of October 28, 2024
Hello! This week will be filled with learning, different activities, and extra fun! On Tuesday, we will have a fire drill. On Wednesday, there are picture retakes. Please return the photo package you do not want if you would like your student to have their picture retaken. Because I will not be here on Thursday or Friday, I will celebrate Halloween with the class during 8th period on Wednesday. On Thursday, students may wear their costumes to school. Please look at the administration's St. Francis de Sales blast for acceptable costume guidelines. We will meet with our Buddies in the morning, and have an afternoon Halloween party from 1-2 pm in our classroom. We will attend church on Friday to celebrate All Saints Day and Adoration at 8:30 am. Join the class on Friday if you are able. Mrs. Aretos will be our substitute teacher.
Academically, here is what we will learn this week:
In Religion, we will learn about All Saints Day and research a particular saint. View our decorated banner, Pray for Us, in the hallway.
In Reading, the students will be introduced to the -ed endings that sound like (d) as in yelled, and (t) as in jumped. We will also review antonyms such as up and down and categorize words as either nouns or verbs.
In Spelling, the students will spell words with the -ed ending sounding like a (d) or (t) and note that it means the word describes the past tense. Many of these words are not spelled the way they sound. Please have your student practice these words daily to ensure they recognize them and know how to spell them. See the Spelling list below.
In Language Arts, the students will write a narrative story in book form.
In Math, we will continue to work on subtraction strategies and fact families.
In Science, the students will complete an activity to learn why plants and trees are made to withstand normal windy days.
In Social Studies, we will talk about the different groups we belong to.
Here are the Spelling words for the week:
yelled
smelled
jumped
bumped
Memory Words
look
your
the
was
are
for
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a beautiful weekend,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of October 21, 2024
Hello!
This week will be filled with extra fun and learning. On Thursday we will go to Brookfield Zoo to learn more about animals and their habitats and how adult and baby animals share traits. Please have your student pack a snack for the zoo day and a bagged lunch. We will eat a snack before we leave and enjoy their bagged lunch at the zoo.
Donations for the hurricane relief efforts have been extended and will continue through this week. Also, every morning this week, pink Breast Cancer Awareness bracelets or pins may be purchased for $2 to benefit the Susan G. Komen organization.
Academically, here is what we will be learning this week:
In Religion, we will finish our studies of Chapter 4, Give Praise to God. We will have our Chapter 4 test on Friday of this week.
In Reading, we will learn the word endings -er and -ed, as in better and planted.
In Spelling, the students will spell words ending in -er and -ed. Please see the Spelling words for the week below.
In Language Arts, the students will be writing a Narrative piece.
In Math, the students will learn different strategies to subtract math facts to 20.
In Social Studies, the students will take their Students as Helpers Test this week.
In Science, the students will take an assessment regarding traits that are shared between seedlings and adult plants.
Here are the Spelling words for the week:
after
never
better
winter
summer
rested
twisted
planted
printed
acted
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you. I hope you enjoy the gorgeous weather this weekend.
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of October 14, 2024
Hello,
This week is shortened as we have off for Columbus Day, on Monday, October 14th. On Tuesday, we attend the Book Fair in Valker Hall between 12:45 and 1:10 pm. Please send Book Fair money with your student in the envelope given if you would like them to purchase books. Also, please send the signed permission slip for our trip to Brookfield Zoo plus the $28.00 fee. Mrs. Grajeda and Mrs. Renick will be our chaperones for this fun trip. As stated in the school newsletter, we will collect bottled water, non-perishable food, energy/granola bars, baby formula, and diapers for the people affected by Hurricane Milton this week. Please consider donating. Every little contribution will help.
The Speech Contest was introduced to the students last Friday. In first grade, the speech contest is optional, however, if your student is interested the poem, speech, monologue, or narrative must be a minimum of 10 lines. The speech selection is due by November 8th and the speech must be memorized by December 16th. By February 11th, the speech must be presented to the whole class and a final selection will be determined by March 11th. First and second graders are in the same category.
All speeches must begin with:
"Hello,
My name is _______________ (first and last name). I am in the ______ grade, and I will be reciting
_______________________ (name of the speech) by _______________________ (name of the author)."
At the end of the speech, the student says:
"Thank you."
Here is what we will be learning for the first week of the second quarter:
In Religion, we will begin Chapter 4, Give Praise to God, in our Blest Are We book.
In Reading, we will review our Memory words and read words ending in -le, such as candle and little. We are comparing fiction and non-fiction pieces, identifying characters and the setting of various stories.
In Spelling, the students will spell the Memory words introduced last week and words ending in -le. Please see the Spelling list below.
The students will write an opinion piece about their favorite season in Language Arts.
In Math, the students will finish Topic 3, Addition Facts to 20, and will have their Math test on Thursday.
In Science, we will begin our new unit on Plant Superpowers. The students will complete an activity to determine which small plant will grow into the corresponding adult plant.
In Social Studies, we will continue learning how to be good helpers at school.
Here is the Spelling list:
bubble
little
candle
pickle
Memory Words:
do
have
show
how
me
a
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a wonderful three-day weekend!
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of October 7, 2024
Hello! This is the last week of the first quarter of first-grade! Time has flown by and much growth has been noted. If your student has any missing work, please have him/her bring it in this week.
Here is what we will be learning this week:
In Religion, we will finish our third chapter in our Blest Are We book. Be on the lookout for the Chapter 3 packet. It will be sent home on Tuesday. Our test will be on Thursday. If you can, please join us for the 8:30 Mass on Friday.
In Reading we will learn words with the ending -ng, as in king and sing.
In Spelling, we will read and spell words ending with -ng. Please see the Spelling list below.
In Language Arts, we will be writing opinion sentences.
In Math, we will continue adding facts to twenty using different strategies.
We will have our Social Studies test on rules on Monday.
In Science, we will match the baby animals with their parents.
Here are our Spelling words:
king
sing
thing
hang
bang
sang
long
song
rung
sung
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
I hope you have a terrific weekend!
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of September 30, 2024
Hello! Thank you for coming to Parent Teacher Conferences. I hope your student had a restful yet fun 3 and 1/2 days off.
This upcoming week is a full one. Here is what your student will be learning academically:
On Monday we will see our Buddies. On Tuesday, an initial Archdiocesan Religion assessment will be given. The rest of the week we will be learning more Bible stories. Mass is on Friday at 8:30 am. Please come with us if your schedule allows.
In Reading, the students will be introduced to the "th" digraph in words such as this and math.
In Spelling, the students will spell words with the "th" digraph. Please see the Spelling list below.
In Language Arts, the students will respond to questions about a text and develop questions about a mystery animal.
In Math, the students will begin the third topic, Learning Facts to 20. We will be counting on, and using doubles and near doubles to help us solve problems.
In Science, the students will state why it is important for some animals to be camouflaged.
During Social Studies, the students will continue learning why it is important to have rules.
Here are the Spelling words for the week:
this
that
thin
think
thank
bath
path
math
cloth
moth
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a great weekend,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of September 23, 2024
Hello,
Thank you to Mrs. Epstein, Mrs. Grajeda, Mrs. Jenkins, Mrs. Maciejewski, Mrs. Renick, Mrs. Sabatello, and Mrs. Stumpf for helping out during Spirit Day. It seems that we had a great day and a fun Spirit week.
Tuesday afternoon, please join the SFS families at Culvers. I will be serving the SFS families from 4:30-5:00 pm and would love to see you there!
We have earned our Pom party. We will celebrate by wearing our PJs and bringing a stuffy to school on Wednesday, September 25th.
This upcoming week will be short as Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled after our half-day on Thursday. The students will also not have school on Friday due to conferences and a teacher institute day.
Here is what we will be learning this week:
In Religion, we will begin our third chapter, God's Word Teaches Us. The students will listen to Bible stories and note that the Bible is the written word of God.
In Reading, the students will be introduced to question words, such as who and what.
In Spelling the students will spell question words such as who, what, where, etc. and will continue spelling words ending in -sh. Please find the Spelling list below. We will have our test on Thursday this week.
In Language Arts, the students will be writing questions and interviewing their classmates with the questions they wrote.
In Math, we will finish our Topic 2 unit on adding and subtracting facts to 10. We will take our test on Thursday.
In Science, the students will learn why and how animals camouflage themselves.
The students will take their Chapter 2 Social Studies test on how we learn from others and what makes us alike and different.
Here are the Spelling words:
Memory Words
where
what
why
when
which
who
cash
dash
crash
trash
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected]. I look forward to seeing you at Parent-Teacher conferences this week.
Have a super weekend,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of September 16, 2024
Hello,
Spirit Week begins Monday, September 16, and ends with Spirit Day and the Spirit Walk on Friday, September 20th! It is an out-of-uniform-themed week. Monday is Tie Dye Day, Tuesday is Rodeo Day, Wednesday is Tropical Day, Thursday is Sports Day, and Friday is Spirit Day (please make sure your student wears their neon yellow Spirit Day shirt on Friday). We will have P.E. on Monday and Wednesday, so please ensure your student wears their gym shoes and can move freely in their themed day attire.
Here is what we will be learning academically this week:
In Religion, we will have our Chapter 2 test, celebrating Mass. Be on the lookout for the Chapter Review packet to come home on Tuesday. The test will be on Wednesday.
In Reading, the students will learn the digraph sh, as in wish and rush. Memory words, provided on worksheets, should be reviewed nightly if your student does not immediately recall the given word. Each worksheet has matching cut-out cards, so you can play a matching game to make learning them more fun.
In Spelling, the students will read and spell four sh digraph words and will need to spell the Memory words introduced last week. You can find the Spelling words below. The Spelling test will be given on Friday before our Spirit Day walk. Please review these words with them nightly.
In LA/Writing, your student will write sentences about a place they visited.
In Math, your student will use a 10 frame to count facts up to ten and write addition equations regarding those facts. Part-part whole charts, number lines, and counting-on strategies will also be used to model addition and subtraction problems. Please have them study their math fact fluency sheets nightly. A Math fact fluency quiz will be given on Thursday.
In Science, students will view videos of animal mothers helping their babies learn.
In Social Studies, we will continue taking turns to listen and share ideas which helps us to learn from one another.
Here are the Spelling words:
fish
wish
rush
brush
Memory Words
I
my
she
her
he
his
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of September 9, 2024
Hello,
This week we will have the iReady Reading Test on Monday and Wednesday. Please ensure your student is well-rested and has a good breakfast before school begins each day.
Tuesday is picture day! The students may come out of uniform. Tuesday is also Curriculum Night from 6:30-8:10 pm. Please choose the first or second session to learn about our first-grade curriculum.
Friday is Mass day. Please join us at the 8:30 am Mass!
iPads will be sent home this Friday. Your student is responsible for completing and passing two iReady Reading and two iReady Math personalized lessons per week. The week runs from Sunday to Saturday at 11 pm. Most students will have completed some of their iReady lessons for the week beginning 9/8 - 9/14 during class time. You can check their progress on the iReady app on their iPad. Going forward, the iPad will be sent home on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. Please have them charged and free of spills and food when they are sent back the following school day. We use the iPads most days during Reading Centers.
Here is the information about what your student will learn this week:
In Religion, we will learn about Mass and the names of different objects found in most Catholic churches.
After Mass last week, the students were shown where the altar, ambo, and baptismal font were in St. Francis de Sales church.
In Reading, the students will learn the ch and the -tch digraph sounds as in chick, branch, and stretch, and will read Superkids' stories with those digraphs. A Backpack page with the first story read will be given weekly. Please have your student read that to you often to increase their fluency. Memory word sheets will also be sent home. Please make sure your student can read each word without hesitation. This, too, will help them become more fluent readers.
In Spelling the students will spell and review ch words such as chip and inch. The spelling test will be on Friday. Please review the spelling list with your student nightly. Backpack pages for spelling are given weekly. The first Backpack spelling cut-out page should be done and kept for studying. One of the tablets that you purchased will be sent home for spelling practice purposes. Please find the Spelling list below.
In LA/Writing, your student will write and edit sentences about an activity that they did.
Your student will take the unit 1 Math test on Tuesday. A review packet will be sent home on Monday. Please review it with them so they are ready for the test. They will also receive a new math fluency sheet for the week. Please have them work on/memorize their math facts nightly. You may have noticed that every Friday your student takes a Math fluency quiz. A line under one of the facts on the quiz indicates that your student completed those facts in one minute. Two minutes total are given for each Math fact fluency quiz. If a student completes one sheet within a minute, they are given the next Math fact fluency sheet for the second minute.
In Science, your student will complete an activity simulating the difference between birds' beaks.
In Social Studies, your student will work on listening and speaking skills and learn why it is important to learn from each other.
Here are this week's Spelling words:
bunch
lunch
inch
pinch
ranch
branch
chip
chop
chick
check
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a wonderful weekend,
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of September 2, 2024
Hello,
We will have iReady Math testing this week on Wednesday, September 3rd and 4th. Please ensure your student is well-rested, has a good breakfast, and tries their best. I already informed them that some questions may seem easy at first and then get harder. I told them that it is ok not to know all the answers and that they should make a best guess if they don't know.
Picture forms were sent home last week. Please sign up online. Picture day is September 10th.
Also, if anyone can donate some hand sanitizer, that would be appreciated. We have gone through three bottles thus far and are only into the third full week of school.
Please join us for Mass at 8:30 am Friday this week. It is first Friday Adoration as well.
Here is what we will learn this week:
In Religion, we will begin Chapter 2 in our Blest Are We book, called We Gather Together to Celebrate Mass.
In Reading, we will continue reviewing our short vowel CVC words and will finish our Review Unit.
We will have our first Spelling Test this week. Please review the previous Newsletter for the Spelling words. Backpack pages will be given daily. The story should be read at home and reviewed often. The second Backpack page typically has the students writing their spelling words on the paper which can be cut out to use as study flashcards. Both of those sheets can be kept at home. The next two Backpack pages should be completed and returned to be graded.
During Writing, we will respond to prompts about the stories we are reading.
In Math, we will continue to work on addition and subtraction equations in our first unit. Please have your students study their Math fluency sheets when they come home this week. We typically have a fluency quiz and a Math quiz on Fridays.
In Social Studies, we will continue learning how to get along in school.
In Science, we will continue to learn about animals, specifically by looking at the functionality of different birds' beaks.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a super Labor Day long weekend!
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of August 26, 2024
Hello! We will be having the Fall iReady Diagnostic Tests this week. On Monday and Tuesday, the students will be taking the iReady Math test, and on Wednesday and Thursday, the students will be taking the iReady Reading Diagnostic Test. Please make sure your student is well-rested and has a good breakfast before coming to school each day next week. It tends to help them focus and do their best.
Here is what we will be learning this upcoming week:
In Religion, we will finish Chapter 1 in our Blest Are We Book, We Belong to Jesus. The students will be coming home with their workbook pages on Tuesday. Please review the highlighted information with them and how to make the proper sign of the cross. They will have their first test in Religion on Thursday.
In Reading, we will continue to study our CVC short vowel words. Their first Spelling list will be given on Thursday. Please have the students practice these words. Their test will be the Thursday after Labor Day. You can find the Spelling list below.
In LA/Writing, the students will continue writing sentences, noting that each sentence begins with an uppercase letter and ends with a proper punctuation mark. We will be also writing lists.
In Math, we will review addition equations and the parts of a whole before going on to Subtraction. Please continue to review the parts of an equation, the sum, and what the whole means (total) so that your student understands these concepts.
We will begin our Animal Superpower Unit this week in Science. Students will observe the different traits that baby birds have in common with their parents.
During Social Studies, we will continue to learn about how to get along in school. We are learning the terms good sport, fair play, and how to resolve conflict (take turns, use Rock Paper Scissors, etc.).
Here are the Spelling Words that will be introduced on Thursday:
big
dig
hop
mop
tug
rug
cat
flat
best
nest
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Thank you and have a fantastic weekend!
Nancy Chappell
Newsletter for the Week of August 19, 2024
Hello!
This will be your student's first full week of first grade! We will be busy learning and sharing our ideas with one another. Please note that P.E. is on Monday and Wednesday. Students should wear their gym uniforms on those days. Mass days have been scheduled on Fridays. Library is on Friday as well. I posted our 1A Schedule and the Bell Schedule on the Welcome to First Grade! page of my Teacher website for your convenience.
Here is what your student will be learning this week:
In Religion, the students will receive their Blest Are We Book. Our Chapter 1 topic, We Belong to Jesus' Church, informs our students that we are a Catholic Church Community who follow Jesus. The students will review the proper way to make the sign of the cross and will know that Jesus, our Good Shepard, wants us to love one another. Three students will be selected to share three items each about themselves this Friday. A brown bag with instructions will be sent home on Monday with the students who will present that week. Every student will eventually be able to share their three items as the weeks progress.
In Reading, the students have been introduced or reintroduced to the Superkids Reading Program. They will continue reviewing and writing the letters of the alphabet paying particular attention to the short vowel sounds in CVC words such as cat and sit. We will be enjoying Adventure stories and will use the iPad to listen and play learning games with the Superkids. Reading Centers will begin this week.
We will not have Spelling words this week.
In Language Arts/Writing, the students will be learning about nouns (person, place, or thing), verbs (action or being words), and adjectives (descriptive words). They will be writing sentences with uppercase letters at the beginning and proper punctuation at the end.
During Math, the students will finish their review pages, and we will begin Topic 1 which focuses on addition equations. Your student will be given flashcards to study. They include the mathematical terms: add; plus; sum; equal; part; whole. Students will also be given their first Math Fact fluency sheet. Please review both the flashcards and Math Fact fluency sheet with your student. A quiz for each will be given on Friday. The goal of Math fact fluency is to have the student become more proficient in knowing their facts quickly. Studies have proven that knowing Math facts frees up the brain to complete more complex mathematical problems. If students complete the sheet in one minute, they are proficient in that particular Math fact. Some students may take longer, however, and that is perfectly fine. Improvement from one week to the next is preferable. Homework will be given starting on Tuesday for Math. Homework is typically not given over the weekend.
IPads will not be going home until after the iReady Fall diagnostic test which will be administered next week. Math iReady testing will be on Monday and Tuesday, August 26 and 27, and the Reading iReady Testing will be on Wednesday and Thursday, August 28 and 29.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].
Have a wonderful weekend,
Nancy Chappell