Class Happenings

Week 19

Important Dates and Information:

• December 20 - Class Winter Holiday Party
• December 21 - Spirit Day - wear your Dowell spirit wear!
• December 24-January 7 - Student Holiday, No School

We hope you have a fun and safe holiday season!  Keep reading over the break!

Highlights from the Classroom:

Language Arts/Reading:  DOL (Daily Oral Language), phonics (blending words, long o), handwriting, guided reading groups, Writer's Workshop, writing process, narrative writing, main idea and details, and special shared reading with other first grade teachers. Thank you Mr. Manson for teaching a special writing lesson in our classroom this week!

Math: Daily Math RAP (calendar, months of the year, days of the week, odd/even numbers, tally marks, counting money, tens/ones, number of the day - making addition and subtraction sentences, base ten blocks, less than/greater than, 100-chart, daily number work), problem of the day, weekly problem solver, problem solving strategies, solid figures, plane shapes, and spatial sense

Accelerated Reader (AR):  Congratulations to those students that met their AR goal!

Week 18

Important Dates and Information:

• December 20 - Class Winter Holiday Party
• December 21 - Spirit Day - wear your Dowell spirit wear!
• December 24-January 7 - Student Holiday, No School

Highlights from the Classroom:

Language Arts/Reading:  DOL (Daily Oral Language), phonics (blending words, long o), handwriting, guided reading groups, Writer's Workshop, writing process, narrative writing, writing friendly letters and book buddies

Math: Daily Math RAP (calendar, months of the year, days of the week, odd/even numbers, tally marks, counting money, tens/ones, number of the day - making addition sentences, base ten blocks, less than/greater than, estimation, power line, 100-chart, daily number work), problem of the day, weekly problem solver, problem solving strategies, graphing, plane shapes, following directions

Social Studies:  Holidays around the world!

Guidance:  Holiday Lesson

Congratulations to our Student of  the Week - Casey!

Accelerated Reader (AR):  We are almost at the end of the second nine weeks!  Each student had a goal to read and pass at least 18 AR quizzes by the end of this nine weeks, with a score of 80% or higher.  They have been keeping track of their progress on our classroom AR chart.  Students that reach their goal will go to a special grade level party!

Ways to help at home!

Please make sure your child completes their homework daily.  Continue reading nightly and studying sight words.  Practice counting to 100 and problem solving strategies.

November Breakfast of Champions

Congratulations to Constance!  Character Education - Citizenship

Week 17

Important Dates and Information:

• December 8 - PTA Santa Breakfast - additional information below.
• December 21 - Spirit Day - wear your Dowell spirit wear!
• December 24-January 7 - Student Holiday, No School

PTA's Santa Breakfast

Next Saturday, December 8th!  Time:  9am-noon.  Make crafts, have breakfast, and watch The Polar Express movie.  There will also be a special guest appearance by Santa himself! Cost:  $3 per child.  Presale tickets are on sale until Thursday the 6th and can also be purchased at the door.  As always, volunteers are in need!

Highlights from the Classroom:

Language Arts/Reading:  DOL (Daily Oral Language), phonics (blending words, long a, long i), handwriting, cause/effect, guided reading groups, Writer's Workshop, writing process, narrative writing, and writing friendly letters

Math: Daily Math RAP (calendar, months of the year, days of the week, odd/even numbers, tally marks, counting money, tens/ones, number of the day - making addition sentences, base ten blocks, less than/greater than, estimation, power line, 100-chart, daily number work), problem of the day, weekly problem solver, problem solving strategies, graphing, solid figures, corners and flat surfaces, properties of solid figures, plane shapes

Social Studies:  Holidays around the world!

Congratulations to our Student of  the Week - Lynn!

Accelerated Reader (AR):  Students are learning and have begun taking AR quizzes in the classroom and media center.  Students should read the book at least 2 times prior to taking an AR quiz at school.  We encourage you to ask your child questions after reading each book to help with comprehension.  Students need to read and pass at least 18 AR quizzes this nine weeks, with a score of 80% or higher.  They are keeping track of their progress on our classroom AR chart.  Students will receive a prize if they reach their goal at the end of the nine weeks.

Ways to help at home!

Please make sure your child completes their homework daily.  Continue reading nightly and studying sight words.  Practice counting to 100 and problem solving strategies.  Keep a journal to help practice writing.

Week 16

Important Dates and Information:

• November 30 - Spirit Day - wear your Dowell spirit wear!
• December 8 - PTA Santa Breakfast - additional information below.
• December 21 - Spirit Day - wear your Dowell spirit wear!
• December 24-January 7 - Student Holiday, No School

*Volunteers Needed!  If you are interested in volunteering please send a note in with your child.

PTA's Santa Breakfast

Next Saturday, December 8th!  Time:  9am-noon.  Make crafts, have breakfast, and watch The Polar Express movie.  There will also be a special guest appearance by Santa himself! Cost:  $3 per child.  Presale tickets are on sale until Thursday the 6th and can also be purchased at the door.  As always, volunteers are in need!

Highlights from the Classroom:

Language Arts/Reading:  DOL (Daily Oral Language), phonics (long vowel words, long e sound, words with qu, sounds of long vowels followed by r), handwriting, cause/effect, contractions, guided reading groups, Writer's Workshop, writing process, narrative writing, and book buddies

Math: Daily Math RAP (calendar, months of the year, days of the week, odd/even numbers, tally marks, counting money, tens/ones, number of the day - making addition sentences, base ten blocks, less than/greater than, estimation, power line, 100-chart, daily number work), problem of the day, weekly problem solver, problem solving strategies (guess and check), graphing, subtraction strategies, fact families

Science:  Sound - What makes sound? What factors determine the message of sound?

Guidance:  Topic - Hands are for helping

Accelerated Reader (AR):  Students are learning and have begun taking AR quizzes in the classroom and media center.  Students should read the book at least 2 times prior to taking an AR quiz at school.  We encourage you to ask your child questions after reading each book to help with comprehension.  Students need to read and pass at least 18 AR quizzes this nine weeks, with a score of 80% or higher.  They are keeping track of their progress on our classroom AR chart.  Students will receive a prize if they reach their goal at the end of the nine weeks.

Ways to help at home!

Please make sure your child completes their homework daily.  Continue reading nightly and studying sight words.  Practice counting to 100 and problem solving strategies.  Keep a journal to help practice writing.

Week 15

Important Dates and Information:

• November 21-23 - Student Holiday, No School
• November 26 - Academic Alerts Go Home
• November 27 - Arts Night, 6-8pm
• November 30 - Spirit Day - wear your Dowell spirit wear!
• December 8 - PTA Santa Breakfast
• December 21 - Spirit Day - wear your Dowell spirit wear!
• December 24-January 7 - Student Holiday, No School

Have a safe and fun holiday!  Happy Thanksgiving!

*Volunteers Needed!  If you are interested in volunteering please send a note in with your child.

Highlights from the Classroom:

Language Arts/Reading:  DOL (Daily Oral Language), phonics (review sounds b, f, g, k, ch, sh, th, wh and short and long vowels), handwriting, fact/opinion, compound words, opposites, guided reading groups, Writer's Workshop, writing process, and narrative writing

Math: Daily Math RAP (calendar, months of the year, days of the week, odd/even numbers, tally marks, counting money, tens/ones, number of the day - making addition sentences, base ten blocks, less than/greater than, estimation, power line, 100-chart, daily number work), problem of the day, weekly problem solver, problem solving strategies, subtraction strategies

Social Studies:  Similar and Different - Past and Present

Accelerated Reader (AR):  Students are learning and have begun taking AR quizzes in the classroom and media center.  Students should read the book at least 2 times prior to taking an AR quiz at school.  We encourage you to ask your child questions after reading each book to help with comprehension.  Students need to read and pass at least 18 AR quizzes this nine weeks, with a score of 80% or higher.  They are keeping track of their progress on our classroom AR chart.  Students will receive a prize if they reach their goal at the end of the nine weeks.

Ways to help at home!

Please make sure your child completes their homework daily.  Continue reading nightly and studying sight words.  Practice counting to 100 and problem solving strategies.  Keep a journal to help practice writing.

Week 14

Important Dates and Information:

• November 15 - VIP Lunch
• November 21-23 - Student Holiday, No School
• November 27 - Arts Night, 6-8pm

*Volunteers Needed!  If you are interested in volunteering please send a note in with your child.

New Car Riders Procedure in the Morning:  In order to ensure the safety of all our students, we are restructuring the way our students are arriving by car in the morning.  The parking lot will be blocked at the North entrance of the school parking lot.  In addition, there will only be one line of cars dropping students off.  If you need to park in the parking lot, you will have to drive through the car line and take a left into the South entrance.  While driving through the parking lot, we are asking all drivers to not be on their cell phone.  The drop off line can be a very busy lane and we want to make sure no one is distracted.  Lastly, because of serious safety concerns, the crossing guard will no longer send cars down the bus lane while busses are arriving.  Thank you for your flexibility.

Highlights from the Classroom:

Language Arts/Reading:  DOL (Daily Oral Language), phonics (long o, letter v, long u, long e, review long vowel sounds), handwriting, fact/opinion, contractions, guided reading groups, Writer's Workshop, writing process, narrative writing, and book buddies

Math: Daily Math RAP (calendar, months of the year, days of the week, odd/even numbers, tally marks, counting money, tens/ones, number of the day - making addition sentences, base ten blocks, less than/greater than, estimation, power line, 100-chart, daily number work), problem of the day, weekly problem solver, problem solving strategies, graphing, number line to count back

Science:  Fire safety

Accelerated Reader (AR):  Students are learning and have begun taking AR quizzes in the classroom and media center.  Students should read the book at least 2 times prior to taking an AR quiz at school.  We encourage you to ask your child questions after reading each book to help with comprehension.  Students need to read and pass at least 18 AR quizzes this nine weeks, with a score of 80% or higher.  They are keeping track of their progress on our classroom AR chart.  Students will receive a prize if they reach their goal at the end of the nine weeks.

Student of the Week!

Each week we will be sending home a backpack with the Student of the Week, with our class mascot, Freddy the Frog, and a journal!  Freddy the Frog will spend the weekend with your child! You will help your child record all their adventures with Freddy the Frog in the journal.  Instructions will be in the backpack that comes home with your child. Congratulations to our Student of  the Week - Gregorio!

Ways to help at home!

Please make sure your child completes their homework daily.  Continue reading nightly and studying sight words.  Practice counting to 100 and problem solving strategies.  Keep a journal to help practice writing.

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Week 13

Important Dates and Information:

• November 8 - PTA Primary Science Night (more information below on blog)
• November 21-23 - Student Holiday, No School
• November 27 - Arts Night, 6-8pm

*Volunteers Needed!  If you are interested in volunteering please send a note in with your child.

New Car Riders Procedure in the Morning:  In order to ensure the safety of all our students, we are restructuring the way our students are arriving by car in the morning.  The parking lot will be blocked at the North entrance of the school parking lot.  In addition, there will only be one line of cars dropping students off.  If you need to park in the parking lot, you will have to drive through the car line and take a left into the South entrance.  While driving through the parking lot, we are asking all drivers to not be on their cell phone.  The drop off line can be a very busy lane and we want to make sure no one is distracted.  Lastly, because of serious safety concerns, the crossing guard will no longer send cars down the bus lane while busses are arriving.  Thank you for your flexibility.

Highlights from the Classroom:

Language Arts/Reading:  DOL (Daily Oral Language), phonics (blending two syllable words, long o), handwriting, compare/contrast story elements, pronouns, guided reading groups, Writer's Workshop, writing process, narrative writing, and book buddies

Math: Daily Math RAP (calendar, months of the year, days of the week, odd/even numbers, tally marks, counting money, tens/ones, number of the day - making addition sentences, base ten blocks, less than/greater than, estimation, power line, 100-chart, daily number work), problem of the day, weekly problem solver, problem solving strategies, graphing, sums to 10

Science:  water cycle

Guidance:  Topic - When should I give an I Care Message?

Accelerated Reader (AR):  Students are learning and have begun taking AR quizzes in the classroom and media center.  Students should read the book at least 2 times prior to taking an AR quiz at school.  We encourage you to ask your child questions after reading each book to help with comprehension.  Students need to read and pass at least 18 AR quizzes this nine weeks, with a score of 80% or higher.  They are keeping track of their progress on our classroom AR chart.  Students will receive a prize if they reach their goal at the end of the nine weeks.

Ways to help at home!

Please make sure your child completes their homework daily.  Continue reading nightly and studying sight words.  Practice counting to 100.  Keep a journal to help practice writing.

Week 12

Important Dates and Information:

• November 5 & 6 - Student Holiday - No School
• November 8 - PTA Primary Science Night (more information below on blog)
• November 21-23 - Student Holiday, No School

*Volunteers Needed!  If you are interested in volunteering please send a note in with your child.

Highlights from the Classroom:

Language Arts/Reading:  DOL (Daily Oral Language), phonics (long a, letter j, long i, steps for blending), handwriting, compare/contrast story elements, sequencing short stories and events, following directions, verbs, guided reading groups, Writer's Workshop, writing process, narrative writing, and book buddies

Math: Daily Math RAP (calendar, months of the year, days of the week, odd/even numbers, tally marks, counting money, tens/ones, number of the day - making addition sentences, base ten blocks, less than/greater than, estimation, power line, 100-chart, daily number work), problem of the day, weekly problem solver, problem solving strategies, graphing, sums to 8, estimating measure, sums to 10

Science:  measuring weather and characteristics of severe weather

Accelerated Reader (AR):  Students are learning and have begun taking AR quizzes in the classroom and media center.  Students should read the book at least 2 times prior to taking an AR quiz at school.  We encourage you to ask your child questions after reading each book to help with comprehension.  Students need to read and pass at least 18 AR quizzes this nine weeks, with a score of 80% or higher.  They are keeping track of their progress on our classroom AR chart.  Students will receive a prize if they reach their goal at the end of the nine weeks.

Student of the Week!

Each week we will be sending home a backpack with the Student of the Week, with our class mascot, Freddy the Frog, and a journal!  Freddy the Frog will spend the weekend with your child! You will help your child record all their adventures with Freddy the Frog in the journal.  Instructions will be in the backpack that comes home with your child. Congratulations to our Student of  the Week - Semir!

Ways to help at home!

Please make sure your child completes their homework daily.  Continue reading nightly and studying sight words.  Practice counting to 100.  Keep a journal to help practice writing.

October Breakfast of Champions

Congratulations to Casey!  Character Education - Responsibility