Lower School Faculty - Debbie Lanier

First Grade Newsletter

May 12, 2008

Important Dates:

·        Tuesday, May 20^th:  Field trip to the Pisgah Forest Fish Hatchery @ 8:30-1:30

·        Thursday, May 22^nd: Field Day @ 12:30-2:30 pm

·        Friday, May 23^rd: Commencement @ 10:30 am – No school

·        Monday, May 26^th: Memorial Day- no school

·        Wednesday, May 28^th: Commendations @ 9:00 am

·        Thursday , May 29^th: 5^th grade concert @ 2:00 pm

·        Friday, May 30^th: First Grade Play @ 1:30 pm & May birthday celebration @ 2:15 pm

·        Tuesday, June 3^rd: End-of-Year party at Montreat Park @ 9:30-2:30 along with the summer birthday celebration

·        Thursday, June 5^th: Moving Up Day

Language Arts:

In reading, we will read the folktale "The Three Billy Goats Gruff."  The children will be learning /r/ spelled wr and /f/ spelled ph.  We will be writing in our May journals, writing about an adventure in Ancient Egypt in our Ancient Egypt booklets, and practicing our plays.

Math:

          This week we will complete unit 8.  The skills the children will be assessed on are:

            Read, write, and represent whole numbers

            Identify digits and express their values

            Use drawing to represent and explain fractions

            Represent equivalent names for numbers

            Know easy addition and subtraction facts

            Use and explain strategies for solving number stories

            Calculate and compare the value of combinations of coins

            Complete simple symmetric shapes or designs

            Use +, -, and = and explain what they mean

            Use the commutative property of addition

Science:

This week we begin our new science unit.  We will be learning about the different levels of the ocean in class.  At home you will begin a "research paper" about an animal your child chose today in class.  Be sure to read the explanation in your child’s homework folder tonight.  You are doing the outline at home. We will be doing the writing in class next week

Other Notes and Reminders:

·        First Grade Plays: on Friday, May 30^th we will be performing two Anansi stories for you.  This performance will be in the Lower School gym at 1:30 pm.  In your child’s homework folder you will find your child’s role in the play.  Please practice his/her lines.  Our goal is for the children to have the parts memorized by next week.  The play needs to stay in the homework folder and be returned to school everyday!

·        Our websites:

•  Paige Burton’s web page: http://www.cdschool.org/faculty/ls/pburton
• Debbie Lanier’s web page: http://www.cdschool.org/faculty/ls/dlanier

Have a wonderful week and try not to blow away!

Debbie, Paige, Kathy, and Lisbeth