January 31, 2014
Dear Families:
The big event this week was having the Missoula Children's Theater staff here working with McKenny students to put on a dress rehearsal performance on Friday. There are two performances scheduled for Saturday, February 1st at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. We are proud of Skye, Elliott Y., Jake, Akki, and Elliott W. for their participation and performance.
First graders have worked hard on place value, using greater than, less than, and equal to symbols, and addition in math. Work continues on the Big Project, writing numbers to 1,000. We are very proud of Elliott Y.
and Bryant for successfully completing the Big Project this week! What perseverance!
This week, we also began our first science unit entitled, Pebbles, Sand and Silt. We are studying rocks. We looked at three kinds of rocks for characteristics. We found out that when we rubbed the rocks together, we made dust. First graders will be keeping a science journal that details their experiments and results.
On the afternoon of Friday, February 14th, our class will have a valentine exchange party. It is optional for your child to bring valentines for that day. If your child chooses to participate, they must bring a valentine for everyone in our class. We currently have 25 students. You will find a class list attached to this letter. If you would like to make your own valentines, we can send home construction paper with your child.
You may send valentines to school no sooner than Thursday, February 13th.
It is hoped that you will join our PTO-sponsored READ-A-THON for the month of February. First graders are asked to read 20 minutes each day of the week. That means they would read 140 minutes per week, and 560 minutes for the 28 days of February. There are special events and rewards. This is considered a fund-raiser, as well. Please read the enclosed information, and join us in this fun, enriching event. Reading logs are turned in each Friday morning. You will find many more details in the packet being sent home today.
Remember the dates:
Saturday, February 1 3:00 and 7:00 Performances of Cinderella at McKenny
Wednesday, February 5 Late start, school beings at 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, February 6 Visiting author, Eric Ode, will work with McKenny
students during the day. There will be a free
concert for McKenny families from 6:30-7:30pm
Be sure to read the enclosed letter that details the reading test results for your child. Have a warm weekend, and keep reading! Mrs. Stead
Mrs. Stead's First Grade Class (25 students) February, 2014
Akki M.
Annabell D.
Brendan J.
Bryant H.
Dulce S.
Elliott W.
Elliott Y.
Evan W.
Jake W.
Jason S.
James S.
Jenny S.
Jordan M.
Kyndal J.
Leah S.
Logan S.
Luke S.
Melinda L.
Morgan T.
Nora A.
Riley M.
Silas D.
Skye W.
Ubaldo C.
Zack Y.
The big event this week was having the Missoula Children's Theater staff here working with McKenny students to put on a dress rehearsal performance on Friday. There are two performances scheduled for Saturday, February 1st at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. We are proud of Skye, Elliott Y., Jake, Akki, and Elliott W. for their participation and performance.
First graders have worked hard on place value, using greater than, less than, and equal to symbols, and addition in math. Work continues on the Big Project, writing numbers to 1,000. We are very proud of Elliott Y.
and Bryant for successfully completing the Big Project this week! What perseverance!
This week, we also began our first science unit entitled, Pebbles, Sand and Silt. We are studying rocks. We looked at three kinds of rocks for characteristics. We found out that when we rubbed the rocks together, we made dust. First graders will be keeping a science journal that details their experiments and results.
On the afternoon of Friday, February 14th, our class will have a valentine exchange party. It is optional for your child to bring valentines for that day. If your child chooses to participate, they must bring a valentine for everyone in our class. We currently have 25 students. You will find a class list attached to this letter. If you would like to make your own valentines, we can send home construction paper with your child.
You may send valentines to school no sooner than Thursday, February 13th.
It is hoped that you will join our PTO-sponsored READ-A-THON for the month of February. First graders are asked to read 20 minutes each day of the week. That means they would read 140 minutes per week, and 560 minutes for the 28 days of February. There are special events and rewards. This is considered a fund-raiser, as well. Please read the enclosed information, and join us in this fun, enriching event. Reading logs are turned in each Friday morning. You will find many more details in the packet being sent home today.
Remember the dates:
Saturday, February 1 3:00 and 7:00 Performances of Cinderella at McKenny
Wednesday, February 5 Late start, school beings at 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, February 6 Visiting author, Eric Ode, will work with McKenny
students during the day. There will be a free
concert for McKenny families from 6:30-7:30pm
Be sure to read the enclosed letter that details the reading test results for your child. Have a warm weekend, and keep reading! Mrs. Stead
Mrs. Stead's First Grade Class (25 students) February, 2014
Akki M.
Annabell D.
Brendan J.
Bryant H.
Dulce S.
Elliott W.
Elliott Y.
Evan W.
Jake W.
Jason S.
James S.
Jenny S.
Jordan M.
Kyndal J.
Leah S.
Logan S.
Luke S.
Melinda L.
Morgan T.
Nora A.
Riley M.
Silas D.
Skye W.
Ubaldo C.
Zack Y.
January 17, 2014
Dear Families:
This has been a week filled with fun activities for first graders. I want to say a personal thank you to Mrs. Roray, my substitute teacher, for doing a great job because I have been home with the flu.
We have been learning about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this week. We are working on a project that records our own dreams.
In math, we practiced estimating amounts and checking the results. We played a cooperative game with math questions and answers on cards. We are working with tens and ones to understand place value. We started the "Big Project". Students are writing numbers from 0 to 1,000. It is an exercise in perseverance. They will receive a certificate when they complete this challenging assignment!
Thanks to those families came to McKenny's Parent Night. If you were not able to come, you will find a packet of materials in today's folder that was passed out in first grade with ideas of how to help your child with math skills. Below you will find a brief summary of information presented by Sunshine Campbell, math professor from The Evergreen State College:
Math should make sense to students. It should not seem like magic, which can happen when students are taught only algorithms, and not the reasoning behind them. It is helpful for students to talk about math to clarify their understandings.
When students are learning basic facts of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, there is a progression of strategies:
first, they are using one-on-one strategies; next they use counting on strategies; then they use derived facts (using a number fact to help get the answer); and last, they use the strategy of recall.
When students are solving problems, challenge them to find more than one way to get the answer. It is very important to have flexible thinking in math.
Dr. Campbell also recommended these books for parents of elementary
children:
"Math at Hand" and "Math on Call".
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Monday, January 19 No School, M.L. King Holiday
Wednesday, January 29 Late Start, School begins at 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, February 5 Late Start, School begins at 10:00 a.m.
Have a great three-day weekend. Mrs. Stead
This has been a week filled with fun activities for first graders. I want to say a personal thank you to Mrs. Roray, my substitute teacher, for doing a great job because I have been home with the flu.
We have been learning about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this week. We are working on a project that records our own dreams.
In math, we practiced estimating amounts and checking the results. We played a cooperative game with math questions and answers on cards. We are working with tens and ones to understand place value. We started the "Big Project". Students are writing numbers from 0 to 1,000. It is an exercise in perseverance. They will receive a certificate when they complete this challenging assignment!
Thanks to those families came to McKenny's Parent Night. If you were not able to come, you will find a packet of materials in today's folder that was passed out in first grade with ideas of how to help your child with math skills. Below you will find a brief summary of information presented by Sunshine Campbell, math professor from The Evergreen State College:
Math should make sense to students. It should not seem like magic, which can happen when students are taught only algorithms, and not the reasoning behind them. It is helpful for students to talk about math to clarify their understandings.
When students are learning basic facts of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, there is a progression of strategies:
first, they are using one-on-one strategies; next they use counting on strategies; then they use derived facts (using a number fact to help get the answer); and last, they use the strategy of recall.
When students are solving problems, challenge them to find more than one way to get the answer. It is very important to have flexible thinking in math.
Dr. Campbell also recommended these books for parents of elementary
children:
"Math at Hand" and "Math on Call".
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Monday, January 19 No School, M.L. King Holiday
Wednesday, January 29 Late Start, School begins at 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, February 5 Late Start, School begins at 10:00 a.m.
Have a great three-day weekend. Mrs. Stead