WATCH ME READ

The children are doing a wonderful job with reading a book every night! They return their "Watch Me Read" book every day. Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen to your child read each night and signing the reading slip. The children bring home their books in bags that the PTO purchased for us. I would like the children to take good care of the bags. They make for a nice way for books to travel home and back! HaPpY Reading!

BUCKET FILLERS

We're learning how to be "Bucket Fillers". Through kind acts, being nice, helping others, and when we smile...we fill buckets! Are you a Bucket Filler? Click to listen to a story about feeling your bucket. Then you can joy listening to one of our favorite class songs!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5R6-2m_qHk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaddbqEQ1NE

TECHNOLOGY TUESDAY

Mr. Sleichter will be working with the first graders on this website for Technology Tuesday. The children have been learning about more, less and same using sets to compare. In this lesson they will use a 10 frame to demonstrate understand of numbers. Have fun practicing at home!
MATH:
http://illuminations.nctm.org/activitydetail.aspx?id=75

THE LUNCHBOX SURPRISE

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FUN FRIDAY READING

On Fun Fridays the stuffed animals get to come out and read with the children!

TECHNOLOGY TUESDAYS

This year as part of the specials (PE, Music, Art, Library) Mr. Sleichter will be working with the students using lap top computers and ipads. He will be using the Happy Hive links to work with the First Graders. This week was the first time the children had computer time. They were very excited! I hope you'll be checking every week for the new TECHNOOGY lessons so that your child can practice at home for reinforcement.

CLOSEST TO 10 CARD GAME

The children played a fun number game today. They would enjoy playing it at home. Supplies needed are a deck of cards. Take out all the Kings, Queens, Jacks and Jokers. Play with the Ace and numbers to 10. You'll also need 10 items to use as counters. (spoons, checkers, pennies, M&M's) The directions to play the game is shown below. Have fun with numbers!

This is a game where two students are comparing their numbers to see which player’s number is closest to 10. Students will play with a partner. Each pair will need a set of playing cards without the face cards and 20 small counters. (Ace - 10 of each suit with the Ace representing a 1) One player deals the cards evenly between the two players and places the counters in a pile in the center. Both players turn over their top card. Each player determines how close their number is to ten. The player whose number is closest gets a counter from the center
pile. A number line or blank tens frame and set of counters may be used if needed to help students identify the distance to ten. If the numbers are the same both players are awarded a chip. The game is over when the chips are gone and the player with the most chips wins.

PICTURE DAY

Thursday, August 21 is PICTURE DAY! Remind your child to wear their SMILE to school. Please return the picture packet with the background color selection of your choice. Pictures begin around 8:20. First Graders are 5th in line to have their pictures taken.

TECHNOLOGY TUESDAY

This year the children will explore websites on the lap top computers and ipads. I will post sites each week that you may check out at home with your child. Today will be our first to explore using lap top computers. The children will learn how to access the Happy Hive Website. I have posted 2 phonics games and 2 math games. The children will enjoy coloring the 100 Number Chart using color patterns. Number sequence is another great review. Letter sound review games provide practice in using consonant sounds. Clifford makes everything fun....try the Phonics Sound game. Here are the links to the sites that we will work with today. Click on the link to go to the games!

MATH:
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/math/games/100-number-chart-one.html
http://www.kidport.com/Grade1/Math/NumberSense/G1-M-NS-Sequencing.htm

READING:
http://www.ictgames.com/phonic_fighter4.html
http://teacher.scholastic.com/clifford1/flash/phonics/index.htm

HOMEWORK TIPS

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I will be sending home a page of homework for the students to complete. Mondays will focus on phonics, Wednesdays are grammar days, and Fridays are math review. Points will be taken as to accuracy and if work is completed on time. As the curriculum picks up it is so important that your child review and practice skills they are learning. I also want my students to learn a life skill of being responsible and accountable. Here is a link to an awesome webpage that gives helpful hints with how to help your child with homework. The road to success requires a team working together to ensure the best for your child. Thank you for being part of the team and playing your part in your child's learning adventure!
http://www.wchuskies.com/ParentTip.htm

BREAKFAST

If your child would like to eat breakfast the doors will open at 7:40 a.m. Breakfast will end at 8:05. The children will need to arrive early enough to be finished by 8:05. Class begins at 8:10 a.m.

SPECIALS SCHEDULE

9:58 - 10:48
Monday - PE/Music
Tuesday - Technology/Library
Wednesday - PE/Music
Thursday - Art
Friday - PE/Music OR Library/Counseling

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WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT

I'm sure you have heard all about the Bear Hunt that the children went on the first day of school! I'm posting the story that I used so that they may watch it at home. This summer in Estes Park, Colorado Coach Seirer and I encountered a real bear on the deck of our family summer home. She came to feast on the sugar water in the hummingbird feeders. Yes, it was very scary to wake up to find a huge black bear right outside your front window! Not something that happens in Kansas...I was afraid!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzIcu6tbEko

THE KISSING HAND

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FIRST DAY IN THE HIVE

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THE HAPPY BEES

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WELCOME TO THE HIVE

Welcome to the Hive! At this site you can read about our exciting news. I will be posting several times a week...so please check back in often! Click to follow our blog and this way you should be receiving updates. We currently have 12 new little bumbles joining our hive. 5 girls and 7 boys! As our class list is finalized from enrollment I'll let you know if the numbers increase.

I've been busy making lists and organizing materials for the new year. This will be our 2nd year using the Common Core Math Curriculum. The children will explore deeper into the skills taught and demonstrate understanding of how problems are solved. Our students in Grade One will be receiving letter grades in the subject areas of Reading, Math, Spelling and Language Arts. In addition to Core instruction time, Intervention classes in Reading and Math will be held daily. In reading our groups are called LIFT time. (Learning is Fun Together) I'm very excited about the "Do It Math" groups. Mrs. Thomas and I will both be teaching a "Do It Math" group. The first nine weeks will end on Wednesday, October 15. Conferences are on the calendar for the evening of October 15th and all day and evening on October 16th. There will be no school on Friday, October 17th. Please note that Open House will be held on Thursday, August 21 from 6:00-7:30. This will be a come and go time. Buzz on in to see what has been happening in the Hive!

I will send home a packet for parents on our first day of school. Please look over the letters and return any documents that need to be filled out. I'll be looking for parents to help with parties this year! Your child should have received a letter from me inviting them to my Open Class time on Wednesday, August 13 from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. Hope you can stop in and help your child put their supplies away. This sure makes our first day go smoothly. Looking forward to getting to know everyone. For some, I've taught your parents and perhaps brothers or sisters in your family! For others, this is your first child in Grade One! WELCOME TO THE FIRST GRADE HIVE! We're going to have a fantastic year!

BUZZ RIGHT IN

Enrollment begins this week. Be sure to get your child enrolled and signed in for the new year. Looking forward to meeting my new class of Bees!
Wednesday, Aug. 6 7:30am - 3:30pm
Thursday, Aug. 7 12:00 noon - 8:00pm
Friday, Aug. 8 8:00am - 4:00pm