September 23, 2011

          We continue to learn about how God cares for us.  Our memory this week reminds us that God loves and cares for us so much that He promises to take care of us for eternity.  "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29,  Jesus came so that we would have forgiveness and new life with Him forever.  Wow, God  really cares for us!

A Look Ahead:
Memory: Psalm56:3
Religion: The Isrealites, the Passover, and Crossing the Red Sea (ask to see your child's plague book)
Literacy Centers: Poetry: The Apple and the Worm, looking for consonant clusters
                            Phonics: Building short i words
                            Names: Working on alphabetical order
                            Writing: Publishing our first book
                            Alphabet: Sorting vowels
Spelling: Lesson 6
Grammar: Nouns
Math: Addition facts 'Doubles to 18' (ask about the our "Doubles" song)
Science: Test on Monday over A18-A53, then begin Animal Unit
Social Studies: Interviewing People who Help us at School
Art: Paul Klee Castles
Around the World: Egypt

FRIDAY:  JOHNNY APPLESEED DAY, On September 30 we will be celebrating Johnny Appleseed's Birthday.  I will need some adult helpers.  We will be doing special activities from 9-11.  If you can come in and help please email me, thanks.

MONDAY PICTURE RETAKES:  If your child did not get their picture taken or you want a retake please bring in your order form or old pictures on Monday.

MATH TEST:  If your child's math test was marked retest, please review the mistakes with them and I will retest next week.  I will give the new grade this time as we as still learning about test taking.

Please fill out the HIGHLIGHT'S Puzzle Buzz form, remember all I need is a signature to get points for free classroom items.  With the last Highlights I am getting a digital sound maker.

WE SING OCTOBER 2 at 11:00 at Zion Church.  Please have your child in the upstairs music room by 10:45 to practice.

BINGO READING CARDS are due on October 10.  Please fill out all the squares.  Congratulations to Matthew who turned in a yellow card and won a free book!

Each week your child will be coming home with a printed book to read, please have your child read the book several times.  After your child has read the book please sign the parent slip and return it to school.

Please look at our pictures.  We had two fun visitors on Monday and spend time painting on Friday!

May you have a wonderful weekend and make time to worship the Lamb of God, who takes away our sins!

In HIM,
Amy

Please come to the Voter's Meeting on Monday and find out about our exciting expansion plans!

ATTENTION ZION FAMILIES!

Zion Lutheran Church Voters Meeting

                                    Monday September 26, 2011 @ 7 pm

In the Church Sanctuary

Agenda includes a

Campus Expansion Presentation

Get UPDATED & INVOLVED in the future of your

CHURCH & SCHOOL!

Ava's sugar gliders came to school.
She told us all about them.

I think the sugar glider likes first grade!

Painting using Paul Klee as our inspiration.

Abstract Portrait 

Painting the background of our portraits.

Listening to music and painting an abstract portrait just like Paul Klee. 

Eating a plant...seeds.
Many of us tried plant parts we have never eaten before and like them! 

Flower

Stems and Roots

September 16, 2011

We are BOBCAT NATION!

Mr. Marolf has began using the phrase, "We are Bobcat Nation!"  He 'signs off' the daily announcements by proudly saying that we are Bobcat Nation!  The kids love it.  Just say to your first grader WE ARE and wait for the response.  Yet we ARE so much more.  Our Bible verse for this week tells us that God CHOSE us.  We are HIS CHILDREN!  We learned in Religion how Jacob was forgiven and how Joseph forgave his brothers.  We are FORGIVEN!  We see and feel daily that  God is love.  We are SAVED!

A Look Ahead:

Memory: John 1:29

Religion: Moses

Grammar: Writing Sentences

Spelling: Lesson 5
Math:  addition sentences, addition facts: doubles, ordinal numbers (I will retest counting to 100)
Science: Seeds and how plants grow, TEST Friday, over p. A18-A53, books will go home Wednesday
Social Studies: School Rules
Around the World: Denmark, ask your child about Canada and the maple syrup!
Art: Paul Klee

Literacy Center Activities:
I think it would be beneficial for you to know what we are working on in our centers.  This is a time for independent practice of skills we have learned.  I often times will grade the record sheets to assess mastery of a skill.

Phonics:  building short e family words
Alphabet: sorting letters ( I will not only be looking for letter knowledge but higher level thinking on  
                how to sort the letters)
Spelling:  This center stays the same each week with the words used changing.  The students see the word, say the word, build the word with tiles, and then write the word.  After this activity is completed there are various 'games' to do with the spelling words.
Writing: next week we will be working on a first draft of a book about activities the students do
Science: an experiment with seeds
Name: writing sentences with words that have the same beginning sounds as the names of the kids in our classs
Poetry: read A Seed poem and find consonant clusters
Computer: we will be using abcya.com to work on adding numbers

We had a great time today working on Black and White Op Art inspired by Victor Vasarely with our Chapel Buddies.  Our Chapel Buddies are the Fourth Grade students in Mr. Maddick's class.  Please look at the pictures below and come and tour our 'hallway art gallery'.

Next week your child will be coming home with a little printed book.  This book is on your child's level and your child should be able to read it with minimal help.  Please have your child read these books, they could even read them several times.  This helps to build fluency and self confidence.  Each week your child will receive a new book.  These are yours to keep.  You may want to keep them in a folder for your child to reread.  Thank you for your help with reading.

BOOK BINGO CARDS DUE OCTOBER 11!  You may turn them in anytime!

Love and Logic Parenting Class:  If you are interested Sara Kuhlmann (our early childhood director) and I are teaching a Love and Logic Parenting class at Chapel of the Cross Church.  The class begins this Sunday at 9:25.  Chapel of the Cross is located on the corner of Jungermann and Willot.  If you are interested and have questions please call me.

Thank you for reading this long post!  Thank you for taking an active role in your child's education.  Thank you for sharing your child with me, I am really enjoying your children!

Take time to worship our Lord this weekend!

Growing in Him,
Amy

Thank you Chapel Buddies!

September 9, 2011

You are your child’s PFD!! In confirmation this week I learned that I am my child’s PFD, personal faith developer.  As parents we are given the task of developing our child’s faith.  Do not fear you are not alone in this task.  The Holy Spirit will help you along with Zion Church and School.  You may wonder what a PFD does; Pastor Rouland gives three responsibilities:  set an example, be authentic, and be faithful.  May God bless you in your job of PFD!

A Look Ahead:

Memory: John 15:16

Religion: Joseph and his family

Spelling: Lesson 4

Grammar:  Exclamation and Question Sentences

Math:  We will be working with money, identifying numbers, and putting numbers into sets

Science: Plants and their parts

Social Studies: Schools have rules

Around the World: 

Art: Continue Victor Vasarely

Ask your child what they have been doing in centers.  This is a time for them to practice learned skills.  I will begin grading these centers for mastery of the skills and concepts.  Please look through your child's papers to see how they are doing in centers.  Each center is done on a RECORD sheet.  If a paper says, "please finish"  that is a note to them to make sure they complete the work at the center before turning the paper in, it may also mean they were playing at the center and never finished.  Keep in mind they get at least two times at the center to complete the task.  The "please finish" does not mean to do it at home!

I need some help laminating and cutting out flashcards to use at centers.  If you are able to come up to school to do this I would love to show your how.  Just email me if you have the time to do this task.

Thank you to Mrs. Brinckner, our class librarian.  Please look at the pictures of us at library.  

I had all intentions of taking pictures of us painting, but I was elbow high in purple paint and forgot!

I would like to include the people we have been praying for this week in school so that your family may continue praying for them over the weekend.  This week we prayed for:  the missionary families the Weiders and the Eisolds, Mr. Norm Kern, Mrs. Virginia Ehlmann, Elizabeth, Erika, Grandma Denise, Mrs. Bernice Nebel, Baby Wyatt, and Mr. Macke.

Please join me in worship this weekend.  I am giving the children's message and love to see my students faces up there with me!  May God bless you this weekend and your worship with Him!  Think about joining a Bible class and sending your children to Sunday School.

Growing in HIM,

Amy

Brooke found a good book.

Looking for books.

A little prereading.

Checking out our books.

September 2, 2011

This week we learned about God protecting Noah and how God's rainbow reminds us of His promise to care and love for us.  We also experienced first hand God's love and protection over our friend Ellie.  We praise God for His constant care for us.  The love, care, and concern for Ellie and her family was overwhelming.  Thank you God for giving us people to care for us.

A Look Ahead:

NO SCHOOL MONDAY- Enjoy Labor Day

Memory: Psalm 31:14
Religion: God gives us Families, God's promise to Abraham
Reading: We will begin our guided reading centers this week.
Spelling: Lesson 3
Grammar: Sentences have capital letters and periods.
Math: Word Problems, Shapes with Geoboards
Science: Plants-characteristics and parts
Social Studies: Working Together
Around the World: Brazil
Art: Victor Vasarely and Op Art

ARTSONIA:  Your child now has artwork on the website Artsonia.  Please look at the Artsonia paper in the Friday Folder, it will tell you how to log on and view the art.  Some parents will need to approve their child's participation.

BOOK ORDERS:  Please look over the letter that will tell you how to order books online.  Book orders are due by September 12.

BOOK BINGO:  I hope you have been reading books and filling in your BOOK BINGO cards.  Completed cards are due by OCTOBER 11.  

MATH HOMEWORK:  Please help your child read and follow the directions on their math homework papers.  Your child may need some guidance with the math homework.  Please pay special attention your child's Math papers in the Friday Folders.

Thank you to our room Mom's Mrs. Hollowood and Mrs. Brickner.  A Room Parent meeting is scheduled for Monday September 12 at 7pm in the Library.

FUNDRAISER SALES FORMS are due TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6.

As we take time to relax and get renewed this 3-day weekend, please make time to get renewed and refreshed by God.  GOD IS SO GOOD!  Let us worship and praise Him this weekend!

Growing in HIM,
Amy

Working with letter tiles to learn spelling.

Reading during Familiar Reading 

Using our reading phones to hear ourselves reading.

We love practicing reading with our phones!