August 24, 2012

We will shine for Jesus!
Check out our art display in the lobby of school.

This week we learned about how God created the world and everything in it in six days. While some scientists dispute the biblical account of the six-day creation, it is important for us to understand that God can do anything.  We put our trust in Him and in His Word. This week we will continue learn about how God always watches over us and protects us. 

A Look Ahead:

Religion:  The Flood

Memory: Psalm 46:1

Reading:  We have spent the whole week learning about our Literacy Centers.  This week we will continue to practice them so we can work at our centers independently.

Grammar: Sentences, focusing on word order

Spelling:  Lesson 2

Phonics:  Hearing sounds in a sequence

Writing: Sentences

Math:  Continue review of numbers, begin ordering and matching

Science: First TEST WEDNESDAY over A2-A17 Living/nonliving

Social Studies:  Learning from each other

Art:  Piet Mondrain

It was great to get a chance to talk to you at Back to School Night.  I want to thank you for making your child's education a priority and thank your for the sacrifices you make to have your child in this Christian environment.  Please read through the blue folder as I wasn't able to go into a lot of the details that are included.  If you have any questions please contact me.

We took our first spelling test today and you can see the test in your child's Friday Folder.  This was a practice test and I didn't record the grade.  I will begin recording the grades next week.  Please look at how the tests are graded.  The sentence must have all words spelled correctly, begin with a capital letter,  have no other capital letters, and end with an end mark. 
I will not be marking reversals and capital letters on the word portion but I will remind them to use lower case letters.  I will start marking these wrong once we have done a few tests.

Fundraiser Order Packets are Due SEPTEMBER 4

Thank you for those who volunteered to clean the room.  I hope to have the schedule done and emailed to you next week.

Please send in a family picture (3x5 or 4x6), we will be using them in Religion this week.

Please make sure your child's gym shoes are in his/her backpack.  We had a couple kiddos who were not able to participate in P.E. today because they did not have gym shoes.  

This has been a great week.  Your children are doing such a good job of learning our classroom routines.  Ask them about centers and check out the pictures of our first few centers, mileage club, and other activities this week!

Have a wonderful weekend.  Please set aside time to worship and praise our AWESOME CREATOR!!

Shared Reading

Shared Reading

Familiar Reading with our Reading Phones

Computer Center with iPods

Working on Phonics Center

Practicing Spelling at Spelling Center

Building Spelling words at Spelling Center

Alphabet Center

Library Center

Mileage Club with a special guest card puncher!

Running

My First Footie

Walking with a Kindergarten Friend:)

Working on the color wheel in Art

First Days of School, August, 17, 2012

 Do everything without grumbling or arguing,  so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky  as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. Philippians 2:14-16

We had a great first few days of school and I look forward to doing more academics next week.  This will be a short parent letter because I will share a lot of information at PARENT'S BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT, TUESDAY, AUGUST 21 at 6:30.  It is very important that at least one parent attend the BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT.  New families will begin in the church with Mr. Debrick at 6:30, I will run sessions in my room at 6:30, 7:00, and 7:30.  I look forward to talking with you and sharing first grade information with you.

A quick look at next week:
Religion: Creation
Memory: Philippians 2:15a (memory is in your child's homework)
Reading: Mrs. Masa will be testing our class to find a beginning point for their literacy groups.
Centers: We will begin learning about our center time
     Spelling: practice lesson 1
     Phonics: rhyming words
     Alphabet: ordering letters
Grammar: Sentences
Spelling: Lesson 1  Practice Test Friday
Spelling Words: am, as, an, at, rat, mad, bag, can, tag, had
Spelling Dictation Sentence: I can play tag.
Math: Review of numbers and shapes
Science: Plants
Social Studies: School Community
Art: Color wheel

I hope this will help you talk with your child about what we are doing next week.

Your child may bring a water bottle to school to drink during the day.  Please send a bottle that has a sippy type lid that pops up to keep spills to a minimum.

Monday we have PE so please have your child's clean gym shoes in his/her backpack.  The gym shoes need to be shoes that will not be worn outside and only worn inside at gym.  If you are reusing an old pair of shoes please scrub the bottom to make sure the shoes are clean and free from pebbles, bark, or dirt.  Thank You!

Please look in your child's red Friday Folder for important notes and work from this week.  Please mark the church and Sunday school attendance and initial so that I know you have looked at the Friday Folder!

Please look at the Fundraiser information that is in your child's RED FRIDAY FOLDER.

It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know your child and I look forward a great year.   I hope to see many of you in church this weekend.  May you worship our awesome Creator as a family and be filled with HIM so we can SHINE His love to others in the coming week.

Please enjoy a few pictures of our first days.  I have been busy helping children and have only taken a few pictures :)  SEE YOU AT BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT!
In HIM,
Amy

Playing with Bobcat Playdough

Becoming Zion Bobcats 

Did your play dough turn a 'reddish' color?

Spelling D-A-N-C-E

Practicing Morning Work

Practicing Morning Work

Practicing Morning Work

Morning Work Finished

Our Zion Family in God's SONSHINE

July 24, 2012

Welcome to 1B

Welcome parents to First Grade!
I hope you are as excited for your child to be in First Grade as I am to have them.

This year our school theme is "SHINE".  Jesus is the LIGHT of the world and He fills us with HIS light so that we can SHINE for HIM and show others we have and awesome SAVIOR!

First grade is such a big year for your child.  I can't wait to be a partner with you as we help your child to SHINE spiritually and academically.

I look forward to seeing you Monday, August 13 at the Open House from 4:30-7:30.  

This will be an opportunity for your child to talk to me, see our classroom, pick out their desk, and bring their supplies to school.  Please label your child's supplies with his or her name or initials.  It is helpful to label each marker and crayon.  You DO NOT need to labels pencils as I will collect all the pencils at the beginning of school and we will share them throughout the year.

If you are a new family to Zion I would like to welcome you to our the Zion family.  I will be calling you soon to schedule a home visit.  If you are a family returning to Zion I would like to offer a home visit if time allows, please email me if you would like a short visit.

Parents also plan on attending the BACK TO SCHOOL night on August 21 at 6:30 where you will learn a lot about our First Grade class.

I hope you enjoy the last bit of summer and are ready for school!

See you at OPEN HOUSE.

In HIM,
Amy Bernhardt

abernhardt@zionharvester.org

May 18, 2012

Grow in the Grace and knowledge 

of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 3:18

A Look Ahead: (ONE LAST TIME)

            Religion:            Tabitha shares her talents

            Memory:            we are done  :)          

            Grammar:            Writing Samples

            Spelling:            Review games

            Math:                        2 digit addition without regrouping

            Science:            we are done :)                      

Social Studies:            we are done :)

            Art:                          Review all artists learned this year

            Reading:            Review games at Literacy centers
                                         fun website: tinyurl.com/zioncookie

NO SCHOOL THURSDAY

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, FRIDAY MAY 25. 
Kids do NOT need backpacks.  

PLEASE JOIN US FOR CHAPEL AND CLOSING AWARDS CEREMONY, 

Chapel begins at 8:05 and SCHOOL IS DISMISSED AT 10:00.  

Following dismissal is the FUN FAIR.

Sign up for the FAMILY FUN FAIR, which will be held the last day of school.  $5 per chilld and baked items are due by Wed. May 23.

Please send an extra bag to school on WEDNESDAY to help carry all their desk goodies.

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!  Come to Zion’s VBS and bring a friend or two.  This is an awesome experience and a great way for your child to be a witness.  
SKY VBS is June 11-15.  I hope to see you there!!!

ARTSONIA:  Watch for their end of the year sale on portfolio books.  This is a great way to ‘save’ your child’s artwork from this year.  By Monday all artwork from this year should be uploaded and published on Artsonia.  Remember Zion gets a percentage of each purchase and I use that to fund the art in first grade.

WE LIKE SHEEP DVD
In your Friday folder you will find a copy of the We Like Sheep Musical.  There is one per family.  Thank you to Mr. Desemone and Mrs. Gilmore for videoing and copying the DVD.  I hope you enjoy watching and sharing the performance!

SIX FLAGS TICKETS:
If your child completed and turned in the 600 minutes of reading for Six Flags the tickets are in your  Friday Folder!  Please look for them and get them out!!!

I am so thankful to God for this school year.  It has been an absolute joy to share your children this year.  I have seen them grow so much and feel blessed that I was given the opportunity to teach them.  This is a wonderful class full of so many talented and unique personalities.  Thank you for partnering with me this year.  I feel that your children and you have become part of my family.  I will keep you in my heart and prayers.  I am overwhelmed to be named “Teacher of the Year” for St. Charles County.  Thank you to the parents who nominated me.  I am truly blessed and love coming to school everyday.  To God all praise and glory.

Your children are very passionate about praying; I have talked to them about taking home the church’s prayer requests and continuing to pray for those in need.  Please help them maintain an active prayer and worship life this summer.  Remember to take advantage of the various services that Zion offers.

Saturday at 5:00, Sunday at 8 and 10:30 and Monday at 7:00.

Thank you to Samuel’s Aunt, Mrs. Paul, for coming to our class and sharing with us some of God’s creatures.  Please look at the pictures of the critters she cares for at her work at Animal Rescue.

Thank you again for a wonderful school year.
In HIM,
Amy

Mr. Drew Newlin (4th grade) Principal for the Day
takes time out of his busy schedule to read us a book!

A baby opossum

petting the opossum

baby raccoon

feeding the raccoon

playing vet

feeding baby opossums baby food

May 11, 2012

I can't believe we have only 2 weeks of school left.  These last 2 weeks will be filled with many review and hopefully fun activities.  


Thank you for the cards and gifts.  I feel appreciated!!  I have said it before, this class has been such a blessing.  I look forward to coming to work with them everyday.  What a joy and privilege it has been to be their teacher!

A Look Ahead:

Memory: we have completed memory

Religion: Stories of the early Christian Church

Grammar: Poetry

Spelling: Lesson 33 oa and o-e

Math: timed test over subtraction Wednesday

Science: TEST over changing Matter E30-E53 on Wednesday

Social Studies: being a good neighbor

Reading: We will be reviewing main concepts using centers and writing activities

Don't forget to turn in fourth quarter reading logs.  Due May 21

My daughter Hannah and I are planning on having a reading camp one day a week this summer.  The camp will run 6 weeks.  This would help students maintain their reading level over the summer.  We will meet for an hour on THURSDAYS from 10-11 and spend our time in guided reading and doing centers and literacy activities.  The cost will be $5 a week.  If you are interested please email me. Hannah will contact you with more information and starting dates. 

As it gets closer to summer I want to remind you not to take a vacation from God.  This class loves to sing the various liturgies used in church.  They also have a very mature prayer life.  I ask that you continue to nourish their faith.  Make a commitment to attend church weekly.  Show your children that nothing is more important than God, not vacations (visit another church where you are vacationing), not sports (take advantage of the various services times and days), not sleeping in or boating or golf (show that God is important to you and make a point to worship even when it isn’t easy).  Your child will be blessed by your faithfulness to worship and will follow your example.

He tends his flock like a shepherd:

He gathers the lambs in his arms

and carries them close to his heart;

he gently leads those that have young. 

Isaiah 40: 11

Happy Mother’s Day!!


Enjoy the pictures from this week!

In HIM,

Amy

Favorite Color Human Graph
Looks like blue won!

                                           Every Child is an Artist...Pablo Picasso

                CAN YOU FIND YOUR CHILD WEARING THEIR PICASSO PORTRAIT?

We went to a concert but on by the beginner strings.
In Second Grade students may take violin lessons here at school.

Crazy Socks

May 4, 2012

We Like SheepFriday, May 4, 7:00
Please have your child in the church basement at 6:30 to get on costumes.
Please have your child wear the black shirt and pants.

WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD
MAY 7-11
People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.  But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God
like a little child will never enter it.”
Luke 18:15-17

To CELEBRATE Week of the Young Child
Zion Early Childhood Teacher's will be provided our class with a pizza lunch on Monday.
1B doesn't need to bring a lunch Monday.  We will have a picnic with other early childhood
classes.  We will have pizza, fruit, and water.

SPECIAL DRESS DAYS for Week of the Young Child
Please wear your uniform bottoms and the fun dress items this week.

MONDAY : SUNGLASSES AND HATS

TUESDAY : SPORTS SHIRT

WEDNESDAY : FAVORITE COLOR

THURSDAY : CRAZY SOCKS

FRIDAY :  SCHOOL SPIRIT

A Look Ahead:

Religion: Pentecost

Memory: Third Article of the Apostle's Creed

Grammar: Poetry Unit

Spelling: Lesson 32  oy and oi  *NOTE we are skipping lesson 31*

Math: Timed Test over subtraction MONDAY 20 facts in 2 minutes

             We will work on money with quarters and problem solving

Science: Changes in Matter

Social Studies: Being a good neighbor

Reading:  We will be working on longer books that will last 2 weeks

Literacy Centers:  

     computers: tinyurl.com/zionspot

      phonics: sentence building

      alphabet: fact and opinion

      writing: super sentences

      math:  sink or float

      name: reading comprehension

      poetry: rebuild  a May poem

      

LIBRARY BOOKS MUST BE TURNED IN WEDNESDAY, MAY 9!

Please remember to bring library books on Wednesday as this will be our last library time for this year.

SPRING PICTURE PROOFS-  Please take a look at the spring pictures proofs that are in the Friday folders.

Proofs should be returned Thursday, May 10.  The proofs need to be returned even if you don't buy pictures.

First Graders becoming Second Graders:  In an effort to get the students ready for next year I have began taking some grades on center work especially the name and alphabet center.  These grade are entered into grammar.

Math Correct and Returns:  If your child misses 2 or more on math homework v will see a correct and return label.

Please correct the paper over the weekend and return on Monday.

It is hard to believe that we are almost done with first grade.  This class has been working so hard.  We have been working on paragraphs and I am so proud of the paragraphs these first graders are writing.  Mrs.  Masa took some of our writing to her Master's Class and other teachers thought it was third grade work.  Keep up the good work and finish the year strong!!

My daughter Hannah and I are planning on having a reading camp one day a week this summer.  The camp will run 6 weeks.  This would help students maintain their reading level over the summer.  We will meet for an hour and spend our time in guided reading and doing centers and literacy activities.  The cost will be $5 a week.  If you are interested please email me.  I am looking to see if there is an interest before we set up days and times.

These weekend we celebrate with Mrs. Glover her years of service and dedication to Lutheran Education.  Please spend a second and give her a retirement card.  She has been a faithful servant and a wonderful teacher to over 500 students!

Zion will have a special recognition for her at our 8:00 service with a short reception following the service.  If you can't make it send the note to school.

May God bless your weekend and may you be refresh in church this weekend!

In HIM,

Amy