UpDate's Galore! 

**Special Attention** Interims will be handed out on conference night. If you haven't schedule a conference and would like to schedule visit http://bit.ly/1m6JfSE to signup.

KID BLOG

We are all very excited to have our very own blog! We will be using KidBlog to share our learning and connect with others. The success of our blog depends on YOU! Bloggers love comments and parents love seeing what their first graders are doing in school, so this should be easy!  
Here are a few things you should know:

• Help teach our kids how to be safe online. First names only, no face photos, and when you comment, please comment as Jane's mommy, daddy, grammie, grandpa, etc. and never share your location name. 
• Keep us feeling brave as writers. When your child writes on the blog, allow them to spell like a first grader. Respect the process and avoid correcting or heaven forbid-typing for them! They can do they need to know you believe in their abilities. When asked to help spell here's your line. "Say the word slowly and type the sounds you here. When your done slide under to see if you hear any other sounds. If you MUST, you can ask them to try it three times on a post-it note and bring it to you. When you get the post-it note, celebrate all the right sounds and add the necessary letters. 
• COMMENT!! Comment often and comment on other students blogs too! 
• Share with your family and friends and ask them to comment too! 
• Encourage blogging at home! 
• Rest assured this is a safe and fantastic tool! I moderate all incoming and outgoing post and comments. You won't see your post or comment immediately. 

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First Grade: Myself and Others

I am unique and special. I have relationships with others including family and friends.  There are all kinds of families.  My family loves me unconditionally. I know how to be a friend and can make friends by smiling, being friendly and letting friends know that I care. My world of caring grows as I grow.
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Support Groups
 
Our Syntero counselor, Amy Figluiolo, will be leading Grief Groups (For those who have had a loved one die) and Bully Groups (for students who want to learn healthy ways to respond to bullying.).   If interested, contact Mrs. Hawley for the necessary forms.  (Laurie_hawley@hboe.org)

Reading & Our New Learning Opportunities 

​I am sure you've the news about reading instruction. We are so fortunate to be serving kids in a district where we are encouraged to dream big and think creatively to meet best the needs of our students. This creative freedom and level of professionalism from our administration is truly a blessing for your learners.  
All three first grade classrooms and teachers along with Mrs. Mere (reading specialist), Jen Hay (English as a second language teacher) and Donna Bradley (literacy coach) have come together in the interest of supporting our first-grade readers. 
We have divided students from all three classrooms into reading classes, and here's where it gets exciting! While all three teachers are instructing the same reading skill, each class is differentiated to the needs and learning style of the students in the group. We are so excited about this new way of doing things!

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Animal Parade

 It's time for our Annual Animal Parade! First graders have been learning about French artist; Henri Rousseau (video below )in art class. He was an artist who was fascinated by the zoo and botanical gardens and all the animals in the zoo and garden. Your young artist has made a jungle masks in the art from tag board, acrylic paint, raffia, foam and pipe cleaners. It's time to show off our artistic creations in The Annual Animal Parade. If you can watch your first grader prance through the hallways, please join us on Friday February 5th at 1:50. After the parade, I would like to gather the artist for a photo. Please fell free to snap a few pictures at this time. The school day will continue as usual after the photo. If you plan to take your child home, please return to the main office to sign your child out. The office will then call down to the classroom for your child. Dismissing students from the large group or the classroom door is unsafe and disrupts our valuable learning time. Thank you for understanding. 

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