Week 5

 Things are in full swings in our classroom! The students are leading our morning meetings. We know our tasks during math and Daily 5 rotations. We have started a plant unit in science. We also celebrated Johnny Appleseeds' birthday by learning about him and a life cycle of apples. Please ask your child how old he would be today if he was alive! October will be filled with more exciting learning opportunities.

Insect Invention

Did you enjoy a little critter that came home with your child? We had a blast using our imagination creating a new kind of insect.

O.R.E.O. Project

We participated in a global project called O.R.E.O. Project along with 150 (or more!) classes in the United States and Canada. What did we have to do? Well, we stacked the OREO cookies! Our class average was 18!! We shared our suggestions for stacking, guessed other class's average, and found out other classes' results on Twitter. One fourth grade class's average was 28!! 

Sight Words Program

In first grade we are working hard on our reading skills. Along with our reading we need to work on sight words or high frequency words. These are words that cannot be sounded out phonetically; but rather must be recognized at first sight. Research shows that 60-75% of words in children’s literature are these sight words or high frequency words. In order for your child to recognize these words automatically, they must practice them at home as well as at school. 

So...I am beginning a program for sight words. Once a week (Tuesday) I will have your child read the sight words on his/her list. I will move your child to the next level when he/she has mastered that level (within 45 seconds & with 96% or better accuracy = 1 or no mistake). Please find the first list of words in your child's Friday folder.

There are nine levels of words.  I have linked all the words under "sight words" on the right. I also posted some ideas for fun activities that you can do at home.

I realize this will take a few minutes of time every evening, but the effects will be phenomenal! Also, do not forget to read to your child and have them read to you regularly. This program will help them to develop a love for reading as they become more successful. Thank you for your cooperation!

Kidblog

Please visit your child's blog!

http://kidblog.org/MrsDeGrootsClass2014-2015/

Week 4

Happy Homecoming Week! We had a busy week celebrating school spirit. Go Indians!

Homecoming

or click here to view the slideshow 

Fishing Trip

A huge thanks to DNR & Dickinson County Nature Center for a great fishing trip!

or click here to view the slideshow

Insect Research

We have learned so much about insects. We chose one insect that we wanted to study, and each group worked together to gather information from a book and website. We also created a slide show to share the information with the classmates. Here are our findings.

Ants by Nolan & Kierstin

Ladybugs by Indy & Lauren

Dragonflies by Wes & Jaedyn

Fireflies by Evelyn, Mackenzie & Hayden

Praying Mantises by Solomon, Isaiah, Lucan & Alex

Butterflies by Luke, Racheal, Karlie & Carter

Meet our Student Teacher

My name is Lindsey Scherff and I am a college student from The University of Northern Iowa currently student teaching with Mrs. DeGroot through the second week in October. I have already been thoroughly enjoying my time in her first grade class, the students are awesome! In order for you to get to know me, here is a little bit of background information. I am originally from Fort Dodge, and I come from a family of three sisters. I love the Iowa Hawkeyes, I chose the career path of education because it has been something I have always wanted to do all my life. I have a strong passion for kids, and so once I started pursing my degree in education at UNI I knew I was entering the right profession. After I am finished student teaching with Mrs. DeGroot, I will be moving down the hallway in the school to a third/fourth grade Special Education room for eight more weeks to complete my Special Education endorsement. After I am finished student teaching in December I will begin searching for jobs or substituting. I have no preference of where I would like to teach, except I know I will stay in Iowa to be close to my family. As I mentioned before, I am loving this group of first graders already and I cannot wait to see all of them and myself grow over the next few weeks!

Week 3

Math

• We met "Zero the Hero" on the 10th day of school.
• We graphed 10 m&m's and interpreted the data we collected.
• We played a mystery number game with Mr. Ross's first grade class in Webster City, IA on Google Hangout.
  
• We learned about symmetry. 
• We reviewed 2D shapes, triangle & rectangle.

Created with Padlet

Language Arts

• We reached 20 minutes of Stamina!! WOW! 
• We started small group reading during Daily 5 (Read to Self, Listen to Reading & Word Work)
• We wrote short stories.

Science

• We created the life cycle of butterfly.
• We painted a symmetrical butterfly.
• We observed a butterfly coming out of a chrysalis in our classroom!

Dan Wardel Presentation
We had a blast!! He is always very entertaining:) 

or click here to view the slideshow

International Dot Day

This celebration is being led by Peter H. Reynolds, the author of a children's book called "The Dot" to celebrate children's creativity and imagination. Our class discussed bravery, confidence and also encouraging others.

We enjoyed designing our own dot then using colAR Mix app to watch our dod pop up!

We tried pointillism art.

We also made a Dots candy creation!

Kidblog

I have created an individual blog page for each student. This is a place where your child can share their leaning with you and the world. Please take time to visit your child's blog and leave a comment. Your comments mean the world to them! I also encourage you to share the blog with your family members. Kidblog is a safe site. All posts and comments have to be prescreened and approved by me before going on the web.

http://kidblog.org/MrsDeGrootsClass2014-2015/

(Insect Hunt post has a video clip. You can double click the image to play if it does not show a play icon.)

Upcoming Events

Monday, September 15 --- NO SCHOOL (Professional Development Day)

Tuesday, September 16 --- Fishing trip to Fish Hatchery (9:45-10:45) 

**If you wish to join your child, please meet us at Fish Hatchery! 

Hat Day (Homecoming Celebration)

Wednesday, September 17 --- Jersey Day

Thursday, September 18 --- Pajama Day

Friday, September 19 -- Red & Black Day/ Homecoming Parade @2:30

Week 2

This week was a short week but filled with learning!

Math

• calendar routine
• counting sets of objects
• learning new math games
• story problems

Language Arts

• building stamina on "read to self" (independent reading)
  
• writing a short story
• Word Journeys (word family spelling program)
• listening to stories

Science

• Monarch butterfly life cycle
• insect characteristics
• insect hunt

or click here to view the photos

Twitter

We have a class Twitter account. We share our learning, experiences, questions and wonders. By Tweeting to the world, we connect with other first grade classes around the world. This week we received some encouragements. Check them out!!

Then, we received this...

All students were so proud to read this message from Colorado! What a great motivation for us to keep reading! If you have a Twitter account, follow @mrsdegrootclass or you can see our Twitter feed on the right.

Week 1

We had a great start of first grade! What a fun group of first graders:) We will have a great year this year.

On the first day of school, we talked about our feelings. Enjoy the video we created!

Throughout the week we focused on developing friendship, working habits, teamwork and expectations in the classroom.

or click here to view the photos

Important Dates

Thursday, September 4 --- School Picture Day 

Monday, September 15 --- NO SCHOOL (Professional Development Day)

**Please send a refillable water bottle to school so that your child can get a drink when needed. I will send it home every Friday so that you can wash it and send it back to school on Monday.

Welcome to First Grade!

Daily Schedule for First Grade

The school bell rings at 8:20 each morning.  First grade students that arrive between 8:00 and 8:20 will meet in the gym(with supervision) until the bell rings.  School dismisses at 3:20. 

Friday Folder

I will send home with your child all the notes and students’ work for each week in the Friday folder.  Please take them out and look through them.  Please send the empty folder back to school on Monday.

Star of the Week

As part of our curriculum, we want to learn about ourselves and others.  Each week I’ll have one of our students be “Star of the Week.”  This student is encouraged to bring snapshots or photos (8-10) of themselves and their family, or anything that tells about them.  

I will let you know when your child will be the star of the week by sending a note home on Friday before your child’s turn.  (This is different from a snack helper.)

To make this week a “special” time, I would like to invite you to come and have lunch with your child and meet our class.  We eat lunch at 11:40.  Please remember to let us know the day you will be coming so we can add your name to our lunch count.  

P.E.

Our class will have P. E. on days 1 and 3.  Athletic shoes are important for your child on those days.  Children cannot do their best or have as much fun if they are wearing sandals or fashion shoes with high platforms or slippery soles. Girls usually prefer to wear shorts or slacks on those days.    

Beginning 1st Grade 

 The first few days of school can seem long for a first grade student- they have new rules to follow and tasks to complete. You may find that your child is a little tired  after a day of important work.  Please be prepared to give your child a little extra attention and a listening ear.  Do not hesitate to call, if needed, so that I am aware of any problem that arises. 

Let’s communicate

Letters and notes will be sent home via this blog to inform you of activities and special occasions here at school.  Although formal parent-teacher conferences are scheduled in the fall and the spring, I welcome a call or  e-mail from you anytime you have information to share or questions to ask.  At school I can be reached at 336-2822 (ext.4360).  However, please DO NOT leave an urgent message on the voice mail, call the office and leave the message with Mrs. Loveall instead.

e-mail:  ldegroot@spirit-lake.k12.ia.us

Zoo Trip, End of Year & Summer Reading

We had a blast at Sioux Falls Zoo! Please ask your child what he/she learned at the zoo.



This year we shared many learning opportunities with Mrs. Cavin's class in Atlanta, Georgia. Here are our final collaboration projects. Enjoy!






We have accomplished so much this year!  I am so very proud of every one of my students for working hard to get to where we are today, and we have had a lot of fun along the way.  I would like to thank all of the families for your support and for sharing your child with me.

The students are so excited about summer!  I hate to burst their bubbles, but I am stressing the importance of reading over the summer.  I would like to share this info-graphic about reading. As you can see, reading everyday makes so much difference in children's lives.

Your child learned so much this year.  Please have him/her keep reading!  Here are fun ways to promote summer reading.

http://www.spiritlake.lib.ia.us/patrons/children2/children

I'm happy to inform you that your student has access to hundreds of eBooks using the school's

subscription to www.raz-kids.com. Children can read and listen to books on Raz-Kids and even

record themselves reading. Afterwards they can take a quiz to check for comprehension.

To access your child's assignment, log in at www.raz-kids.com/login/ldegroot0 using the

information below:

Teacher Username: ldegroot0

**NO Password needed

Your child can also keep blogging at http://kidblog.org/MrsDeGrootsClass2013-2014/ 

**Password is abc