Ms. Riester

November is here!

It's hard to believe that November is here already and Thanksgiving break is just two weeks away.  We have been very busy learning new concepts!

Phonics-  Students have been learning about s blends (st, sn ,sc, sw) as well as the th, ch, and sh sounds.

Reading-  We have been focusing on making inferences prior to reading a story and making text-to-self connections.

Math-  The focus has been on number sense- counting on a number line, 10 more, 10 less, greater than/ less than.  Next week we will begin geometry!

Science- MAGNETS!! What a fun time exploring magnets they have had!

Socials Studies- Ms. Gentry completed a unit on Lewis & Clark and Sacagawea

IMPORTANT DATES

Jump Rope for Heart - Wednesday, November 11th

Dad's Initiative Meeting - Thursday, November 12th at 7 p.m.

Stevie B's Family Dinner Night - Friday, November 13th

Spiritwear Participation Day - Friday, November 20th

Thanksgiving Break - November 23rd through 27th

Ms. Gentry, our student teacher, will be finishing up her time with us on Monday, November 16th. She will be missed! 

Fundraiser Pick Up

 

If your child ordered fundraiser stuff from Kennesaw Elementary it is available for pick up today Oct. 22  from 3-6pm and tomorrow (Friday) from 3-8pm.  Please come in and pick your orders!  The students cannot take the items home on the bus so parents/guardians must pick up the orders.  Thanks!

Coming Soon...

October 16:  REPORT CARDS SENT HOME

October 19-23:  BOOK FAIR

October 21:  EARLY RELEASE

This week's highlights

Jump Rope for Heart is coming soon!  We will be having a JRFH pep rally this week during PE.  This is always such an exciting event for Kennesaw Elementary. 

Math-- We are going to continue to work on counting coins and making various combinations to 50 cents.  Please practice at home!

Writing-- Thank you for those of you that have already sent in pictures to help with personal narrative writing.  The students will begin their own personal narrative this week.

Social Studies-- Continents, Oceans, and Patriotic Songs are the focus this week.  Did you know we now have a 5th ocean?  Ask your child this week the name of it!

Reading-- The students will continue to focus on retelling strategies.

Classroom Procedures

Morning Work-- 

Students do have morning work to complete every morning between 7:15-7:50.  I do all for students to complete the work until 8:00 in the morning.  It is very important to be at school on time in order to get the day started off on a good foot!  Students also use this time in the morning to read "just right books", visit the library, or take AR tests. 

Homework-- 

Sight Words:  Each week I will be sending home a list of sight words that your child is working on along with the Sight Word Tic-Tac-Toe sheet.  Please complete 4 activities and return it the following Friday.  If your child has completed all 200 first grade sight words, then you will not be receiving this activity. 

Reading Log:  Please have your child read nightly for at least 20 minutes and document it on the reading log.  Don't forget that they are working towards the goal of 20 books for the month of October in order to receive a free pizza for "Book It".

Math Facts:  Practice addition and subtraction facts to 18 nightly!  Our first grade math goal for the year is that students are able to complete 100 addition and subtraction problems in ten minutes with 90% accuarcy.  In order to reach our goal, we are taking timed tests in class.  When your child's timed tests come home, please practice the problems that were missed. You will start getting these timed tests sent home this week.  We will do addition on Tuesdays and subtraction on Thursdays.  In order for your child to move onto the next level, they must miss 5 of less.   Flashcards are also another great way to practice.

Curriculum Update- What are we doing in class?

Wow! It's hard to believe that the first nine weeks is almost over with and it's almost October.  We have been very busy learning many new things.  Thank you for your continued support at home.  Continue to read nightly and work on addition and subtraction facts.

 

Phonics:

   The students have been learning onsets and rimes during phonics time.  They have been sorting various word families including:  -at, -ap, -ag,-ot, -op, -og.  This week the focus is on -et, -en, -eg.  With the Words Their Way program we use these word families are the phonics and spelling focus.

Reading:   

Your child should be reading 20 minutes a night.  As you are reading with your child ask them comprehension questions focusing on characters and setting.  (Who? Where? When?)

Sight Words:  It is extremely important for the students to know  their sight words.  The students should know 50 sight words by the end of this nine weeks which is next week.  Practice with your child nightly. 

Social Studies:

Ms. Gentry just completed a unit on landforms this past week in which the kids learned a great landform song.  She will begin a unit on Benjamin Franklin this coming week.

 Math:

We have been working hard on addition and subtraction strategies for facts to 10.  The students have begun taking timed tests to practice the fluency of facts.  Please practice with your child at home.  Our first grade goal is for the students to complete 100 addition and subtraction problems in 10 minutes accurately by the end of the year.  The students have also been applying addition and subtraction fact in solving and creating word problems.

We will begin focusing on place value and making groups of tens this week. 

Writing:

  The students have been focusing on beginning the writing process including legibility, finger spaces, capitalization, punctuation, brainstorming, and writing sentences in order.

 

No School- Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Due to inclement weather, Cobb County Schools has cancelled school on Tuesday, September 22.  There will be no school.  I hope you all are safe at home with your families during this weather event. 

Kennesaw Math Night

Kennesaw Elementary's Math Night

Tuesday,September 15th

6:30-8:00 pm

 

Our “Game Day” MATH Night is an exciting opportunity for the parents and children of Kennesaw Elementary to spend the evening participating in hands-on MATH activities.

Come rotate through classes for multiple MATH enrichment activities which will be presented by Kennesaw Elementary Teachers.  Families will move freely about the building choosing activities that best meet the needs and interest of their children.

The class with the highest participation in each grade level will be awarded a PIZZA PARTY! 

*Geared for PreK-2nd Grade *All children must be accompanied by an adult

Presidential Speech

 

  We will not view the presidential speech on Tuesday, September 8th in class.  The speech will be on video-streaming available at www.whitehouse.gov.  This is a great opportunity for you and your family to watch the speech and discuss it with your child.  For further information please see Kennesaw Elementary School’s website.  www.cobbk12.org/kennesaw

 

PTSA Fundraiser

Our school Fall Fundraiser is nearing the end!  Every family should have received a KES’s QSP/Time Inc. Gift Program fundraiser packet by now. The money raised will be used to fund enrichment programs and activities that benefit our students. Importantly, KES PTSA retains up to 50% of every gift dollar received through this program!  Money and orders are due September 9-11th; make one check payable to Kennesaw Elementary PTSA. You can also order on-line at www.QSP.COM . Be sure to use the KES school code of 710334363 on all online orders. Thanks for supporting our school!