Ms. Taylor

Morning Procedures

Each morning when the children arrive, I greet them at the door with a smile and they begin to unpack.  The children have the options of many activities  in the mornings until 7:45.  Some are reading, using the computers, playing math or reading games, drawing, painting, using math manipulatives, writing or sharpening pencils.   At 7:45, the children are able to use the restroom, get water and sit quietly in their seats as we wait on morning announcements.  We enjoy this time of the morning as we visit quietly with our friends as well as prepare for our busy day!

Math - Second Nine Weeks

1st Grade Mathematics

Second Nine Weeks

Dear Parents:

The objectives listed below will be used to lead your child to mastery of the concepts covered in the 2^nd Nine Weeks Unit of study.

Geometry

2 and 3 Dimensional Figures

·         Name

·         Describe by shape, size, number of sides, and number of corners

·         Draw

·         Create, design and build

Classify Geometric Shapes

·         Position

·         Shape

·         Size

·         Number of sides

·         Number of corners

Positional and Directional Relationships

·         Near/far

·         Up/down

·         Left/right

Place Value

·         Sets with concrete objects/manipulatives

·         Base ten blocks

·         Pictorial drawings

·         Writing numbers

·         Place value

·         Number line

·         Odd/Even

·         Hundred Chart

Money

·         Equivalent quantities of coins by making fair trades – pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters

·         Count out combinations to less than a dollar

·         Identify bills by names and values

·         Fair trades of bills

Addition and Subtraction (Facts to 12)

·         More than/less than

·         Skip counting

·         Break numbers apart

·         Strategies for addition and subtraction

·         Inverse relationship of addition and subtraction

·         Word problems

Compare numbers

·         Greater than

·         Less than

·         Equal to

Graphs

·         Organize and record data using objects

·         Interpret the data

Measurement

• Calendar
• Days of week
• Months in a year

Here are some suggestions as to what you can do at home to help your child:

·         As you are driving from place to place or while shopping in stores have your child find different shapes and tell you how they know what shapes they are.

·         While going down the road have your child read the numbers on the signs.  Then have them tell you if the numbers are even or odd. 

Here is a game that you can play with your child to help them work on place value:

Materials:  Cards with the numbers 0-9 or a deck of playing cards.

Have you child turn over three cards

Use two of the cards at a time to make the highest number that he/she can.

Using the same three cards use two of the cards to make the lowest number that he/she can.

Example: If they turn over 1, 7, and 3 they would make 73 and 13. 

If you want to make this a competition you can both have three cards and see who can make the highest number and then the lowest number.

Repeat several times.

PTSA Important Dates

October 1st – General Membership Meeting – 6:30 p.m. KES

October 1st – Media Center Training – 8:30 a.m.

October 2nd – Reflections Projects Due to KES

October 5th – Baskin Robbins Membership Drive 5-10 p.m.

October 16th – CiCi’s Family Night 4-9 p.m.

October 20th – 23rd – Book Fair

October 20th – 22nd – Doughnuts with Dads

October 23rd – Newsletter Articles Due

October 26th – 30th – Red Ribbon Week

October 30th – Spiritwear Participation Day

Sept. 8 Newsletter

Download SEPT9,2009

T shirts!

All first grade t shirt money is due Sept. 14th.  Please get your order in.  We will not be placing another order.  Thanks!!!

Fall Fundraiser Info.

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!

MATH NIGHT

Please join us for Kennesaw Elementary Math Night on Tuesday, September 15th, from 6:30 - 8:00 pm.   Come rotate through classroom for multiple math enrichment activities.  The class with the highest participation in each grade level will be  awarded a PIZZA PARTY!  All children must be accompanied by an adult.  See you there!!!!!!!!!!!

All About Me

Get ready.... here we go.....My name is Simone Taylor.  I was born in Hawkinsville, GA and lived there until I was 10.  My mom and I moved to Warner Robins and that is where I finished high school.  I still have family in Hawkinsville and I consider that my hometown.  This summer I moved my mom into a nursing home. She has alzheimers and is deteriorating quickly.  This has been the most difficult thing I have ever had to deal with and accept.  She is now under the care of Hospice.  I guess you know where I go each day when I leave school.  On a lighter note.... This is my 30th year of teaching first grade! Do you get the idea that I love teaching first grade??!!  I received my undergraduate degree and my master's degree from West Georgia College.  I met my husband, Lenny Taylor, in college and we have been married for 27years.  I can truly say that I am married to my best friend!  We have two beautiful daughters, Brittany and Erica.  Brittany is 25 and is a third grade teacher (and she loves it just like her mom). Brittany is also expecting a baby! I will be a grandmother sometime around September 30th! I am so excited!!! Erica, our youngest daughter, is 18 and about to begin college at Kennesaw State. We are very proud of both of our girls... can you tell?  At our house we also have a black dachshund named Maggie.  Maggie loves my husband the most!  He lets her do all the things that I won't!  She is very spoiled.... by him! I do absolutely love teaching first grade!  I love to see beautiful smiling faces come through my door each morning.  I also love blowing the children kisses to take home in their pockets!  I try to make each day a meaningful one!  I always tell each student how smart they are and I give them lots of hugs!!  My favorite saying is- "Let me see your smiles!"  Nothing makes you feel better than a smiling face!

Welcome To First Grade!

Dear Families,

     I am looking forward to a wonderful start to a new year!  I am very excited about the smiling faces that will be walking through my door each morning.

     Please remember to check your child's folder each night for important information.  Sign and return their folder each day in their bookbag.  All materials sent home should remain in the bookbag...this way nothing will accidently get left at home.  As your child starts to bring home reading materials, I encourage them to only take out their books when reading and to always keep them in their bookbag for safe keeping.  Reading is part of our daily homework.  Please spend about 20 minutes each night reading to or with your child.  Any work brought home should also be reviewed.  This is a great way to give extra practice to any skills introduced at school.

     Remember those healthy snacks each day.... lunch isn't until 12:38.... so we will all be very hungry!  It is fine to send large snacks.  The kids can grab a bite when they get hungry.  I do allow large snacks such as sandwiches, leftover pizza, etc.   I do always have extra snacks on hand.... just in case someone forgets.  I will ask parents to send in extra snacks when possible.... just so we never run out.

     Tennis shoes are very important for PE days.  I will always send home a specials schedule for you to know when we have PE.... but it will always be "every other day".  Look for lunch menu each month also.

     We always need treasure box items.  The kids earn "green lights" each day if they remain on green for good behavior.  When they receive 5 green lights, they make a trip to the treasure box.  Any donations will be greatly appreciated.  Any dollar store items, candy, party favor items, etc. are okay for the treasure box.  Somehow we always end up losing our playground toys!  Any soft balls, jump ropes, frisbees, etc. are also things that you may donate to our classroom.  THANK YOU!!!

     I am excited about getting to know you and your child as this year starts!  If you have any questions, please feel free to write me a note or contact me through my email - simone.taylor@cobbk12.org

     We will have an Open House for PARENTS only on August 27th.  Look for more information soon.

Beginning Of School Newsletter

Welcome to First Grade!!  We are looking forward to a fantastic year.  We can't wait to get started!

Please make sure your child is here on time each morning.  They will be marked tardy if they arrive after 7:50.  All children should be in their classrooms and be ready to start their day BEFORE the 7:50 tardy bell.

We have snack time each morning.  Every child needs to bring a snack on a daily basis.  Water bottles are encouraged.  No colored drinks or juices are allowed.   More water means more brain power!  Please send in NUTRITIOUS snacks such as: pretzels, peanut butter crackers, sandwiches, granola bars, veggies, fruit, popcorn, etc.  Please... no sweets.  We usually have a few children that forget their snacks..... so an extra bag of pretzels, graham crackers, animal crackers, etc., is always greatly appreciated!!

Our specials schedule will include: PE, Music, Art, Computer and Spanish.  The time will be from 10:10-10:50.  Your child is REQUIRED to wear tennis shoes on every PE day for safety reasons.  PE will be every other day.  Look for the special's schedule each month. 

LUNCH is from 12:38-1:08. Lunch money should be paid in the cafeteria in the mornings.  There are green envelopes for lunch money.  We encourage payments by the week or month.  Paypal is an excellent way to pay from home.  Go to the Cobb County School District Website and click on the Paypal link.  Lunch is $1.60 per day and extra milk is 50 cents.  Lunches brought in from fast food restaurants are not permitted.

If your child is having a birthday and you choose to send in a special treat, please notify your teacher in writing first, then send in the treat on the morning of the date chosen.  We will enjoy the treat later in the day.  Or.... If you want to eat lunch for your child's birthday, you may bring a treat to the cafeteria and distribute to the class after they eat.

I am always willing to schedule a conference to discuss any concerns.  In the mornings and afternoons I am very busy preparing for your child's instructional day.  Please send a note in your child's folder and I will respond to you as quickly as possible.  Contacting me through email is the fastest way for a response.  My email address is:  simone.taylor@cobbk12.org

All transportation changes MUST be in writing in your child's folder unless you contact the office directly with a message.  No transportation changes will be accepted after 1:30.

I am looking forward to an exciting year!!!!