Mrs. Dillon's Blog

WEEKLY NEWS FROM ROOM 114

THIS WEEKS NEWS
January 30 - February 3, 2012
Thank you for such a wonderful turnout for Mass and Open House yesterday. It was great to watch your children show off all the work they've been doing. Thank you for your attendance. Our afternoons will be filled with exciting activities next week: Mon. St. Rita Band, Tues. Movie and partner read, Wed. Game Day -PLEASE BRING A GAME FROM HOME TO PLAY WITH YOUR FRIENDS, Thurs. Jessie White Tumblers, and Fri. performance by Katie Quick! It will be very exciting.

NOTES AND REMINDERS
Conor Haggerty did a great job as our star of the week. Our next star of the week is: Meghan Carlin . Please bring your pictures on Monday.
Please continue with the 2 reading activities going on: 6 hours to earn a ticket to Great America and the school wide competition for the next month to see which grade can read the most! You can use the books read for both activities. It is very important to return the tally sheet every Friday so the pages can be counted towards our total. I'll send the sheet home again to be used for the next week.
UPCOMING EVENTS
We will celebrate the 100th day of school on Feb. 8. It's a big accomplishment for us and we will be doing a variety of activities to celebrate. The children may come to school dressed like they are 100 years old! I will have many different stations set up in the room for the children to work on "100" things. I'm sending home a sheet of construction paper for the children to show what 100 looks like. Please see the directions attached to the paper. The 100 paper will be due by Feb. 6.
We will celebrate Valentine's Day on Feb. 14. Children may bring valentine cards to share with the class. PLEASE do not address each valentine envelope. Children should sign their name on the cards and leave the envelope blank. They will distribute them to everyone's "mailbag". You can send a small treat to share with the class.
HOMEWORK
Please read "The Rolling Rice Cake" on Mon. and Tues. night. Read "The Rat and The Cat" on Wed. and Thurs. night. The phonics skills for this week are the introduction to long/i/ and middle consonants such as the t in pretty. Sight test, spelling test and workbook pages used for assessment will be given on Friday.

NEW SIGHT WORDS:
pretty
soon
your
be
friend

NEW SPELLING WORDS:
time
like
five
ride
nice
white
rabbit
never
your
friend

MATH: We are back to the addition and subtraction facts in Math in this chapter. This week we will cover fact families: for example: 3+2=5, 2+3=5, 5-3=2,
5-2=3.
Please keep practicing the math facts every night. I encourage you to keep reviewing all the sight words we've covered and quiz on the previous spelling words.

As always, contact me with any questions. Have a good week!
Mrs. Dillon

WEEKLY NEWS FROM ROOM 114

THIS WEEKS NEWS
January 23 -27, 2012
We are busy preparing our room for some very important guests ~ you, all the moms and dads and even grandmas and grandpas too! You are invited to attend our Catholic Schools Week Mass and Open House on Sunday, Jan 29. Please circle this day on your calendar.

Can you believe the 100th day of school will be in early February?

NOTES AND REMINDERS
Our next "star" of the week will be: Conor. Please bring your pictures to school on Monday, Jan. 23.

UPCOMING EVENTS
We want to wish George a Happy Birthday on Monday, January 23!!

HOMEWORK
Please read "Rose and Grandma Make the Sun Shine" on Mon. and Tues. night. Read "Our Family Get-Together" on Wed. and Thurs. night. The phonics skills for this week are long /o/ and the sh and wh sound at the beginning of words. Please encourage your child to find long /o/ and long/a/ words in the stories and in reading materials all around the house. Sight test , spelling test, and workbook pages used for assessment will be given on Friday.

NEW SIGHT WORDS:
father
has
going
thank
very

NEW SPELLING WORDS:
shop
what
hope
those
rode
stone
joke
home
has
very

In Math, we started chapter 6 which is back to math facts. I sent home the latest list of facts to be practiced. Please keep practicing all the math facts every night.

SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR THINGS YOU CAN WORK ON AT HOME:
I encourage you to keep reviewing all the sight words we've covered. I have noticed that the short vowel words that the class was doing great with are foreign objects to them, now that we've started long vowel sounds. PLEASE CONTINUE TO GO OVER ALL THE SHORT VOWEL SPELLING AND SIGHT WORDS.
Another good idea is to have the children put their sight words and/or spelling words in sentences either orally to you or in writing. Try putting a group of words into alphabetical order too. You can also ask your children to divide our words into nouns and verbs.

Information about the reading contest sheet that came home on Monday:
We are having a schoolwide reading competition to see what grade can read the most pages in a 4 week span. We are paired with 4th grade. Please keep track of the pages read each night either by your child or books you read to them. Tally the number for me and send the sheet back to school on Friday. I have to have the sheet each Friday for the pages to count. Mrs. Funk will then post how many pages have been read and the winning grade will be announced on Feb. 25. Let me know if you have any questions.

As always, contact me with any questions. Have a good week.
Mrs. Dillon

WEEKLY NEWS FROM ROOM 114

THIS WEEKS NEWS
January 16 -20, 2012
I think most of the students are back in the swing of school after the Christmas holiday. It has been helpful that the weather feels more like spring than winter. I'm sure that is about to change. Bring on the SNOW!!!

NOTES AND REMINDERS
Lily did a great job as star of the week. We will wait until the week of Jan. 23 for the next star of the week.

Please be sure to empty the home folders nightly. Thanks

UPCOMING EVENTS
Martin Luther King holiday will be Monday, Jan 16 ~ no school that day.

I will send home the January Book Report form. It will be due on Jan. 27.

Please remember to send in a baby picture under 1 year old and a Baptism picture if you have one by Jan. 17. Thanks for your help.

Continue to read and record your time to earn a ticket for Six Flags. 6 hours of reading must be completed.

Mathletics is still underway. If your child hasn't been on lately, please encourage them to do some problems. I will be asking the children to earn a designated amount of points per week now that we are becoming more familiar with the program.

HOMEWORK
Please read "The Same as You" on Tues. night. Read "Cherry Pies and Lullabies" on Wed. and Thurs. night. The phonics skill for this week will be long vowel /a/ and the ch and th sound as in chair and this. Sight test, spelling test and workbook pages used for assessment will be given on Friday.
Please practice the 10 spelling words and new sight words. Look for long /a/ words in the stories.

NEW SIGHT WORDS:
every
made
mother
of
was

NEW SPELLING WORDS:
tap
tape
cap
cape
mad
made
of
was
check
then

We will complete chapter 5 on geometry and fractions and begin chapter 6 in Math this week which will cover addition and subtraction facts to 12 and doubles facts ( 4+4=8). I plan to send the next list of subtraction facts to be added to the flashcard bag.

As always, contact me with any questions. Have a good week!
Mrs. Dillon

WEEKLY NEWS FROM ROOM 114

THIS WEEKS NEWS
January 9-13, 2012
Welcome back and Happy New Year! I hope you had a great holiday. Thank you again for all the wonderful gifts you gave me. You were so very generous. I'm ready to begin the second half of the school year. Let's make it great.

NOTES AND REMINDERS
Shaylee did a great job as our last star of the week for 2011. The first star of the week for 2012 is Lily . Pictures and starring me paper is due on Monday, Jan. 9, 2012.
We will begin to work on some projects in preparation for Catholic Schools Week. I will need a baby picture of your child - no larger than 4x6 and less than 1 year old... (anywhere between 1 month and the first birthday will be great.) I also will need a picture from their Baptism if you can find one. Please send them both by Jan. 17. Please put their name on the back of both pictures.
Catholic Schools Week will be Jan.29 - Feb. 3, 2012. It begins with a family liturgy on Sunday at 10:00 with Open House to follow.
We will have a Christmas "show and tell" this week. Children from 1-10 can bring ONE show and tell on Tuesday. Children from 11-20 can bring theirs on Wednesday. This is completely optional. We are beginning our first author study this month. Jan Brett will be our first author. We will hear many books written and illustrated by her, do some activities, and vote on our favorite book written by her. I mentioned to the class to look online with your supervision and see if they find any information on Jan Brett.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, Jan 11 is "special lunch" so check your calendars to see if you ordered.
We will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. day on Monday, Jan 16, so there will be no school that day.
HOMEWORK
We are ready to begin our next reading book level 1.4 We will also begin to work on all the long vowel sounds during these next 6 weeks. Wait until you see how their sight vocabulary grows after we complete the lessons on the long vowel sounds! There will be some changes in regards to the spelling words. There will now be 10 spelling words each week!
Please read "The Red Stone Game" on Mon. and Tues. Read "Gingerbread Man" on Wed. and Thurs. The phonics skills for the week will be long vowel/a/ and -ed ending (helped). The sight test, spelling test and workbook pages that are used for assessment will be given on Friday, Jan 13.
We will continue to work on fractions in math. Please continue to drill with the flash cards.

NEW SIGHT WORDS:
after
as
call
laugh
something

NEW SPELLING WORDS 10 FROM NOW ON !
ate
gave
make
bake
late
take
as
after
helped
wanted

As always, contact me with any questions. Have a good week.
Mrs. Dillon

WEEKLY NEWS FROM ROOM 114

THIS WEEKS NEWS
Dec. 19-21, 2011
This will be my last newsletter for 2011. I will send the next newsletter on Monday, Jan. 9, 2012 listing the homework for the week of Jan 9-13, 2012.
We have been busy reviewing all the short vowels and blends this week. Santa's elves have also been busy with some Christmas projects.
We will "light" the fourth advent candle on Monday and then the children can take them home and display them in your house.

We had a fun day last Friday hearing the story The Polar Express and drinkiing hot chocolate.

NOTES AND REMINDERS
Shaylee did a great job as our star of the week. She is our last "star" of 2011.
Our first star of the week for 2012 will be picked the week we come back to school after Christmas. Their week will begin Jan. 9.

UPCOMING EVENTS
We will attend the annual PreSchool play on Monday, Dec.19 and the Kindergarten play on Tuesday, Dec. 20.
We will have a small Christmas party in the classroom on Wednesday morning, Dec. 21, before the prayer service.
Wednesday, Dec. 21 is early dismissal at 11:30 and the beginning of our Christmas Holiday.

Classes resume on Jan. 5, 2012.

HOMEWORK
Please read "I Can Read" on Mon. night. Read "Lilly Reads" on Tues. night. We will continue the stories for this
week when we return after school. The phonics skills to be covered this week are all short vowel sounds and contractions (can not = can't). I won't give the usual tests on Friday, Jan 6, that week because of the long break between the stories.

NEW SIGHT WORDS:
again
please
read
say
word

NEW SPELLING WORDS:
clap
trip
drop
sled
spot
drum

In Math we will continue with geometry and fractions.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE FLASH CARDS. SUBTRACTION FACTS SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE BAG.

I feel so blessed to be teaching your children this year. They are a wonderful group of girls and boys. You should be so proud of them. They are a special gift from God. I love walking into my classroom every morning knowing I will see their smiling faces.

I wish all of you, and your families, a Blessed Christmas and Joyful New Year.

As always, contact me with any questions. Have a good week.
Mrs. Dillon

WEEKLY NEWS FROM ROOM 114

THIS WEEKS NEWS
Dec. 12-16, 2011
We will "light" the third advent candle on Monday on our Advent wreaths. The children are looking at the real candles every time we go into church.

NOTES AND REMINDERS
Samantha did a great job as our star of the week. Our new "star" will be: Shaylee. Please bring your pictures on Monday, December 12.

UPCOMING EVENTS
We will attend the annual Kindergarten play on Tuesday, Dec. 20.

HOMEWORK
Please read "Fox and Bear" on Mon. and Tues. Read "Fox and Bear Look at the Moon" on Wed. and Thurs. We will be reviewing all short vowel sounds and final consonant blends this week. The sight test, spelling test and workbook pages that are used for assessment will be given on Friday, Dec. 9. This will be our 4th week where I haven't read the test to the class. The children seem to be doing very well on their own. I'm so proud of them. Anyone who needs help on the test just raises their hand and I offer assistance.

NEW SIGHT WORDS:
came
know
there
out
she

NEW SPELLING WORDS:
and
hand
just
must
fast
best

We are beginning chapter 5 in Math on geometry and fractions on Monday. Please continue to practice the flash cards.

I have added new goals or gold bars in Mathletics so the children can work on some advanced addition and subtraction over Christmas break. Please help them memorize the facts to 8 in addition. I would expect 100% mastery by now. You can pull out subtraction facts from your flash card boxes. Let's start with the facts from 5 down. Once they seem to know these quickly go ahead and pull the facts from 10 down. They really need to master these, so maybe you can monitor what they are doing on mathletics and not have them jump ahead if they're not ready.

Thanks for all the time you spend listening to your children read. I hope you can see the great improvements in their reading since the beginning of the year. Please ask your children to retell stories they read to you in their own words. This helps comprehension and retention of facts.

As always, contact me with any questions. Have a good week.
Mrs. Dillon

WEEKLY NEWS FROM ROOM 114

THIS WEEKS NEWS
Dec. 5 - 9, 2011
Christmas is in the air. The children seem to get more excited each day. We will "light" our second advent candle on Monday.

NOTES AND REMINDERS
Our new "star" of the week is: Samantha. Please bring your pictures on Monday, Dec. 5.

I'm not sending a December book report because the month is so busy and short. I told the children they should just continue to read some books at home.

Look for a "ticket" on papers with sentences. This shows you what I'm looking for when the students use words in sentences. The object is to try and get 4 stars right now. The goals/objectives will change in a few more weeks and the number of stars to earn will change too.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Our Field Trip to the Beverly Arts Center was great. The kids loved the play and were so excited to participate with the elves and Mrs. Claus. Thanks to our chaperone, Mrs. C. who went along with us.

We want to wish Mickey a Happy Birthday on Wednesday, December 7!!!

Special lunch is on Wednesday, Dec. 7.

The all school mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception will be on Dec. 8 at 10:00

HOMEWORK
Please read "Trucks" on Mon. and Tues. Read "Communities" on Wed. and Thurs. The phonics skills for the week will be short vowel/u/ and initial soft /c/ and /g/ words: city, gem. The sight test, spelling test and workbook pages that are used for assessment will be given on Friday.

NEW SIGHT WORDS:
us
bring
hold
carry
our

NEW SPELLING WORDS:
us
bus
but
cut
rug
hug

We will be concluding chapter 4 in Math on addition and subtraction using a number line. Please continue to practice the flash cards daily at home. Mathletics will be updated tomorrow . If your child can't go any further it's because I have to assign new goals. The teachers received training last Wed. on how to do this.

Our Religion discussion will continue to be about the season of Advent.

As always, contact me with any questions. Have a good week.
Mrs. Dillon

WEEKLY NEWS FROM ROOM 114

THIS WEEKS NEWS
Nov. 28 - December 2, 2011
It was a pleasure meeting all of you last week at Parent Teacher Conferences. Your children are wonderful and really working hard.
We are in the season of Advent. The children are anxiously awaiting the birth of Jesus. We have made an Advent wreath that hangs on their lockers. We "lit" the first candle today and will "light" their advent candles every Monday on their lockers.

NOTES AND REMINDERS
Marty did a great job as our last star of the week. Our new "star" of the week won't happen until the week of Dec. 5. Marty will draw the name this Thursday.
The Reading tests that I give on Friday were given as an independent test for the last two weeks. I'm not going to read the whole test to the class. I will help any children needing help during the test. So far I'm very pleased with the accuracy of their reading of the questions.
UPCOMING EVENTS
There is no school on Friday, Dec. 2 due to a faculty retreat.

Our Field Trip to Beverly Arts Center is on Monday, Dec. 5.

Dec 6. is the feast day of St. Nicholas.

HOMEWORK
Please read "My Buddy Stan" on Mon. night. Read "Biscuit" on Tues. and Wed. night. The phonics skills to be covered this week are short /u/ and words beginning with the s blend (ex. slip).The spelling test, sight test and workbook pages that I use to assess will be given on Thursday (no school on Friday).
In Math we will continue with the number line with subtraction, subtracting with 0 and completing the chapter.

NEW SIGHT WORDS:
jump
more
sleep
time
with

NEW SPELLING WORDS:
fun
run
up
cup
stuff
puff

Flash cards should always be in the school bag because we will use them during class time. Please practice the cards each night. It is very important to memorize these facts during the first grade year. I'm going to send the flash card boxes back home that you sent to school in August. The boxes are so different that it's hard for me to pull out the facts we are learning. I will continue to write the facts that I want the children to practice and you can pull the cards or make them with index cards. I still want the cards in their backpacks everyday. Thanks so much for your help with this.

As always, contact me with any questions. Have a good week.
Mrs. Dillon

WEEKLY NEWS FROM ROOM 114

THIS WEEKS NEWS
Nov. 14 - 18, 2011
First trimester is completed. The class has adjusted quite well to being first graders and spending the whole day in school. Our work so far has been concentrating on review of kindergarten work/ beginning first grade work. We work together on most activities. The children will begin to work more independently during the second trimester. I won't send a newsletter on Friday, Nov. 18 due to the short week before Thanksgiving. The next letter will be sent home on Monday, Nov. 28.
NOTES AND REMINDERS
Ryan did a great job as our star of the week. Our new "star" of the week is: Marty. Please bring your pictures on Monday, Nov. 14.

I sent home the November Book Report on Wednesday. It will be due Nov. 18. Please help your child to select a book that they can read to you. It cannot be a story from our reader.

School pictures went home. Please return pictures and/or money by Nov. 21.

We are going on a field trip Dec. 5. Permission slip will be coming home.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Report cards will be going home on Friday, November 18, 2011. We will meet for parent-teacher conferences on Nov. 21. Your time slot will be sent home next week. If you can't make your assigned time, please let me know and we will make other arrangements.

Dismissal on Monday and Tuesday Nov. 21, and 22 is at 11:30. Conferences begin at 12:00 on Monday, Nov.21. There is no school on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.

HOMEWORK
Please read "Yes We Want Some Too" on Mon. and Tues. night. Read "Cat Traps" on Wed. and Thurs. night . The phonics skills for this week are short /e/ and r and l blends: trip, slip. The spelling test, sight test and workbook
pages that I use to assess will be given on Friday.

NEW SIGHT WORDS:
for
good
some
too
want

NEW SPELLING WORDS:
met
pet
let
get
ten
yes

In math, we will add with 5, and continue using the number line for addition and subtraction. Mathletics was presented today to all first graders. It will be a wonderful tool to use at home on the computer. We will spend some time at school in the computer lab using it but it is meant to be a home activity. I will monitor the progress and keep a chart in the room with the total points earned.

We will continue to learn about different saints this month. As always, contact me with any questions.

I would like to wish all of you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'm blessed to have my family home with me at Thanksgiving and to also be a part of your families this year while I'm teaching your children. We really are so blessed and have much to be thankful for.

Have a good week and a good holiday!
Mrs. Dillon

WEEKLY NEWS FROM ROOM 114

THIS WEEKS NEWS
Nov. 7 - 11, 2011
We will be discussing the meaning of Thanksgiving. We'll talk about the Pilgrims and Native Americans as well as what we are thankful for. The Thankful turkeys are due on Nov. 8. A big "thank you" to Mrs. Condon, Mrs. Giglio, and Mrs. Urchell for helping out with our fun Halloween party!
NOTES AND REMINDERS
George did a great job as our star of the week. Our new "star" of the week is: Ryan is our new "star" of the week. Please bring your pictures on Monday, Nov. 7.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, Nov. 11 will mark the end of the first trimester of school. I honestly don't know where the time has gone. Report cards will be going home on Nov. 18 with Parent-Teacher conferences on Nov. 21. Your time slot will be sent home next week.
I will be asking the class to recite their home address and phone number. I do this a few times during the year. Any help you can give to help memorize this important information will be appreciated.
HOMEWORK
We will begin the new 1.3 reader Monday, Nov. 7. The book socks can be put right on the 1.3 reader. Please read "The Big Mess" on Monday and Tuesday night. Read "The Little Red Hen" on Wednesday and Thursday night. The phonics skills to be covered this week are short /e/ and double final consonants like ball and call.
The sight test, spelling test, and workbook pages used for assessment will be given on Friday.

NEW SIGHT WORDS:
help
now
said
so
who

NEW SPELLING WORDS:
red
bed
fed
tell
well
mess

The Reading tests that I give on Friday will be given as an independent test from now on. I'm not going to read the whole test to the class. I will help any children needing help during the test. I will evaluate how the class responds to the test given in this manner and make any necessary adjustments for the following week. Look for the test to be in the home folder on Monday.
Please continue to practice all the sight words and spelling words from 1.1 and 1.2. Complete sight test on all 1.2 words this week.
In Math we will begin Chapter 4 which will cover counting on from one number to the next, turn around facts: (3+2=5, 2+3=5), and using the number line to solve addition and subtraction problems.
Flash cards should always be in the school bag because we will use them during class time. Please practice the cards each night. It is very important to memorize these facts during the first grade year. Please feel free to move on with the facts if your child is progressing

We will continue to learn about different saints this month. Our bulletin board in the hallway reflects all of your little "first grade" saints and the good works they do for all of us. It is beautiful.
As always, contact me with any questions.
Have a good week. Mrs. Dillon