This week our normal schedule of virtual learning continues on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with our morning zoom and learning lab reading groups zooming in the afternoon.
On Thursday, February 11 the district has made this an asynchronous day for all students. ( See Superintendent’s letter to the community for more details.) The students will be completing assignments from their weekly Benchmark Packet independently on that day.
Friday, February 12- Monday, February 15 is Mid Winter Break. There is no school or zooming on those days. We will be back to our virtual learning and morning zoom with afternoon learning lab reading groups by zoom on Tuesday, February 16.
I hope all first grade students enjoy their Mid Winter Break.
Asynchronous Learning on Thursday, February 11: Message from the Superintendent
Wida testing will continue this week. It will be in person testing. You have been notified by the bilingual department teachers with instructions if your child is taking the test. Students taking the test will not be marked absent from zoom, but attendance will be taken at school before the testing begins. Please be on time for your test.
SUPPLY and REPORT CARD pick up and COMPLETED WORK drop off
Report cards will be distributed in the lobby on Monday and Tuesday afternoon from 12-3.
It is time again to have another pick up of the next Unit and drop off of any completed packets to be graded. We will have a pick up on Monday-Friday of this week, February 1-5. You may pick up Unit6 folder at this time. Once again, I will put the packets into a plastic bag and place them in the school lobby with student names on them. They can be picked up from 9:00am – 3:00pm. I will also be collecting any old reading books at this time. Please put any books that your child has read to me into a plastic bag with their name on it and place it into the book return box, keep the books if they have not been read in class. Please take only your child’s bag and place their completed packets with names on them into the completed work bin.
ITEMS TO BE TURNED IN:
**Unit 4 Week 3 packet
**Unit 5 Week 1 packet
**Unit 5 Week 2 packet
**Writing: Welcome winter!, How to make a Snowman, How to make hot chocolate.
***Please be sure all student names are on each packetand writing papers.
Place all completed packets into the bin labeled COMPLETED WORK. Do not turn in any math books or Treasures books please.
Learning Labs are back to normal. Students will report at their regular times and days. I will remind children before we dismiss for afternoon work who are scheduled for the day. This way they will remember to come back for labs. Students will continue working on their penguin reports. Children should have a book from their bookbag ready to read orally as well.
Monday, January 25 is a half day of school for the students. Elementary teachers will have professional development meetings in the afternoon.
We are working in Unit 5 Week 2 packet this week. Please remember to send me your spelling test scores in Schoology each week. Make sure you state the correct test number. Also, use the sentence stem provided to report your score. Do not just send me a number.
Learning labs will resume this week on Tuesday. I am keeping the times and groups the same at this time. We will be working on an informational writing activity on penguins. Each group has a different penguin to research and report on. Please make sure students bring their penguin article and graphic organizer to lab. We will be workingtogether on this project. Also, have books from student bookbags ready to read. I will remind the students who will be coming in each day, beginning on Tuesday.
There is no school Monday, January 18, 2021. It is a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Friday, January 22, 2021 is a half day for students. There will be no afternoon classes scheduled. Teachers will be working on the second semester report card grades. Please be sure all tests and work is turned in by then.
This week we will complete the DRA and NWEA testing. First Graders will be taking only the NWEA Reading test at this time. Math will be tested in the Spring. I will be testing 1-2 students at a time during Learning Labs in the afternoon. Due to the students having to take the test remotely, it would be very helpful if a parent or older sibling would be present to help them follow the directions to logging into NWEA. I have put the link into a folder in Schoology for easy access. We will do this together, step by step during learning labs on zoom in the afternoon. Please make sure the students are in a quiet place so they can focus on reading. Parents are not allowed to help their child with the test. I will let the students know who are testing that day during morning zoom and give them a time to meet me in learning labs to take the test so they are prepared. As always, thank you for your patience and support as we work to to do these reading assessments remotely.
Learning Labs
All regular learning labs will be cancelled this week due to testing. Students will only come into labs on the day and time assigned to take the NWEA test or DRA test. I will announce the names of the children coming in to test each morning during our zoom time. Please be on time.
Spelling Scores
Please make sure that you are putting your child’s spelling scores into Schoology each Friday. If you do not report the score, I will be putting a zero into my gradebook for the grade. This will affect your child’s report card grade.
Let’s get ready for our busy week and to do our best on our DRA and NWEA Reading Tests!
It is time again to plan another pick up of the next Unit and drop off of any completed packets to be graded. We will have a pick up on Wednesday-Friday of this week, January 13-15. You may pick up Unit 5 folder at this time. Once again, I will put the packets into a plastic bag and place them in the school lobby with student names on them. They can be picked up from 9:00am – 3:00pm. I will also be collecting any reading books at this time. Please put any books that your child has read into a plastic bag with their name on it and place it into the book return box. Please take only your child’s bag and place their completed packets with names on them into the completed work bin. This unit will bring us into February.
ITEMS TO BE TURNED IN:
**Unit 3 Week 3 packet
**Unit 4 Week 1 packet
**Unit 4 Week 2 packet
**Math Mid-Module 2 Assessmentfound in green folder
**Social Studies Unit 1 and 5 Assessments found in green folder.
***Please be sure all student names are on each packetand assessment.
Place all completed packets into the bin labeled COMPLETED WORK. Do not turn in any math books or Treasures books please.
DRA and NWEA Testing
This week we will begin DRA and NWEA testing. First Graders will be taking only the NWEA Reading test at this time. Math will be tested in the Spring. I will be testing 1-2 students at a time during Learning Labs in the afternoon. Due to the students having to take the test remotely, it would be very helpful if a parent or older sibling would be present to help them follow the directions to logging into NWEA. I have put the link into a folder in Schoology for easy access. We will do this together, step by step during learning labs on zoom in the afternoon. Please make sure the students are in a quiet place so they can focus on reading. Parents are not allowed to help their child with the test. I will let the students know who are testing that day during morning zoom and give them a time to meet me in learning labs to take the test so they are prepared. As always, thank you for your patience and support as we work to to do these reading assessments remotely.
Learning Labs
All regular learning labs will be cancelled this week due to testing. Students will only come into labs on the day and time assigned to take the NWEA test or DRA test. I will announce the names of the children coming in to test each morning during our zoom time. Please be on time.
Spelling Scores
Please make sure that you are putting your child’s spelling scores into Schoology each Friday. If you do not report the score, I will be putting a zero into my gradebook for the grade. This will affect your child’s report card grade.
Let’s get ready for our busy week and to do our best on our DRA and NWEA Reading Tests!
Happy New Year to all of my First Grade students and their families
Happy New Year and welcome back from our winter break! I hope you are all happy, healthy and ready to learn! I was so excited to see that many of you have been working on I-Ready and Zearn during your time off. I hope that you have been reading too! This week we will be continuing our learning with Unit 4, week 2 in our Benchmark packet. I look forward to working together with you in the new year as our learning adventures continue in first grade!
It is time again to plan another pick up of the next Unit and drop off of any completed packets to be graded. We will have a pick up next week, the week of January 11-15. You may pick up Unit 5 folder at this time. Once again, I will put the packets into a plastic bag and place them in the school lobby with student names on them. They can be picked up from 9:00am – 3:00pm. I will not be collecting any reading books at this time. Please take only your child’s bag. This will bring us into February.
ITEMS TO BE TURNED IN:
Unit 3 Week 3 packet
Unit 4 Week 1 packet
Unit 4 Week 2 packet
***Please be sure all student names are on each packet
Place all completed packets into the bin labeled COMPLETED WORK.
Learning Labs
Learning labs are still happening by zoom in the afternoon! Please make sure you know your child’s day and time. I really appreciate your help in making sure they are on zoom on time and they have their books ready so we can start reading right away. This is your child’s chance to practice their reading strategies in a small group, reading books on their level.
Benchmark and Epic Books
Students have a variety of books to read. They have reading books from my bookroom in their bookbags, a set of 4, (so far) Treasures basal books, Epic books on the Epic website, and Benchmark Books in the black folder in ELA Schoology. Students should be reading every night for at least 15 minutes. They may read from any of the above resources. Keep on reading!
I-READY
The I-Ready time has been increased to at least 20 minutes a day. I have noticed remarkable growth and progress in all of the student lessons this week! Please continue to use this tool every day.
ZEARN
All students should be completing all Module 2 lessons. You may need to spend extra time to catch up to the class lessons. Try to keep up with the lesson that we are doing for the day to get the most out of each lesson.
Thank you parents for picking up your child’s new materials for the next three weeks and dropping off books and materials to be graded for the next report card. I appreciate all your help and support! We will be using some of the materials this week.
Curbside library service now available for Snow students on Tuesdays 1:30-3pm
We are excited to start to offer walk-up curbside library service to Snow students on Tuesdays from 1:30 – 3pm at the library windows near Door #1 (main Culver entrance). There will be a sign on or near the library windows. Students would need to have no overdues or fines currently, and would need to place the book on hold using our online library catalog. Students can return books at the window also, or use our Book Return box just inside the doors of Door #1 (main entrance door) M-F during school hours. They would ring the buzzer to access the box. Here is a video of: How to Request Books from Snow Media Center (place a book on hold)https://youtu.be/cBiuqUn38jY
Once a student places the hold, we will get the book, then email the teacher and/or student to let the student(s) know that they can come on the next Tuesday (Library window) to pick up the book(s). Mrs. Koman will be there to greet students through the window. **Students will need to hear from us before coming to get a book. **Limit 2 books per week**Students would need to return overdue books to participate.**Any student with overdue books can turn them in at this time as well.
Thank you so much for your help in spreading the word,
Curbside library service now available for Snow students on Tuesdays 1:30-3pm
We are excited to start to offer walk-up curbside library service to Snow students on Tuesdays from 1:30 – 3pm at the library windows near Door #1 (main Culver entrance). There will be a sign on or near the library windows. Students would need to have no overdues or fines currently, and would need to place the book on hold using our online library catalog. Students can return books at the window also, or use our Book Return box just inside the doors of Door #1 (main entrance door) M-F during school hours. They would ring the buzzer to access the box. Here is a video of: How to Request Books from Snow Media Center (place a book on hold)https://youtu.be/cBiuqUn38jY
Once a student places the hold, we will get the book, then email the teacher and/or student to let the student(s) know that they can come on the next Tuesday (Library window) to pick up the book(s). Mrs. Koman will be there to greet students through the window. **Students will need to hear from us before coming to get a book. **Limit 2 books per week**Students would need to return overdue books to participate.**Any student with overdue books can turn them in at this time as well.
Thank you so much for your help in spreading the word,
Janine and Andrea Janine Wilcox Teacher-Librarian
For Families In Need Of Internet Access Help
Good morning, Just wanted to share a link to the building if any families are struggling to find internet. It is from the district but I figured I would share it in an email so we have it in one place in case any of your students were in need of internet access
There will be a supply pick up this week Wednesday-Friday for Unit 4. Each child will have a snowflake bag to be picked up with all of the supplies to be used for the next 3 weeks of classes. This will bring us into January. The bags will be in the school lobby and can be picked up from 9:00am-3:00pm. Student names are on each bag. Please take only your child’s bag.
ITEMS TO BE TURNED IN:
Unit 2 Week 3 packet
Unit 3 Week 1 packet
Unit 3 Week 2 packet
Module 1 Math test
All reading books that have been read from student bookbags. Please put them into a plastic gallon baggie with the child’s name on the baggie.
***Please be sure all student names are on each packet.
Do notturn in any Math books or Treasures books. All Thanksgiving projects may also stay home.
Place all completed packets into the bin labeled COMPLETED WORK and all baggies of books into the bin labeled SLATER’S BOOKS. The bins will be on the floor in the lobby next to the snowflake bags.
Learning Labs
Learning labs are still happening by zoom in the afternoon! Mrs. M also has lessons in the afternoon for her reading groups. Please make sure you know your child’s day and time. I always announce the children who are meeting before we leave our afternoon session. I really appreciate your help in making sure they are on zoom on time and they have their books ready so we can start reading right away. This is your child’s chance to practice their reading strategies in a small group, reading books on their level.
Benchmark Books and Epic Books
Students have a variety of books to read. They have reading books from my bookroom in their bookbags, a set of 3, (so far) Treasures basal books, Epic books on the Epic website, and Benchmark Books in the black folder in ELA Schoology. Students should be reading every night for at least 15 minutes. They may read from any of the above resources. Everly just past 100 books read on Epic books! Great job! Keep on reading!
I-READY
The I-Ready time has been increased to at least 20 minutes a day. I have noticed remarkable growth and progress in all of the student lessons this week! Please continue to use this tool every day.
ZEARN
All students should be working on Module 2 lessons. There are still some students in Module 1. You may need to spend extra time to catch up to the class lessons. Try to keep up with the lesson that we are doing for the day to get the most out of each lesson.
Learning labs are still happening by zoom in the afternoon! Mrs. M also has lessons in the afternoon for her reading groups. Please make sure you know your child’s day and time. I always announce the children who are meeting before we leave our afternoon session. I really appreciate your help in making sure they are on zoom on time and they have their books ready so we can start reading right away. This is your child’s chance to practice their reading strategies in a small group, reading books on their level.
Epicand Benchmark Books
Over 2500 books have been read on Epic books by my students since we began school! This has totaled over 250 hours of reading! I am so proud of my students! Remember, if you want to read into the evening (after 4:00pm) on Epic books you need to respond to the email invite that I sent to you. This will allow you to read a selection of books for free in the evening. Epic books is usually only free during school hours. Let me know if you need me to resend the invitation to you. Benchmark Books can be found in the Schoology ELA course in the black folder. I have assigned the books from Unit 3 along with a multiple choice assessment to try. There is also a library full of books at different levels. It is like a virtual bookbag! Be sure to spend some time reading there.
