1. Mrs. Kurth’s Classroom News April 4th – 8th, 2016

2. Dates to save: April 21st: Science Fair
May 26th: First Grade Music Concert
May 27th: Grandparents’ Day
May 30th: Memorial Day - No School
May 31st: First Grade Track and Field Day
June 6th: Minnesota Zoo Field Trip
June 7th: Last Day of School

3. Growth Mindset Growth mindset = how to keep going
even when things are hard.
Failure teaches our kids important life lessons - it's how they learn resiliency. Let them know it’s ok to take a risk (when safe to do so ) -When your child fails, celebrate the lessons in the failure
Encourage and model positive self-talk. - What can I say to myself?  ex: I am not good at this- instead- What am I missing? Or how can I do this differently? ex: This is too hard- instead- I can always improve, so I will keep trying

4. March Calendars Don’t forget to return the March reading calendars.
Although we don’t have a huge reward like the reading carnival to give us incentive to read, it is important to continue to read.
We will continue to have rewards to keep us reading.

5. Outside Recess
Students should also bring a jacket (or at least a sweatshirt) each day.
Although the high for the day might be fairly warm, it might not be that warm when we go outside for recess and the wind can really make it feel a lot colder than it is.
PLEASE put names on jackets, etc.
We appreciate all of your help with this!

6. We will celebrate your child’s birthday here at school
If you decide to send store bought treats or goodies please send 24 of them.
If it's a weekend day we will celebrate the Friday before or Monday after.
We will also celebrate ½ birthdays. If this doesn’t work for you we can celebrate it in May.
Please let me know which day you will choose if it falls on the weekend or holiday break.
April Birthdays
7th: Jill
24th: Addi
25th: Julia

7. Upcoming Academics: This will change each week!

8. Lesson 21 Main Story: Poppleton Forever: The Tree (Fantasy)
It Comes From Trees (Informational Text)
Comprehension Skill: How does “story structure” help us to understand the story better (Story structure: characters, setting, plot, and Problem and Solution Setting: when and where the story takes place Plot: what happens at the beginning middle and end)
Phonics: controlled vowels: -ar, -or, -ore
Grammar: prefixes re-, pronouns that name one and more than one
Writing Skills: Personal narratives

9. Spelling Words: 14 words!!
far, arm, yard, art, jar, bar, barn, card, yarn, smart, chart, bark, night, saw,
*Practice writing sentences with word wall words, words with –long vowel sounds, vowel-consonant-e (VCE) word endings and r controlled vowels (ar) so your child will be prepared to write a sentence on the final test.

10. Anticipated Homework:
Math Concepts in this Unit: Money, Making Change, Equal Shares, Fractions,
Anticipated Homework:
Monday: None - Review
Tuesday:  None - Testing
Wednesday: No Homework
Thursday: 8.1
Friday:  8.2

11. More Math…. Here is the link if you need to reprint homework pages:
Things you can practice at home if you are looking for additional ideas:
-Number Stories
-Addition Facts
-Subtraction Facts
-Telling Time to the half hour and quarter hour
-Find the value of coin combinations

12. “Ten Friends” examples: 1+9 = 10 2+8 = 10 3+7 = 10 4+6 = 10 5+5 = 10
1+9 = = = = = 10
“Turn Around Facts” examples :
1+9 = = = = = 10
9+1 = = = = 10
+0 examples
1+0 = = = = = 5
+1 examples
1+1 = = = = = 6
Doubles examples:
1+1=2 2+2=4 3+3=6 4+4=8 5+5=10 6+6=12 7+7=14
Doubles +1 examples:
1+2=3 2+3=5 3+4=7 4+5=9 5+6=11 6+7=13 7+8=15
Practicing these types of problems can help with “fact fluency” which helps solve a variety
of other math problems with greater efficiency.

13. Word of the Week
Extra:
Each week, your child can receive a sticker for their sticker book by writing down our special word/phrase of the week along with a parent signature.
This word also helps me to know that you have seen the newsletter!
They love stickers!
Word of the week: April Showers

14. Family Journals are due each Monday.
Please find your child’s current entry and use the next empty page to complete your response to your child.
I also encourage you to use the letter format to allow your child to see and experience that format.

15. General Homework Expectations
Mondays: Spelling words and word wall words will come home (practice these words to be ready for the spelling test on Friday
Wednesdays: Wednesday work: students complete the comprehension page as well as practice reading the words on the opposite side. When you feel your child is confident in knowing the words and has completed the comprehension page, please return it to the classroom. It is due by the following Tuesday at the latest.
Monday through Friday: Math homework will be sent home each day, except Wednesdays. I expect each page to come back the following day.

16. Volunteering Sign Up With Students Sign Up Without Students
Sign Up Without Students

17. Volunteering
The media center is also looking for volunteers to help shelve books.
In the past, some parents have volunteered in the library right before coming to our room to volunteer.
Please contact them beforehand to see if they have an available opening.
Thank you for ALL your help!
We couldn’t do it without you!!!

18. Digital Days Day of the Week Digital Day Specialist
Important Reminders
Monday 3
Media and Computer
Bring Library Books
Tuesday 4
Computer & Phy. Ed.
Wear Tennis Shoes
Wednesday 5
Music
Thursday 1
P.E.
Friday 2

19. Contact Information
Angie Kurth 1st GradeTeacher – rm ext.4102, Classroom Website/Blog: