Progress Reports

Progress reports are headed your way Friday, November 9th.  Along with progress reports comes conferences!  I will let you know if I need to conference with you, otherwise if you would like to speak with me, please email me or send a note with a day and time you would like to meet.  While I do help out in the before school and after school programs, if I have enough advanced notice, I can usually find someone to cover for me.  I am more than happy to speak with everyone, so please let me know what works for you and I will do my best to be accommodating!

Budding Scientists

Here are some pictures (hopefully...) from our science centers we did recently.  The materials were from a donor's choose project of mine from last year which didn't get funded until the beginning of this year so your children got to benefit!  The kids had a good time with them and are looking forward to using them again in the future!  Thanks Donors Choose and everyone who donates to our classroom!

Galileo Testing

Test week is over and we are back to normal!  The test booklets for reading were sent home last week with an explanation page and booklets for math will be going home this week.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  And remember, even if some of it looks a little intense, it will be alright!  We have not covered everything on the test yet this year, but we will get to all of it.  Right now your child should know about 9-12 questions on those tests so far based on what we have covered this year.  Again, if you have questions, please see me!

The Importance of Non-Fiction Reading

Below is a link to an article which explains why getting children interested in non-fiction reading is so important.  There are also 6 tips to work on at home with your child! Check it out!

http://www.greatschools.org/reading/7071-non-fiction-why-its-important.gs

Spread the Word!

Hi Friends,

Can you feel it? It's autumn! My class could really use help with supplies in order to finish off the school year strong. So I've created a classroom project request on a 501(c)3 charity website called DonorsChoose.org.
  
I'm writing to ask for any donations possible for my students - no matter the size, it will help my kids. This week only, any donation you make to my project will be doubled! If you know anyone who is passionate about education, please pass this along. Your tax-deductible donation will have a direct impact on at least 30 students (and many more in the future), and you'll hear back from our class about your impact on our learning!

To learn more or donate:

1. Visit my Teacher Page, http://www.donorschoose.org/bthies
2. Choose one of my projects, enter the amount of your donation, and click "Give"
3. During check-out, enter the word PUMPKIN where it says "Match or gift code", and your donation will be matched dollar for dollar.

The PUMPKIN match code will double your donation until the end of the day on Monday, Ocotber 15. So exciting!

Please feel free to send me any questions you may have, and know that my students and I greatly appreciate your support.

Happy Fall!
Becky Thies

Math Practice at Home

I found an article on education.com which has some great ideas for practicing math skills at home with your first grader!  Feel free to look around on the website.  There are lots of great ideas and activities to be found in all areas!

http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Math_for_First_Graders/