End of 3rd Quarter

Just a reminder that today is the last day to hand in any late work for Quarter 3.  Report cards will be sent home on Friday.  Please make sure to look over your child's grades.  Low marks could be due in large part to missing homework assignments or tests.   Please see me to set up a conference if you have any questions or concerns.

La Posta Quemada Ranch Field Trip Photos

At the petting zoo

Watching Cowboy Justin shoe a horse

Horseshoeing was our favorite!

Panning for gems

We found some good stuff!

Everyone took turns!

Checking out what we found

Pronouncing the names of our rocks was tricky

Yee haw!  We had fun at the ranch!

Love of Reading Week Photos

Mr. Thies, my husband, read Where The Wild Things Are

Mr. Thies, my father-in-law, read The Giving Tree

Agent George, from Border Patrol, read There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves

Mrs. Thies, my mother-in-law, read Stranger in the Woods (and brought cookies!)

Family Link has had a Face Lift!

Family Link- Please be sure to check the Family Link website regularly for updates on your child’s work.  Be sure to have them complete and turn in any missing assignments.  Also make sure you are reading with your child at home for at least 20 minutes a night and turn in reading logs weekly!  

Also, if you have any questions or run into any problems with the updates in the system, please let me know.  I will do my best to help out where I can!  

Bubble Test Booklets

Galileo Tests- We are sending home test booklets from our most recent math and reading bubble tests.  They are not marked with any grade because they were scanned into a computer.  Please review these concepts with your child at home.  Do not return the booklets.  We no longer need them!  Be sure to ask if you have questions!  

It has been a long time...

Sorry I haven't updated the blog in such a long time!  Ms. Baum had her baby just before the break, and I have spent a lot of time helping her and her substitute!

So...  Take a look at everything that's new!

Have a Nice Break!

Just wanted to say thanks for all of your help so far this school year.  Things have been going well and are going to continue to do so, I am sure of it!

I hope you all have a wonderful Winter Break and we will see you in the new year!

Just in case you are picking up some extras...

Classroom Supply Wish List:

Pink erasers

Hand sanitizer

Tissues

Clorox wipes

End of the Quarter

Report Cards- With the quarter coming to an end on December 20^th (report cards go out that day), the last day to hand in ALL work for the quarter is Friday, December 13^th.  Please be sure to check Family Link for assignments your child is missing!  

Some Things to Think About...

Here are some links to a few articles and websites which should help answer some questions about:

Keeping children healthy-
http://www.greatschools.org/parenting/health-nutrition/5134-5-surprising-tricks-for-keeping-your-child-healthy-this-season.gs?cpn=20131201weekly

Common Core Standards-
http://www.greatschools.org/common-core-state-standards/7708-common-core-questions-and-answers.gs?cpn=20131124weekly

Organizing your child-
http://www.greatschools.org/parenting-dilemmas/7612-teaching-children-organizational-skills.gs?cpn=20130825weeklysend

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just wanted to say have a great Thanksgiving break, and we'll see you in December!

Pictures from our Muse 2 You Desert People Presentaion

We had so much fun on Monday.  Here are some shots of the activities we did...

Muse 2 You Presentation

Muse 2 You- The AZ State Museum Native American presentations are Monday, 11/18.  You must pay by then or your child will not be allowed to participate and their social studies grade will be adversely affected!  We need $6 per child! 

Coming soon....  Pictures of our first presentation!   

In Preparation for Progress Reports...

Family Link- Family Link is up and running, and working completely!  You can go online and see how your child is doing on a weekly basis!  Please check out the link:  https://schoolmaster1asp.tylertech.com/LPA/FamilyLink  You had a letter sent home with instructions for you to set up your account.  If you need new instructions, see the front office!  

Homework- Getting ready for progress reports this Friday, I will be sending home the orange homework notes letting you know if your child is missing some of their work.  Please check online at FamilyLink to find out what those assignments are.  The last day to hand in old work is Thursday, Nov. 14^th.  

ASARCO Mine Field Trip

We had a great time!  It was fun and educational, and the kids had a blast!  I wanted to give a special thanks to Jeff (Cameron's dad), Yuvia (Mariajose's mom), Sundai (Ireyna's mom), and Brittany (Corbin's mom) for helping out on the trip.  We wouldn't have been able to go without your help!

Enjoy the pics below from the trip!

Field Trip on Friday!

Our first field trip of the year is finally here!  We are headed to the ASARCO mines to have a tour and use their Discovery Center.  I am still missing a few permission slips and some money.  Please send in ASAP so we can all enjoy this trip together!

To bring/wear on Friday:
-sack lunch (NO lunch boxes)
-water bottle
-Light blue field trip shirt
-jeans or long pants
-comfortable walking shoes

Family Link is up!

Please go to the following link to log on to FamilyLink and check out your child's grades online.  I will update them weekly (generally speaking of course...)  =)

https://schoolmaster1asp.tylertech.com/LPA/FamilyLink

Second Quarter Here We Come!

Whew!  Sorry the blog hasn't been updated in almost a month!  Its been a little rough with the new curriculum, new online grade book, report cards, etc.  I promise I will be better about keeping the blog up to date for those few who actually look at it from time to time...

Speaking of new...  We are starting our new Math curriculum this week, so math papers coming home will look different!  Most pages will be marked as to whether it is classwork or homework, and I usually check all classwork as we go.  So, the same rules as always apply:  If you aren't sure if it is homework or not, have your child complete the work and hand it in.  I will sort it out!  The first grade decided to start at the beginning with the new curriculum.  Built into the new system is a way for each child to have review or enrichment activities if they need them.  The first grade will also be doing re-teach and enrich groups at the end of each topic (unit) to make sure everyone has learned what they need to learn!  Our first topic will last two weeks and is "Understanding Addition".

Please be sure to let me know if you have any questions!

Donors Choose Project Pictures

Here are a few shots of our class enjoying some books donated to our class through our first Donors Choose project!  Thanks again to all of the families who helped us receive these books!  The kids love them, and couldn't wait to start looking at them!  We have another set of books coming soon through our second Donors Choose project which was recently funded.  Be looking for more pics of your kids enjoying our new materials!

Helpful Sites

Here are some links to some helpful sites and articles:

Title 1 has a blog:
 lpatitle1.wordpress.com/

The home-school connection:
http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/parent-teacher-partnerships/home-school-connection

Spelling Practice:
http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/tip/daily-tips/make-spelling-fun

LPA Fundraiser

La Paloma Academy is selling first aid kits!  We are trying to make some "healthier" choices this year...

There will be a variety of kits for purchase from Sept 11-20th.  The kick off assembly is this Wednesday and parent information will go home that day as well.  Our assembly is from 9:00-9:15 in the gym.  Come to the assembly to find out more, if you can!