Things to Practice over Break

Things to Practice

Identifying and writing numbers 1-100 (without a guide)

Identifying a penny, nickel, dime, and quarter and what it’s worth

Recognize geometric shapes in student’s environment
(dice= cube, ball=sphere, soda can= cylinder)

Telling time to the hour

Sounding out/blending three letter words (i.e. cat, pig, Pam, etc)

Practicing sight word flash cards until all have been mastered

Naming numbers 1-31 (parent writes a number and student can name it)

Writing sentences that include capitals and periods

Reading the nightly reading book and weekly phonics readers until they are read fluently

Christmas Party Day!

Today has already been a fun-filled day! We are about to watch The Polar Express and enjoy hot chocolate. Later on, we will have our party, eat all of our treats, and they will get to open their gifts from me. Thank you to those that sent gifts for me and gifts for the class. The kids were excited about each one of them and were happy I could receive some gifts too. They are already asking to play with some of the games and toys the parents sent today. I know it will be great to start out the second part of our year with new things to do! You all are so generous, and it is such a blessing to have caring and supportive parents. Also, I have been receiving some "Secret Words" here at school. Be looking for another one after break! Enjoy your Christmas and Remember the Reason for the Season. :)

Love- Mrs. McGarity

Secret Word Reminder

Don't forget...the secret word is look. Have your child write it three times on a piece of paper, along with his/her name, and bring it to school. Your child will get a small treat for doing this. :)

Letters to Santa

The students wrote letters to Santa last week. I have typed them up exactly as they were written and they will be published in local newspapers. Also, I have told the kids that I will be emailing the letters to Santa, so they will get to bring home the actual letters they wrote. I hope you enjoy them and keep them for years to come. Here are the letters, as they will appear in the newspaper:

Der Satu,
I wot a Noo DS and a Pupe that walks! I have bin god at Scol!
Love,
Kaylee

Der Santu,
I wat a Beyblades Launcher and a Hotwels Ras Trac! I like yo!
Luv,
Tristan

Dear Santa,
I want a Fier Breven Dragin and a Haw to Tran Your Draggan Play Set and a little Jon Daeer Gatoor!
Love,
Joel

Der Situ,
I wot a Iron Men Set and a Gtor and Brd Gams! I ben gid at scl!
Lovu,
Gabriel

Der Santu,
I wut Nrf Guns and a For Welr! I like a Rasr Drifter to!
Love, Hunter

Der Santu,
I wut a Razr Driftr ad Bakugans! I am a good boy.
Lov,
Tucker

Der Sant,
I wuld like a Nuo Car an a Citjun! I like yoo Santu!
Luv,
Leslie

Der Satu,
I wut Beyblades Launcher and Battl Set!
Luv,
Zach

Dir Sant,
I like Papr Gam and a Batl Set! I have bin a god boy!
Lv,
Trey

Der Santu,
I wunt a Fur Real Friends, a Barbie, and a Sit and Spin!
Love You,
Deandrianna

Der Santu,
I wunth Papr Jamz, Aqua Sand, and a Magic Fabric!
Love you santa!
Giana

Der Santu,
I wut Nrf Gns ad a Pikup Truk! I like a Razr Driftr.
Luv,
Nathan

Der Santa,
I wat a Nrf Blastr and gatr golf. I wat a Unicorn ????,
Love, Caitlin

Der Santu,
I wunth Paper Jamz, Aqua Sand, and a Magic Fabric!
I love you Santa,
Gabby

Der Santu,
I wunt a Barbe Swim Pool and Barbe Townhwse!
Lucenda

Dir Santu,
I wt a Video Camru an Mome Wolcg Gigl Dog! I am exsit for Crismas!
Lve,
Draven

Der Sant,
I like Toy Stre Cr and a Bayblads Batl Control!
Lv,
Braedon

Dir Santu,
I wat a Dans Gam and a Dol with a Kamr! I love u Santu!
Love,
Angelina

Dir Santu,
I like Papr Jams and a Rolr Kostr! I am a god boy!
Luv,
Logan

Nightly Reading Books

Don't forget--I will log when I read with your child on the back of his/her behavior log (either on M/W or T/Th). Please note when you read with your child on the back of the behavior log also. Please place the decodable reader in your child’s blue folder every night. This way it will be there for us to practice in class. Thanks for your help!

December Book Order

If you are ready to order from Scholastic for this month, go ahead and visit the Scholastic website and take a look around. I will be sending the paper book order form home Monday and it will be due back in class or online by December 10th (Friday). If I get the class orders submitted on that Friday, we will have them before the kids leave for Christmas break. Also, if you are ordering items for your child that are for a surprise Christmas gift, send me a note or an email, and I will keep the Christmas items in my classroom until you can pick them up from school.

Here is the information to access the website:
1. SIGN UP at www.Scholastic.com/bookclubs. On the parent page, click the "Don't have a User Name and Password?" link, then register for your own username and password. When prompted, enter the one-time Class Activation: GQVPR . This code ensures that your order is sent to me. Or LOGIN at the link above with the username and password you created for the September book order.
2. SELECT the books you would like to order from over 500 titles available online...and take advantage of online-only specials and discounts.
3. SUBMIT your order to me online by the due date. Your credit card payment will go directly to Scholastic’s secure server, and the books you ordered will be delivered directly to our classroom for your child to take home.

Communication Arts Skills for Second Quarter

These are the communication arts (reading, writing, language) skills your child should have mastered before we leave for Christmas break. Please be practicing these at home.

* New this Quarter
1. Sight Words (see complete list below)
2. Color Words
3. Write First and Last Name (capitalize and spell correctly)
4. Write Letters
5. Identify all Letters of the Alphabet
6. Letter Sounds
*7. On a Book…locate title, pictures, author and illustrator

Math Skills to Practice

These are the math skills your child should have mastered before we leave for Christmas break. Please be practicing these at home.

Second Quarter Math Skills
* New this Quarter
1. AB Patterns
2. Positional Words
(above, below, front, behind)
3. One-to-One Number Correspondence
4. Recognizing Written Numerals
5. Counting
6. Shapes
(triangle, square, circle, oval, hexagon, rectangle, diamond, trapezoid, rhombus)
*7. Coins: Penny and Nickel (identify and know value)
*8. Sort Objects
(size and other attributes)
*9. Describe Passage of Time
(today, tomorrow, yesterday)

School website is updated!

I have updated my Bernie school website with pictures from November. Click on the link at the top, right hand side of the blog to go directly to my site.