News From Our Classroom

       Hello.  I hope that you had an enjoyable LONG weekend. I enjoyed myself immensely. I have to admit that I am getting used to the idea of summer vacation being just around the corner.  Our NWEA tests are done (except for one or two "make-up" exams), thank goodness, so now it's time to tackle those end-of-the-year exams.  But before I tell you where we are headed, I want to thank you for talking to your child about taking his or her time on the NWEAs, and for encouraging him to try to do his very best on these tests.  Most of my students paced themselves very well, and did a terrific job on both tests!   The results, of course, will be shared with you in the final report card.
       So, now that the NWEA hurdle is behind us, it's time to start working on all of those  end-of-the-year assessments.  I started working on the sight word assessments this morning, and fit in a DRA or two, as well.  For those children who are able to pass the DRA Lev. 16 fiction test, there is also a nonfiction Lev. 16 test that they must also pass.  Both level 16 stories are timed, and both must be passed in time and accuracy before your child is considered to have completed Grade 1 reading.  If they are unable to pass both level 16 stories this year, they will begin next year at  whatever level they successfully completed during this time period.
       It is likely, on each day that I actually have all students present, that there will be some exam or other that I will need to give.   We need to do a final penmanship assessment, Sitton Achievement Test 3 (spelling), a unit test or two, and  Sitton sight word spelling #1 - 35.  We have a writing prompt (opinion writing) to do, too.  We've finished most of our Math assessments, though, so we will spend the remainder of the year becoming more comfortable with measurement and fraction activities, since we covered these topics so quickly in order to be ready for our NWEAs.  When we finally finish with our DRAs, sight word tests, spelling tests, and writing prompt, we will spend time reading for pleasure, too.  I have some safety lessons I want to do with the kids before we leave school for the year, and we will also try to fit in information sharing on light and sound (a science unit we were unable to do in detail this year).  That's a lot to get done in about 14 school days, but we will do our best to get it done.
       Your child does not have school on Tuesday, June 13.  Since it is voting day, the children could not be here anyway, so the teachers will be using the day as an opportunity to get some of the final paperwork done to the children's portfolios and cum folders with information that should be valuable for next year's teacher.  We're hoping to take the first graders to Pooh Corner Farms on the afternoon of the 14th, and to Dew Haven on June 15th.  The 16th is Field Day for the entire school.  The 19th will be Step Up Day in the morning from 8:30- 10:30, and we will celebrate the end of our school year together that afternoon at the Coyote Coupon celebration for April/May.  June 20th is a half day of school.  The kids will eat lunch at 10:15, and be ready to start summer vacation at 11:30.  As the dates get closer, I will share more details with you about each activity.
      Well, that's all for this weekend.  Remember, the only homework your child will have from now until the end of the year will be work not completed during the school day.  I'll be in touch again next weekend.