Ninth Day

I hope parents are finding this daily information useful. I realize it may not have been entirely scintillating reading as yet, but I'm feeling better about letting parents know things I think they should know on a daily basis. I love that the Internet provides this forum.

Anyway, we took our first publisher's (as opposed to district quarterly, or standardized) math test today. Comparing this to our last math program, the questions now allow for more open-ended response and really do reveal the difference between good understanding of the material and a mastered deeper understanding. I was pleased with the results overall and will provide a few statistics in tomorrow's post for your information.

In P.E. we did some fun two-person cooperative relays.

I'm sending home a family math game to begin the next unit as well as our last simple letter writing sheet. There are a few questions on the reverse of the math game. If your child returns it to school, I will look at it and send it back home so you'll have the game in case anyone wants to play it again.

Please keep in mind Back-to-School Night is coming up quickly. This is a good time to bring any general questions you may want to ask about 1st grade and for us to get to know each other a little better. My preference is that children not attend this meeting as it really is intended for parents/guardians to get deeper insight on how the year will unfold. I usually get 95%-100% attendance and room is limited in the classroom and often I find the parents are distracted by children being in the room. Having said that, though, I would rather that if both parents are interested in coming and there is no other way than to bring the kids, then by all means-bring the kids.

After working hard to get our citizenship assemblies moved back to mornings, this past year our leadership council decided to change most of them back to the afternoon. Because of this I suggest that on those days you send your child with some sort of sun protection, whether it be a hat or umbrella because we will be sitting in the afternoon sun for a time. I will have a sports umbrella myself. In years past I have just decided not to take my class out to the afternoon assemblies, but I guess I can play along this year if I have an umbrella. I will feel better if the kids have some protection themselves.