Dear First Grade Families,

          This week during shared reading time we learned to read Something from Nothing by Pheobe Gilman. We completed a sewing scraps activity, drew pictures to sequence the story, learned new words with –oo, -ew, -ue, and ou vowel pairs in them, talked about our treasured items and traditions we have in our family.

          In math this week we played a number grid game, filled in missing parts of the number grid, solved double digit addition facts with the number grid, and played some review games.

          We started a geography unit this week. We learned about the similarities between globes and maps, how to use a compass rose, we learned about our state and made a bulletin board that shows where we all live, and we learned about our country.

          We walked to the public library on Monday. Your child’s books are due on Monday, May 31^st. Please be sure to turn them in to me or the library by then. A flyer about the summer program at the public libraries went home last week. I would encourage you to get your child involved. The activities they have planned are going to be great!

          Monday, May 31^st is Memorial Day. There will be no school on that day. Our field day is scheduled for Tuesday, June 1^st (rain date June 2^nd). The last day of school for students is Thursday, June 3^rd.

         I have completed correcting the 90 word spelling tests. I made graphs so you can see your child’s growth and how their growth compares to our class average.

          As you may know our Board of Education had to lay-off seven of our teachers because the state is decreasing how much money they gives us. They would like to be able to recall some if not all of the teachers and are open to your suggestions on how they might be able to fix the deficit a different way. They are holding a work session on May 26^th. If you have questions or suggestions please put them in writing and bring them to the superintendent’s office within the upcoming week. You can also e-mail suggestions to marim@manistee.org .

          There are many school library books that have not been returned. If your child has overdue books you received a paper with your child’s books highlighted. Please return the books as soon as possible.

          Our fieldtrip to the Amber Elk Ranch is next week Thursday, May 20^th. Please bring in $5.00 and the signed permission slip if you haven’t already. We will be eating lunch at a park in Ludington. Your child needs their own lunch that day.

          Questions to ask your child this week are the following:

1)      Do we have more water or land on our Earth?

2)     Can you tell me about a compass rose?

3)      What is an example of an absolute location?

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Lyman