Have you heard the news???

     In case your Firsty hasn't told you the big news yet, the class has hit their first big milestone in First Grade! They have filled their popcorn jar! If you could only hear them cheering when that final cup of popcorn kernels filled the jar to the brim... They are very excited! We will have their very first popcorn party this Friday, complete with a treat to eat and a short movie!  I already have a special Halloween themed movie in mind!  = ) Movies in First Grade are always rated G and we keep them in the 30 minute range.  I'm sure they will have a great time! 
     The Firsties also had a chance to visit the school library for the first time this week!  They each picked a Halloween or Clifford book.  At the beginning of the year, we like to guide the children to choose a book from special themed shelves based around that month's holiday.  Later on, after all of the Informal Reading Inventories have been completed, we will guide the children to choose books from their own reading level.  In general, when your child is trying to pick a book that's just right, we follow the five finger rule.  If there are five words within the first two pages that are too difficult to sound out or comprehend, then we put the book back and look for a different book.  This is only for independent reading.  When the children are reading books with an experienced reader available for guidance, then they can find a book that is a little bit more challenging.  
     This week the Firsties will be learning about community helpers in Social Studies.  If all goes according to plan, we will have two visitors this month that are community helpers.  This Wednesday we should be visited by Ms. Hudson's friend- Paramedic Trone and his ambulance!  He will talk to the kids about safety, staying healthy, and knowing what to do if there is ever an emergency.  Next week we should be visited by a local motorcycle police officer (who holds a special place in Mrs. Coulter's heart)... Officer Coulter!  He will bring his police motorcycle and talk to the kids about the importance of following rules and being safe.Who knows, he may even arrest a teacher or two! 
     Finally, the kids have been keeping a close eye on their seed experiments... some have grown faster than others, some have grown a little moldier than others, and some haven't grown too much at all!  The kids will be bringing these experiments home- please feel free to do whatever you'd like with them = ) Here are some photos of the final results:

Our Super Student's pinto bean on Wednesday

And on Friday! Check out those roots! I guess the lima bean is being a little shy...

    This week the students will continue learning about consonants (Phonics), addition (Math), plants and seeds (Science), and writing and identifying both telling and asking sentences (English).  They will begin learning about the way Jesus interacted with the community (Religion), the importance of community helpers (Social Studies), and they will be reading a story about pumpkins!  Speaking of pumpkins, be on the lookout for a small pumpkin- as small as you'd like, but no larger than a cantaloupe.  Each student will be bringing in their pumpkin on the last week of October to be used in a special Science experiment, and then we will be decorating them in class! Just thought you'd like a little head's up! 

Take care and have a wonderful weekend and week! 
~Ms. Hudson   

PS- I had a very fun time reading to everyone at the Barnes and Noble book fair! It was great to see such a wonderful turnout  = )   Thank you for supporting our school and promoting reading!