Specials Schedule:

Music-Monday & Thursday 1:25-1:55

Art Studio-Tuesday 8:00-8:40

P.E.-Tuesday & Friday 1:25-1:55

Computer Lab-Wednesday 11:00-11:30

Classroom Needs

As the flu season approaches, we are in need of some antibacterial wipes for our weekly desk cleaning.

In addition to furniture cleaning wipes, we would welcome some hand wipes as well.  I prefer the moisturized wipes instead of the hand sanitizer. Wal Mart "Equate" brand is the most inexpensive.

Finally, we will be planting seeds throughout the year.  We need CLEAR 10oz. or larger  plastic drinking cups for our seedlings.

THANKS SO MUCH!

Our Current Learning Goals

     We are becoming "word masters", immersing ourselves in our weekly word families!  Each week we use our letter cards to do word work, making and breaking words, adding inflectional endings, and practicing with our partners.  Each Friday, we take a sentence dictation "check up" to see which words we have mastered and which words are still tricky for us.

In Reading we are practicing "tricky word" strategies.  When we encounter a tricky word, we read on to the end of the sentence, and then come back, say the beginning sound, and try a word that matches and makes sense.

  In Math, we are reviewing basic skills, before we move on to new concepts.  We will spend the next couple of weeks reviewing and assessing our current knowledge.  As we progress we will be immersed in numeration, ordinal numbers and vocabulary, 2,3,4 part patterns, odd and even numbers, basic addition and subtraction facts, and becoming familiar with some math games and tools.

    In Social Studies/Sciences we will spend the early part of the year learning about each other, our families, and how to use our life skills to support our learning community.  Our Fall themes include a mini unit on the science of apples, learning about Johnny Appleseed, patriotic themes related to "Patriot's Day" on September 11th.

LINKS FOR YOUR CHILDREN!

Snowflake Bentley

Mount Vernon Virtual Tour

Spelling

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Honey Bees

Homework Information

HOMEWORK REMINDER

Yellow Take-Home folders need to come to school each day.  District homework guidelines suggest first grade homework three days a week for 15 to 20 minutes a day.  I consider homework to be a team effort.  I assign the task and give a stamp or sticker for a completed task.  The student completes the task.  The parent checks the task and INITIALS the box for that day.  PLEASE initial the box and take that opportunity to praise your child!

Spelling Check-up Celebration!  We will be taking our first formal spelling check-up this Friday.  This begins a weekly learning experience!  Every Friday we will check our spelling skills by doing a sentence dictation that includes our word family for the week.  Each Monday I will be sending home a Trophies fact page to alert you to our skill emphasis for our weekly story, as well as the word family for the week.  You can access our lists in the spelling link on this page.  Our sentences will include high frequency words as well.  Typically, they do very well, and are excited to see their progress!

First Grade Fall Book Drive!

We collected 1,000 books to donate to schools and libraries!

MEET MRS. SUTHERLAND

Welcome to First Grade!  I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself.  I earned B.Sc. in Elementary and Special Education  at Northern Arizona University.  I worked as an instructional assistant in special education prior to teaching fifth grade in the Mesa School District.  When our three daughters were born, I took a leave of absence to stay home and be a full time mom.!  During that time I was actively involved at their elementary school serving as an officer on the PTO board, and coordinating the Art Masterpiece Program.  As my children grew up I decided to re-enter the teaching profession.  I am in my twentieth year teaching first grade at Mariposa.

I am a certified CLIP specialist, having received my training at ASU.  I received my SEI endorsement, as well as my student teacher mentoring endorsement from ASU.  I also have my Early Childhood Endorsement, and "Highly Qualified" status as per "No child left behind" requirements.

Link to email