August 29th News and Notes

Blogging Full Speed Ahead!
Hello everyone!  This week, I will send one more printed copy of the blog home in the Friday Communication Folder.  Starting next week, please check the blog online on Fridays for the updated version.  Please let me know ASAP if you will need a printed copy.

Sleep and Breakfast Are Important
We are still adjusting to being back in school again, and many of the kids are used to getting up late, eating a late breakfast, then having a normal lunch time.  Now that breakfast is happening early, they are "STARVING" by the time lunch finally rolls around at 12:00!  Please encourage your student to go to bed at a reasonable time, and to eat a good breakfast before coming to school each morning.  Unfortunately, there are no snacks (or naps!) in first and second grade!  Thanks!

Saxon Math Homework
Thank you to everyone for your attention regarding the math homework!  This is a very important part of the Math program and will help them practice the skills they will need to move forward.  I am still working to establish our weekly schedule, so Math homework is not quite as frequent as I had anticipated.  Please continue to look for the homework in the folder each evening, just in case.  It works best when you give your student a few minutes to complete the work on their own, then sit down with them and look over their paper (both sides) to make sure that they understand and have the correct answers.  This homework is not an attempt to "trick" your child at all.  If they miss something, please  do fix it with them and talk about the answer so that the next time they encounter it on their own - on a test for example - they may be more successful.  Please have them use pencil and crayon only (no markers or pens) to complete their work.  If you have any questions on how to manage the math homework with your child, please let me know.

Parent Questionnaires and Handbook Sign-Off Sheets
If you have not yet returned these items to school, please do so on Tuesday morning. Thanks!

Morning Routine
Please continue to support and encourage your child to check in and follow our new morning routine.  Kids can come into the gym and say their Memory Work to me right away on Memory days!

Handwriting Practice Sheets
In the Friday Communication Folder, please look for a handwriting practice sheet that your child can keep at home and refer to when practicing their handwriting.  We use the D'Nealian style of handwriting at St. John's, and yes...we do still teach cursive!  This will begin toward the end of second grade!

Religion
Memory Work for the Week of September 1st  ... please note the change in due dates for next week  due to NO SCHOOL MONDAY FOR LABOR DAY:

Wednesday (First and Second)
 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Psalm 46:1

Friday (First and Second)
I trust in You, O Lord; I say, "You are my God."  Psalm 31:14

 No additional Memory Work for Second Grade on Friday this week!

Reading/Spelling 
We have been working on ways for students to become more independent learners this week. We have been practicing techniques from The Daily Five - including "Reading to Ourselves", "Reading with Someone", and "Writing On Our Own".  This week, we added "Word Work" and "Listening to Reading".  We will continue to work on this next week. Please look for the first Spelling Test and Reading Sight and Vocabulary Words to appear further into September.

McDonald's Superstars of the Week:
First Grade:  Issac Chen
Second Grade:  Eric Forney

Next Week's Book Nook Topic:
Alphabet Books

Thanks for all that you do for your student!  Have a nice weekend and week ahead!

Love and Blessings,
Mrs. Bradshaw
kbradshaw@stjohnshannibal.org