We had just the best Christmas Concert Ever, didn't we? If you haven't looked yet check out pictures on the school web site, in the New Ipswich Photo Gallery.
A few reminders, students are still trying to chow down too much food at snack time. They need one drink and one other item. They just love their time to chat and eat and we only have about 15 minutes. It's tuff to be up against the clock, especially when it comes to food and social time.
The lunch program sent a memo that checks, cash must be in a envelope or plastic zip lock with the students first and last name plus the teacher's name indicated on it.
We have now reached the time of year, in which your children have to carry copious amounts of clothing to school each day. A couple of ideas, students can not wear boots in school, so if you have a pair of shoes, sneakers, crocks they can leave hear it saves the back and forth stuff. We do travel outside to get downstairs for specials and lunch so they do need substantial footwear.
Help us help your child by making all clothing with their names, almost everyone wears black snow pants these days. Some may even leave an extra pair of snow pants at school, thus cutting down on daily carrying. The school nurse does not provide extra clothing to students, if they come without warm hats or mittens, they will still be cold at recess.
Enough of that... Next Monday, is our PTA bazaar! Our class will be walking to Appleton Gym @ 10:00 to shop. If you want to come and help us, you will be welcomed. The PTA provides many items for children to purchase gifts for family and a large amount of raffle items for adults to take a chance on. We try to limit the children's purchases to immediate family, as we are only there for 45 minutes.
Oh right, curriculum... we are wrapping up Unit Two in reading with a Unit Test and the spelling and reading of High Frequency Words. We have also been giving all students extra time to practice concepts they may have found difficult from Unit One at the end of the day. We call it Reading Round-Up and students travel to another first grade teacher and work exclusively on that concept in order to earn mastery.
Addition and subtraction flash cards make good stocking stuffers. We are moving on to learning place value, double digit numbers this month.
Computer/library class has all students able to log on to a notebook computer, insert pictures, save documents and shut down all on their own. I am so impressed, they learn so fast!
We will have a half day on December 23, and will have our Christmas party on the 22. We do not exchange gifts between students at our school.
Have a wonderful holiday season; I will be attending my son Nick's wedding in Boston during the vacation. His bride to be is a first grade teacher in South Central Los Angeles.
Mrs. Baker 
Baker's Blog