10-15-07 Newsletter

WCS

Westlake Charter School 3700 Del Paso Rd Sacramento, CA 95833

October 13, 2007

10/13/07 October

13, 2007

Mrs. Osterhoudt’s Class News http://msoclass.blogspot.com

Social Studies

We have been busy learning how to read maps and about the history of the American flag. We are exploring the answers to these essential questions: •

What does it mean to be an American?

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How is American culture similar and different from other cultures in the world?

Notes From Mrs. O. Hello! I would like to thank all of the parent volunteers. You are a critical part of our learning experience. The guided reading volunteers are working with small groups teaching the children how to create and write a sentence. This week they will introduce compound words. Volunteers if you have a compound item at home that you would like to bring in to enhance your lesson please feel free to do so (i.e. pancakes, blueberries, etc.). Our math volunteer is busy teaching your children how to figure out different coin combinations. Now is a great time to consider giving your child a small allowance (in coins) or allowing them to pay for small items using coins at a store. I have received a report that first graders have been yelling “Boo” at kindergarteners in the bathroom during recess scaring them. I plan to talk to our class about responsible bathroom behavior on Monday. I would appreciate you speaking to your children about this behavior too.

Writing

We are learning how to write sentences using a noun, verb, and adjective (describing word). We are reviewing and practicing how to write each letter of the alphabet. Our class has been focusing on how authors develop ideas for stories. We wrote and illustrated two classroom books Elephants and Good Night Gorilla.

Math

We are currently working on Chapter 2, which focuses on subtraction facts through 10. Students are learning a variety of ways to solve math problems including: •

Drawing a picture

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Using a number line

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Using counters

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Counting backwards from the largest number

Language Arts The students are getting use to working in reading groups and independently in curriculum centers. Your children rotate to the following centers each day: Math, Reading, Spelling, Art, and Writing. They are expected to complete one “must do” task at each center then they may choose from two to five different learning activities to work on at their assigned center. Curriculum centers help students to practice first grade social and academic skills plus learn responsibility and time management. Fridays are “catch up” days. All students are given the opportunity to catch up any “must do” work they did not finish during the week before selecting a free choice center activity.

Mrs. O.’s News Page 2

First Grade Sight Words get, them, like, one, this, my, would, me, will, yes, big, went, are, come, if, now, long, no, came, ask, very, an, over, yours, its, ride, into, just, blue, red, from, good, any, about, around, want, don’t, how, know, right, put, too, got, take, where, every, pretty, jump, green, four, away, old, by, their, here, saw, call, after, well, think, ran, let, help, make, going, sleep, brown, yellow, five, six, walk, two, or, before, eat, again, play, who, been, may, stop, off, never, seven, eight, cold, today, fly, myself, round, tell, much, keep, give, work, first, try, new, must, start, add, subtract

Goblin Gardens Pumpkin Patch • We will be exploring how some

Americans celebrate the Fall! • October 19th • 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. • Transportation: Bus • Chaperones: Kami LeMoss,

Christine Rakkar, Katherine Stewart, Fredericka McGee • Please send a sack lunch with

your child since we will eat lunch at the pumpkin farm. News Flash!!! Your students are doing a wonderful job following our classroom rules, working as a team, completing their work in a timely manner, and using good manners! Our student leader places marbles in a jar when our class is doing a good job at school. We voted to have a root beer float and PJ party when the jar is full; however we will have a crazy sock day instead of PJs. We are only 11 marbles away from our goal. We hope to have our party on Thursday (Oct 18) after lunch. We will take off our shoes and relax in our silly socks with floats while Mrs. O. reads us a silly story.

School Rules Please take a moment to review the school rules with your child. •

Respect each other. Be courteous.

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Listen. Know when to talk.

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Always do your best.

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Follow directions.

Upcoming Events Box Tops for Education due in by October 15th (our class only needs 40 more to earn otter pops) School Pictures- October 16th (in uniforms) WCS Campus Clean Up- October 29th (9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.) Family Night at Natomas Barnes & Nobles – October 24th (5:00-7:00 p.m.) Railroad Museum Field Lesson- October 26th (Chaperones: Ann Alan, Danielle Steuben) 1st Grade Halloween Party- October 31st (no costumes, we will enjoy games, a craft, & reader’s theater preformed by our yellow reading group) Safetyville USA Field Lesson- November 16th (Chaperones: Danielle Steuben) B Street Children’s Theater Field LessonDecember 6th (Chaperones: Ann Alan, Richard Steuben, Kami LeMoss) Discovery Science Museum Field LessonMarch 20th (Chaperones: Richard Steuben) Crocker Art Museum Field Lesson- April 17th (Chaperones: Richard Steuben) Explorit Mace Ranch Nature Lab Field LessonMay 22nd (Chaperones: Richard Steuben) Fairytale Town Field Lesson- June 5th (Chaperones: Richard Steuben)