Oh no it's SNOW!

Please be sure your child comes dressed for the weather this week.  Remember when it snows they must have snow pants and snow boots to play on the big toy or in the field.  If they do not bring these items to school they will be limited to playing on the black top and that gets boring for them very quickly.

This week we have some very fun activities planned.  We will not be doing Lead 21 this week so we can get some fun Christmas activities in.  We will be making our parent gifts, an elf art project, and doing some Christmas writing.  We will also be using this week to catch up on some projects and assignments we have started, but have not had enough time to finish.

Since we are not doing Lead 21 we will not have spelling or vocabulary this week.  However, we will be reviewing the high frequency words we have worked on thus far.  They are listed on the right side of the blog if you would like to work on them with your kiddo.

In math we will continue to work on word problems and take a few assessments.  We will also be reviewing missing addends.

We will also get to go into the Starlab on Monday.  The students will learn about astronomy and
Native American legends of the night sky.  I bet they will love this!

Our music program is this Friday.  We will be performing at 8:45 and at 12:45.  Mrs. McKinsey asks that you only attend one performance due to the lack of space.

The following week, we have school on Monday and Tuesday.  Tuesday is a full day and we will have regular dismissal times.

Tuesday we will be doing our Polar Express day in the afternoon.  The children are allowed to wear pajamas that day.  They may also bring a small blanket, slippers, small pillow and/or a stuffed animal.  These items must fit in their backpack.  Please do not send them if they cannot fit them in their backpack.  We will also be going to recess that day so make sure they are wearing warm jammies.  If your child brings slippers they must come to school in regular shoes and boots and then change into them.  This is such a fun day!

There is no school Dec. 24-Jan.4.  School resumes Monday, January 5, 2015!

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Years!  Safe travels to those who are traveling.

Feeling warm in December!

Don't you wish the weather was always like this?

We are cruising right along in our reading series.  This week we will begin unit 3.  Unit 3 is all about communities.  This week we will talk about different types of communities and places people live.  Our comprehension strategies that we will be working on are asking and answering questions about the text, and distinguishing fact and opinion.

Our focus in math this week will be word problems.  We will focus on the meaning of words like altogether, how many more, how many left, etc.

Not only will we talk about opinions in reading, we will also be writing a Christmas opinion piece this week.  We will also work on peer editing this week.
 
A note from second grade...
Bitterroot's second graders are having a food drive beginning on Monday, December, 8th. Please send non-perishable food times to school with your first grader. Let's show them our support!!! Thanks so much.

I'M BACK!

I will be back at school on December 3rd.  I am very excited to see your kids!

Congratulations to Hanna for receiving the Purple Hand Cookie this month!

We will be finishing up Unit 2 in Lead 21 this week.  Our focus question is, "How can matter change?"  As always, we will be reading a variety of books that will help us answer this question.

In math, we will continue to work on fact families and subtraction strategies.  We will learn to use addition to subtract,  and use 10 to subtract.  We will also do a missing addend review.

Wishing you Well!

YES, it is going to be warmer!

Hooray for warmer temperatures this week! I don't know who was more ready to go outside, me or the kids!

Your child will be bringing home a paper turkey for homework on MONDAY.  Please help your them disguise their turkey.  We will be brainstorming a list of ideas tomorrow so they should have plenty of ideas.  I have also seen some great ideas online.  Feel free to use one of those ideas or use a different one your child comes up with.  Please only use things you have around your house.  Do not go out and buy anything!  In the past students have use cotton balls, tinfoil, toothpicks, etc. to disguise their turkey.  Your child can also color their turkey if you do not have supplies at home.  We will be using the turkeys for a writing project the following week, so please make sure your child has brought their turkey back by Friday, November 21.  Have fun and be creative!

In Lead 21 this week our focus question is, "How does nature affect the way we move and change?" To help us answer this question we will be reading books about weather and nature in reading groups.

In math, we will be working on many concepts this week.  We will continue to work on adding 10 to a number.  We will also begin working on fact families and adding 3 numbers.  Our graph this week is about pie...so of course we will have to do some pie tasting!

The holiday music program will be held on December 19.  First grade will be performing in the morning and afternoon.  Here are the times the grades will be performing:

8:45  K-1st
9:30  2nd
10:15  3rd-6th
12:45  K-1st
2:00  3rd-6th

Have a great week!

BRRRR . .. It's very cold!

Well, the cold weather has finally found us!  Please make sure your child has the appropriate clothing to stay warm...hat, mittens, snow pants, snow boots, and a warm coat.  We will be having recess unless it is below zero.  Children must have snow pants and snow boots to play in the field or on the big toy when there is snow on the ground.  If they do not have snow pants and snow boots they are limited to playing only on the blacktop.  Also, feel free to send an extra pair of shoes with your child to change into in between recesses.  LABEL ALL ITEMS WITH YOUR CHILD'S NAME.  It is amazing how many of us shop at the same stores. Hats and gloves often go missing.  It really helps us keep track of them if your child's name is on them.

Thank you to the parents who came for parent teacher conferences.  It was great to have a chance to visit with you. Together we can make sure your child has a great year!

Also, a big THANK YOU to the families that brought money for the All for Books Coin Challenge. Our class raised almost $21.00.  That is a lot of coins!  Thank you!

We will continue with unit 2 in Lead 21.  This week we will try to answer the question "How do things move and change?"  Please have your child bring in one picture of movement from a magazine, newspaper, online, etc.  We will be making a movement collage this week for our inquiry project.  

We will be working on short u words in spelling.  Remember, letters need to be on the line properly, no capital letters in the middle of words, sentence needs to start with a capital letter and end with punctuation, and must have spaces between the words.  We will have our test on Friday.

In writing, we will begin learning about topic sentences.  Hopefully, by the end of the week we will know how to select a topic and be able to write a topic sentence.

In math, we will review the subtraction strategies we have already learned, counting back and using the number line, and learn a few new strategies.  We will also learn how to add 10 to a number.

Have a great week and stay warm!

Report Cards come home on Tuesday!

Wow!  We had a busy week.  We completed math and reading assessments.  It was exhausting!
Report cards will come home on Tuesday.  Report cards are now a standards based progress report. This means we look at the full year expectations and report where your child is currently.  However, in the reading categories we look at the current quarter's reading level expectations and report based on those reading levels.  There will be many 1s and 2s on your child's report card.  This is perfectly normal.  A 3 is our goal for the end of the year.  A 1 does not necessarily mean your child is not where they should be academically.  It could also mean that we have not taught all parts of the standard.  We will go over your child's report card during conferences and visit more on how your child was assessed.

Congratulations to Trinity!  She was the October winner of our Purple Hand cookie.

We did have a little fun this week in between assessments.  Our class made pumpkin bars!  They were delicious!

Then on Halloween, we made spider soup.  The students chose the ingredients throughout the week and we made it into a poem for our poetry binder.  Most of the kids actually ate it!

We will begin unit 2 in Lead 21 this week.  Our theme question is: How does our world change? This week's focus question is: How do plants and animal grow and change?  In order to answer this question, we will be reading a non-fiction book about desert plants and animals during whole group and many books about plants and animals during reading groups. 

In math, we will begin learning about subtraction and different strategies to use when subtracting. We will also begin learning about fact families.

The Book Fair Coin Challenge starts Monday! I sent home a information sheet Wednesday.

Book Fair at Bitterroot

Tuesday, November 4th 8-8:20 and 3:10-3:30

Wednesday, November 5th 8-8:20 and 12-4pm

Thursday, November 6th 8-8:20 and 12-6pm

Friday, November 7th 8-8:20 am only

Have a great week!

I hope you all made it to the Pumpkin Patch Party!

This week concludes our 1st quarter.  I can't believe it!  It has gone so fast.

It is VERY important that your child is at school this week.  We will be assessing reading, math and writing skills for the report card.  NO SPELLING TEST!

In between the assessments, we will be doing some fun Halloween activities!  We will make pumpkin bars and graph how many kids liked them and how many did not.  We will also write an opinion piece about them.  This week the kids get to write our weekly poem.  They will be writing about what to put into spider soup!  We will also make spider soup on Friday.  Yum! Yum!

Don't forget to wear red tomorrow for Red Ribbon Week.  Check the important information section to see what we are wearing for the rest of Red Ribbon Week.

Have a great week!

Picture day on Wednesday!

     Remember we will have fall pictures on October 22.  All kids will be getting their picture taken so make sure they look cute even if you are not ordering pictures. If you plan on ordering pictures be sure to send your money and form to school or order online.
     All of first grade will have bus safety on October 23.  We will get to practice exiting a bus through the back door.  Whoopee!
     The Pumpkin Patch party is this Friday.  The kids love this event.  They can come and show off their costumes.  Mom and Dads can too, if they like.  Tickets are $5 and will be on sale this week. Adults and children under 3 are free!  I hope to see you Friday at the party.
     We will be wrapping up our Lead 21 Unit 1 this week.  Our focus question this week is "What do families do together?"  We will continue to focus on making inferences.
     In spelling, we will focus on short o words.  We will have a test on Friday.  Don't forget to practice, practice, practice!  During writer's workshop we will be focusing on writing informational sentences about bats.
     Math gets more difficult this week.  We are working on missing addend as an unknown subtraction problem.  This is a very tough skill, so we will spend the entire week on it.
     Enjoy the warm weather!  Hopefully we get to keep it for a while!

Wishing you well!

Spelling Test Wednesday!

It will be a short school week.  School gets out at 12:00 on Wednesday, the 15th.  We will have a spelling test this day but it won't be put in the grade book due to the lack of time to practice.  All the words this week are short i.

It was fire prevention last week.  We were lucky to have Mr. Barbeau, a Bitterroot parent and firefighter come teach the first graders fire safety.  They were so excited and engaged.  They may ask you where your families meeting place is.  

Have a wonderful week.  Enjoy the short break.  

SPELLING TEST ON FRIDAY!

We begin spelling words this week.   You can find the words and sentence on the right side of the blog.  Your child will bring their spelling paper home in their Wednesday folder, but 2 nights is not very much time to practice the words.  This week our spelling focus is short a as in alligator.  Please help your kids practice their spelling words throughout the week.  There is a link on my blog called "Spelling City".  It's a great place to practice.

In reading we are still focusing on family and friends.  Our focus question this week is "What do friends share together?"  We will also  continue to work on determining important information and comparing and contrasting.

In math, we will spend the week focusing on ways to make 10.  We have lots of fun activities planned!  There are many kids working on Xtra Math at home and they are making excellent progress on their addition facts.  I have noticed that they also are able to complete in class work more successfully and confidently.

In writing we will continue to work on complete sentences while discussing fragments. We will also work on "Things I Love" page and begin writing sentences.

Have a wonderful week!

Congratulations to our Purple Hand Cookie winner...Ryleigh!  She follows the purple hand pledge that we say every morning when we line up. Way to go Ryleigh!

     Hope you made it to Saturday Live!  It is such a fun event for the kids.  I usually hear about it for weeks.
     Are you remembering to have your child read their poetry binder over the weekend?  Remember to sign the back of the last poem in the book so I know that your child read it to you.  Also, homework comes home in the green folder on Wednesday but you have until Tuesday return it along with the green folder.
     First grade is starting reading groups this week!  The Lead 21 reading series has six units with each unit consisting of 4 weeks.  Unit one is all about family and friends.  Our theme question for this unit is "How are my friends and family connected to me?"  To help us answer this question, we will be reading books about friends and family in reading groups and during whole group reading time.  We will also have a weekly focus question that will help lead us to an answer for our theme question. This week's focus question is "What makes a good friend?"  We also have weekly group vocabulary that goes along with our theme.  This week the vocabulary is: different, problems and connected. Your child will also have reading group vocabulary.  These words vary according to their reading group.  We will be working on these in small groups.  
Our focus for spelling this week are the sounds of h, j, k and v.  Next week, we will start spelling tests.  Look for the words on the blog next week. Words have to be spelled correctly and letters need to be placed on the line correctly.
Wow!  Way to go for those of you that have been practicing Xtra Math.  I have noticed a big difference in your child's speed and accuracy. If you have not signed up yet.  Please do!  It helps them so much!
     In math, we will continue working on doubles and learn doubles +1.  Towards the end of the week we will begin ways to make 10.  This is such an important concept so we will spend many days on it. If the kids know the combinations of 10, it makes math so much easier, especially when we get to place value later in the year.
      We are beginning sentences and fragments in writer's workshop.  The students will sort sentences and fragments.  They will also have an opportunity to write some sentences about friends.
      The weather  can't seem to make up its mind.  Please be sure to send your child with a jacket on those chilly days for morning recess.  Playing isn't much fun when you are cold.

Have a fabulous week!

The PTA fundraiser ends tomorrow.  Please return your fundraiser packets tomorrow.  Thank you to those families who participated.  Also, if you are able please send $4.00 or 2 bags of candy (no chocolate) to help with Bitterroot's Saturday Live booth. Bitterroots PTA will be hosting the "Candy Shack".

Thursday is a half day.  We will dismiss at noon.  We will be doing an evacuation drill this week. Please make sure your child wears comfortable shoes on Thursday and Friday. I have a feeling it will be one of those days. We will be walking to the parking lot of the LDS Church on Wicks.

This week we will be our last week to practice centers and rotations.  The kiddos will learn how to do listening center, spelling center, pocket charts, and poetry center.  Next, week we will begin reading groups.    In math, we will begin learning addition strategies.  We will start the week reviewing the commutative property and exploring what happens when we add zero to a number.  The rest of the week will be spent learning how to use the biggest number to count on, using the number line, and doubles.  In writer's workshop, we will make an "idea page" to add to our writing folders.  See you tomorrow!

15 days already??

It is hard to believe that we have been in school for 15 days already!  Your kids have been working hard.  They even received a compliment from their guest teacher on Monday.  She said they were "great!"

We have been working on assessments and are ready to start learning centers.  I started teaching these on Tuesday.

If you notice some of your child's work coming home with letters written backwards or even whole words written backwards.  Don't worry!  I am seeing this too.  Right now I am just seeing where they are at academically.  We will work on fixing this soon.  However, letter and number reversals can be seen all the way into 3rd grade.

Remember that your child's poetry binder comes home every Friday.  Their job is to read it to you and then you are to sign the back of the last poem and return it Monday morning.  I ha a

Now that my blog is up and running, I will not being sending home newsletters.  Occasionally I will send one home if something special is coming up.  Also, so you aren't having to check often and won't miss any updates or new posts on the blog I encourage you to follow the blog.  This allows you to receive an email when the blog is updated.  The link is on the right side of the blog.   You can find by blog address on the magnet that was sent home or on the Bitterroot website.

Have a great rest of the week!

Parent Orientation

Thanks to all the parents that attended parent orientation last night.  I know it was probably a challenge to get here by 5:30 with traffic and your kids fall sports practice.

If you were unable to make it, I sent home a packet with some of the information we discussed last night.  Please contact me if you have any questions.

One important item in the packet is the Xtramath sign-up.  Please have your child practice this 5 times a week as they should be fluent with adding to 20 by the end of first quarter.  This will help their confidence and make other math concepts easier.  Xtramath sends me weekly updates to show how your child is doing.  It is also geared to the level that your child is at.  It is a wonderful program.

Also, there is a Remind sign-up.  This is a texting program that allows me to send you text reminders for things like picture day, specialist day or other important information. It came in very useful last year when I had to leave in an emergency.  It is only a one way texting program so if you try to reply I will not receive the text.

Stay dry and have a great rest of the week!

*Open House is on September 9^th for parents/guardians only.  It starts at 5:30 with each session lasting 15 minutes.  I hope to see you there! Together we can help your child have a successful year.

*Return beginning of the year packet if you have not yet done so.

*If you have not brought in all your school supplies, please do so as soon as possible.  We are missing a lot of white 1” binders.

*Newsletters, class work, and school flyers will come home Wednesdays in your child’s green folder.  Please make sure to take everything out and return by Friday. Occasionally the green folder will be sent home on other days if there is time sensitive information.

*We practiced a fire drill and a school lockdown on Tuesday.  Your kids did great!

*HOMEWORK-Bring a family picture(s) for our friends and family board. I will send this home at the end of the year.  They can also be paper copies from your printer at home

Dear Parents,
Tomorrow is Field Day!  This is one of the kid’s favorite days.  They will be outside from 9-10:50 playing games planned by Mrs. Buss, our P.E. teacher.  Please help us make this day successful by making sure your child has tennis shoes, water bottle (they can use their classroom one), sunscreen already applied, hat, and sunglasses (optional).  FUN!   Field Day helpers need to be outside with Mrs. Buss by 8:45.
The kids have completed their animal reports and are eager to show them to you. The kids will be presenting their animal reports on Tuesday, June 3rd at 1:30- that is a change from the original time of 1:00.  Mark your calendars!  If you want to take your child home early that day, you will need to check them out at the office.  Would you like to donate juice, cookies or another baked item for this big event?  Just email me and let me know.
First grade will be going on a field trip to Riverfront Park on June 2nd from 9:00 to 1:30.  Students must have their permission slip returned in order to participate. This will supplement our science objective of living things, non-living things and habitats.  Remember to have your child prepared: sunscreen (already applied), bug spray (already applied), hat, water bottle, and packed lunch. Field Trip helpers your instruction packet will come home on Friday.
Remember the cafeteria will no longer accept lunch charges in May.  Make sure you child has lunch money or they will get a peanut butter sandwich (no jelly).
Are you thinking about moving?  Please let me know if this is a possibility.  This helps us when we are creating class lists for next year.  Thanks!

Hello Parents
A reminder is in your envelope if you have not returned your school pictures.  Please send money if you wish to keep these.  If not, return the pictures to school.  Thanks!
May 23 is the 1st grade music performance “Stone Soup”.  It will start at 9:45.  It will last about 30 minutes.  Hope to see you there.
May 29th is Field Day.  Mrs. Buss is looking for volunteers. The tentative times for our field day are 9:00 - 10:40 am.
First grade will be going on a field trip to Riverfront Park on June 2 from 9:30 to 1:30.  This will supplement our science objective of living things, non-living things and habitats.  I am going to need some parent volunteers.  E-mail me if you are interested!
Return your field trip permission slip.  Students who do not return these will have to stay at school with another class.  That would be very sad!
We have been working hard on our animal reports and will be presenting them on June 3 at 1:00.  I will need a few volunteers to help with the animal research project.  If you are able to come on any Monday or Wednesday at 1:30, please let me know.  I promise it won’t be difficult.  I am also looking for treats and drinks for our presentation.
Remember the cafeteria will no longer accept lunch charges in May.  Make sure you child has lunch money or they will get a peanut butter sandwich.
This is our last week to check out library books.  All books must be returned by May 23th.

Wishing you well,
Mrs. Martin

Hello parents,

The year is winding down.  Make sure if you have a kindergartener to get them registered ASAP.  Last year we had to send a classroom of kindergartners to Bench.  Also, if you have a teacher request for next year, make sure a write a letter to Mr. English and submit it by May 1^st.  Learning style and personality matches can be very important to these little ones.

Are you missing coats, hats, or gloves? There is an abundance of items in our lost and found.  Come check it out!

Thursday is our field trip to the Billings Public Library.  I can hardly wait.  We will get a tour and check out all the cool stuff the library has to offer.  We will not be eating lunch in the lunchroom so make sure you pack your child a lunch or have ordered one from the kitchen. I sent those forms home earlier.

Thank you so much to those families who donated items and money to the raffle baskets and to the families that came to the carnival.  Your support is very much appreciated.  There was a great turn out and the kids had lots of fun! 

We made stone soup on Thursday.  Thanks for all vegetables.  About eighty percent of the kids liked the soup-even with all those vegetables!

Please pay or return pictures if you have not done so already.

Hope you had a wonderful spring break and Easter! 

Wow, how the school year is flying by!  Third quarter is in the books and hopefully spring is on its way! I am really getting tired of hauling all my winter gear to school.

The classroom carnival will take place on April 11.  This is such a fun night!  Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend since I will be at my son’s lacrosse jamboree.  Since I am unable to be there, I am looking for volunteers who would be willing to work a carnival game.  Mrs. Martin’s class is in charge of the “Sucker Pull”.  It is a really easy one to manage.  30 minutes or a one-hour shift would work best.  Let me know if you are interested.  It is really fun to see all the kids.

The PTA is asking for donations for the baskets that are raffled off during the spring classroom carnival.  The profits of the baskets are split among the teachers who participate in the carnival. The first grade teachers use this money for field trips, classroom supplies, etc.  Last year I was able to buy cases for 3 classroom iPads. The first grade basket theme is Cat/Griz. If you would rather donate money and have the PTA do the shopping that is also an option.  Be sure to note that it is for the Classroom Carnival.  All items and/or money need to be in by Friday, April 6.  We appreciate your help.


From Mr. English

Hello Bitterroot Families,

It is springtime already and time to begin planning for next school year. If you have a kindergarten student starting in the fall it is time to get them registered with Christy in the main office. This year we were out of classrooms for kindergarten and had to send 18 students to Bench for their kindergarten year. We are still figuring out if we will have enough space for all our kindergartners here  next fall so please get them registered early to insure your place in the building here at Bitterroot.

If you would like to have input in the process we use to make classroom placements we need your letter by May 1st. A short note indicating the educationally significant reason(s) you are making a request for a particular teacher will be taken into consideration by the team making those decisions.

Spring testing is underway. Please encourage your students to do their best. Remember to ask them how they did, and encourage good brain performance with outdoor activities, a good night's rest and thoughtful nutrition.

Sixth graders moving to middle school must have their booster shots, and any records requested, (updated parenting plans, contact information, birth certificates etc.) to Christy before May 20th.  They will have orientation day at Castle Rock and class registration coming up in April and May.

Out of area attendance requests should also be in by the end of the school year. I will make decisions on those requests the second week of August.


Contact information for Bitterroot and Bench schools can be found below.

Please feel free to call if you need more information.


Sincerely,

John English
Principal
Bitterroot School
englishj@billingsschools.org
406-281-6205

We get to go to the new library!

Congratulations to Mrs. Strecker for winning the Q2 and First Interstate Bank's One Class at a Time grant.  Be sure to watch the Q2 news on Monday.  I think we might be on there too!  Mrs. Strecker is going to use her money for a field trip to the new library and she is taking all of the first graders!!!  We will send home permission slips and more information once we get it planned.  If you see Mrs. Strecker, be sure to congratulate her and tell her thanks!

We had a great week celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday.  The kids were adorable in their costumes.  Look for the pictures on the blog.  

The read-a-thon came to end and I can't believe how much our school read.  The mystery of who stole the library books was solved.  Ask you child about it.   If you have sent back your read-a-thon pledges, please do so ASAP.  These funds help fund many of your PTA projects.  

There will not be a spelling test this week.  We will be working on the 25 high frequency words.  They are: the, of, and, a, to, is, in, you, that, it, he, for, was, on, are, as, with, his, they, at, be, this, from, I & have.

Make sure your kids look cute on Friday.  We have our class pictures!

Have a great week!