With the next few days off, I hope you get to do something fun with your child.  I will be at the MEA-MFT Educators Conference.  It should be fun.  More learning to be done.

Mr. Barbeau, a Billings firefighter and paramedic, came and spoke to 1st grade on Monday.  He taught them about what do to in case of a fire.  Some information came home in your child's green folder today.  Please take the time to review the facts and set up a meeting place in case of a fire.

Our class will be taking a field trip to the pumpkin patch on October 22.  The cost is $4.00.  If you are unable to pay please let me know and we can work something out.  The permission slip will be in your child's Wednesday folder.

Bitterroot school is still in need of gift card donations for the Karen Cox Memorial Scholarship raffle. Any amount is greatly appreciated. Currently we have 4 gift cards.

Our class has been working on not interrupting and paying attention when the teacher is talking.  I am usually the master of getting students attention but this class is exceptionally chatty. Well, can we just call them a friendly bunch?  They have so much to say but just have not learned the appropriate time to share.  It has been getting a little better but we will continue to work on it.   

Your kids continue to surprise me.  They are writing more and more each day.  We will continue to work on their personal narratives. We will be adding time words.  Remember, if your child is writing at home, please do not correct their spelling.  They are focusing on getting words down on paper using phonics.  If they worry about spelling, they will get very few words on the paper in fear that they might spell something wrong. 

We will continue to work on addition strategies. This week we worked on adding 3 numbers.  First we look to see if there is a way to make the problem easier.  We look for doubles or ways to make 10.  Then we add the third number to the sum of the first two. We will start fact families next week.

Reading groups are going well.  This is my favorite part of the day.  It is so exciting to see kids figuring out words using the strategies taught earlier this year.  We will be testing for reading levels next week so make sure your darling gets all their sleep.