One month down...

Can you believe September is already over???   The children have come such a long way already and we have only just begun!   Finally I am not being called, "Mrs. Stoel", or "Mrs. Z" anymore!   The sad thing is that my former first graders are now calling me by their second grade teacher's names!  Oh well, at least my current class knows who I am! 

We finally seem to be getting our routine down.  I have far fewer kids asking me what is happening next, when it is time to go to lunch or go home, and some are actually surprised when I tell them it's time to pack our mail!

Next week we begin our "All Star Reading" program and math RtI program.  You may have seen the note regarding "All Star Reading" in your child's Friday Folder today.  After the children were tested for DIBELS, they were placed into smaller groups with children with similar strengths and/or needs.  The goal is to provide what each child needs at his or her level for 30 minutes, four times per week.  Children who are struggling in certain language arts areas will get the support needed to find more success.  Children at a higher level will also work in a group to give them the challenge they need.

RtI (Response to Intervention) Math groups also start next week.  These groups take place within our own classrooms with the help of an interventionist.  Our class is split into three groups.  They will meet for 30 minutes, twice a week to work on math related activities.  The children took the Delta Math Screener, which tested them on math objectives learned in Kindergarten.  The children will work with me one day, Mrs. Heuer (interventionist) another day, and will work on math activities on the computers on a third day.  Our High School assistant will be keeping the children on the computers on task.  Mrs. Heuer and I will be doing various games and activities to support Kindergarten objectives not mastered, and later first grade objectives that need more support.  This time is separate from our first grade math curriculum time in class.

WEB (Wonderfully Exciting Books) will begin the week of October 10th.  The children will check out a book from our classroom library at their independent level and take it home to read to an adult that night. The next day, a WEB mom will be at school and will call out the children one at a time and have the children read orally to her.  A couple of comprehension questions will be asked as well to make certain there is understanding along with reading the story.  A new book will be checked out each time unless your child is reading a longer book, requiring more than a day to complete (which does happen as they get better at reading).   If you are a WEB mom volunteer, please know that I am still working out the details on the schedule and will try to get that out to you early next week.  I will be only scheduling through December.  I would like to give other moms an opportunity to volunteer if they want to, or moms who do not want to continue to have the opportunity to make changes as well.  Dads or grandparents are also welcome to volunteer!  All volunteers do need to fill out a form and be cleared by our WISH volunteer coordinator.   This program would not be possible without parent help!  The children truly thrive and make tremendous gains in reading due to WEB!

Please refer to my paper newsletter in today's Friday Folder for specific activities accomplished in class this week.  As always, if you have questions, comments or concerns about your child or what we are learning, please email or call me!

Have a great weekend!