Poetry

Poetry is a great way for our students to appreciate the world around us. It also is a good tool for exercising the students reading and writing skills. We use the Lucy Calkins books in our first grade classroom to help teach the process of teaching poetry through the eyes of a poet. Some of the poems in the Calkins books are as simple as looking at a pencil sharpener as something completely different than what we see it as...

The Pencil Sharpener
I think there are a hundred
bees
inside the pencil sharpener and they buzz
and buzz
until my point
is sharp!
--Zoe Ryder White

Today the students had the chance to put on their own pair of glasses and write poems about objects in our classroom seeing through the eyes of a poet. Each student has their very own personalized poetry book that we will be working in throughout the week as we explore the world of poetry.

I have attatched a website below that includes curriculm and standards of teaching and learning poetry...poetry
Also you can click on here to take a look at where we are at in the NYS Learning Standards, Performance Indicator ELA2.E.SW2C

Earth Day!

April is a month to appreciate the earth by giving back to our environment. We need to be aware of all that we can do. I wanted the students to know that their daily routines can effect our environment everyday, not just during the month of April.
The students have been designing their very own calendars made out of recycled and reused materials. I encourage you to please continue inspiring your children and makig them aware of the impact they have on our environment.
Have a bright and sunny day,
Miss Vallone

Help Celebrate Earth Day
Earth Day for Parents
Earth Day for Students
Nutrition Explorations

Classroom Snacks

Our first grade classroom would like to be as healthy as we can be.
Please contribute healthy bulk snacks such as pretzels, graham crackers, vegetables, etc. on your child's snack week. This will ensure that the children will have a snack for a one week period. You will contribute only two times throughout the school year so please make sure you check the snack calendar that will be sent home with your children.

Reminder- your child may also bring in a water bottle to school with a push or pull top!

**ALLERGY ALERT**
Please DO NOT send peanut/nut products into the classroom!

I have posted a link below filled with nutritional facts as well as activities. This site came highly recommended from the board of health as well as staff here at NewSchool Elementary.
Picadome
Nutrition

Math Time!

Hello again students and parents! Throughout this past week the students have begun learning all about symmetry. Today in class we had a chance to work with some paint. The students found that when we put blotches of paint all over one side of a piece of paper and then fold it, as we open it back up we see that the same blotches of paint are duplicated on the opposite side of the paper, making a symmetrical picture.

What a fun time we had learning all about symmetry.
As you know in our classroom we follow the NYS Learning Standards for mathematics, by clicking on Standard MST3: Mathematics you will go directly to the standards page of what we have been learning this week with symmetry.

I would love if the students had a chance to continue learning about lines of symmetry at home, so I have added a website that I think the students as well as the rest of the family will have a great time with. Be proud of yourselves, you are all doing a great job! Click Here for Symmetry Website

Warmly,

Miss. Vallone

Welcome!

Hello students and families!

I want to take this opportunity to welcome you to the 1st grade! Families are a critical ingredient in student success and I would love for you all to feel free to get involved as much as possible this year in our classroom!

I will be using this blog as a way for you to stay updated on what is going on in our classroom, check on and post homework assignments, as well as any upcoming events. Also, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to post them on our classroom blog, I will be sure to get back to you as soon as possible. Also, I will be updating our blog as often as every day to every other day so please check in for any updates or changes.

I am looking forward to a wonderful year with each and every one you!