December 1, 2025

Dear Parents,

          Thank you for taking the time to come in to speak to me about your wonderful children! The cold season has arrived. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for being outside for 30 minutes of recess. Also please continue working with your child to learn how to tie their shoes. 

           Our reading workshop is going strong! We are beginning our second unit titled: Word Detectives. Your child will receive a Detective-In-Training badge from the SSDA (Super Secret Detective Agency). Our class mascot Rasheed will be leaving special missions for the students to help strengthen their decoding/reading skills. I hope you enjoy hearing about the different missions from your child!

           Your child is coming home with Book 1 of the decodable passages based on the phonic skills taught. Currently we are on Book 3 and using Book 2 to continue to improve fluency. Book 2 will be sent home sometime in the new year. Your child should use these books when they come home to practice reading and rereading to build fluency. You can make it into a fun activity having your child read to a younger sibling, stuffed animals or toys. Children can also record themselves reading, listen back and try to make their voice sound even more smooth. Enjoy listening to your child as they continue to become strong readers!  

           We are continuing to utilize the TIDE organizer during our writing workshop time. We have a very similar writing workshop routine as to the reading workshop. During writing workshop time, first, the teacher teaches a mini-lesson. Then, the students are actively engaged trying out the new strategy. Next, the students are writing new stories or completing the story they began the day before. The students follow the following steps when writing a story….

Think of an idea. A thing that happened to you or a thing you do

Plan. Touch and tell. Then, sketch across the pages.

 Write!

Revise. Who? What? Where? When? How?

           Last, we end the workshop where we all come back together to share our learning and reinforce the writing strategy taught or the teacher teaches a new strategy. 

          For our math we are finishing up Unit 4 and will begin Unit 5 later this week titled: Subtraction within 20: Facts and Strategies. The students will learn to count back, cross out, think addition to subtract and count on to subtract. Your child will come home with Fact Family houses to 10. These are a great resource to practice their math facts. You can have them read and say the 4 number sentences that go with each fact family (only 2 for double facts). 

          Remember every child needs to be reading,  practicing their math facts and completing the UFLI At Home Word Practice . They have worked so hard and have shown nice progress. They need to continue to practice their skills. Writing in a journal over vacations could be a fun activity for the children! They can use a notebook from home or staple a few pieces of paper together. What a great way to keep those memories and practice their writing skills at the same time!

          We are scheduled for a first grade field trip on Friday, May 8th. Each classroom usually takes a few chaperones. If you are interested in being a chaperone, you must have filled out a CORI form AND have gotten your fingerprints done. If you want to be considered you will need to have the paperwork filled in by the end of March. More details about the trip will follow.

          A good time is being had by all! If you have any questions or concerns, please give me a call and we can discuss them. Enjoy the holiday season! Spend time with family and friends, read together as a family for pleasure’s sake, get some rest and have a lot of fun!                         

Sincerely,

Mrs. Gaspa