Starfish reading spots

Color collages, science experiments, and more!

Dear 1R Families,

Upcoming Dates/ Reminders:

1.  Please pack your child with a water bottle tomorrow.  The weather forecast is calling for 90 degree weather.
2. Please mark your child's jackets and sweat shirts with your child's name.  At the end of the day, we have had some sweatshirts not being claimed in our classroom.  I think a few of them are forgetting that a sweatshirt or jacket belongs to them.  Thank you!

3. REMINDER: Our open house date has been changed to September 19th 6:30-7:30 in our classroom.  I am looking forward to seeing you then!

4. Picture day is scheduled for Friday, October 10.

5. If you need to respond to my emails or contact me, please do so by using mrochford@sau16.org email just like you have been doing instead of responding to this blog.  You could also reach me at 772-5413 ext. 155. Thank you!  I do enjoying hearing from you! :)



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We are having a great start to our week.  We began our first science experiment today using gummy bears.  We are observing what will happen to the gummy bears overnight in water, salt water, vinegar, and baking soda. The kids were SO excited! The children are learning what it means to predict, observe, and record their thinking in science. 


Some of our predictions include:

-I predict in the baking soda-the gummy bear will get bigger and the gummy bear will have spots on it.

- I think that the gummy bear in the salt will have white spots on it.

- In the baking soda- The gummy bear will become bigger and might even explode.

-In the water- I think the gummy bears will absorb the water.

- In the vinegar- the gummy bears might disappear.

-In the water- the gummy bear might shrink.

-In the baking soda- the gummy bears are going to scatter into pieces!

The thinking was amazing!  We are excited to see our results tomorrow.  Ask your child about their predictions tonight!

 

 

 

Last week we focused on colors with our poem of the week. One activity that we did last Friday was paint collage.  It was so much fun to watch the kids work creatively with this open ended project.  Please take a look at our fabulous art work. All of our artwork is hanging in the hallway outside our classroom for you to see at Parent Open House. 

Here are pictures from our first science experiment today.  The kids were so excited to write in their science journals. 

 

 

 

Have a great week!

Megan Rochford

Pictures of our first days together and Starfish Gazette Newsletter

Dear Starfish Families,

We have had a wonderful start to our year!  The past seven days have been  filled with  establishing routines, schedules, expectations, goal setting, and getting to know each other.

Please enjoy some pictures from our first days together...

Meeting our 5th Grade Reading Buddies

 Made Name Plates with Model Magic

 Playing with Legos during Free Choice time!

 Our name graph!

 Exploring Pattern Blocks 

 Playing on the playground is always fun!

 Playing our new math game: Back to school BUMP

  

      We are learning about:

• what it means to be a first grader in the starfish class
• how to be a bucket filler 
• what it means to be an active listener
• the rules for our classroom
• playing cooperative games
• How to be a good partner
• What it means to be a good friend
• Starfish helper jobs

Some activities we did:

• Read Rules by Marty Kelly and created our class rules
• sorted and graphed Legos
• wrote postcards to our families about our first week
• explored our math materials in our classroom
• played lots of games
• watercolored our self portraits
• made our names in model magic
• toured our school
• used the new ipad minis
• began out first chapter book Melvin Beederman
• practiced two fire drills
• read Wembley Worried and wrote our worries to give to Wembley
• met our 5th grade reading buddies in Mrs. Bucklin's classroom
• learned 2 new math games: addition connect four, addition back to school 'BUMP'
• graphed the letters in our names

Important Dates:

1. Picture Day: It has been changed to October 10th

2. Back to School Curriculum Night: CHANGE IN DATE!

When: Thursday, September 19th. 

Time: The curriculum night is from 6:30-7:30 P.M. 

I had to change our classroom curriculum date from the 26th to the 19th.  One of my closest friends is getting married on September 27th and I will be down in Newport, Rhode Island on the 26th for the rehearsal dinner.  I apologize for any inconvenience.  For the families that have older siblings (3rd-5th grade) it can be challenging to attend two classrooms in one night.  I will make sure to be in my classroom for an extended time so that you will be able to stop in to learn about our classroom and ask any questions you may have.  I'm looking forward to seeing you then! 

Here are some questions you can ask your child to promote 'school talk' at home:

1. What's your new classroom job?

2. What is a bucket filler?

3. How do you play Back to School BUMP?

4. What is a brain break?  

5. Can you tell me about your new Chapter Read Aloud Melvin Beederman?

6. What is Black Basket Trivia?  

Have a great week!

Take Care,

Megan Rochford

New School Year

Hello All!

I hope you all had a great summer!  I can't wait to see the Starfish Alums to hear about their exciting summer adventures!


The start of the new school year will soon be here and I am about to welcome new families to this blog.  Before I ask them to join, I wanted to let my former first grade parents/families know that they are welcome to stay subscribed if they wish to follow what's happening this year in our classroom, but certainly can unsubscribe by just clicking below.

 

Thank you! I hope you enjoy what is left of summer! 

-Ms. Rochford