1JT Foxes

What a great day here at TAISM!  Our 1JT students did an amazing job today showing us what the word perseverance means.  Some of our students even ran 5 laps!!!  Way to go TAISM and the 1JT foxes for helping to raise money for cancer research.   Thank you to the parents who helped to fuel them after their run with snacks for our snack table.

Here is a picture from the pep-rally today.  Look for more in the newsletter. 

 

A few pictures from after the run.

 

 

If you would like to learn more about Terry Fox and why he ran almost 26 miles everyday, please take a minute to watch the video below.

                                 

Coming Home Tonight

There will be several things coming home tonight in your child's folder/backpack. 

1.  Map:  Please fill this out with your child and return to school tomorrow. 

2.  Discover Oman information: for our next DO week coming up in February.  This includes the volunteer sign-up form. 

 

3.  Terry Fox T-shirts are HERE!  IF you ordered a t-shirt it will be coming home today in your child's backpack.

Numbers and Words

In math 1JT is continuing to practice making "easy addition" sentences by making the addition sentence into a 10 addition sentence. Below are pictures of the students practicing with 10 group cards, bears and dry erase boards.  They later had a chance to share their knowledge by "teaching" a peer the process. 

Words Their Way

Today the students met their new Words Their Way groups.  1JT practiced listening for the sound patterns in the words.

Researchers Hard at Work

Our Living Things Unit is quickly coming to an end.  The children are celebrating by choosing an animal to research and learn more about.  Using computers, books, i-pads, bulletin boards and animal fact cards, they each made a poster to share all that they learned and found interesting about their animal.  Be looking for them on the blog soon!

Mrs. Hindash came to our class this week to talk to us about animal habitats.  We learned how animals have adapted to live in specific kinds of habitats. 

 Thank you Mrs. Hindash!

Last Week in 1JT

RAINBOW DAY

Living Things 

First Graders have been hard at work learning all about animals this week.  They have learned what animals need to live, how scientists group animals and they are beginning to talk about the many different habitats animals live in.

Ms. Tania came in last week to talk to us about plants and animals that are found here in Oman.  She also talked with us about how people impact the lives of these plants and animals and what we can do to help.  Did you know that there is whale that can ONLY be found here in Oman?  

1JT put on their scientist hats and sorted the descriptions of reptiles, arachnids, fish, birds, mammals, amphibians, insects and crustaceans.

Then they took their animal cards and sorted them in to the right groups.

Mrs. Johnsnon also came to First Grade last week!  She taught us about how animals have adapted to live in their environment.  She talked about how camels have 2 sets of eyelashes to keep all that sand out of their eyes.  Did you know that camels have different shaped blood cells than ALL other mammals?  Do you know why?  (ask your first grader.. they can fill you in on this fun fact)

We have also been growing kidney beans in class.  Some of our plants are getting ready to bloom!  The students have been measuring their plants to see how much they grow.  It is always amazing how much a plant can grow over night.  Next week we will be making a plan of what to do with the plants when they take them home.  Will they plant more?  Start a garden?  Have their own "bean pot" and eat the beans they grow?   

Math!  

Grade 1 is working on how to make an "easy addition" sentence.  They do this by making a 10.  For example if the addition sentence was 8 + 9 = ?  they would make it 10 +7 = 17 by taking 1 from the 8 and making the 9 a 10.  They are practicing this using bears, 10 group cards and also by drawing and talking it out.  This is preparing them for adding larger numbers and getting ready for place value.  

In the upcoming week you will see some math homework coming home with your child.  Just a reminder that you can go to the EngageNY website and look through the parent/teacher resources to help support your child at home. If you are not quite sure how to find it please click here for the blog post written in September about the EngageNY math website.   We are currently working in Module 2.  You can also find the parent tip handout here for Module 2 that was sent home before break.  

Special Invitation from Mrs. Melanie Brink

Dear 1st Grade Families,

We would like to invite you and your first grader (and other children) to attend our annual benefit concert next Wednesday, January 21st at 7:00 p.m. at TAISM's outdoor amphitheater. Each year we create a student-led event, called Red Night, that promotes compassion for others. This year our theme is centered around children, much like the Rights of a Child unit the 1st graders recently had.

Inspired by your first graders, we will be singing the uplifting song "Together We Can Change the World" as our closing act. During the program we will invite 1st graders to come sit along the edge of the stage and sing the song with us. The child-centered, family friendly show will be about one hour long and will involve many songs from children's shows and movies. A free-will donation will also be collected to support the Michelle and Julia Hoffman Memorial Children's Home in Uganda.

Please consider attending with your child if this works for your family's schedule. There is no commitment necessary, - just know you are invited and we would love to have children's voices singing with us in the final song, a song that the 1st graders know so well. If you plan to attend, all are encouraged to wear RED to celebrate the theme of the evening.

With much gratitude for your consideration.

Mrs. Melanie Brink and the singers of the high school vocal group Kindred

Welcome Back

As you can see we are all happy to be together again!  :)

We have 2 new friends that will be joining us this week.  Welcome to our 1JT family!

Important Reminders for the weeks ahead:

Tomorrow (Monday) is a Day 2 - P.E.

Thursday is Rainbow Day

     *Children should wear a t-shirt that is their assigned color (letter went home before break - if you have forgotten just send me an e-mail and I can let you know), PE shorts and HAT.

     * Please make sure your child has their labeled, re-useable water bottle and apply sunscreen before coming to school.

     *  Lunch:  Your child needs bring a picnic lunch this day (we will not be able to warm up food so please make sure it is a lunch ready to eat outside :) )

     *  EARLY DISMISSAL:  students will dismiss at 12:30 on Thursday after Rainbow Day

January 21st:  Kindred Red Night Concert (look for a letter to come home soon with a special invite to Grade 1 from Mrs. Melanie Brink)

January 26th:  Noon Dismissal (staff inservice day)

January 29th:  All School Terry Fox Run (2:30 pm)

                           (Terry Fox t-shirt order forms will come home in your child's folder THIS Wednesday)