Penguins & Polar Bears/Family Campouts

I hope this note finds you all well after a week of celebrating!  I know it's been a relaxing, refreshing, yet busy week for me!  I am oh so excited to get back to school on Thursday and catch up with your great kiddos.  

We're going to kick off 2014 with a study of penguins and polar bears.  This is one of my FAVORITE research projects as the students are always so interested in the discoveries they make about the individual creatures.  At the end of the unit, we'll celebrate our new learning by holding some sort of presentation day.  I'll send home more information about this as the time draws near.  

I have so much to share with the students about what I've learned over our holiday break about these marvelous animals!  Carson and I were able to spend the night at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.  We slept in the shark tunnel, participated in a number of other activities, had private zoo access, met with keepers, and got a behind the scenes tour of their state-of-the-art aquarium.   In case you're interested, there is a link below that will provide you information about the family campouts at the zoo.  Carson and I will be participating the PENGUIN themed campout at the end of February.  We'd love it if some of our Iowa friends could join us!  If you'd like more information about this AMAZING experience, let me know!  

Family Campouts at the Omaha Zoo

Spelling

We will NOT be taking a spelling post-test when we return from the holiday break.  We will move into week 15 when we return.  Long vowels will continue to be emphasized in word work and writing activities.  I apologize for not updating the Spelling City website the last couple of weeks!  I have opened it for week 15 in case your first grader is interested in getting a head start.  

*Please remember, spelling is NOT "graded" in first grade.  We include it in our routine to build study habits and help students transition from invented spellings to correct spellings.  

Spelling City

OUT with the OLD and IN with the NEW!

I braved the icy roads this morning to come and organize our brand NEW literacy materials.  The Benton Community School District recently purchased Benchmark Literacy for kindergarten through sixth grades.  We are so, so excited to unpack these new materials and be trained in using them with our students.  This purchase was the largest curriculum purchase in the history of the BCSD.  Thank you to our administrative team who made this series a reality financially and to our literacy team for choosing such a high quality curriculum!

Students will be allowed to take the old materials home to keep.  If you would NOT like your student to take these, please email me. I will start sending the books home with students who'd like them the week after we return from the holiday break.  

This is just a portion of what is included in the Benchmark Literacy curriculum!  

Farewell Mrs. DeVries

As many of you know, our VHE secretary, Darlene DeVries is retiring and won't be joining us in 2014.  As you can tell from the pictures below, she was be missed dearly.  We wish her the best as she sets off to spend more time with grandbabies in the year to come. 

Happy Holidays from 1U

Thanks for all you do to support our first grade family.  

We wish you the very best this holiday season.  

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 

from my family to yours!

Polar Express

Tomorrow we will be having a building-wide PBIS celebration!  The celebration will include the students watching The Polar Express and cookie decorating.  Students WILL be allowed to bring pillows since we'll be watching the movie on the gym floor.  Please keep in mind, your child will be bringing home a lot of extras with it being the last day of school before the holiday break.  Students may also wear their pajamas.  Please be sure that they are pajamas that can be worn to recess.  Let me know if you have any questions.  

Holiday Homework

Because there is a possibility of inclement weather tomorrow, I’m sending this home a day early… 

I am not sending any “special homework” for your child to work on over the holiday break.  In your students’ book bag, there are a few extra books that could be part of what they read over break. PLEASE encourage your child to read as much as possible.  My writing goal for each student is three quality (five or more sentences) journal entries. 

Most importantly, I hope you and your families get some quality family time, rest and relaxation in over this holiday break. 

Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your child’s life.  I look forward to each day I get to spend with them.  Blessed is how I feel with each smile and hug.  I hope you and your families have a very Merry Christmas. 

-Ms. Upah

Menu Change

Due to the fact that we may have inclement weather, Jane has decided to switch menu days.  Tomorrow will be chili day and Thursday will be pork patty.  

Soup for Scholars

Book Exchange Reminder

REMINDER!

Please send a gender-neutral book (valued between $0-5) to school with your child.  It needs to be wrapped with your child’s name on it so we know who to thank. Let me know if you have any questions.  Thank you!

Idea Paint

Over Thanksgiving break, we were fortunate enough to receive some of the Idea Paint in our classroom.  The students LOVE writing ON this table!  It is a great way for me to see their thinking as well.  If you're interested in painting any of your surfaces at home, see the link below for info.  Thank you to Mr. Junge for painting!  

Idea Paint

Macy's Believe Campaign

I was able to drop off our letters to Santa in the Macy's Mailbox.  1U contributed 20 letters to the Make-A-Wish program through Macy's Believe Campaign.   For more info, see previous posts.  The students were excited to see them being dropped off!  :) 

Reason for the Season

I saw this today and was inspired.  I am excited to share it with students tomorrow!  

PTO Christmas Store

Reminder!

If you would like your child to purchase gifts for others from the PTO Christmas Store, money and a list of people with ages needs to be brought to school no later than FRIDAY MORNING.  Each item at the Christmas Store is $2.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Macy's Believe Campaign

As one of our “Work on Writing” activities this week, first grade students wrote letters to Santa.  I thought it would be nice to introduce Macy’s Believe Campaign to the students, and boy, were they excited!   

Below, you’ll find information from Macy’s about their Believe Campaign.  Macy’s has agreed to donate $1 for every stamped letter to Santa (up to $1,000,000) to the Make a Wish Foundation.  You are welcome to send any letters to Santa your child writes to and I’ll take care of it.  Letters can be addressed to Santa Claus at the North Pole.  I will drop off any letters to

Santa I receive by Thursday, December 12^th, in a “R.H. Macy’s Santa Mail Box.”  Feel free to log onto www.macys.com/believe for more information, resources and activities for your child about this campaign. 

Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions about this project.  It’s so exciting to see how enthused the students are about helping other children Make a Wish! 

Warmest wishes to you and yours this magical season!

Information provided by Macy’s:

Magic is in the air and we’re filled with joy as we continue one of our very favorite traditions. We need your leadership to help spread the magic of the season by inspiring everyone you can to show they Believe by writing a letter to Santa Claus. In fact, we’re looking for another million reasons to believe!

What is the Believe campaign? Beginning on November 2nd, children across the country are invited to drop off their letters — stamped and addressed to Santa at the North Pole — in the Santa Mail letterbox at any Macy’s store. For each letter received, Macy’s will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish®, up to 1 million dollars, to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

What is Make-A-Wish? Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.  Be part of something magical. Each year, the Believe campaign grows as it touches the lives of so many. We’ve received countless inspiring stories and touching letters from people of all ages since we began in 2008 and we cannot wait to see what 2012 will bring. I hope you are equally rewarded with the same wonderful experiences in helping to spread the word this year.

PBIS in the Hallway at VHE

Today we discussed the Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) hallway expectations.  Above, you'll find a video made by the VHE PBIS team and students demonstrating incorrect and correct behaviors.  

Bobcat Pride Pledge:
I pledge to show Bobcat character.
I will be worthy of trust.  
I will be a RESPONSIBLE person, doing what I must.
I will show RESPECT.  
I will show that I CARE.
I will be a SAFE student and do my share.  
Bobcat Pride!

Benton Community School District is Applying for the TLC Grant

This summary of what the district is working on was authored by Dr. Prusha. Please let me know if you have any questions. 

Benton Community School District is applying for the Teacher Leadership and Compensation Grant from the State of Iowa.

For the past few months a group of parents, teachers and administrators have been working diligently to develop the Benton Community Teacher Leadership and Compensation Grant Application.  

The goal is to be receive the grant for the 2014-15 school year.  Our TLC vision is to:   create a teacher leadership system designed to improve the quality of teaching and learning resulting in a world-class education for a lifetime of learning.  The Benton Community teacher leadership system will utilize servant leadership principles by supporting capacity building opportunities for teachers to foster and promote best practices in the classroom while increasing student achievement.

On December 11, 2013 we will have a joint meeting with our TLC planning committee and the Benton Communications Team to help build understanding and gain input from other stakeholders on the district application.  Please contact one of the members of the committee if you would like more information:  Gary Zittergruen, Anna Upah, Andrea Townsley, Linda Brecht, Mark Kenny, Mary Masten, Beth Hlas, Jeremy Kulbartz, Doug Embray, Alex Olson, T.J. Murphy, Jo Prusha, Daralee Schnor, Jason West, Jan Andreesen or Trish Little.

Below is more information taken from the Iowa Department of Education Webpage describing the TLC process in the state (https://www.educateiowa.gov/teacher-leadership-and-compensation-system)

The Teacher Leadership and Compensation System rewards effective teachers with leadership opportunities and higher pay, attracts promising new teachers with competitive starting salaries and more support, and fosters greater collaboration for all teachers to learn from each other.

The overriding philosophy of the system is multi-pronged, but boils down to this: Improving student learning requires improving the instruction they receive each day.  There is no better way to do this than to empower our best teachers to lead the effort.

Through the system, teacher leaders take on extra responsibilities, including helping colleagues analyze data and fine tune instructional strategies as well as coaching and co-teaching.

Bipartisan legislation created a four-year process to fully develop the statewide Teacher Leadership and Compensation System, with the goal of all school districts voluntarily participating by the 2016-17 school year.

The goals of the Teacher Leadership and Compensation System are:

• Attract able and promising new teachers by offering competitive starting salaries and offering short-term and long-term professional development and leadership opportunities.
• Retain effective teachers by providing enhanced career opportunities.
• Promote collaboration by developing and supporting opportunities for teachers in schools and school districts statewide to learn from each other.
• Reward professional growth and effective teaching by providing pathways for career opportunities that come with increased leadership responsibilities and involve increased compensation.
• Improve student achievement by strengthening instruction.

All 346 Iowa school districts have applied for planning grants to support the local development of Teacher Leadership and Compensation Systems. The deadline to submit a plan to enter the system in the 2014-15 school year is January 31, and those selected to participate in the first year of the system will be notified by early March.

The Legislature approved $50 million for the first year of implementation during the 2014-15 school year. In each subsequent year through 2016-17, another $50 million will be added to the program, enabling all districts to eventually participate in the program if they choose.

PTO Christmas Store

The annual Keystone/VH PTO Christmas Store will be coming to VHE soon!  The Christmas Store will be Friday, December 13th.  Your student will be getting more info about this opportunity soon!  

PTO - KEYSTONE TONIGHT

Tonight's PTO meeting is at Keystone Elementary in Mrs. Townsley's classroom.  I think I marked this wrong in the news note that went home at the end of November.  I hope to see you there!  

Alvin the Elf on the Shelf

Alvin, the elf in 1U, arrived while we were out on Thanksgiving break.  Below is a picture of how we found him this morning.  Everyone was really excited to learn why this little friend showed up in our classroom.  We read a book about Alvin, let him know some of our classroom rules, and wrote him a welcome letter.  This elf flies to the North Pole every night and reports to Santa on student behaviors.  We can talk to Alvin, but he can't talk to us.  We've talked a lot about random acts of kindness today.  In the season of giving, such conversations are welcome reminders.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Be sure to ask your student where they found Alvin each night!  

Thank You

Thank you for taking the time to attend our Thanksgiving Performance.  I know it isn't always easy to get out of other commitments during the day, but having a special person attend school with your first grader is definitely a highlight for them!   I look to have the video for that performance posted by the end of the week.  Based on students' comments today, I trust you all had a safe, happy holiday.  I am thankful to be surrounded by such great families every day.  Thank you for sharing your fabulous children with me and allowing me to be a part of their lives.  I am one blessed teacher.  

Thankful Firsties

Thankful Firsties

Class of 2025

Iowa School Alerts/Bobcat Voicelink

Iowa School Alerts

Bobcat Voicelink

The links above will take you to information on receiving emails and text messages when there are delays, cancellations, early dismissals or other closures within the Benton Community School District.  The Bobcat Voicelink also includes a phone number you can call to get this type of information if that is easier.  

I highly suggest signing up for this service.  This is the fastest, most accurate way to find out about changes to the regular schedule.  Please contact me if you have trouble getting connected with these services.  

Winter Gear

As hard as it is to admit, winter weather has officially arrived.  Today, we discussed appropriate winter weather gear.  See the picture below for some of the things your children talked about as necessary items for winter weather.  If you would like to send an extra hat and mittens to be kept in your child's locker, that is usually helpful.  In order to control outbreaks such as head lice, students are not allowed to borrow from the lost and found.  We do have a few extras here at school students may borrow/have if they don't have any.  If you need help in getting your student necessary winter gear (coat, snow pants, boots, hat, gloves, etc.), please contact me.  

If students don't have boots, they will be expected to stay on the cement.  Uggs or other boots like those will not count as snow boots.  The boots must have some sort of water resistant material to be allowed in the snow.  

 PBIS will be moving into the hallway soon and students will learn specific expectations for hallway behaviors.  I've told them some of those behaviors already and we've included them in the list. 

NO SPELLING NEXT WEEK

Due to our short week next week, we will not practice a specific spelling list.  The list that is attached to your child's post test today will be completed the week of December 2nd.  The words will be left open on Spelling City so your child can get some extra practice in over Thanksgiving break.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  

Raz-Kids

Raz-Kids has been an absolute blessing for our students.  This interactive way to practice reading is a favorite of many.  I know we've got a good thing going when students ask to go to websites like Raz-Kids!  

Remember, Raz-Kids is an online tool for your student to practice reading at his or her individual level.  There are questions they can answer after reading or listening to each book.  Students earn stars (points) for each book and quiz they complete.  There is a "shopping section" where they can add aliens, furniture or other accessories to their space themed virtual living quarters.  
Your student can easily access Raz-Kids from our Symbaloo page or by using the link below.  Our code is shappel0.  

Raz-Kids

Remember, the sites your child can access from the Symbaloo will serve as excellent practice during the upcoming holiday breaks.  Even 30 minutes a day on a math or reading skill will not only help your student retain what he or she has learned, but build upon their learning as well!

20 Things We Should Say More Often

Kid President releases videos on Thursdays.  I try my best to take three minutes from my day each Thursday and listen to what this little guy has to say.  He has a way of putting things into perspective for adults and the ability to teach children positive life lessons in a way that they can usually understand.  

This is the video I'm going to show my students tomorrow.  Hopefully numbers 5 and 3 stay outside!  :)

Compound Words

Compound words was a focus for our class this morning.  This idea can sometimes be tricky.  We talked about the idea that if you can picture each word in the compound word in your brain, then it's a compound word.  If it is just a sound and nothing you can picture, it's not a compound word.  Knowing how to break words apart and put them back together helps students decode, longer, more complex words.  

We read the very popular If You Give a Pig a Pancake book and discovered it is full of compound words.  Next, we made a list of our own compound words and talked about the rule.  Then we had worked on a number of activities that required us to find, write, and break apart compound words.  Finally, everyone enjoyed a pan-cake to celebrate the new learning.

(No.... I do not come up with these ideas on my own.  The invention of the Internet has allowed teachers to share their great ideas instead of constantly reinventing the wheel.  I LOVE it!)  :) 

Thanksgiving Performance

Your first grader has been working hard practicing for the Thanksgiving Performance next week.  Please return the note that let's us know if there will be someone with your student on Tuesday.  If you need another copy, please let me know.  

Benton Marching Band in McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Benton Community High School Marching Bobcats will be marching in McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago!  The parade is televised nationally on WGN at 8:00am on Thanksgiving Day.  This morning we heard them practicing on the street outside of VHE and had to take a look!   Way to go Marching Bobcats!  For more information on the parade, see the link below.

McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade - Chicago

Subtraction

Last week, our math focus moved to subtraction.  Throughout this topic, we will discuss how the part, part, whole model is moving to whole, part, part.  We will discuss different strategies to help us find the missing part.  DRAWING PICTURES is very, very important in helping your child have a deeper understanding of addition and subtraction.  Basic fact practice will be an important component to practice at home.   We're getting some fact practice in at school, but the more your student is exposed to those basic facts (2+1, 6-2, 7+2, 3+3, etc.), the more confident he or she will be in this area.  

Remember, you can view all of the lessons and get some great practice in for your student using his or her Pearson log in. This information was included in the packet you received on Parent Partnership Night.  Please let me know if you don't have the information necessary and I will send it home with your child..  

 Pearson SuccessNet

SumDog Contest Ends Tomorrow!

We have been participating in a SumDog contest put on by the Grant Wood AEA.  There are students from all over eastern Iowa participating.  The students are trying to get as many correct answers as possible.  The first graders LOVE SumDog and their teachers do, too!  This is a great tool to help students find a LOT of enjoyment in practicing math skills.  The SumDog website can be found by your student on our Symbaloo.  I have listed a link to SumDog as well.  Your students login information is on the back of the first page of your Parent Partnership Night packet.  Please let me know if you need me to email you  the info again.  

SumDog

There Was an Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything!

One of our Bobcat Time groups performed "There Was an Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything" for us today!  I think everyone agreed that their performance was quite entertaining.  Reader's Theaters are great ways for students to showcase their learning and practice a number of good reading skills.  We find them online.  Try searching for one at home and have your first grader perform during the upcoming holidays!

Addition

Our focus in math has officially shifted to addition.  We've been working on addition since first grade started through various math stations, but it is now our main focus.  

New vocabulary words we've been focusing on are listed below.  Ask your first grader what they mean or to use them in an example.

sum

part

whole

in all

join

There are so, so, so many addition practice opportunities on the Symbaloo!  Check out Shepard Software, ScootPad, or Primary Games. 

Some popular addition practice apps in 1U include the following:

Math Dots (Addition Dot-to-Dot)

Butterfly Math

Storybots

MathBug
Addition and Subtraction for Kids

This is a link to a puzzle game that some of our friends wanted to try.  Increase the number of tiles.  It can tricky, but it sure is fun!

Sliding Puzzle Game from Cookie.com

Sock Donation to Waypoint's Madge Phillips Center

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU

We collected OVER 900 pairs of SOCKS!

As our Socktober sock drive draws to an end, I want to extend many thanks to all of you for supporting this project.  This project couldn’t and wouldn’t have been successful without your support and participation.  We were able to find many outlets for children to be engaged in learning opportunities, work to help relieve a real world problem and instill the idea that the gift of giving is truly great.  The amount of time, energy and enthusiasm students and their families attacked this challenge with is truly inspiring and a moment in my career I will never forget.  It’s funny how children have a way of teaching the adults in their lives how important the simplest things really are. 

Most of the socks collected are being donated to the Waypoint Madge Phillips Center Shelter for Homeless Women and Children. The Waypoint Madge Phillips Center Shelter provides shelter and stabilizing resources for homeless women and their children. The Center offers basic needs, information, strategic referrals, one-on-one support, and skill development so women can achieve and maintain self-sufficiency and family stability. The Center has 16 private living spaces, a kitchen, two living areas, children’s playroom, laundry room, and private meeting spaces. Women and children can live in the shelter for up to 30 days. The atmosphere is safe, supportive, and structured to help women achieve their personal goals.  (Information taken from the Madge Phillips Center Shelter for Homeless Women and Children website.)

Mrs. Bishop spoke to the students today about where the socks would be donated.  Although I only overheard part of their conversation, it was obvious that the students were extremely excited to give to those in need. 

More information on where our socks are being donated to can be found at this website:  http://www.waypointservices.org/default.aspx

Again, thank you for supporting your student through this project.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. 

Shine on!

-Ms. Upah

Fall Fun!

This is my favorite time of year!  Last week, our investigation was centered around pumpkins.  We read about pumpkins, wrote about pumpkins and even dug the pulp and seeds out of one.  They really enjoyed comparing their pumpkin with the pumpkin Mrs. Happel's class cleaned out.  We discussed how the length of time a pumpkin spends on the vine has a big impact on what goes on inside the pumpkin.  Below you'll see a few pictures from our pumpkin investigation and a picture of even decked out in their fall party costumes!   

VHE on Kid President's Latest Video

A portion of our Socktober story on KCRG was included in Kid President's latest video!  Everyone is so excited to see that Kid President knows how hard they worked to collect socks.  This couldn't have been done without all of your support.  Thank you for supporting your student and this project by seeking donations and donating yourselves.  This has been such a great learning experience for the students AND the teachers.  We feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be inspired by your children daily.  
-Shine on! 

Socktober Notes

While you're in the building for conferences or the book fair, be sure to stop by our Socktober bulletin board and write the first graders an encouraging Socktober note!  We'll read them to the students as they come in and then post the note on the bulletin board.  If you can't make it in, go ahead and email me a note and I'll post it for you.  Let's fill it up!  

KCRG TV-9 Story Link

Below is a link to KCRG's story on our Socktober project in case you missed it early this morning.  We showed it to all of the students today.  They're really feeling like celebrities! :)

http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Its-Socktober-in-Van-Horne-229672731.html 

Socktober on KCRG

KCRG visited our classroom today and is going to broadcast our Socktober story on channel 9 news tomorrow morning!  Watch for your student on the news before school.  If they share the story on their website, I'll be sure to post a link on this blog.   So far, we've collected 461 pairs of socks!

Socktober at VHE

Bloomsbury Farm

We had a chilly, FUN day at Bloomsbury Farm today.  The students enjoyed all of the new activities Bloomsbury had to offer.  Here are a few scenes from our blustery, exciting day!  

Socktober Mug

This is the mug a committee of students designed to promote Socktober.  The picture doesn't do the mug justice.  It turned out super cute!  Let me know if you are interested in ordering one.  :)  

Socktober/KCRG MONDAY

The KCRG news team will be here on Monday to do a story on our students' Socktober project!  How cool is that?!  We are all super excited to share how awesome kids at VHE are!  We plan on counting socks on Monday while they're here.  We also plan on all of the students wearing their Socktober t-shirt.  

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!  I will send a note home on Monday to let you know when the story will be broadcast.  

Socktober Update

The committees have been hard at work spreading the word of SOCKTOBER!  I know a lot of parents have been working hard to spread the word as well!  THANK YOU for supporting your child in this way!  I have been so impressed by how hard these students have been working, I decided to share how awesome they are on Twitter.  The tweet had been retweeted by Good Morning America's Josh Elliot and the Kid President!  The students were super excited to hear that the Kid President knew they were working on Socktober!  

1. 
   

   Image will appear as a link
2. Josh Elliott ‏@JoshElliottABC22 Oct

   You bet... RT @AnnaUpah: @JoshElliottABC My 1st graders are collecting socks for homeless. Could you help them get the word out?#socktober

   Expand
3. james kotakis ‏@jkotakis222 Oct

   @JoshElliottABC @AnnaUpah Everyone help Josh and Abc out!!! It's my b-day today !!!!

   from Northvale, NJ
4. Josh Elliott ‏@JoshElliottABC22 Oct

   @jkotakis2 @annaupah Happy Birthday--and many, many more.....

   Expand

   •  Reply 
   •  Retweet 
   •  Favorite 
5. Kid President ‏@iamkidpresident22 Oct

   @JoshElliottABC @AnnaUpah THANK YOU for spreading love this #SOCKTOBER! You are awesome.

   
   

The Socktober t-shirts are also for sale.  They are $6.00.  Checks need to be made payable to Outer Edge Screenprinting.