Ms. Stumpf First Grade Class

Ms. Stumpf First Grade Class

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Here is a quick look at what the next 11 days of school are going to look like! :) (I need to start preparing myself for the good-byes that are going to becoming! I cannot believe this year is almost over already!! I have enjoyed each and everyday that I have been able to spend with your children, thank you for sharing them with me!) 

May 21: 2 Hour Early Dismissal

Friday, May 23: students will enjoy an outdoor concert presented by Mr. Mike, Mr. Jordan, Mr. O'Brien and other members of their "band".  There will be great music and probably some dancing from the students!! :)

Wednesday, May 28: KE Swimming Day. 1st grade will go swimming at the Kalona Pool in the morning. I will send home additional information as we get closer to that day. 

Tuesday, June 3: Last day of 1st grade :( It is also our annual pot luck lunch.  This year it is not a potluck but a picnic.  Your child should have brought home a lime green sheet of paper explaining how the last day picnic is going to work. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to send me an email, note or give Doreen a call in the office. I hope you all can make it! (It is a 1 hour early dismissal on this day.)

Also,  a HUGE thank you to Rachel Knebel and the Elementary Boosters for the pizza party on Friday. At Fun Night you were able to bid on a pizza party for your child's classroom (provided by the boosters). Rachel had the winning bid. The kids were very excited to enjoy pizza, m&m's and juice boxes for lunch on Friday. 

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

It's hard to believe that it is May 6th already!?? Where has this school year gone?  First graders have been hard at work as we finish up the year. We are continuing to review our Jolly Phonics sounds by practicing 2 or more sounds each week and having the kids differentiate between the sounds. This is really helping build their confidence with spelling as well as reading. 

In Math we are continuing to practice counting money, telling time and adding/subtracting both one and two digit numbers. The two digit addition is by far one of the harder concepts we have introduced this year. Our main strategy to help kids do two digit addition is by pulling out the tens and adding them together followed by the ones. This strategy goes hand in hand with place value which is a concept that will continue to be practiced as your child grows. 

For the past 4 weeks your child has been a geologist while in Science. We have been studying different types of rocks and earth materials. We have studied volcanic rocks, river rocks, sand, silt and now clay. The kids are LOVING all of the investigations that we do.  Below are a few pictures from some recent Science investigations. 











Just a reminder tomorrow, Wednesday, May 7 is a 2 hour early dismissal. Enjoy the beautiful sunshine!!

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

As a reward for positive choices during DEAR time our class has voted to have a stuffed animal day at school. Please allow your child to bring one stuffed animal to school with them this Thursday, April 24. The only thing I ask is that the stuffed animal fits into your child’s backpack. If you have any questions about this please do not hesitate to send me an email or give me a call at the school.
Ms. Stumpf

319-656-2243

Kalona Elementary Fun Night is quickly approaching. This week the Parent Boosters asked each classroom to collect items for a basket that will be available to bid on at the silent auction.  The first grade classrooms will be doing a Coffee & Chocolates Basket. Please feel free to send items to contribute to this basket anytime between now and Wednesday, April 23rd.  If you need or want suggestions on items to send let us know.
Mrs. O’Rourke
Ms. Stumpf

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Spring Pictures: Most of you have returned your picture packages and/or money, THANK YOU! If you still have them at home please either send the money for them or return the packages. :)

Fun Night: April 26, 2014 is the big night! Many notes have been coming home asking for donations of items as well as your time. If you are willing to help out with this AMAZING fundraiser please contact the parent boosters or myself! (I can pass along your name and information).

Art News
This week students brought home a packet for the art fundraiser, which should have contained information, and a piece of artwork. If you are interested in ordering anything with your child(s) artwork printed on it, the piece of artwork, order form, and money need to be returned to their classroom teacher no later than April 11. If you are choosing not to order anything than you do not have to return anything back to the classroom teacher. Items you order will arrive the week of just in time for Mother's Day! Thanks in advance for helping support the art program!

It feels and looks as though Spring has found us. With that being said, money recess is still a bit chilly. Please be sure and send a jacket with your child. This morning it was only 40 degrees for first recess.  The kids are coming in with rosy and chilled cheeks.  :) However, the sunshine and nicer temperatures sure are welcome! 

We have been quite busy since returning from Spring Break. We are getting ready to finish up Unit 8 in Math, only 2 more units to go!!  We have been doing a lot of practice with counting money, making change and the newest, perhaps hardest so far...FRACTIONS!!! The kids are doing a great job with them and truly are trying their best. I tell them each day that fractions are hard but just to give it their best. 

Tonight I will wrap up Spring Conferences! If you were unable to come at your scheduled time and would still like to meet please send me an email or a note to school with your child. I am available to meet most days at 7:45 and 3:45-4:00.  

As we near the end of the school year we are continuing to work extremely hard at reading, writing, handwriting, spelling, counting coins, skip counting, place value and addition facts. Any extra practice you can do with these things at home will greatly benefit your child.  Here are some questions you can ask your child while reading with them at home:
Where did the story take place?
Who is in the story?
What is the problem or struggle?
Tell me something that happened in the beginning, middle and end?
How did the characters solve the problem, what was the solution?
What was your favorite part? Why did you like that part?
What connection can you make to this story?
What do you think was the most important part or detail in the story? Why was that important?


Friday, April 4, 2014

Art News
This week students brought home a packet for the art fundraiser, which should have contained information, and a piece of artwork. If you are interested in ordering anything with your child(s) artwork printed on it, the piece of artwork, order form, and money need to be returned to their classroom teacher no later than April 11. If you are choosing not to order anything than you do not have to return anything back to the classroom teacher. Items you order will arrive the week of just in time for Mother's Day! Thanks in advance for helping support the art program!