Miss Hutchison's Class Blog

Shhhh! We’ve got a surprise in store for our first graders!

Our first graders don’t know it yet, but our classroom is turning into “Camp Read-a-Lot” for the month of March as we celebrate March is Reading Month. Every Friday, we are hoping to have a camp-themed snack for students to enjoy while they’re doing fun reading and camping activities. If you are interested in signing up to send in items for these snacks, please follow this link to view the sign up sheet. 

Thanks so much for supporting our little readers and making March a memorable reading month with Camp Read-a-Lot! 

Notes for Parents:

• Spring parent teacher conferences will be held on Monday, March 9 and Wednesday, March 11. Please take a moment to fill out the Google form to confirm or change your child’s conference time. I can’t wait to meet with you again and share the awesome progress these first graders have made! 
• Please email me your child’s winter sport schedule so I can come cheer him/her on!  

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CELEBRATIONS

Top Frog – The newest round of top frog began this week! The top frog gets to choose our “magic word” for the day, which we use all throughout the day for transitions, getting out supplies, and lining up. ELLIE, KENDRICK, NATHAN, HENLEY, and COLTON loved picking our magic words this week! 

Quote of the Week – Each week, our class learns about a new quote and spends the whole week trying to embody that quote. At the end of the week, Miss Hutchison awards a friend from our class who really shined with that quote’s energy from throughout the week. This week’s quote went to COLTON for being respectful of others and giving his personal best!

First Grade Family Time – Every Friday, all of the first grade classes get together to celebrate those who have lost teeth, learned to tie their shoes, had birthdays, and earned the quotes of the week. Here are this week’s award-winning first graders.

Mystery Reader – We had two mystery readers this week – first, Charlotte’s cousin Aimee came to read with the class on her day off from school. Then, Charlotte’s grandma was our mystery reader on Wednesday. What a fun coincidence and surprise for our class! Please email me if you would like to be a mystery reader this year and we will find a time for you to come visit. 

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OUR LEARNING:

Reading– As readers, we’ve been asking ourselves three important questions when we try to figure out tricky words: Does that make sense? Does that sound right? Does that look right? We’ve learned tools to help us check each strategy. 

Writing – Last week, first graders wrote BOOK REVIEWS about their favorite books. Most of our students made videos reading their book reviews so that we can add them as QR codes inside of the covers of these books in our classroom. Check this Google Drive folder to see if your child chose to make a video! This week, we began writing persuasive letters. We wrote a letter to our PE teachers asking them to add jump ropes and hula hoops to the recess equipment. 

Math – This week’s math practice focused on solving story problems. We even wrote our own story problems for our classmates to solve! We also practiced counting large numbers of objects (70-100 items) by sorting them into groups of 10.    

Word Study – We made vowel team charts to help us keep up with all of the vowel teams that we’re learning! We also learned how to play a new game: “Word Wall Headbands.” The game is just like headbands, except students pick words from their word walls and give clues like “This word has 1 syllable.” or “The word has a vowel team.”

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Upcoming Dates:

• Monday, February 24 – Music
• Tuesday, February 25 – PE, Library
• Wednesday, February 26 – Art
• Thursday, February 27 – STEAM
• Friday, February 28 – Music

Notes for Parents:

• Please email me your child’s winter sport schedule so I can come cheer him/her on!  

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CELEBRATIONS

Top Frog – We have been learning about empathy, kindness, and compliments over the past few weeks. Each day, every first grader writes a kind, complimentary note for the Top Frog and put it in his or her special envelope. Micah, Logan, Jace, Bryce, & Quinn got their Heart Notes this week! 

Quote of the Week – Each week, our class learns about a new quote and spends the whole week trying to embody that quote. At the end of the week, Miss Hutchison awards a friend from our class who really shined with that quote’s energy from throughout the week. This week’s quote will be given to someone next week!

Pizza Lunch & Pippi Longstocking – We enjoyed our pizza lunch and movie reward on Monday. After the movie, we compared the book and movie versions of Pippi Longstocking using a Venn Diagram. 

Valentine’s Party – We had a blast at our Valentine’s Day party on Friday. Thank you to all the parents and family members who brought supplies and led game/craft stations at the party!  

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OUR LEARNING:

Reading– We started book clubs this week! In addition to our reader’s workshop time, students work in a group with their classmates, read the same book, and complete activities together. Our class has been loving it! 

Writing – We finished up writing reviews this week! First graders wrote BOOK REVIEWS about their favorite books. Be on the lookout for a blog post about our book reviews this week.

Math – We began Unit 5 this week! We reviewed addition and subtraction strategies, place value, and story problems.   

Word Study – We are learning how to be “word builders” now! Just like many people have special jobs to construct big buildings, every letter/sound has a different job when building big words. We practiced “building” words with our unifix cubes. We also learned about the importance of vowel teams in words. 

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Upcoming Dates:

• Monday, February 17 – Music
• Tuesday, February 18 – PE, Library
• Wednesday, February 19 – Art
• Thursday, February 20 – STEAM
• Friday, February 21 – Music, Early release dismissal @ 12:15 pm

Notes for Parents:

• Here is the note that came home about Valentine’s day cards. Please let me know if you have any questions! Please send these to school by this Wednesday, February 12. 

• Please email me your child’s winter sport schedule so I can come cheer him/her on!  

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CELEBRATIONS

Top Frog – We have been learning about empathy, kindness, and compliments over the past few weeks. Each day, every first grader writes a kind, complimentary note for the Top Frog and put it in his or her special envelope. Eloise and Charlotte got their Heart Notes this week! 

Quote of the Week – Each week, our class learns about a new quote and spends the whole week trying to embody that quote. At the end of the week, Miss Hutchison awards a friend from our class who really shined with that quote’s energy from throughout the week. This week’s quote went to HENLEY for her perseverance and grit!

First Grade Family Time  – Every Friday, we get together with all of the first grade classes to celebrate shoe-tying, lost teeth, birthdays, quotes of the week, and more! Here are the first graders we celebrated this week. 

Pizza Party – Our class won the Jet’s Pizza fundraiser from January, so we will be celebrating with a pizza lunch in our classroom on Monday, February 10. 

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OUR LEARNING:

Reading– We started a new unit in reading: Readers Have BIG Jobs to Do! We learn that we are the boss of our own growth as readers. Students learned how to talk with their partners about the books they’re reading to encourage and challenge one another. 

Writing – We have continued writing reviews this week by learning a variety of strategies to use when trying to convince our readers! First graders are writing BOOK REVIEWS about their favorite books. 

Math – We wrapped up Unit 4 this week with some review and our test. The kids LOVE getting to use their “offices” for math tests!  

Word Study – We are learning how to be “word builders” now! Just like many people have special jobs to construct big buildings, every letter/sound has a different job when building big words. We practiced “building” words with our unifix cubes. 

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Upcoming Dates:

• Monday, February 10 – STEAM, pizza lunch
• Tuesday, February 11 – Music, Library
• Wednesday, February 12 – PE, send in Valentine cards
• Thursday, February 13 – Art
• Friday, February 14 – STEAM, Valentine’s Day party @ 12:30-1:45 pm

Here are some “Outstanding” first graders who earned special recognition from Mrs. Reagan this week:

Did your child get “heart – attacked” by Miss Hutchison last week at school? Maybe this week they will!

No need to pack a lunch for your first grader on Monday, February 10 because we are having a PIZZA LUNCH! Our class won last month’s Jet’s Pizza celebration from our January fundraiser – so thank you to those of you who ordered Jet’s last month! We will be having pizza, a side, and a juice box drink.

Information about Kids Heart Challenge will be coming home with students this week.  Please note that this fundraiser is for the American Heart Association, it does also helps us get P.E. Equipment for GT.  The Kids Heart Challenge Fundraiser is done ONLINE (see link below) and will be open from February 6 until February 28.

When your child joins Kids Heart Challenge (formerly Jump Rope for Heart) they will hear from kids with special hearts and raise funds to help those born with heart defects.  Students learn about taking care of their own heart through fun challenges and activities for physical, social and emotional health.

Get online and register your student today:

http://www2.heart.org/goto/georgetownhudsonville

Please note that thank-you prizes earned by students will be handed out when they come to P.E. class.  Some prizes need to be ordered when the fundraiser is over and will be delivered sometime in March.  Any money donated after Feb. 28 will not earn prizes.

Notes for Parents:

• Here is the note that came home about Valentine’s day cards. Please let me know if you have any questions!

• Please email me your child’s winter sport schedule so I can come cheer him/her on!  

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CELEBRATIONS

Top Frog – We have been learning about empathy, kindness, and compliments over the past few weeks. Each day, every first grader writes a kind, complimentary note for the Top Frog and put it in his or her special envelope. Henley, Nathan, Kendrick, Haddie, and Bronwyn got their Heart Notes this week! 

Quote of the Week – Each week, our class learns about a new quote and spends the whole week trying to embody that quote. At the end of the week, Miss Hutchison awards a friend from our class who really shined with that quote’s energy from throughout the week. We will give this week’s quote to a friend next Friday at our next family time. 

Mystery Reader – Bronwyn’s mom surprised us as our mystery reader this Wednesday! Thank you for visiting our class. 🙂

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OUR LEARNING:

Reading– We started a new unit in reading: Readers Have BIG Jobs to Do! We learn that we are the boss of our own growth as readers. Students learned how to do a triple-check when reading tricky words to see if what they read is correct: 1-Does it make sense? 2-Does it sound right? 3-Does it look right?

Writing – We have continued writing reviews this week by learning a variety of strategies to use when trying to convince our readers! First graders are writing about things that they think are the best: best restaurant, best movie, best athlete, etc.  

Math – We continued practicing how to draw ten sticks and ones circles to make numbers. We also practiced comparing two digit numbers using >, <, and =. (For example, 16 < 61.)  

Word Study – We added lots more charts to our sound wall this week as we learned about sounds that can be spelled multiple ways. We also re-assessed our spelling skills this week to prepare for the next unit of word study. For fun, we practiced spelling sight words with our bodies on Thursday (spell your last name with your elbow, spell “said” with your head)! 🙂

Groundhog Day – Sunday is Groundhog Day, so we did a few fun activities in our classroom today. We predicted whether we will have 6 more weeks of winter or an early spring. We also made a groundhog craft and enjoyed a little holiday snack! 

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Upcoming Dates:

• Monday, February 3 and Tuesday, February 4 – NO SCHOOL (midwinter break)
• Wednesday, February 5 – Music, Miss Hutchison will not be at school
• Thursday, February 6 – P.E.
• Friday, February 7 – Art

Notes for Parents:

• Here is the note that came home about Valentine’s day cards. Please let me know if you have any questions!

• Interested in purchasing PE Apparel from our annual fundraiser? Here is the link to the ordering website. Orders can be made until January 29.
• Please email me your child’s winter sport schedule so I can come cheer him/her on!  

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CELEBRATIONS

Top Frog – We have been learning about empathy, kindness, and compliments over the past few weeks. Each day, every first grader writes a kind, complimentary note for the Top Frog and put it in his or her special envelope. Emma P, Kendall, Lily, Rocco, and Colton got their Heart Notes this week! 

Quote of the Week – Each week, our class learns about a new quote and spends the whole week trying to embody that quote. At the end of the week, Miss Hutchison awards a friend from our class who really shined with that quote’s energy from throughout the week. This week’s quote went to CHARLOTTE for being a role model!

First Grade Family Time – Every Friday, all of the first graders at Georgetown get together for a little assembly! At the assembly, we celebrate our learning, give awards for the quote of the week, along with awards for lost teeth, shoe-tying, & birthdays from the week. Here are our “award-winning” first graders from Friday’s family time.

Mystery Reader – Logan’s mom and his little sister came to read to our class on Tuesday. Then, Kendall’s mom surprised us as our mystery reader this Wednesday! Thank you for visiting our class. 🙂

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OUR LEARNING:

Reading– We have been exploring characters over the past few weeks. This week, we practiced talking like the characters in our books and even acting out parts of stories like the characters would! 

Writing – We have continued writing reviews this week by learning a variety of strategies to use when trying to convince our readers! First graders are writing about things that they think are the best: best restaurant, best movie, best athlete, etc.  

Math – We learned how to draw ten sticks and ones circles to make numbers. We also practiced comparing two digit numbers using >, <, and =. (For example, 16 < 61.)  

Word Study – We reviewed contractions this week by playing a few different games with the word cards including memory and go fish! 

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Upcoming Dates:

• Monday, January 27 – Music
• Tuesday, January 28 – PE, library
• Wednesday, January 29- Art
• Thursday, January 30 – STEAM
• Friday January 31 – STEAM, Early Release @ 12:15 pm
• Monday, February 3 and Tuesday, February 4 – NO SCHOOL (midwinter break)
• Wednesday, February 5 – Miss Hutchison will not be at school

Notes for Parents:

• Here is the note that came home about Valentine’s day cards. Please let me know if you have any questions!

• Interested in purchasing PE Apparel from our annual fundraiser? Here is the link to the ordering website. Orders can be made until January 29.
• If you have a chance to complete a Kindness Story with your child, we would love to add their page to our “Kindness Book” this week!
• Please email me your child’s winter sport schedule so I can come cheer him/her on!  

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CELEBRATIONS

Top Frog – We have been learning about empathy, kindness, and compliments over the past few weeks. Each day, every first grader will write a kind, complimentary note for the Top Frog and put it in his or her special envelope. Wesley, Mia, Kylee, Emma M, and Claire got their Heart Notes this week! 

Quote of the Week – Each week, our class learns about a new quote and spends the whole week trying to embody that quote. At the end of the week, Miss Hutchison awards a friend from our class who really shined with that quote’s energy from throughout the week. This week’s quote went to KENDALL for looking out for others and helping them!

First Grade Family Time – Every Friday, all of the first graders at Georgetown get together for a little assembly! At the assembly, we celebrate our learning, give awards for the quote of the week, along with awards for lost teeth, shoe-tying, & birthdays from the week. Here are our “award-winning” first graders from Friday’s family time.

Mystery Reader – Lily’s mom surprised us as our mystery reader this Wednesday! Thank you for reading to our class. 🙂

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OUR LEARNING:

Reading– We explored characters all week long. We searched for the main character in stories, watched how characters can change throughout a story, and analyzed character traits.  

Writing – We have continued writing reviews this week by learning a variety of strategies to use when trying to convince our readers! First graders are writing about things that they think are the best: best restaurant, best movie, best athlete, etc.  

Math – We focused on teen numbers this week, and we tried to find the “hidden ten” to help us solve teen number equations. We also learned about doubles equations (1+1, 6+6, 8+8, etc.) 

Word Study – We added multiple new snap words to our word walls this week. We also looked at different ways to spell the same sounds. For example, the sound “oh” can be spelled with “oa,” “ow,” and “o.” 

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Upcoming Dates:

• Monday, January 20 – STEAM
• Tuesday, January 21 – Music, library
• Wednesday, January 22- PE
• Thursday, January 23 – Art
• Friday January 24 – STEAM

The annual P.E Apparel sale is officially open and will be open until January 29, 2020!  If you are interested in buying any apparel, you must order online this year.

The link is: https://bit.ly/30fOoh0

Here is the design and colors available: