First Grade – Kitah Alef

Ms. Lewis and Morah Rachel

Archive for August, 2011

Kitah Alef LOVES to Read!

The first scholastic book orders were sent home today. Your child selected a few books that interested him or her at the end of class.  I hope that you take the time to look at the book order.  You can find suggested books on our class ordering site along with a classroom wish list.

Did you know that by purchasing books for your child to read at home, you support our classroom library?  We receive bonus points, free books and other incentives when you place an order.   Please see the note attached to the order form for further instructions about online ordering.  If you have any questions feel free to contact me.  The book orders are due by Friday, September 9th.  Thank you for your support! Happy Reading!

posted by Kristi O'Neill in General Studies and have Comments Off

אני אריאות

BREAKING NEWS…… After viewing the story of Ariyot on our Smartboard,  (WOW– a first for Kitah Alef!!),  we then acted it out!

Cast:

Televisia    Daisy

Ariyot      Mo

Abba   Nadav

Saba  Josh

Todah Raba to Kim Glasgal and Andrea Hernandez for helping us reach this milestone.

posted by Morah Rachel in Jewish Studies and have Comments Off

Week of August 29 Jewish Studies

It’s been a great first week!  See our students who have names beginning with the letter א!

We have been singing and dancing  the past week and will continue this week.  The letter א Alef  is at the beginning of words like:

אריאות ariyot (our Hebrew letter lion)

אבא abba (dad)

ארון  aron (cabinet)

אדום adome (red)

אני anee (me)

Here are our Alefs that we wrote on the Smartboard!!! (Todah to Silvia Tolisano for her guidance!!! It takes a village!!!)

Please enjoy listening to your child reading and singing the circled pages for homework.  The next letter is SHIN!!

posted by Morah Rachel in Jewish Studies and have Comments Off

Week One Fun!

Wow!  What a great first week!  This week was filled with learning new procedures and routines, exploring our new room and assessing our reading and math skills.  The students have transitioned beautifully into First Grade.  I am so very proud of their efforts.

We began our math curriculum this week.  It’s important for you as parents to understand that the program starts off slow for a reason.  Please do not be alarmed if the work your child  brings home looks easy. (Math homework will begin in the coming weeks.)  From what I understand, the program is designed to help build a strong foundation through review and repetition before it accelerates into new concepts.

We will begin our first whole group reading story next week.  On Monday, you will find a Family Times in your child’s folder which will explain the story in further detail.  We will also have our first spelling quiz next week.  Your child’s spelling words will be sent home in a packet tomorrow.  The spelling packet should NOT be turned in until next Friday.

I hope your child is coming home with exciting updates! Please do not forget to check our blog as often as possible. If you have any questions please contact me via e-mail.  Thank you for your continued support!

-Mrs. O’Neill & Mrs. Watkins

posted by Kristi O'Neill in General Studies and have Comments Off

Meet the Teachers and Information for First Week

שלום כיתה א   SHALOM KITAH ALEF     HELLO FIRST GRADE HEBREW

We welcome you to our Jewish Studies classroom! For your information:

1.  Don’t be alarmed if your child comes home saying,  ”I don’t understand a thing!”.  It will get better every day!

2.  The name of this terrific program is TaL AM.  Please check out its description and its books.  Ariyot is our Letter Lion who will be an integral part of our curriculum.

3.  A Hebrew Alef Bet chart is always useful if needed for adults only.

4.  Homework!!! Reading every night with an adult is the most important homework in Kitah Alef.  Pages with circled page numbers are those that we have covered in class.  At home, these circled pages should be completed in writing and reviewed by reading.

5. This week’s homework was a creative collage of the letter Alef.  Thanks to those who have already sent in such fabulous creative Alefs.  Please don’t forget to send in your child’s Alef.

6.  All “textbooks” must be returned daily to school unless we have completed the entire unit. On Thursday nights, textbooks willl NOT come home with your child.  Relax!!  The work will be checked and then returned to your child on Friday.

7.  Friday white folders will come home with work to be reviewed and important notes to be read.  Please sign folder and return it to Kitah Alef on Monday.

8.  We need two (2) photographs from you:

-a family photo

-your child’s most recent birthday photo

Thanks again to those who sent in the 2 photos!

9.  Please read, enjoy and return the Hebrew library books and CD’s ASAP.

10.  We are looking forward to a spectacular year with lots of surprises!  Come learn along with Ariyot and us!  DON’T WORRY —There is lots of fun ahead.  There are no Jewish Studies Homework folders (except white ones on Friday).  Homework is in our Ariyot consumable books.

11. If there are any concerns, please don’t hesitate to email us or call us and we will return your call ASAP!

12. Tzedakah (either $$ or canned food)  should be brought on Fridays to fulfill the mitzvah of giving to the needy.  All of the $$ that is collected in the next few weeks will be given to Torah Fund, a campaign to ensure our legacy to future generations of Conservative/Masorti Jews by educating  rabbis, cantors, educators, etc. at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Our own Rabbi Lubliner, Rabbi Olitzky,  Hazzan Holzer, Mr. Mitzmacher, Morah Ita and even Morah Rachel all benefited from studying at JTS.  So bring in those quarters or dollars for Tzedakah!

מורה רחל ומורה חנה    Morah Rachel U’Morah Hanna

Robin Morris and Hanna Bendit

posted by Morah Rachel in Jewish Studies and have Comments Off

Welcome to First Grade – Kitah Alef!

We are excited to start an amazing school year with you and your child.  We look forward to lots of fun ahead.  Please stay posted for updates, from General Studies and Jewish Studies, during the first week of school. Shalom!

~Mrs. O’Neill, Mrs. Watkins,  Morah Rachel and Morah Hanna

posted by Kristi O'Neill in Uncategorized and have Comments Off