The Ruhnke Review 1/16/2023
651-771-8494 aruhnke@stjeromeschool.org
We are Learning About:
Groves/Phonics: The newest concepts we have been learning about are suffixes: the suffix -s & the suffix -es. When there is a verb (an action word/something you can do, it’s a verb), the suffix -s can be added to the verb which means the action is taking place right now. For example: take the word jump (a verb/an action), add -s then it is “jumps” which means it is happening right now. Or, if a word ends in s, x, z, ch, sh, then add-es. For example: box., Since it ends with an x you would add -es if there is more than 1 box, to make it plural (more than 1). We continue to work on the “Consonant Blend Rule” which is: when 2 or more consonants are next to each other, they say their own sound, but are blended together. An example would be the word flag. The letters f & l each say their own sound, yet they are a blend of the two consonants. We are also learning the “Floss Rule”. This is when an f, or an s, or an l come after a short vowel, you then double that letter. An example would be the word cuff. The short vowel letter u is followed by an f, so the f is doubled. Another example would be bless. The short vowel e is followed by an s, so the s is doubled.
Math: PLEASE, work with your child to memorize their addition math facts! When they know all of these, then continue on to help them learn their subtraction math facts! We will finish up Chapter 7: Place Value to 120. Vocabulary: value, digit, expanded form, decompose, hundred, 120 chart, order, reasoning. When done with Chapter 7, then we will begin Chapter 8: Addition Facts Within 20. Vocabulary: add, sum, addend, doubles, doubles plus 1, solve, equation.
Religion: Some of your children will be coming home this week with a reading to practice for our upcoming 1st Grade Mass on February 1st. Please work with your child so that he/she will be able to read the passage smoothly & to annunciate each word so that all will hear what is being read. THANK YOU! Chapter 11: “The Epiphany,” Chapter 4: “God’s Special Gifts.” The Lessons are: Our Bodies, Our Souls, Our Path to Heaven, Our Guardian Angels. Chapter 5: “Adam & Eve” The Lessons are: Creation of Adam & Eve, Taking care of God’s Gifts, The Gift of Grace, & Children of God.
Humanities: Greece Colonized & Democracy Begins, Prophets of God, Israel & Judah Fall, Roman Republic Developed, The Persian Wars, Pericles & the Peloponnesian War, Greek Philosophers.
Reading/CKLA: Unit 3: “Different Lands, Similar Stories.” Lessons will include: Stories: Cinderella, The Girl with the Red Slippers, Billy Beg, Tom Thumb, Thumbelina, Issun Boshi-One-Inch Boy, Little Red Riding Hood, Hu Gu Po, & Tselane.
Welcome Back to School in 2023!!
Now that we have been back in school for a full week after an unexpected extended break because of the weather, I wanted to wish you all “HAPPY NEW YEAR!”
Excellent Christmas Concert!
Thank you, parents, for bringing your children to the wonderful Christmas Concert that had been a-long-time-coming because of the winter storms we have had. It was a magical evening & it was all because of your children!! They were fantastic!!
Star of the Week
for January 23 is
Wilbert S.
for January 30 is
Julie S.
A couple of times a month we will have a “Star of the Week” student in our classroom. This entitles the student to be the line-leader, to lead the morning calendar routine, to share/tell all about him/herself by filling in a small poster sheet. This will come home a couple of days, or so, before they are the star. Please have your child fill in the information about themself & color it to make it look nice.
Dress For the Weather
Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately especially for outside. They need to have the correct outerwear at school. Students go outside for recess every day unless it is raining, below 0 degrees, or the windshield is below 0. So, PLEASE make sure they have on ALL 5—snow boots, snow pants, hat, waterproof mittens/gloves, and a winter coat/jacket. I tell the children that they should be wearing all of this to keep warm; not just when there is snow. Also, PLEASE label or put your name on all clothing, boots, etc.. If your child’s name is not on the item, I don’t know whose it is & neither does your child. I always ask the children first if it is someones. If nobody claims it (and that’s usually the case) & there isn’t a name in/on it, it is then put in the “Lost & Found” area in the hall on a shelf. You also may want to have your child leave a pair of shoes at school so that they will always have them here. Students have to wear shoes in the classroom. They are NOT aloud to wear boots in the classroom as they are wet & dirty & then the carpet gets wet & dirty, etc You are also welcome to have your child leave a pair of boots or snow pants or any other clothing item here at school so that they don’t have to carry them back and forth and potentially forget or loose them. THANK YOU!!
Memory/Sight Words:
Again, this year your child will be working on Memory/Sight words. I will list them here as we do them so that you can work with your child at home, also. We have begun with some review words from last year. We will continue learning more each week. Memory/Sight words are words we find in every sentence we read. Students must know these words to be able to read a sentence. Students should memorize these words, NOT sound them out. Please practice these words every day, both reading them and spelling them.
a, I, to, the, in, it, is, at, as, on, and, you, was, has, do, go, no, me, be, we, see, are, her, his, or, for, said, of, my, by, like, look, any, many, out, our, should, would, could, one, he, she, they, love, new, saw, post, most, how, now, your, what, when, were, will, here, where, there, their, then, come, some, made, make, many, into, more, down, find, than, these, about, two, time, first, just, little, went, want, very, off, who, why, way, our, yes, put, name, good, man, other, been, long, part, write, words, which, call, called, water, people
Reading Logs
The Reading Log is a sheet I send home monthly that the parent/adult should sign once the child has read that day. The adult should also fill in the number of minutes your child read that day. They should be reading at least 20-30 minutes daily. It should then be returned to me at the end of the month/beginning of the next month. This is something that must be done, this is NOT a choice. It will affect the student’s grade. I have not received all from December as of yet. PLEASE work with your child on this and return these completed reading logs!!
HOMEWORK
In 1st Grade, the students will have homework most nights. This is what to expect:
1. Math. Almost every night your child should have 1-2 math worksheets to do. Please help your child so that they understand what they are doing (if you have trouble with it, look at the sheets we did together in class. This will show you what/how to do the problems on the homework sheets).
2. Daily Reading/Reading Log: Your child should be reading 20-30 minutes every day! Fill out the Reading Log every day with how many minutes your child read, then sign it (or initial it), and send it back to school at the end of each month. Also, Sr. Audrey, our Reading/Literacy Specialist will be giving your child a book in a bag every day. Your child should read the book at home, then return it to school the next day, and Sr. Audrey will give your child a new book to read. This reading will count towards minutes read on the “Reading Log” also!!
3. Monthly Memorization. Each month I will send a memorization piece home with your child. Please work on it each day for 10 or so minutes until your child memorizes it. I will listen and assess them at the end of each month. Thank you for helping your child learn these! Here is a list of the poems they will be memorizing: September & October: Saint Jerome School Pledge. November: “Dr. Welbody’s Heroes,“ December: “Star Light, Star Bright” January: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” February: “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat” March: “The Pasture” April: “Rope Rhyme” May: “The Swing”
4. Prayers. Please pray with your child(ren) and family each day. These are the prayers that the 1st Graders should know or learn: The Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Prayer Before Meals, and the Angel of God.
Specialist Schedule
Monday=Phy. Ed/Gym
Tuesday=Phy. Ed/Gym & Music
Wednesday=Music
Thursday=”The Forge”(Science & Art)
Friday=”The Forge” (Science & Art)
Upcoming Events:
1/16 NO SCHOOL-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
1/17 NO SCHOOL-Teacher Workshop Day.
1/29-2/3 Catholic Schools Week
2/2 Winter Blast Open House. All are Welcome!
2/3 We go bowling for the ending to Catholic Schools Week. Make sure to send in the signed Field Trip Form!!
2/20 NO SCHOOL-Presidents’ Day
2/27 NO SCHOOL-Parent-Teacher CONFERENCES 10-5.
2/28 Parent-Teacher CONFERENCES 4-8.
3/3 End of Trimester 2