The Ruhnke Review 12/5/2022
651-771-8494 aruhnke@stjeromeschool.org
We are Learning About:
Groves/Phonics: We have begun learning new concepts such as 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! PLEASE, help your child memorize these facts. They have not been practicing, therefore, I will not be giving them the assessment each day. It takes time and another copy of the addition test & I don’t want to waste either one. THANK YOU!! We will finish Chapter 6 this week, then we will jump to Chapter 10. (We will return to Chapter 7 after the Christmas break). Chapter 6: Place Value to 100. Vocabulary: tens, ones, ten rod, tens number, two-digit number, hundred chart, count by 2’s, count by 5’s, count by 10’s. Students will be breaking down numbers. for example: the number 32 would be 3 tens and 2 ones, or the number 76 is 7 tens and 6 ones, etc. Chapter 10: Data and Graphical Displays. Vocabulary: Tally chart, tally mark, data, picture graph.
Religion: Chapter 3: “God Watches Over Everything.” The lessons are: Qualities of God, God is the Creator of All Things, God Creates, We Make, Angels & Devils. Then, in 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: We are learning about: Homer and Greek Mythology, The Olympics, Founding of Rome, Greece Colonized & Democracy Begins, Prophets of God, Israel & Judah Fall, Roman Republic Developed.
Reading/CKLA: We have been really enjoying learning about our bodies and the special things it does such as: How our muscles work, our bones-ask your child how many bones our bodies have. How our digestive system works after we swallow our food and drink. Also, ask your child about their heart. How it works and how big it is! Unit 2: “The Human Body.” Lessons will include: Everybody has a Body, The Body’s Framework, Marvelous Moving Muscles, Chew, Swallow, Squeeze, & Churn, The Body’s Superhighway, Control Center-The Brain. This unit is also where November’s memorization poem comes from!
Star of the Week
for December 5 is
Eh Moo S.
for December 12 is
Jasmine J.
for January 9 is
Eh Plae 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, now, put, name, good, man
Scholastic Book Orders:
I have ordered all your wonderful books! They will be in by December 16th. I will send the books home in a brown paper bag so that your child doesn’t see them, just in case you will be giving these books to your child as a Christmas gift! Thank you so much for all of your orders!! HAPPY READING!!!!!!!!!
Reading Log
The completed November Reading Log was due on December 1st.
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! As I stated above, 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. 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. This is usually a poem of some sort. 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!
4. Prayers. I sent home a small prayer booklet with your child in the Take-Home-Folder. PLEASE don’t throw it away, or lose it! This should be kept in a safe place and you and your family should be saying these payers daily. This way, not only are they learning the prayers, but they will also be praying to God and with the entire family!! What more could you ask for??!!
Memorization
Each month your child will bring home a poem that they must memorize. Some are short others are long. Here is a list of the poems they will be memorizing: September & October: Saint Jerome School Pledge. November: “Dr. Welbody’s Heroes,“ I am disappointed that many of the students didn’t memorize this poem. I told the students that I would extend the time for them to memorize this poem until December 14th. They will also be required to memorize the December poem by the 14th, also. 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”
Field Trip Friday, December 9th
We will be going to the play, “The Velveteen Rabbit” at The Youth Performance Company in Minneapolis. We will leave AT 9:30am SHARP!!! Please make sure your child is at School before we leave!!! We are so excited!!
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:
12/6 Feast of Saint Nicholas
12/8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Please join us at Mass @9:45am.
12/9 Field Trip to the Youth Performance Company in Minneapolis to see the play, “The Velveteen Rabbit.” Our bus will leave AT 9:30am Sharp!! Please be on time for the bus to our field trip!!!
12/20 Polar Express Day!! More information to come…
12/21 K-2 will have Christmas arts & crafts morning!
12/21 Christmas Program at 6pm in the Church. ALL Students are Required to attend! Students should dress their very best and they should meet me in the basement of the church. Parents, please keep your child’s coat, hat, mittens, etc. When the program is over, a parent will need to come to us to pick up their child. This way I will know that each child is safe with their parent. Thank you!
12/22-1/3 Christmas & New Year’s Break!! Enjoy some time with family and friends!
1/4/2023 School Resumes.