Classroom News

  • Interactive Book/Remote Learning Week of April 6

    Posted by Amy Petrini on 4/6/2020 9:00:00 AM

    Hello Parents,

    We have already heard from many of you that our interactive book link is not working. For some reason Clever is not linking to our Language Arts/Pearson account. Please use this youtube link to access the book:

    https://youtu.be/lmCniLo7cKY

     

    Other problems/trouble shooting:

    1. Have you logged your child into Clever? (Please refer to my earlier email for details and connect to our classroom.)

    2.  Did you add the period at the end of your child's password?

    3.  Did you add @student.mcpsmt.org to the end of their Google sign-in?

    Please know that as I type this my husband is trying to figure all of this out with my youngest son, my oldest son is in his Google classroom and the formatting is jumbled and confusing on his math sheet, and my daughter is asking multiple questions- most especially when she can use the 1 and only computer that we have in our household... Grace and patience to us all as we figure so many new things out. I'm "LOL"ing thinking about all of the homeschooling memes that I have been seeing these last couple of weeks. Take a deep breath, have a giggle, step away, and try anything that might help you and your learner(s) get through this.

    I miss them all so much. Please respond to me in any way if I haven't heard from you in the last couple of weeks. I let Mrs. Wright know that I have heard from about 75% of my students at this point.

    Thanks and good luck. Please try my problem solving strategies and let me know if you are still unable to connect.

    Amy Petrini

    Comments (-1)

  • Google/Clever login info

    Posted by Amy Petrini on 4/2/2020 1:00:00 PM

     Here is the link to get your child started on Clever:

    (This links you to the Web Connect page on The MCPS site.) https://www.mcpsmt.org/domain/691

    Click on the Clever tab in the center column titled STUDENTS.

    LOGIN with their student Google account.

    username@student.mcpsmt.org

     

    Comments (-1)

  • Week of March 30

    Posted by Amy Petrini on 4/2/2020 11:00:00 AM

     

    I hope this message finds you well.  I have loved getting your messages and/or pictures that you have sent.

    Instead of rolling right into Google Classroom this week we, as a 1st grade team, decided to roll that out NEXT week.  You should have been able to access all of this week's activities by:
    1.  Going to the Rattlesnake School Website
    2.  Clicking on Remote Learning at the bottom of the homepage
    3.  Clicking on First Grade
     
    You will be able to do the same next week. We are also wanting you to navigate to our Google Classroom through their Clever account. This way we will be able to see who is logging in. There will be 2 small activities where they will need to respond to our classroom as a way of showing some accountability and letting us know who is engaged through this type of learning at home.
     
    You may want to explore "Clever" at home this week (an online "hub" of educational apps).  I will send you all your child's individual info following this message as well as directions for logging on to Clever.  Our class only has a couple of options so please explore the ones that are listed under the library tab.  Through Clever you will be able to get to Google Classroom . Try it out and let me know if you have any challenges/roadblocks!
     
    Thanks so much for your patience and understanding during this time.  I want to again stress that we have been told to keep things super simple and have been instructed to only give a couple of activities per day, the most important to be reading with and/or to your child.  It will be up to you to look for ways to enrich your child's learning. I'd love to hear what new things your child has learned.  
     
    I hope you all are staying well. We're on our last roll of toilet paper so I'll be venturing out soon... Wish me luck!
     

     

    Comments (-1)

  • Week of March 23

    Posted by Amy Petrini on 3/27/2020 3:00:00 PM
     
    I have written this email over and over in my head the last couple of days- often during the early morning hours when I should be sleeping. I chose this profession because I love working with children, sharing in their joys and excitement, and engaging with them in meaningful ways.  No doubt this week has been challenging for us all as we make this shift towards remote learning. As a parent of 3 children (and 1 dog) it has been incredibly difficult for me to find my groove to be present for them as well as my job as an educator. I have had 1 staff meeting and 2 team meetings with the other first grade teachers to discuss and plan for the next couple of weeks, which has helped to give me some direction. Later today you will be receiving  an email with a schedule which has different activities/lessons for each day next week. The intention is NOT that your child complete and do every activity for every day, but rather you choose together some that your child may complete with or without you. For next week's lessons you will not be required to show evidence of what your child has completed, but please feel free to send anything that your child wants to share with me. The most important thing that you and your child should do daily is read/listen to reading/be read to.  Please tell them that I miss them very much and look forward to when we can all be together again. I welcome any messages, pictures, videos, etc. that you could share with me from them.  I'll be in touch again next week, but please feel free to send me any messages in the meantime.
     
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  • Week of March 2nd

    Posted by Amy Petrini on 3/2/2020 4:00:00 PM

    Hello Parents,

    Thank you for signing up for your child's conference. Please include who will attending as well as your child's name in the comments. Please sign up by Friday afternoon, which is when I will finalize my schedule.

    Students will get out early next Thursday at 11:05 and there will be no school next Friday.  Please sign and return the sheet in your child's folder if you would like for them to be sent home with a cold lunch on Thursday.

    This week is Dr. Seuss Week. Here is the schedule if your child would like to participate:

    Tuesday: crazy sock day

    Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday- wear a variety of patterns

    Thursday- Lorax day- wear green

    Friday- Who-Hair (crazy hair) Day

    Also, your child may bring in any Dr. Suess books to read and share with classmates.

    Thanks and see you next week!

    Comments (-1)

  • Week of February 24th

    Posted by Amy Petrini on 2/24/2020 3:00:00 PM

    Hello Parents,

     
    Here are a few reminders/upcoming events, etc.:
    • Please complete any online book orders tonight and return any written orders tomorrow.
    • A sign-up link will be sent out this Thursday for conferences. Conferences will be March 11th and 12th.
    • Our class will be in a musical performance on March 31 at 10:15.
    • Please continue to work with your child on memorizing all of the doubles facts- 2+2 up to 10+10. Also please help them to memorize multiples of 10- such as 5+5, 6+4, 3+7, etc. There is no need to show proof of this, but getting these mastered will better prepare them for additional math concepts and strategies that will be introduced.
    Thanks and have a great week.
    Amy
    Comments (-1)

  • Week of February 3

    Posted by Amy Petrini on 2/3/2020 4:00:00 PM

     

    I can’t believe that we are halfway into our school year!  I get so excited to see their growth as I start the assessment process to prepare for our next conference. Here are a few important reminders:

    •  This week for homework I am having your child write a word or couple of words that describes each of the students in our class.  Please help them brainstorm words other than “nice” and try to have a variety of adjectives.  I will be keeping these for a special project.
    • Valentines- please make one for every student in our class. Please have your child write all of the names for their classmates as well as their student numbers on their cards. This will help with distribution. Also, our school policy is no candy. Please do not attach or send candy with your child.
    • On Tuesday, March 31 our class will be having a musical show with Mr. Decker’s class as well as a couple of the Kindergarten classes.  They will perform at 10:15.  I will send more information as we near the date.
    • Box Tops-please send them in as this is the last week.
    • No school for next 2 Mondays, February 10th and 17th. 

    Thanks,

    Amy  Petrini

    Comments (-1)

  • Week of January 13th

    Posted by Amy Petrini on 1/13/2020 5:00:00 PM

     

    Here we are at week 2 after Christmas break. Last week we were all pretty tired, but let's hope that we all are back in the swing of things, more on schedule, and getting better sleep.

    This month's trait that we are focusing on is caring. There is an additional homework sheet this week focusing on how to show that they are caring at home. Please discuss multiple ways to show kindness/caring at home and school. They will need to complete the sentence and draw a picture of them doing something caring at home.
     
    Please start sending in Box Tops. The official contest doesn't start until next month, but we can start collecting them now.  Thanks for your help and contributions.
     
    I sent home a book order today. You can also order online for your convenience. There is also a wider selection online and more options to pay directly. Please return any written forms by next Monday.
     
    Happy New Year to you all. We are almost at our halfway point in the year so we still have lots of learning to do! Thanks for your help with reading to/with your children at home to assist with all of their reading levels.
     
    Comments (-1)

  • Week of December 16

    Posted by Amy Petrini on 12/16/2019

    Hello Parents,

     
    Wow, I certainly could feel the excitement in our class today as we near the holidays. Here are a few things to note:
    • Unfortunately there is no holiday show.  There will however be an adorable performance sometime in February where your child will be singing. You will receive more information about times, etc. as we near the date.
    • We will also not be having a "party" this week. We will be having special activities throughout the week  and will end with a pajama day/Read-In on Friday. Your child may bring a small stuffy, books to read/share with classmates, and wear their pajamas that day. I also told them that we would enjoy some hot cocoa and popcorn together.  Please use this link if you would like to donate supplies for our day:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0949A9A62BA3FE3-winter
    • We are currently learning about making "doubles" in math. These are important facts to learn and memorize. We will be working on a poem in class to help us remember them. Please keep the poem and use it to work on these facts when it is sent home later this week.
    • MCT- information was sent home today about this special opportunity in February. 
    That's all for now. Enjoy your holidays and break.
     
    Amy Petrini
    Comments (-1)

  • Week of December 2

    Posted by Amy Petrini on 12/2/2019

    Hello Parents,

     
    Can you believe that it is already December? I am truly enjoying seeing the growth that all of your children have made at this point in the year. I loved meeting and speaking will all of you at conferences. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns before our next conference which won't be until March.
     
    Here are a few things to know:
     
    PAX:
    Our class was chosen to be videoed to show how we use PAX in our classroom. PAX is a program which teaches peace, productivity, health, and happiness. Please ask your child what they can tell you about it. The video will be used to teach other teachers how to implement it in their classrooms. They will be filming us tomorrow morning.
     
     
    Book order:
    Book orders will be due next Monday. They only sent our class 1 flier this time.  You can go online for more options and to complete payments.
     
    Homework:
    This week includes an opinion writing about what their favorite Thanksgiving food is to eat. Please have them trace the words that I have typed and write in pencil in their best handwriting.
     
    Thanks,
    Amy Petrini
    Comments (-1)

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