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Newsletter
1B News
September 24, 2020
Hello 1B families!
We’ve had a fantastic week in 1B! One of the comments was, “It feels like real school, now!” I’m not sure what we were doing the other weeks, but I’m glad it feels like school now!
We focused on short vowel “a” this week with our spelling and phonics. Next week we will work on short vowel “i”.
I have already seen so much growth in so many areas. The children are trying to improve every day. I am crediting Whole Brain Teaching.
A little more about this, focusing on the Super Improver activities.
The primary goal in WBT is to reward students for improvement, not ability. I praise excellent effort AND excellent work, but what I’ve seen so far is the byproduct IS better work. It’s fun to nourish growth for each individual child. Thus, every child, can be equally successful. Keeping with our superhero theme, the children are rewarded for this improvement with Super Improver stars as I see an improvement or an example of one of the 5 qualities listed below. Each level has ten stars to earn and then they “level up!” We have a little celebration and the student gets a new superhero shield paper. The paper is on their desks so it’s easily accessible. I send this home when they’ve leveled up.
The 5 areas that I strongly encourage improvement are
1.Glorious Kindness
2.Positive Leadership
3.Selfless Courage
4. Invincible Grit
5. Brainy Creativity.
I’ve woven our Catholic Faith through each of these qualities as well. When we improve, we take the gifts and talents that God has given us and show Him praise by using them! We’ve spent a week on each of these, but next week they will coordinate with the days of the week. If you have questions about any of this, please let me know or visit wholebrainteaching.com.
I hope you all have a fantastice 3 day weekend-No school for students Friday September 25th.
Mrs. Kurtenbach
1B News 9-11-20
September 11, 2020
Hello 1B Families,
It’s been a great week in 1B. It was hard to stay in when it was raining, but we have a new game! Ask your child about the YMCA!
Monday afternoon you should be able to access the First Grade, Virtual Parent Night. I say, “should” because I don’t have a lot of confidence in my computer skills!
Next week we will have our first author study. These are fun weeks in first grade! We try to inspire the love of literature by learning about different authors and illustrators. Our first author is Leo Lionni. When we have an author study, there is no word list or cards.
The boys and girls learned a game with their word cards. The game is called ZAP! They wrote that word on one of their word cards. You can put the words in a pile or leave them in the envelope. You take turns picking and reading words but if you get ZAP, you have to put all your cards back into the pile! Add in last week’s words and you’ll have a longer game. I did notice a little more trouble with those number words so practicing those will be very helpful!
This week we began Science. We’ll be learning about health. Next week we’ll add in Social Studies. We’ll be learning about Citizenship.
Next week we will begin Math Mondays. This means your child will have math homework-on MOST Mondays. I do have one student who has already traded his Angel punch card in for No Homework! Math homework needs to be returned on Tuesday, and be sure your child does both sides of the paper.
Thank you!
Please return Super Me pages back to school on Monday the 14th. It would be nice to have them colored, too, since this will become a class book.
I hope you have a fantastic weekend!
Mrs. Kurtenbach
1B News
May 19, 2020
Hello Families!
I hope you have a wonderful and restful summer! Continue reading, writing and using math all summer to be ready for second grade!
I feel so blessed that I was a part of your lives this year.
1B 2019-2020
I Hope You Remember
Smiling faces
Fun Friends
Kindness and Compassion
I Hope You Remember
Ice Cream Party
Stuffed Animals at School
Bugz!
Movie and 3 Recess Fridays
Author Studies-Hedgie Cookies
I Hope You Remember
ZAP!
Angel Cards, Poems
Dancing, Singing, Go Noodle
Vala’s Pumpkin Patch
Our 1B Christmas Play
I Hope You Remember
Praying Together
Laughing Together
Learning Together
I Hope You Remember
Once you’ve been a 1B student,
You will always be my 1B student.
You will always be in my heart!
I Hope You Remember
God loves you and will always love you.
No matter what happens, you can turn to Him.
You are a child of God.
He made you and you are so loved by Him.
Grow in His love to be more like Jesus.
Keep your heart open
to His love and show compassion.
Live in His love and be happy!
Love Always,
Mrs. Kurtenbach
HAPPY SUMMER!!!
My name is Sue Kurtenbach. It's hard for me to believe, but I am in my 38th year of teaching at St. Pius X / St. Leo School. I have been teaching First Grade for about 28 of those years. I love seeing all of the growth that happens during the First Grade year. This school is very near and dear to me! I feel blessed to be a part of the SPSL community!
