WCS
School
October 13, 2007
Mrs. Osterhoudt’s Class News
http://msoclass.blogspot.com
Social Studies
We have been busy learning how to read
maps and about the history of the American
flag.
We are exploring the answers to these
essential questions:
• What does it mean to be an American?
• How is American culture similar and
different from other cultures in the
world?
Notes From Mrs. O.
Hello! I would like to thank all of the
parent volunteers. You are a critical part
of our learning experience. The guided
reading volunteers are working with small
groups teaching the children how to
create and write a sentence. This week
they will introduce compound words.
Volunteers if you have a compound item
at home that you would like to bring in to
enhance your lesson please feel free to
do so (i.e. pancakes, blueberries, etc.).
Our math volunteer is busy teaching your
children how to figure out different coin
combinations. Now is a great time to
consider giving your child a small
allowance (in coins) or allowing them to
pay for small items using coins at a store.
I have received a report that first graders
have been yelling “Boo” at
kindergarteners in the bathroom during
recess scaring them. I plan to talk to our
class about responsible bathroom
behavior on Monday. I would appreciate
you speaking to your children about this
behavior too.
Westlake Charter
3700 Del Paso Rd
Sacramento, CA 95833
10/13/07
October 13, 2007
Writing
We are learning how to write sentences using a
noun, verb, and adjective (describing word).
We are reviewing and practicing how to write
each letter of the alphabet.
Our class has been focusing on how authors
develop ideas for stories. We wrote and
illustrated two classroom books Elephants and
Good Night Gorilla.
Math
We are currently working on Chapter 2,
which focuses on subtraction facts through
10. Students are learning a variety of ways
to solve math problems including:
• Drawing a picture
• Using a number line
• Using counters
• Counting backwards from the largest
number
Language Arts
The students are getting use to working in
reading groups and independently in curriculum
centers. Your children rotate to the following
centers each day: Math, Reading, Spelling, Art,
and Writing. They are expected to complete
one “must do” task at each center then they
may choose from two to five different learning
activities to work on at their assigned center.
Curriculum centers help students to practice
first grade social and academic skills plus learn
responsibility and time management. Fridays
are “catch up” days. All students are given the
opportunity to catch up any “must do” work
they did not finish during the week before
selecting a free choice center activity.
 Mrs. O.’s News Page 2
First Grade Sight Words
get, them, like, one, this, my, would, me,
will, yes, big, went, are, come, if, now,
long, no, came, ask, very, an, over,
yours, its, ride, into, just, blue, red, from,
good, any, about, around, want, don’t,
how, know, right, put, too, got, take,
where, every, pretty, jump, green, four,
away, old, by, their, here, saw, call, after,
well, think, ran, let, help, make, going,
sleep, brown, yellow, five, six, walk, two,
or, before, eat, again, play, who, been,
may, stop, off, never, seven, eight, cold,
today, fly, myself, round, tell, much,
keep, give, work, first, try, new, must,
start, add, subtract
Goblin Gardens Pumpkin Patch
• We will be exploring how some
Americans celebrate the Fall!
• October 19th
• 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Transportation: Bus
• Chaperones: Kami LeMoss,
Christine Rakkar, Katherine
Stewart, Fredericka McGee
• Please send a sack lunch with
your child since we will eat
lunch at the pumpkin farm.
News Flash!!!
Your students are doing a wonderful job
following our classroom rules, working
as a team, completing their work in a
timely manner, and using good
manners! Our student leader places
marbles in a jar when our class is doing
a good job at school. We voted to have
a root beer float and PJ party when the
jar is full; however we will have a crazy
sock day instead of PJs. We are only 11
marbles away from our goal. We hope
to have our party on Thursday (Oct 18)
after lunch. We will take off our shoes
and relax in our silly socks with floats
while Mrs. O. reads us a silly story.
School Rules
Please take a moment to review the
school rules with your child.
• Respect each other. Be
courteous.
• Listen. Know when to talk.
• Always do your best.
• Follow directions.
Upcoming Events
Box Tops for Education due in by October 15th
(our class only needs 40 more to earn otter pops)
School Pictures- October 16th (in uniforms)
WCS Campus Clean Up- October 29th (9:00
a.m.-1:00 p.m.)
Family Night at Natomas Barnes & Nobles –
October 24th (5:00-7:00 p.m.)
Railroad Museum Field Lesson- October 26th
(Chaperones: Ann Alan, Danielle Steuben)
1st Grade Halloween Party- October 31st (no
costumes, we will enjoy games, a craft, & reader’s
theater preformed by our yellow reading group)
Safetyville USA Field Lesson- November 16th
(Chaperones: Danielle Steuben)
B Street Children’s Theater Field Lesson-
December 6th (Chaperones: Ann Alan, Richard
Steuben, Kami LeMoss)
Discovery Science Museum Field Lesson-
March 20th (Chaperones: Richard Steuben)
Crocker Art Museum Field Lesson- April 17th
(Chaperones: Richard Steuben)
Explorit Mace Ranch Nature Lab Field Lesson-
May 22nd (Chaperones: Richard Steuben)
Fairytale Town Field Lesson- June 5th
(Chaperones: Richard Steuben)