Moved to http://varner.typepad.com/defrain

Who is Ms. Towne?

  I am now back to being a first grade teacher.  I am extremely excited about a new group of student!  We will be forming new friendships, focusing on Life Skills,  and  learning together everyday! 

I graduated from the University of Mobile with a dual degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education.  I also just graduated from Kennesaw State University with my MED. in Educational Leadership degree with a concentration in Technology.  I have worked at Varner Elementary for 7 years now and have had the opportunity to loop with 2 classes.

Number of visits to my blog:

Field Day

We just recieve notice about this year's Field Day and we need your help!

Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grade Field Day is Monday, April 25th.  8:20-12: 30.

We are needing parent volunteers to help run the stations.  If you are able to help our for either the morning or afternoon slot please email Laura Shyman at laura518@my.tupperware.com   We need your help to have a successful Field Day.

Field Day is also a fun day for the students to join in team activities and just have fun being kids.  We will have a break mid-day. If you would be able to send in some popsicles for this break please write me a note.  The students would love this treat. (nothing fancy is required, the frozen pops would be great!)

Thanks for your support,

Mrs. DeFrain

This Just in....

Attention Parents:

We have known all along that 1st grade would not be taking the CRCT this year due to state cut backs, but at Varner students in 1st & 2nd grades WILL take CRCT Instructional Test (a version of the CRCT) on April 12, 13, & 14.  Students will be assessed on how well they have learned the content standards for their grade in the following areas; Readign, English/Language Arts, and Mathmatics.  Tests are multiple choice and will allow parents and teachers more information about student strengths and weaknesses in core academic areas.

Please make sure that students arrive on time and well rested.  This will be a good test practice for students. 

In short what does this mean?  Students will be taking a practice test on information they have been taught this year.

I will be posting a "What do GOOD test takers do?" bookmark later this week.  It will go over the test taking skills that we have practiced this year.

Thank you for your support,   

Mrs. DeFrain

A Celebration of ROOTS, STEMS, LEAVES, & FLOWERS

On Thursday, March 24, 2011 we will wrap up our unit on plants with a celebration of STEMS, LEAVES, ROOTS, and FLOWERS.  (all edible vegetables of course)  We are asking that you send in one item to share with the class.   A note will come home with your child Thursday letting you know what type to send in, or you can feel free to be creative and choose another vegetable of that type and send it in. 

Thank you for your participation in our hands on activity & making learning memorable. 

Mrs. DeFrain

“I hear, and I forget.  I see, and I remember. 
I DO, and I UNDERSTAND”

~Chinese Proverb

March Updates

For starters, Yes I got married over the winter break and am now Mrs. DeFrain.  Thank you to all for all of the warm wishes.  Though out the remainder of this year the blog, my email, and the Towne News will remain the same. (as to not confuse the lines of communication) I will begin signing papers Mrs. DeFrain and we will transition in to the students calling me that as it happens.   (habits are hard to break)  

Below I have attached the March Newsletter and Homework Calendar as well as some useful links.

Download Towne_new1stMarch

Download March calendar

Printable Flash Cards

George Washington Carver

We have been busy learning about George Washington Carver.  Here is a Wordle that we made as a class to help us remember a few facts about him.  We are also studying informational writing, a great practice writing you could do would be to use this wordle to write a paragraph about Carver.  Remember to begin with a super opening sentence, add some detail sentences in the middle, then close with a great summary sentence.

Telling Time

Beginning next week we will start our unit on telling time.  Here are some games that can help you from home or at centers.

Telling Time to the Hour:

What time is it?

Telling Time to the Half-Hour:

Telling Time

Willy the Watchdog

Using a Calendar:

Days and Dates

1st Grade Performance & Soda Tops

Our First Grade Performance of Famous Americans is Thursday, February 3rd.  Students need to be dropped off at our classsroom PROMPTLY at 6:15.  Parents are to repor to the cafeteria to find their seats.  Sfter the performance, students will be picked up back in the room. 

Students are to wear RED, WHITE, or BLUE shirts and JEANS!

We are also collecting soda can tops for a child at our school's family.  They have a sick child and have been staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Atlanta.  These can tops help to off-set the cost for families. 

You can save them at home and send them in when weekly.  Thank you for your help with supporting a member of our Varner Family!

 

 

Jan./Feb. News - Bonus Activity & Reading Log

I normally send out the newsletter and post it the same day, but I thought the ones of you who check the blog may like to plan ahead.  Here are some upcoming events and dates to remember for January and February.   Click here to download the January/February Newsletter : Download Towne_newsJanuaryFebruary2011

January 2011
1/17/11 – MLK Holiday No School

1/19/11 – Chick fil-a $2.50

1/28/11 – Spirit Day

1/31/11 – 2/4/11 – Scholastic Book Fair 

February 2011

2/3/11 – 1^st Grade Performance at PTA

Yearbooks must be ordered by Feb. 4. The cost is $28.

2/21/11 - 2/25/11 - Winter Break – NO School

 Bonus Work:  On a piece of paper at home solve the following word problem.  Remember to show your work, draw a picture, write a number sentence, and then use words to tell me your answer in a sentence. (just like our math journals)  Bring this paper in to school when we get back and earn a fancy pencil!

Michaelah and Regan have been busy making snowballs.  Michaelah made 9 and Regan made 6.  Then Dabria came by and threw 3 of them.  How many snowballs to the girls have left?

I have not had a chance to pass out the new reading logs this January.  If you would like to begin keeping up with your reading download this document. Download Reading-log-

Snow Day Activities!

I hope everyone is home safe and warm during these snow days.  I have been busy planning for our return to school.  In the mean time I hope that everyone is finding time to READ, READ, READ!  I have looked up some fun sites that will help with some reading skills over this break and the ones to come in Jan. and Feb.  These are all new games for students so they may need alittle help from you at the beginning, but I am sure they all know the skills. :-)

ABC Order  

SpellBound Practice the Read, Cover, Retell method

High Frequency Word Game  Find the missing word (many levels to extend)

Making Words (CVC - practice shounding out beginning, middle, and end of words)  

Construct-a-Word (extention of making words)

Sight Word Memory (on this site there are other printables and online games to play with sight words!)

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

For fun and to work out your brain I have attached the link for SET.  Boys and girls this is the game that you played with Mrs. Hamilton in Tallent Development.

SET

 

 

Fractions

We are back from the break and movign right along.  This week we have already learned tons about equal parts and have moved right along to fractions.  Here are a few fraction games that are a fun way to review at home.  (as well as a few games that will challenge the brain for skills we will be covering in the near future)

Cross the River

Matching Fractions

Fraction Memory