First Grade Common Core Standards

I am very excited about using the following program to teach my class : “First Grade Common Core” and hyperlink those words to point to this link: http://corecommonstandards.com/core-curriculum/first-grade-common-core-workbook/" This has everything needed to teach First grade core standards, and it appears to be very "kid friendly"

Firsst Grade Common Core

I am so excited about receiving my " Common Core State Standards " workbook. I have been using the preview booklet with my students and it far surpassed my expectations. These are skills that are specific to the needs of my students. http://corecommonstandards.com/blog/free-first-grade-common-core-workbook-giveaway/

Welcome to the new school year. I am very excited about all of the new learning programs that Telesis has adopted for this new school year. We have a brand new reading and math program that we will be implementing this year ( I will post details in a follow up blog ). This is now my eighth year of teaching and I am enjoying the challenges of teaching a new grade level. There is never a dull moment when teaching traditional first graders. I hope to see everyone at our open house tonight. Best wishes, Joe Thomas

Winter Break is Over

I just wanted to welcome everyone back from our break. Now, it is back to business as usual. If you are not counting and writing numbers to 100, then you should be reserving a little time from each evening to practice your numbers. I would aslo advise that you should know all of your letters and letter sounds. It is with this knowledge that you will become a great reader.

Best wishes,

Mr. Thomas

Kindergarten Pajama Party

The kindergarten team has decided to celebrate the letter of the week " P ",
by allowing the students to wear their pajamas during the last day of school ( 12-22-11 ), prior to our Holiday break. I will not be able to attend,as I am leaving town the 21st. However, I have been assured that this will be a very fun day for the students. Again, I thank each of you for being such wonderful supporters of our class.

Happy Holidays to you and your families.

Mr. Thomas

Kindergarten News

It's hard to believe that we are almost half way through the school year.
I am also AMAZED at how the students of class 24 are progressing. I remember the first day of class- About half the class was crying- all wanting their Mommys. Now many of them are reading and doing basic adding and subtracting.
Thank you to all the wonderful parents of my class. You have all been very supportive.
Happy Holidays

Mr. Thomas

Kindergarten: Week Three

This week we are working on the letters K, L, M, N and O. We have been developing our " Animal Letter Books ", each day we discuss the animal associated with the daily letter. We then cut, paste and color the animal and add it to our letter book. We are also working on our counting skills. This includes recognizing and writing the number 1 - 5.
I would ask that you be working with your child on their name writing skills. I believe that each of them have room for improvement in this area.

First week of the new school year !!!!

Hello Everyone,

We are well into our first week of school and the students are adjusting nicely. I am surprised at how well they have all adjusted so quickly. As I stated at the open house last week, I had never taught students quite so young. To be honest, I had never quite understood kindergarten students or the teachers who taught them. What I have found in a very short time, is that I enjoy the amazing attitudes of both kindergarten students and their teachers here at Telesis. All of them seem so eager to be here. It's been a wonderful experience thus far. I also wanted to thank you parents for the numerous that you donated to our class. This is greatly appreciated.

Best Regards,

Mr. Thomas

Welcome to Kindergarten

I wanted to Welcome everyone of you to an exciting new school year. I have been teaching for over fifteen years, and I find that I enjoy teaching today, more then ever. Kindergarten is a a new adventure for me, as I have mostly taught in the upper grade levels. Please check my blog weekly, as I will keep you updated as to what is happening in class 24.

It's hard to believe !!!!

It is truly hard to believe that our 2010-2011 school year is winding down to an end. I have had so much fun during this school year. I have also learned a great deal from my AMAZING students. Each day they remind me to laugh more, judge less, and to forgive more easily. I wish each of them, and their families a wonderful summer.

Thank you.

Mr. Thomas

Ask me how you can win a boat !!!

As you may have heard, Telesis is holding a raffle in order to raise the much needed funds for our expansion project. Your $10 donation may very well win you a $10,000 sport boat. Please see me in classroom 29 to order your tickets.

Telesis Academy Open House

I just wanted to remind everyone that Telesis is having an open house
Thursday, April 21st. This will be an action packed event with both food and entertainment. Please stop on by between 5 p.m.- 8 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you then.

Mr. Thomas

Broadway's Best ( practice song one ) Video

Student Performers please folow the link below and practice one of the two songs that you will be performing at Grace Arts Theater.

Song
Thank you !!!

Telesis Expansion Fundraiser

New Expansion Project Fundraiser - March 25-27 & April 1-3
At first this was slated for just March 26, but it has expanded to two week-ends in a partnership with GraceArtsLive performers and staff: Telesis Families and Friends are invited to a concert by Eric Kunze (pronounced "Koon-zee") and Gina De Luca, students of none other than our very own Grace Ann, who has offered to share a portion of the profits of 6 concerts to assist with our Expansion Project. Eric and Gina run Big City Broadway, which is affiliated with C.C.A., the California Conservatory of the Arts, a pre-professional training ground in the arts for talented young people, grades six through twelve. They have performed on Broadway and produce a concert of Broadway hits called "Broadway's Best.” That is the concert they will perform on stage at GraceArtsLive theatre with one difference: Eric has offered to come to Telesis to teach Intermediate students several back-up songs that, with parental permission, they will accompany him on stage. Check out Eric’s website at www.erickunze.com. Tickets will sell for $25 for adults and $12.50 for children.

Student of the Week !!!

Cassie Hull
Avery Andreasen

A Great New Year !!!!

Dear Parents,

I have to say that the " New Year ", 2011 has started off very well for Class 29. Our class has settled into a very good routine and we are all working as a cohesive team. I have to say that personally, I wake up most days ( 99.9 % ) eager to get to school to begin our current lessons.
These students are very special young people and they never cease to make me smile with their questions and statements. I also wanted to thank each of you for your support.
Best Wishes,
Mr. Thomas

Spelling City

Please make sure to vist SpellingCity.com and practice Lesson 19 spelling words.

Spelling Unit 18 ( these are review words ) List sent home on Monday

Spelling Words Unit 17

tiniest hobbies copied countries
pitied easier laziest families
spied happiest ladies friendlier
studied busier breezier prettiest
noisier healthier butterflies funniest
hurried stories carried pennies babies
heaviest categories communities
multiplied qualities

Spelling and Vocabulary Unit 16

SPELLING UNIT 16:
turkey
lonely
merry
steady
hungry
valley
hockey
starry
melody
movie
duty
drowsy
chimney
plenty
daily
alley
eighty
empty
injury
prairie
cherry
jelly
sticky
worry
curly
envy
fiery
mercy
discovery
mystery

Vocabulary:

possession venture scarcely keen scrutinize
quandary elucidate plentiful