Welcome to First Grade

Welcome to the 2015-2016 School Year!  My name is Annette Hyder!  I am celebrating turning 50 this year!  (Not sure if you should know that... )  I am also married to my High School sweetheart of 25 years this September!  LOTS OF MILESTONES!  The good news...It's all good!  I have 2 daughters, Emily and Katie.  One is a Clemson Graduate living and working in Charlotte and the other is a Sophomore at Clemson this Fall.  I currently hold a Masters Degree in Education and I am certified in both Early Childhood and Elementary Education.  I am former recipient of Oakland's Teacher of the Year and News Channel 7's Golden Apple Award. I have worked on several committees throughout my career, the most recent being our District Math Curriculum Committee!  I work hard and  I love teaching.  I am very thankful to have a job I love to go to. I have worked in Summer Learning Academy for the past 3 years to help students who need a little more attention and assistance.  

I believe that the best approach for successful learning in the younger years is one where students interact.  I use a "Literacy/Math Centers Based Approach" to enhance learning. Including Lunch, Recess, Snack, Special Area and Centers, students are out of their seats for 1/2 of the day. Although students will be seated facing the front of the room, they are only seated during Morning Work or Silent Reading. Students also participate in a monthly project where we help those in our world around us entitled the "Providing Palm Tree".  We want to move students from a "me" base to an "others" based lifestyle where we are considerate of those around us. These things promote life skills and create a fun learning environment as well.  YES!  Learning can be fun! 

I look forward to a great year ahead!  Please make a note to join me for "Meet the Teacher" on Wednesday, August 12th!   

If at all possible, please bring supplies and especially 1 inch binder with a clear front pocket on this day!

If you want to send any extra items needed...Below is a list of extras only! (totally optional)

Clorox Wipes
Hand Sanitizer
Kleenex
Sandwich Baggies
Dollar Store Items for our Prize Box

I will explain all important information on August 12th!  Think about things you may want to sign up to help with...Room Helper, 100 Book Party Helper, Supplies Helper, Book Talk Guide, Mystery Reader, ( Mystery Reader is reading a seasonal book with our class and bringing a treat or craft to accompany it! No worries...I will be happy to help with all of it!!)  

What a great month to celebrate our very special moms!  They were so excited to make your gifts!  I hope you had a great week!  Thanks so much for making our week at Oakland so special.  I cannot put into words how much your support means. I had more gifts and flowers and I really felt appreciated so thanks so much! Thanks again for all you do! You send in food items and drinks whenever they are needed.  You have your children at school and ready to work.  You ensure homework is completed and books are read!  Kudos!  I appreciate all of you! 

Strawberry Hill was a much needed break from MAP Testing!  I believe the children are working very hard!

We had a 96% growth rate for Reading and we will get math scores next week after we test on Monday!  So proud of all of the hard work!   They certainly know more than they knew when they walked in...in August!  

Last test papers for the year are going out today so they will not be in a folder for you to sign!!  

We have so many fun things coming up as we close out the year!  Please take care of all fees owed so we can get those report cards out and on time and everyone can participate in the fun stuff! As we are reminded by Dr. Patterson and Mrs. Skinner, the fun stuff is a privilege!!  Have a great weekend

Just a few pictures of what we have been up to in April!  Several students passed their keyboarding exam...They have been working hard in Computer Lab on keyboarding!  Plants were sent home but we wanted to show the picture of our indoor garden!  We measured Perimeter and Area.  Students learned that perimeter is the  outer edge and area is the inside measurement!  Great to have a raised garden to show that with!  Our butterflies are in the cocoon stage so we hope to see some butterflies very soon!  :) 

Look over the newsletter to view our MAP Schedule and thanks for all you do!  Thanks for sending MAP Test snacks too! 

Ready for Spring Break!

We had another great week in 1st Grade! Our plants are really growing and we have been watching and graphing those results!  Today we started with a Wonderopolis video of  "Why Do Bunnies Hop".  We learned about fractional parts with a Jelly Bean Graph and we made 2D Shape flowers!  We ended with Art and an Easter Egg Hunt!  Special Thanks to John and Angela Snyder and Jennifer Bruce for their help with hiding eggs!  Thanks for everyone for the eggs and candy!  We had plenty!
I hope you enjoy these babies as much as I do!  Happy Easter!  See you in a week as we prepare for MAP Testing and begin plans for a  Field Trip to Strawberry Hill  for Thursday, May 14th!

Almost Easter!

Just in case you didn't know...I LOVE SPRING!!  What an awesome week to be 6 and 7!!  We enjoyed sorting seeds in Science ( Alliteration?!) and talking about how different seeds have different needs and grow different things!

We also planted our Indoor Garden and students chose between grass and sunflower seeds...Helper of the Day has another added task... watering daily! 

My surprise of the week...listening to their writing using personification.  We read a poem and book that both used personification and the kids picked something to personify.  They read their details to the class and the class had to decide what they were personifying.  One person wrote "I have hooves.  I love when you ride me.  Don't forget to feed and brush me". There were great details used.  I was impressed to say the least!  GREAT JOB!!!

I am so proud that we have reached 400 as a group and beyond!!  Students made and flew kites and we divided our snack foods of 400 pieces among 23 students.  Great division problem!  Snack is ready for sharing on Friday!

Hope to see you on Tuesday at 9:30 AM for Awards Day!

Such a great week!  We had a wonderful St. Patrick's Day with graphing, goodies, and looking for lucky shamrocks.  We were thrilled to finally have Spring arrive today!  Our Weekly Reader informed about all the things we see, hear, and smell this time of year.  Next week, we will look closely at seeds and plant outside and inside!  Congratulations on all the wonderful reading that is being done!  Lots of hard work and we have something special planned for reaching that 400 Goal!  Enjoy the warmer weather and get out and play!  

Welcome March

Wow!  What crazy weather we have had!!  Hopefully we are now back on track and back on a regular schedule!  As always, thank you parents for your support of this classroom and Oakland!

     We have been busy bees with our author visit by Chris Rumble. He brought a guitar and the kids loved singing, moving, and hearing about how he knew he wanted to be an author and illustrator when he was in Grade School!  

     4th Grade Buddies have been sharing about ways to eat healthy and stay healthy!  

     Many of the things students are seeing on Reading Tests are being reinforced in Literacy Centers.  Students are still keeping busy daily by listening to stories on tape, playing phonics games, writing, working on computers and Ipads, and working in small groups with Mrs. Hyder. 

     We were so thankful to have our Watershed visitors from USC Upstate share with us about plants and their needs as we are moving into our Plant PBL!  

As Spring approaches along with Spring sports, please make sure your children get plenty of rest and have completed all of their homework nightly!