February 4, 2015

This week is college week and a few of us have the college spirit!  Tomorrow is Dress Up for your Career. I'm excited to see what shows up in my classroom tomorrow!

This week we are working on numbers to 120 and expanded form.  We are reading Valentine books and poetry.  We have looked at different maps and drawn maps and even looked at our school on Google Earth.

Field Trip and t-shirt money is due on Friday.  I've never been to Texas Discovery Gardens and am looking forward to going.  We'll also have a picnic lunch.

Thursdays are "Fuzzy Days."  Some of the students are saving their fuzzies for lunch in the classroom with three friends.  It's taking months to save up 500 points.  It'll also be fun to eat lunch outside on the playground.  Other things that they can buy with points are shoes off (25), dog day (25), ice cream (50),  and occasionally prize box (amount varies.)  The students love earning the fuzzies for good behavior, returning things to school such as forms signed and participating in Math.  I think they like filling up their fuzzy cup more than spending them though.

If you have questions about your child/progress, you may reach me at dcooper@mesquiteisd.org.

Deedee Cooper

First Grade

Here we are in the library being silly the last week of school in December!

First Grade is going great!  We have finally completed all of the middle of the year testing!  I can't believe that it's almost February.  Progress reports will go home on February 6.  Please sign and return so I will know that you have seen it.

We have been learning about Rocks in Science.  We had a blast on a rock hunt this past Wednesday. I hope you saw the bag of rocks that your child brought home.  We kept some at school that we will be studying. If your child has any pretty rocks from home that he or she would like to show our class, please send them!  Rocks are so much fun!

We have been learning about tens and ones up to 120 in Math.  We took the Topic 8 test on Wednesday and it was sent home yesterday. I was disappointed that several students did not do well.  Tens and ones can be very difficult because of all the new vocabulary such as value, standard form and expanded form.  Although I read the questions to the students they did the work independently.  Sometimes they did not listen to the question and chose the answer that looked like it would be right.  

I have begun sending guided reading books home.  Have your child read the book 2 - 3 times (unless your child is reading the longer books) and return to school every day!  The students who progress the most are those who read their books and return them.

Field Trip! We are going to the Texas Discovery Gardens on April 17.  The cost is $8 and I must have the money by next Friday or your child will not go.  I've been told there are no exceptions.  T-shirt money is due on Wednesday ($5.)  I have received most everyone's money but if you have not sent yours in, please do so ASAP!

If you would like to go on the field trip, you need to fill out a Criminal Background Form that is online.  Call the school @ 972-882-5101 if you don't know how to do that (because I don't either!)  I will let you know about payment for your admission into the Texas Discovery Gardens at a later date.

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Cooper

Welcome to First Grade!

Tonight is School Supply Drop-off and Meet the Teacher here at Galloway Elementary. I am so excited to meet my new students.  It's been six years since I have taught the First Grade.  I have also taught Kindergarten and most recently, Second Grade.

As I wait in my classroom for my new students and their families to arrive, I'd like to introduce myself.  I am originally from Sunnyvale, Texas.  I graduated from North Mesquite High School.  I went to Brigham Young University and graduated with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education.  I earned my Masters degree from Texas A and M Commerce in Education.

I have three daughters who all attended Mesquite schools.  My oldest is a hair stylist.  My second daughter is a senior at Baylor in Waco, and my youngest daughter is a sophomore at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.  My husband is an engineer and works in DeSoto, Texas.  We are learning to live as empty-nesters this year.

I am looking forward to a wonderful year teaching your children.  I will update on Monday after our first day of school!  Enjoy your weekend!

The Twelve Days of Christmas and party Dec. 20, 2013

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Christmas Bingo

We had a blast in the library on Thursday.  Our wonderful and creative librarian let us come in and play Christmas bingo.  It was a fun break from all our classroom work.

I'm not sure what the grumpy faces are all about!  They really were having fun!  We'll get to do something fun in the library every day (the rest of the month.)  Monday will be hot cocoa!

Be watching for Rodney the Reindeer to come to your home.  A book and a spiral notebook journal will come with him.  This is for fun and also for a language arts grade.  We will do this instead of regular comprehension homework.  Please be sure your child brings him back to school the very next day so every student will have a turn.  

Happy Birthday, Birthday Girl!

Love,
Mrs. Cooper

Galloway Family Night

Family Night will be next Wednesday November 20th from 4:30 - 6:00.  This night will only be for K- 2nd grade. 

You are invited to come to our classroom to play (classroom) games, see the kinds of activities that we do, visit and enjoy refreshments.  It will be a great time to see what we are working on and how we practice what we are learning.




Parents must be with their child for Family Night.  If a child does not have a parent present, they must go home.  This event is for that student only...no siblings. Upper grades will have their Family Night scheduled for a different date later on in the year.

Come enjoy the fun!

NO TUTORING ON TUESDAY (11-12-13)

I would love to come see my students play their sports and do their out of school activities.  If you would like for me to come, please send a copy of the schedule.  I can't promise that I will be there on a particular day but I will do my very best to come at some time.

Here are a few more pumpkin pictures.  

Hedgie in Hedgie Blasts Off

Mouse from Halloween Mice

Mouse, in If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

we save  up our recess for the week and take it all at one time,  We go out in the morning when there isn't anyone else out on the playground.  Sometmes we have free time in the classroom if the weather is too cold.  Fortunately we had at least one last beautiful day to go outside and play!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Love, 
Deedee Cooper