Welcome back to school!
It is another exciting year ahead for our brand new first graders. The next couple weeks will be focused on getting to know each other and learning class rules, expectations, and routines.
You can download a copy of homework instructions and parent resources (online) at the bottom of the page:
Families, please check the Blog tab for spelling words and quick reminders for the week. Reading and spelling homework will start in a few weeks.
In READING, Students will start the year with learning good reading habits that are done before, during, and after reading.
Build Good Reading Habits
Good Habits for reading: Do a sneak peek - check the title, look at the pictures, make a prediction, don’t read the end. Check your prediction after you finish. Do SOMETHING at the end: read your favorite parts, read it again, talk about the book, think about the book. Reread to remember and retell the book. Read more and more and more. Make a plan. Stack your books, read more. Keep track of how many books you read with check marks or tally marks. Set goals - how many will I read this time? Reread to make our voices smoother, so it sounds more like storytelling or talking. Don’t read like a robot. Scoop up more words - read them together. Reread to perform parts of the book. When readers reread they SEE more, things they didn’t notice before. Introduce the book to someone: tell them the title, the characters, the setting, some parts of the story, but not the end! Surprise them.
In WRITING, we will begin a unit on Narrative writing. The students will be engaged in writing stories about their lives with focus, detail, and dialogue.
Writing Small Moment Stories with Independence:
Think about all the stories you have to tell. Use other authors as mentors. Plan your writing: touch and tell (touch each page and talk about what you will write about on each page). Sketch (draw) first. Many of your details will come from your sketch. Then WRITE. Do not worry about correct spelling. Write down the sounds your hear for each word and move on. Focus on the writing, tell your story in as much detail as you can. Use words you already know (spelling words) to help you spell other words. Show feelings in your story. Let your reader know exactly how you were feeling. Focus in on a small moment. Don’t write about a whole day or a whole week. Think about “The Veggie Monster!” or “Elephant and Piggie” books. They focus on small moments. Unfreeze your characters - make them move. Write with greater volume and detail. Add to your picture so you can add more details. Ask yourself, “What is happening in my sketch or picture?” Use talking bubbles. Use thinking bubbles.
In MATH, we are working with numbers to 10.
Students will be able to:
- count from 0-10 objects
- Read and WRITE numbers for 0-10 objects
- Compare two sets of objects using one-to-one correspondence.
- Identify the set that has more, fewer, or the same number of objects.
- Identify the number that is greater than or less than another number.
- Make number patterns.
In SOCIAL STUDIES and SCIENCE, we will be learning about school rules, school feelings, and character education.
Another year of flexible seating! Students will have an opportunity to chose different kinds of seating throughout the day. Being comfortable matters. Movement matters. Choice matters.
Seating choices:
cushions for kneeling at low tables, standing tables (the non-seat choice), yoga balls, stools, step stools, an assortment of cushions, good old fashioned rugs, or for the traditionalists - chairs. Sit on your bottom or lay on your belly - it's up to you. As long as you are productive - you can choose where and how you sit.
(We are always looking for donations of bean bags or small carpets.)
As always, remember, today is a great day to learn something new.
Please double knot your child's shoes (especially if they have not yet learned how to tie shoes). Years of classroom shoe tying has really taken a toll on my hands. Besides, it could be dangerous if your child is walking up or down stairs with untied shoes.
Reading A-Z homework instructions:
2017_raz_homework_intro_-_beginning_of_year__1_.pdf | |
File Size: | 158 kb |
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Parent resources:
Please click on Download File to see our class syllabus.
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2019-2020_1st_grade_syllabus.pdf | |
File Size: | 118 kb |
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