The Monthly Mustang
The Official Newsletter for Wedgwood School Families
December 2016 - First Grade Update
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Greetings from all of Wedgwood’s first grade classrooms! The students are doing an excellent job as they learn the daily routines and expectations of their new, longer day of school. They are now able to choose a “bought” lunch, successfully enter their pin numbers, locate classrooms, like the gym and the library, and board the bus each day. We are proud of their independence!
First graders are excited about reading and have learned many new skills and strategies. Our word study program is called Fundations. This program teaches letter sounds and letter formation, capitalization, punctuation, sentence dictation and proofreading procedures, as well as many rules of spelling. You might hear your child talk about “trick words” (words that cannot be sounded out) and digraphs (two consonants that stand together and make one sound). This is an exciting approach to phonics and we are amazed at how well it is working in each classroom.
Our reading program is called Schoolwide. Your children are enjoying the mentor books in this series which correlate with the necessary reading skills. First grade teachers work with children in a small group setting, at their reading level, and in a whole class group in order to teach decoding skills and comprehension strategies. The students continue to point as they read from left to right, they “get their mouths ready” for beginning sounds, and look for picture clues. We appreciate the wonderful work parents are doing to reinforce these building blocks of reading. Our students are gaining self-confidence and seem to be able to take risks with their learning.
During our math lessons, we have been introducing and reviewing skip counting, addition and subtraction, number sentences and number stories, ten frames, and our “Friends of Ten”. We are using many tools to help bring abstract concepts to a concrete understanding, such as: number lines, number grids, templates, ten frames, and calculators. Children are receiving math fact practice/review daily and we appreciate parents working with their children at home in reinforcing these skills and in completing homework.
Our new Writing curriculum is Lucy Calkins’ Units of Study. First graders have just recently completed the first unit, Small Moments. Our students began the year learning to plan a small moment story, stretching words to tell so that our readers can read our words, then telling the story from beginning to end. Writers refined their skills in elaboration, revision, using craft moves from famous authors, and finally, celebrating the end of the unit. We are so proud of the progress our students have made!
Our first grade students have participated in several school-wide activities. The Book Fair was a great success and many children bought books to read to parents and siblings. The children also participated in a Fire Prevention Assembly and were taught how to remain safe if ever in a fire situation.
In October, children studied the life of Christopher Columbus and his voyage to the new world. Around this time, Wedgwood First graders also enjoyed celebrating Halloween! Our school parade was fun for all and the students proudly walked throughout the school and school grounds. They loved having family members and friends see their wonderful costumes. Teachers in classrooms emphasized the safety aspects of the holiday and first graders learned the rules of having a safe but enjoyable holiday.
Thank you for all that you do to help your child succeed in school. From signing test papers, to helping with homework, to turning off the TV and reading with your child each evening; YOU make the difference. We appreciate all the extras you do each day to enrich and educate your child!
Wedgwood Elementary School
Email: czimmerman@wtps.org
Website: wtps.org/wedgwood
Location: 236 Hurffville Road, Sewell, NJ 08080
Phone: (856) 227-8110
Twitter: @wedgwoodwtps