Welcome to 1st Grade!
Summer 2021
A Message from Your 1st Grade Teachers!
Dear Parents,
Congratulations to you and your child on the completion of his/her kindergarten school year! We are looking forward to working with your child in September!
In order to maintain the skills that the children have acquired during the school year, as well as prepare them for first grade, we would like your child to complete the activities below during the summer months.
It is very important for our future first graders to read regularly during the summertime. This should include your child reading aloud to you, reading alone, and you reading to your child. If you are looking for suggestions, we have attached a list of books. Continuing to write over the summer months is also very important. We ask that your child write a weekly journal entry. This journal entry should be written in a copybook. Your child may just use the rest of his/her Kindergarten copybook, or you can purchase a new Manuscript Copybook. Staples or any school supply store carries these copybooks. These entries could be a sentence, paragraph, or possibly a story written by your child about their Summer months. This could include writing about camp, vacation, special family events, a day at a park, museum, etc. The children should do a weekly entry, but could write daily, if they would like!
We are also asking that the Summer Bridge Activities Book - K to 1 be completed as well (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/summer-bridge-activities-grades-k-1-summer-bridge-activities/1112938104). This book is divided into monthly practice and review of kindergarten skills in preparation for first grade, along with some bonus activities! We suggest that the children work in this book several times each week for best results! Please return the Journal Copybook and Summer Bridge Activities Book to school with your child on Book Day in September.
As our summer vacation comes to a close, please review your child’s high-frequency words learned in kindergarten that are included in this newsletter. We hope you have a very safe and relaxing summer!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Cannon and Ms. Ginesi
First Grade Teachers
Gwynedd-Mercy Academy Elementary has bundled tuition which includes field trips, school pictures, yearbook, and most student school supplies. In addition, copy books, folders, rulers, and student planners will be distributed to students. Below is the list of supplemental supplies students will need for 1st Grade:
- Colored Pencils - Crayola - 12 Ct
- 2 Packages of Crayola Twistables - Minis - 24 Ct
- 2 Magic Rub Eraser - White - 3 Pk
- 1 Blue Pocket Folder
- 1 Yellow Pocket Folder
- 4 Elmers Glue All Purpose Sticks
- 1 Elmers Glue All - 4 oz
- Markers - Washable - Crayola - Classic - 08 Ct - Thick
- Markers - Washable - Crayola - Classic - 08 Ct - Thin
- 2 Packages of No. 2 Pencils - Sharpened - 12 Pk
- Pencil Sharpener - Canister - 2 Hole
- Scissors - Fiskar - Kids - 5 Inch - Pointed
- Sharpie - Black - Fine Tip
1 large roll or several small rolls of clear contact paper to cover all books and folders
1 set of earbuds in a case
1 pencil case - vinyl with top zipper 6” X 11”
1 reusable water bottle
“Sharpie” permanent marker to label EVERYTHING with your child’s name
Individual or pocket-sized hand sanitizer
Individual tissue packets
Shop & Support: If you use AmazonSmile, .5% of your purchase will go to GMA! Click below to get started!
Click on the PDF to practice your sight words!
Use IXL to practice your math facts!
Keep your child reading with some of these recommended titles!
The following list of books will help you select reading material that has been highly rated by reviewers, librarians, and children. Hopefully, they will provide alternatives for reading pleasure.
Selections from the Best of the Best PA School Librarians Association
Kindergarten-3rd Grade
Author/Title/Grade Level
Barnett, Mac How this Book Was Made: Based on a True Story; K-4
Beck, H.W. Glow: Animals with their Own Night-Lights; 1-3
Brown, Lisa The Airport Book; K-3
Carbon, Elisa Diana’s White House Garden; 1-3
Chabbert, Ingrid & Guridi The Day I Became a Bird; 1+
Drummond, Alan Green City; K-3
Macy, Sue Miss Mary Reporting: The True Story of Sportswriter Mary Garber; 1-4
Pak, Kenard Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn; K-3
Rex, Adam School’s First Day of School; K-3
Schwartz, Corey Rosen and Rebecca J. Gomez Hansel and Gretel: Ninja Chicks; K-3
Seeger, Laura Vaccaro I Used to Be Afraid; PreK-1
Verde, Susan and Peter H. Reynolds The Water Princess; K-3
Wenzel, Brendan They All Saw a Cat K-3
Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards Program
Kindergarten-3rd Grade
Author/Title
Corey, Shagins, Ryan T. Mother Bruce
Kennedy, Anne Vittur Ragweed’s Farm Dog Handbook
Kleber, Dori More-igami
Macy, Sue Miss Mary Reporting: The True Story Of Sportswriter Mary Garber
McCloskey, Kevin We Dig Worms!
Miller, Pat The Hole Story of a Doughnut
O’Neal, Shaquille Little Shaq
Rockliff, Maria Anything but Ordinary Addie: The True Story of Adelaide Hermann, Queen of Magic
Schnell, Lisa Kahn High Tide for Horseshoe Crabs
Torrey, Richard My Dog, Bob
Urban, Linda Weekends with Max and His Dad
Caldecott Medal Winners
Author/Title
Steptoe, Javaka Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat
Mattick, Lindsay Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear
Santat, Dan The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend
Floca, Brian Locomotive
Klassen, Jon This Is Not My Hat
Raschka, Chris A Ball for Daisy
Stead, Philip C. A Sick Day for Amos McGee
Pinkney, Jerry The Lion & the Mouse
Swanson, Susan Marie The House in the Night
Wiesner, David Flotsam
Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Winners
Kindergarten-3rd Grade
Author/Title
Dutcher, Jim & Jamie Dutcher A Friend for Lakota: The Incredible True Story of a Wolf Who Braved Bullying
Bloom, C.P. The Monkey Goes Bananas
Rubin, Adam Dragons Love Tacos
Reynolds, Aaron Creepy Carrots
Scillian, Devin Memoirs of a Goldfish
Barton, Chris Shark vs Train
Watt, Melanie Chester
Watt, Melanie Scaredy Squirrel
Levine, Ellen Henry’s Freedom Box
Stevens, Janet & Susan Stevens Crummel The Great Fuzz Frenzy
Gottfried, Maya Good Dog
McCarthy, Meghan Aliens Are Coming
Schachner, Judy Skippyjon Jones
Buehner, Caralyn Super Dog: the Heart of a Hero
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Suggested Titles for Students Entering 1st Grade
Chapter Books/Series
Adler, David Young Cam Jansen series
Arnold, Ted Hi! Fly Guy series
Bottner, Barbara Pish and Posh
Brown, Marc Arthur Chapter Books
Byars, Betsy Brother Ant books & The Golly Sisters
Delacre, Lulu Raffi and Rosi
DiCamillo, Kate Mercy Watson series
Minarik, Else Holmelund Little Bear Books
Moore, Shelley Good Night, Good Knight series
Osborne, Mary Pope Magic Tree House series
Parish, Peggy Amelia Bedelia series
Park, Barara Junie B. Jones series
Rylant, Cynthia Henry and Mudge series
Sachar, Louis Marvin Redpost series