October First Grade Update
Special Events in October
- We enjoyed a great field trip to Summer’s Farm on October 1st! Thanks to the parents who were able to chaperone that trip!
- Our Fall Party will be on Oct. 30th. Many thanks to the room moms, volunteers, and parents who are donating supplies and time to make the party possible.
- Our Race for Education is coming soon! Hopefully, the weather will be wonderful! We will have fun and rais money for our school! Thanks to the PTA organizers and helpers!
Curriculum Information
Language Arts – Word Study
Listed below are the skills we will be working on for word study:
- Using the correct sounds for consonants and vowels.
- Reading the high-frequency vocabulary words fluently and spelling them correctly.
At home you can have “spelling tests” and play games with your child using the sight word vocabulary and words with the sounds we are practicing.
Language Arts- Comprehension
During the first quarter we primarily focus on reading fiction texts. We will continue identifying elements of fiction; characters, setting, problem, and solution. We will work on sequencing the events of stories. Students should be able to retell a story in the correct order and include important details.
Students will learn that reading is an active process, not a passive activity. They will learn to think as they read. We are also doing what is called “close reading” in which a text is read multiple times for different purposes and deeper understanding. Too often readers at this level focus so much on word reading that they forget that the goal of reading is to make meaning.
You can work on this important skill at home by asking questions when your child is reading a text to check comprehension and by asking your child to go back and reread sections of text to correct errors. If errors occur in reading ask such questions such as, “Did that make sense? Do you see letters that make that sound? Did that word sound right?” The goal is for students to begin to ask those questions of themselves as they read to self-monitor comprehension.
Language Arts – Writing
Students will continue to work on producing neat and legible handwriting. We will continue to use the guidelines on the paper to make letters the correct sizes. We will expect correct spacing between words. They will work on developing fluency in their handwriting as well. This means that students should be able to write letters and words neatly, quickly, and automatically. You can practice this with the high-frequency lists at home. If you need lined paper or another copy of the Zaner-Bloser handwriting model, please ask your child’s teacher.
We will continue our writers’ workshop in which students will work on self-expression in “small moments”. In addition, we will be connecting the reading and writing processes.
You can help at home by providing extra writing practice, having your child keep a journal and write notes, and by looking over the work that comes home. If work comes home that you or the teacher feels is not acceptable, sometimes having to redo it at home will fix the issue quickly at school!
Math
We are continuing to work on counting numbers forward and backward from through 75 We have learned about place value and can locate numbers on a number grid. Students will be taught strategies and shown tools to help with solving addition and subtraction problems with the eventual goal of fact fluency. Students are expected to communicate about math ideas through objects, pictures, verbally, and in writing. We also want students to recognize how math is used in everyday life. We connect math concepts to other areas and to personal experiences.
Science
We will be starting our new space unit - learning about phases of the moon and our solar system.
Social Studies
We enjoyed learning about symbols for our country. A real or virtual family field trip to Washington, D.C. would really enhance that unit. Our next unit is "Our World" where we will learn about maps and globes.
Other
- Please help your child remember reading books, library books, homework notebooks, and folders.
- Playing board games can be a fun way to practice problem solving, math skills, and important social skills such as taking turns and showing good sportsmanship – win or lose! Sometimes first graders have a hard time with this! Social skills, like any other skills, get better with practice and encouragement.
- Please send jackets, coats, and/or sweatshirts for your child to wear when we go outside. At times, the temperature inside is also chilly.
Please help your child learn to zip, button, and tie shoes independently.
- Donations of tissues, zip-lock bags, dry-erase markers, sidewalk chalk, inside recess games, and treasure box items would be appreciated. A big THANKS to those who have already sent in items!
- Please do not send your child to school if he/she sick. The policy is that they are to be fever free without the aid of fever reducing medicine for 24 hours before returning. Children should also not return to school for 24 hours after vomiting. It is difficult to control the spread of germs when sick children are in the classroom.
As always, the first grade teachers appreciate the support you provide at home in this very important foundation-building year!
THANK YOU!
TEAM ONE