Reading
We have started our first reader. Here is a list of all the high frequency words that we will be learning in our first theme of that book:
High Frequency Words
a and at go on the I here jump not too we find have one to who .
Use the ideas that I sent home (with my Spelling test letter) to help your child study these vocab. words. Some of the first graders will already be familiar with these words, so use some of the more advanced ideas for them, like writing and illustrating sentences and stories with the words.
Here are a few more ideas for studying at home:
Make 2 sets of flash cards for these words and have the children match the words. Have them pick the words out when reading books. Make sentences for your child with these words in them.
Use any and all of these ideas for practicing the color words and number words, as well.
You should practice these reading skills in some fashion at least 3 to 4 times a week. Please continue to read with your child everyday.
Math
I can’t thank you enough for how responsible your children have been about our Math homework!!! I know the parents are behind it when first graders are so successful in returning homework.... thank you!!! Soon, you will see two Math homework sheets coming home. As we begin to work on our Math facts, the students will bring home a fact practice sheet for homework, along with the Math practice sheet that he/she is already bringing home. On Fridays, I don’t send homework home to do over the weekend. Therefore, you will often see that day’s Math page in your child’s HOME folder with an “X” on the homework side.
You are probably seeing that with this new Math series, we are constantly reviewing skills, as we add new ones. I really enjoy this series for that very reason. Please know that concepts will get harder as we go along, but the fact that we are repeating and practicing each skill (so often) will only help to make those concepts easier for your child to master.
Homework
I realize (between Reading, Math and Spelling) that this sounds like a lot of homework. However, you really want to do these in small doses of time ... generally 5 to 10 minutes per skill. Read with your child at bedtime. It helps to give them a regular routine and settle them in for bed, and gives you a nice “bonding” time at the end of the day. Remember too, that on the evenings I send home a practice sheet (usually Math or Spelling), that will suffice for the homework in that subject area for that evening. I do not take “grades” for homework because I expect that the parents are helping and going over homework with the first graders. To me, homework is a way for the students to “practice” what they are learning at school and it is another way to let you know just what we are working on in class.
Fall Festival Basket
We will have our basket in the classroom for the Fall Festival. Our theme is “At the Movies.” Please send what you can (for the basket) with your first grader. We need things like gift certificates for movies or snacks for the movies or even DVDs, etc... .
Spelling
Here are the Spelling lists for this week and the next 2 weeks after. We will begin having sentences with our tests next week.
Week of Sept. 8: in it him big sit did dish milk
Extra Credit Words: and we not
Week of Sept. 15:
trip crab drip grin grab trap crack brown
Extra Credit: can you jump
Sentence: I can trap the brown crab.
Week of Sept. 22: (Review)
an trap it had drip add crack in at crab big grab dish
Extra Credit: on you and the can
Sentence: The crab in the trap had a big crack in it.
Accelerated Reading
Just a reminder that the children take their accelerated reading tests onWednesdays. Their book reports are also due on Wednesdays. Doing these reports will help prepare them for the ACC test, as well. It would be helpful if your children could have their book with them for the test. If they aren’t going to be ready for their test on Wednesday, please send me a note and we can see about having them keep that book for another week. Please check with your students during the week to be sure they’re bringing their library book home. I tell them to keep it in their book bags so they can transport it back and forth to home and school. The level of the book is written on the envelope in the back of the book. I am expecting all first graders to participate in this program as I use it in helping to determine the comprehension part of their reading grade. It will hurt their reading grade if they aren’t participating. Please ask questions and review the story with them, as this will help prepare them for their weekly test. It is a good idea to re-read and re-review the book over the weekend to help them to be prepared for the test on Monday. They can only take a test one time. They won’t be able to re-take tests on books they read in kindergarten. They are able to check out non-accelerated reading books on the last Thursday of each month.
Thanks once again for all that you do, and for sharing your children with me. They are bright and wonderful and a lot of fun!
Education Gateways makes no warranty for SchoolNotes.com.
Information on this site is generated by the users. The views
expressed are not necessarily those of Education Gateways or its members, and
Education Gateways is not responsible for user's conduct on SchoolNotes.com.
