This week in First grade...

Sept. 2-5

We had a great start to a new school year last week! We learned about many school and classroom procedures and expectations. Throughout the week, we reviewed cafeteria expectations, recess and hallway, before and after school procedures. Thank you for sending back all of the forms that came home last week and this week!

As part of building a happy, strong and successful community in our classroom and school, we will work on the 7 Habits of Happy Kids.  These 7 habits promote independence, interdependence, and continuous improvement in individuals' lives. Last week we learned Habit #1: Be Proactive.  We learned that we are each in charge of our own choices!  This week we will learn Habit #2!  The habits are listed in your child's Take Home Folder/Agenda!

Thank you all for sending the "Me" bags on Friday.  We had so much fun learning about one another, our favorite sport, toys to play with, families, friends and pets! The kids did a great job standing and talking in front of the class!


IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
Monday, Sept. 8th: Parent Information Night 6:30 pm in our classroom.  (Room 306)
Hope to see you all then!
Tuesday: Tuesday folders come home.  Please sign and return the folders the next day.
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: P.E. days.  Please have your child wear tennis shoes.

This week:

READING

We will learn how to read independently to ourselves for a few minutes at a time. Each day we read for a longer period to build up our stamina. We will learn that strong readers read every day. A picture is worth a thousand words and we can read the pictures as well and retell the story through pictures.  We will talk about our favorite reading memory, when reading felt so good to us.  The children will practice using the classroom library correctly and responsibly.

WRITING

We will begin our first lesson: Introducing the writing tools (papers, pencils, markers and crayons, tape, glue, scissors), and resources such as the alphabet charts, first grade words,  and the prints around the classroom. . I will first model how to brainstorm, sketch, and write about my story, something that I know and care about. The children will then begin writing a true story about themselves, something that they have experienced and has happened to them.


MATH:

Numbers represent different and specific quantities.  This week we will explore a manipulative called Math Rack to learn about numbers. At this age some children count individually and some can count by 5 or 10's.  If asked to show 6 with beads, some children count one by one and some can show 6 in one move. Our goal this week and forward is to push children to use the benchmarks of 5 and 10 to determine the total amount of beads vs. counting one by one.  When asked to show 6, one efficient way would be showing a 5 and 1 more. 

SOCIAL STUDIES:

This week we will be discussing rules, and laws at school, home and in our community. What is the difference between a rule and a law? Why do we need rules and laws? We will also talk about positive and negative consequences. 

THANK YOU!

Thank you for being willing to help in the classroom or outside the classroom. Your helping hands and hearts are greatly appreciated!  We will have a brief Parent Volunteer Orientation the week of September 15.  After that meeting I will send out a sign up!