November 2009

 

 

The first grading period is behind us and we have been learning many new things in first grade. Here is a peek into what we will be working on over the next several weeks:

 

Language Arts: We will be focusing on guided reading groups and working on individual skills such as blends, short vowels, writing complete sentences with correct punctuation, and beginning, middle, and endings of a story.

 

 Math: We are using the Investigations Math program this year. During the month of November, students will continue to work with 2-D geometric shapes. Students will also be working on solving story problems and learning addition and subtraction facts.

 

 

Social Studies: Our major focus for November is comparing the Past with the Present. We do this in a number of ways including comparing our lives with the lives of the Pilgrims. We also spend this time learning about the importance of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving in America. The students will be doing a special homework project this month. Students will create a personal timeline of their lives from birth to the present.

 

      

Here are a few homework helpers to help you with your student at home:

 

 

Take Home Reading Program: Many thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers who are coming in to listen to children read!! In order to keep the program running smoothly, please make sure that your child returns his/her book on or before the day it is due. The books that are being sent home are at a child’s independent reading level, not instructional level. Therefore, your child should be able to read the book easily with minimal miscues. In order to avoid classroom disruptions during this special reading time, volunteers and teachers need to work together to devise a system of calling children out in the hall to read. If you are a volunteer, please check with your child’s teacher as to what system would work best.

 

 

As you review your child’s report card, please remember the First Grade Grading Policy:

 

 S+        Above grade level work; always correct with extra or above and                              beyond what is required
 S          Good progress; usually answers correctly with some errors.

 S-        Inconsistent progress; lots of errors and needs more practice to                                   meet objective goals.

 

A major goal of the First Grade Teachers is to ensure that your child is reading on grade level. We spend most of our day engaging in various reading activities. The anticipated progress of First Graders’ reading levels is as follows: