I know the
first graders have been working hard learning first grade skills. Some of
the students have been turning their attention to second grade and are getting
excited about the year ahead! Here are some thoughts and ideas as we move
through the last weeks of first grade. Working together, I know we can make
this a successful spring and a comfortable transition into second grade!
Reading: Please
continue to read each school night. We have covered almost all of the
different sound blends (vowel sounds, word families, etc.) in class. This
means that, with some guidance, students should be able to "decode"
most words in the text. We also continue to work on retelling
a story, making connections to our personal experiences and other stories,
and building fluency. Reading a story more than once, asking your child to
explain the story to you, and asking your first grader if the story reminds him/her
of something in his/her life, can help with these areas. Make sure your
child uses the characters' names and the story setting in their re-telling of
what he/she reads to you. Important events and details are very important
during re-telling as well. Main idea and sequencing are also important
skills we are currently addressing.
It is also
important the children are selecting their own books, choosing materials that
are developmentally appropriate. Selecting different types of books
(fiction, informational, and poetry) is encouraged. Children need to be
reading independently, silently or aloud or a combination of the two, each day
for 10-15 minutes.
If your
child is reading silently, it is important that you continue to have
conversations about the story so that you know your child is demonstrating
comprehension about what was read. If you ask your first grader a
question about the story, and he/she does not know the answer, your reader
should go back into the text to locate the answer. Even if your child
knows the answer, have her/him prove it by providing the text evidence to you!
Writing: We
continue to work on spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and creating
complete sentences. For unknown words, help your child use their phonics knowledge
to spell words they don't know. Any writing that can be done at home is
beneficial. We have learned how to write letters. This can be
a fun way for students to practice their writing skills. Other ideas are
to keep a journal and write stories (fiction or informational).
Encouraging your first grader to "go back and re-read" to fix
any problems is a phrase they have heard many times in class.
Math:
Understanding addition and subtraction is a focus in first grade. When
solving addition and subtraction problems, it is important that the students
are moving away from using their fingers and number lines as a strategy and
toward using more efficient strategies, such as bridge to 10 and mental math.
Your continued efforts are greatly appreciated. Reviewing addition,
subtraction, telling time, money skills, and place value with numbers to 120
are also beneficial. We continue to work on problem solving in our
classroom.
Responsibility:
In class, I am encouraging the first graders to develop more independence
and take more responsibility. For example, the children can read the
directions to themselves while I wait for everyone to have the materials we are
passing out. I am also asking them to try and solve problems by
themselves: where to put "found" items discovered on the floor, where
to turn in materials, etc. At home, please make sure your child is
developing a sense of independence by giving him/her chores to do. Your
child's self-esteem will rise as he/she experiences successes!
Your
continued support at home is greatly appreciated! Thank you for the time
and energy you have given all year!