Getting Ready for Second Grade

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!