- Well, we are off to a TERRIFIC beginning to our First Grade year at Garrison Mill.
The students are settling in nicely and we are covering lessons in all curriculum areas. Our day is very busy but we keep plugging along as we accomplish more and more each day.
The homework folders are coming back every day with the homework looking pretty good.
Math homework will begin the Tuesday after Labor Day it will of course be in the blue homework folder each day.
One of our favorite math activities is of course Calendar! We not only work on math standards that cover days of the week and months of the year but we also work extensively in the areas of place value, money, odd and even numbers, and more skills will be added each month. Calendar time is our time to review, practice, and look ahead at all areas of our math standards. Of course, we are just having fun so we don’t always realize how much we learn during this time.
During our afternoon Science block we have worked through mini units on “observing” and “inquiry”. These skills are used repeatedly throughout our science curriculum. We are beginning our unit on The Water Cycle. This unit will take about 2 weeks.
Our Language Arts is picking up pace rapidly. While we have a very nice uninterrupted block of time we have SO, SO much to cover. The phonics is moving along. We all seem to understand the difference between vowels and consonants. We are coding vowels and beginning to remember the rules that explain “Why” we code the vowels. We will continue to review each letter of the alphabet while adding information about suffixes, diagraphs, and spelling rules. While we are covering each letter we are learning correct letter formation. I discussed this at Open House but I’d once again like to stress the importance of carrying this proper handwriting over at home.
Why do we spend so much time on phonics…it carries over to all of our spelling, reading skills, and writing. As you see the phonics homework sheets come home you should know what types of expectations you can have for your child’s reading, spelling and written work. Application of these phonics skills is essential for a successful year in first grade.
I would like to thank all of you for your wonderful donations. Our treat jar is well stocked, we have many neat stickers. The paper towel is helping us keep our room cleaner and I’ve received one camera to begin our classroom picture collection. Disposable cameras and stickers are always welcome at any point in the year.
Other items of interest…Since we eat towards the end of the lunch schedule, feel free to send a note in ordering your lunch if you know ahead of time that you will be joining your child. This way we may have a better chance of you getting the food item of your choice. I would also like to remind you that bringing in fast food when you come for lunch is discouraged. This was also mentioned in the behavior handbook.
Continue to check the monthly behavior calendar and the homework sheets for updates on what’s going on in our classroom and in the school.
