A typical day in first grade..

1. A typical day in first grade.. 8:15 School Begins 8:30 Morning Meeting/Calendar 9:00 Spelling 9:20 Reading Comprehension 10:00 Snack and Recess 10:25 Reading Strategies 11:00 Writing 11:40 Recess and Lunch 12:20 Read Aloud 12:30 Phonics 1:00 Specials 1:30 Math 2:15 Science/ Social Studies/ Art 2:40 Home

2. Various levels of readers in our class. • We are learning about • Comprehension • Reading accurately • Reading fluently • Expanding our vocabulary

3. Ways to Support your Reader at Home: • Read with your child every night for at least 15 minutes. • Record the book that they read and sign your name on their reading log found in their red reading folder. • Return red reading folder and book every day (M – F). • When they come to a word that they don’t know, encourage them to use their reading strategies to figure it out. • Point to the word • Look at the picture –ask what would make sense? • Look at the first and last letter – ask what would make sense? • Sound out the word • Skip the word, and then come back to it later • Give them time!  • Read to your child • Talk about the book that they are reading, to check for understanding.

4. Investigations: Math • Units of Study include: • Basic Algebra and Number Concepts • Geometry • Measurement • Problem Solving

5. Ways to Support your Mathematician at Home: • Addition and Subtraction flash cards every night • Everyday math problem solving • Counting money and telling time

6. Word Wall Words • 110 most frequently used words • 5 per week – practice every night • Challenge them by: • Adding word endings • Using the words in a sentence, poem or story • Finding words that rhyme • Alphabetizing • Word Sorts • Allows students to recognize common spelling patterns • Word Families • Allows students to find the relationship among words

7. Invented Spelling? • Encourage your child to stretch out sounds when spelling an unknown word. • As students learn spelling patterns, their invented spelling will change and develop. • Common for this age • Jrp = drop • Pld = played • Skl = school • Fn = fun

8. Ways to Support your Speller at Home: • Practice word wall words every night • Encourage invented spelling • Help them sound out words, and write a letter down for each sound.

9. How to Help your Writer at Home: • When something fun, memorable or exciting happens, encourage your child to write about it the next day at school. • Encourage them to write • Stories • Letters • Postcards • Recipes

10. Pencil Grasp • Inefficient pencil grasps • The tripod grasp – a helpful rhyme: • Pinch it, twist it, tilt it, rest it!

11. Science Bus, Playground, and Personal Safety Human Body Properties of Matter Weather Plants Life on the Farm Social Studies All About Me Mapping Communities Martin Luther King, Jr. Fire Safety Current Events through Scholastic News Magazine Science & Social Studies Topics

12. Home Folders • Bobcat Folder • Newsletters • Notes home • Homework • School Work • Red Reading Folder • One or two books at your child’s independent reading level • Reading log • Please return every day

13. Sent home weekly on Monday Return on Friday Can be found on my blog: http://www.bcps.wlwv.k12.or.us/pistaccj/blog/

15. Bi monthly - Sent home in Bobcat Folder • Includes: • Upcoming events and dates • Classroom happenings • Can be found on my blog.

16. Snack • Every morning • Please bring in a snack to share with the class at the beginning of every month • We love: • Goldfish • Cheez-its • Ritz • Saltines • Clementines

17. Your child’s birthday will be celebrated on or around their special day. • Feel free to bring in a non edible treat • Pencils for each student • OR A book for the class library • OR Erasers for each student

18. Every child is a star • You will receive a notice in advance • A whole week celebrating your child! • On Monday, our “star” will be introduced. We will spend time sharing the pictures that he/she has brought. The photographs will be displayed on our bulletin board and will be returned to you the following Monday. Please help your child complete the sheets that are attached to this note. These will be shared and displayed too. • On Tuesday, please send one of your child’s favorite books to share with the class. • On Wednesday, your child may bring a favorite item to share with the class for a special “sharing” time. • On Thursday, the class will write comments and compliments on what they like and appreciate about your child. These will be collected and sent home with your child at the end of the week. • During the last week of the month, all the “Stars” for that month will be invited to eat lunch with me in our classroom.

19. PTA Classroom Fund • Thank you for your $12.00 contribution to our classroom fund! This helps us buy extra supplies, and fun things like Scholastic News. • If you haven’t already contributed, there is still time!

20. Dismissal • Change in dismissal plans – please let office know or send a note in their red folder. • Give me a wave!  When taking your child from our end of the day line.

21. Upcoming Events • Gardening Day – Oct. 1st • Fun Run – Oct. 2nd • Conferences – Oct. 5, 6, 7. • No school – Oct. 7, 8, 9.