I hope you will subscribe to our classroom blog so that you will receive notification of updates via email. Please visit the blog weekly to see what is happening in our classroom. I will update it each week to share curriculum with you as well as all the news of the week. There will also be pictures so that you will feel as though you were in class with us! I will soon have our class Shutterfly site up and running! By the end of the year, you will have access to tons of pictures of your child's year in first grade. Last year, many parents made a photo book of their child's year in first grade as a lasting memory.
The children are already "thinking" and "acting" like first graders. I am so proud of them! I'm sure they have told you how busy we are in first grade! We begin each day with a morning meeting. During this time we participate in a variety of activities that emphasize social, emotional, and academic growth to help build a strong classroom and school community. Building this sense of community helps the children to feel safe, connected, comfortable, and empowered.
New this year, is our daily Spanish class with Senor Zamoff. We are so fortunate to be able to have this opportunity! We have also launched both our Writing and Reading Workshops and are working on establishing the rules and routines. We have also started a study of one of my favorite authors, Kevin Henkes, and many of his books are being used during these times.
In our word work, we have begun focusing on short vowel /a/ words and writing complete sentences. The children took a practice" spelling test last Friday to help me assess where they are in their knowledge of words. Next Friday will be for real! I will explain more about this at Back to School Night. During the next couple of weeks, I will be working on individual reading assessments with the children so that each child will have "just right" books to read during their workshop time.
We have also begun our handwriting program, Handwriting Without Tears. Ask your child to show you what "writing position" looks like. We have been working on forming capital letters correctly, focusing on "Frog Jump Capitals", "Starting Corner Capitals", and "Center Starting Capitals".
We began Unit 1 in Math which also focuses on establishing routines such as calendar and small group work. We've been playing math games such as "Penny Dice" and "Bunny Hop". You will be receiving Math Family Letters at the beginning of each unit that will provide directions for many of the math games that we play so you can play them at home with your child. The children have received their math tool kit bags and began working with their first math tool, the pattern block template.
Things to remember:
Back to school night - We will all meet in the Janet Root Theater at 7:00 before heading to our classroom. I will talk about curriculum and the other particulars for our class. Don't forget to bring your calendar to record important dates and to help you when signing up for parties and other class activities.
Every Friday is Spirit Day. Students may wear any shirt with a Shorecrest logo,
Shorecrest Spirit Wear or uniform shirts. They may wear Spirit Wear, uniform, or denim
bottoms.
Shorecrest Spirit Wear or uniform shirts. They may wear Spirit Wear, uniform, or denim
bottoms.
Picture Day is September 11th in the Student Center.
Please remember that the children bring their own snack in first grade. If they are buying a school lunch, they still need to bring a snack to eat. They get hungry!Please also be sure that containers they bring for lunch can be easily opened by your child. Please do not send glass containers.
I am looking forward to a great year! See you all on Thursday night!
Susan Owen
