First Grade Newsletter
October 2026
In Science we are learning
- what the sun does for our Earth (warms air, land, and water).
- the sun rises in the East and sets in the West.
- the sun is the source of our energy.
- the sun's position changes throughout the day.
In Social Studies we are learning to...
- Practice citizenship in the classroom.
- We are also learning about Virginia's geography and symbols
- This includes landforms, weather.(trees change, clothes change.)
- Be able to locate Virginia, Jamestown, Richmond, and DC on a map.
In Math we are learning to...
- identify shapes, sides, corners (vertices), and angles
- sort and classify shapes according to the features.
- orally count to 110
- recognize a penny, nickel, and dime.
- count backwards from 30-1
- know numbers that come before 14 and after 50.
- count by fives and tens.
- compare and order quantities up to 70
- group numbers by tens and ones.
In Language Arts we are learning to...
- Demonstrate knowledge of identify and produce individual sounds to read and write words.
- Demonstrate knowledge that spoken words are represented in print and separated by spaces
- Discuss meanings of words in context by reading a variety of texts.
- Demonstrate comprehension using a variety of texts.
- Demonstrate knowledge of story structure by orally identifying characters, setting, important events, and details
- Orally retell a familiar story in sequential order (beginning, middle, end)
- Generate predictions about story characters and events using the text
- Describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear
Regularly engage in listening to a series of conceptually related texts organized around topics of study to build knowledge and vocabulary
Write narratives, descriptive, and opinion forms of writing.
Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to write in response to texts heard
With guidance and support, begin each sentence with a capital letter and capitalize the pronoun "I"
Speak audibly with appropriate pacing, prosody, and voice level
Reminders
- Doors open at 7:20 each day and begins promptly at 7:50. Dismissal is at 2:30.
- Please send your child's folder to school every day; check their folder every evening- this is a primary communication source.
- Please send your child to school with a spill-proof water bottle every day.
- Please continue to practice power words and complete the homework every night.
- No transportation changes after 1:30 PM
- No students being signed out after 2:00 PM
- Please make sure your child does not bring toys to school.
A message from our Dual Language teachers:
Welcome to a new school year! We are very excited to begin this journey with your children and support them as they take their first steps in learning the Spanish language.
During the first quarter of the school year, we will focus on building a strong foundation for learning Spanish by creating a safe, positive, and engaging environment in the classroom.
Here are the key areas we will be working on:
Classroom rules, expectations, and routines: Students will learn to follow classroom rules, develop positive habits, and feel safe and confident in their learning space. This helps foster responsibility, respect, and a strong classroom community.
Establishing solid, predictable classroom routines during the first four weeks of school is essential for maximizing instructional time and minimizing disruptions. Students learn clear procedures for group meetings and active listening.
Review of syllables and words using the consonants m, p, l, s, t, c, n, b, g, f, r, and d. We will begin working on syllable recognition (connecting sounds and written forms), as well as segmenting and reading sentences using these consonants.
Practicing independent work through structured stations—such as word work, writing activities, and listening to readings—while learning to manage materials and stay focused on the task at hand.
Developing collaborative communication skills through activities like "turn and talk" and "accountable talk," using physical cues and sentence starters—such as "I think that...", "I agree because...", and "I disagree because..."—to interact respectfully in Spanish.
How you can help at home:
Your support at home is very important. Please encourage your child by talking with them about what they’re learning, reading together, and showing interest in the language. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, any effort to practice or engage with your child in the language will be incredibly beneficial. Your involvement builds their confidence and motivation to learn.
If you have any questions or would like to talk more about your child’s progress, feel free to reach out. We are looking forward to a wonderful year of learning and growing together!
