First Grade Update

This special group of first graders is already very loved at school!

Please send a full water bottle to school with your first grader each day. The water fountain is very far from our classroom, so first graders are expected to drink water from their bottle in our classroom. Please have your first grader practice twisting off the lid to refill their bottle. Please don't twist the lid so tight that your first grader can't take it off when needed. Please make sure your water bottle is labelled.

Brain Boost is a packet that includes a leveled reading passage and math/literacy work. First graders read their passage independently every morning when they arrive at school. Students also read their passage with Ms. W. about once a week, or as needed. For homework, due each Tuesday (or one day after returning to school from a weekend or break), first graders should read their passage to an adult, and the adult should sign their name next to the student's name. I welcome feedback on whether the passage was too challenging or not challenging enough. If there are unfinished work pages in your student's Brain Boost packet, please help them complete these for Monday's homework to return to school paperclipped on Tuesday.

Believe and Read

Kindergarten review: We learned how to correctly form letters: c, a, d, l, t, r, n, i. We learned the sight words: a, I, and, the, is. We reviewed which letters are consonants and vowels. We learned to tap CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words. When reading at home, please encourage your first grader to tap and blend unknown words.

Comprehension

Unit 1: We learned about the country Peru by reading several nonfiction passages about the land features and animals of the country. We learned the sentence mechanics of capital letter, finger spaces, and end punctuation. When your first grader writes at home, encourage these same writing devices.

Math

Numbers to 10: We learned how to find 1 more and 1 less in a variety of ways: manipulatives, fingers, drawings, number line, hundreds chart. At home, practice with your first grader 1 more and 1 less for numbers within 10. (Try within 20 or within 100 if your first grader is ready for those extensions!)

Science

Exploring Air: We spent time playing with syringes and tubes, trying to figure out what happens to air when it is compressed into a small space. Students wrestled with air between their syringes and even launched plungers out of each others' syringes!

Religion

We Choose Virtues: This week we focused on the virtues of humility and obedience. Just as Jesus obeyed his parents, it is important for first graders to obey their parents and teachers the first time and with a cheerful attitude, knowing that all virtues come from love.

Social Studies

Civics: We talk, listen, share, and take turns to be a citizen of our classroom.

All parents are highly encouraged to attend Parent Night. Mrs. Hallin will present in DeSales at 6:00pm. The first grade information will begin in the classroom at 6:40pm and 7:05pm, so please join us for one of these two presentations. If you have not already, please email me if you are unable to attend Parent Night, and I will send you some information. A PA-sponsored social will follow.

Please send your first grader to school in the outfit they will wear for their photo. Out of uniform or uniform are both allowed (no $1 needed to be out of uniform!) Students will not change at school. Our photo time is 9:05am.

• Thursday, September 10: Parent Night, 6:00pm
• Friday, September 11: Picture Day