A Peek at the Week

It was a busy and HOT week in first grade! We continued to get to know our classroom, rules, and procedures. We had practice with another full week, and our schedule began to get more predictable as we began math and continued with UFLI. We also did our "All About Me Bags." We loved learning about the kids! We have one more friend to do the me bags, and we also will have Mrs. Delacote share hers. We had our first Friday Reader, made a math quilt, took our first math "check-in" and more! Look below for a peek at our week!

The kids did a great job sharing their "All About Me Bags" this week. Make sure to check out the pictures in our Google folder. They were so excited and proud to share!

This week we continued our march through the alphabet with our "Getting Ready Lessons." These lessons help us build our "sound wall" and they are taught before our first-grade lessons officially begin. They are a great reminder of all of the rules of sounds and how much we use our mouth, lips, teeth, tongue, and even nose to make those sounds. We are reviewing the formation of uppercase and lowercase letters and practicing our handwriting. If your child is struggling with handwriting, we will incorporate extra practice for morning work and may send home some extra support pages if we think it will be beneficial. A major way to improve handwriting is actually to improve fine motor skills and core strength.

Learning to write is about much more than holding a pencil! Children need core and shoulder strength to create a stable base and fine motor strength and coordination to control the pencil and make precise movements. When these skills are developing well, children can write more comfortably, form letters more accurately, and build the stamina the3y need for longer writing tasks. Strong handwriting skills are important because writing is a tool children use all day at school. It helps to show what they know, complete assignments, share their ideas, and eventually write with greater speed and independence. Play is one of the best ways to build these skills! Climbing, playing with playdough, cutting, drawing, building with blocks, using tweezers, and other hands-on activities all help strengthen the muscles and coordination that support successful handwriting. It's why TRS learns and plays the way we do!

Here's how you can support this strength building at home:

Climb and play on playground equipment: Climbing, hanging, and swinging help build core, shoulder, and upper-body strength.

Play with playdough : Squeeze, roll, pinch, flatten, and pull it apart to strengthen little hands and fingers.

Cut with scissors : Cutting paper, coupons, straws, or playdough helps develop hand strength and coordination.

Build with LEGOs or small blocks : Picking up and connecting small pieces requires precise finger movements.

Draw, color, and doodle : Give children opportunities to draw freely, color pictures, make maps, or create their own designs.

Help in the kitchen : Stirring, kneading dough, using tongs, squeezing bottles, and opening containers all work the hands.

Let them help with chores : Carrying, pushing, pulling, folding laundry, and squeezing out sponges can build whole-body and hand strength.

Try lacing, beading, or stringing activities : Threading beads, lacing cards, or making bracelets develops finger control and coordination.

Use clothespins or tweezers : Have children pick up pom-poms, cotton balls, or small toys and move them from one container to another.

Make writing meaningful : Let your child write grocery lists, labels, birthday cards, notes to family members, or the ingredients for a pretend restaurant. When children have a real reason to write, they are often much more motivated to practice!

The goal isn't more pencil work; the goal is stronger, more coordinated little bodies and hands that are ready for writing!

This week we began our Bridges math lessons. Our activities focused on the following:

estimating, counting by 5s, and picture graphs.

We talked about how the kids help at home, whether they may help cook, clean, help others, etc. We made our helpful hands into a picture graph.

We practiced counting by 5's.

We finished the week by taking our first "check-in."

We don't use the word "test" in first grade. Sometimes we say "assessment," but usually stick to "check-in." We also tell the kids to do their best and not worry if they get something wrong. The purpose of the check-in is to show Mrs. Delacote and I what we need more practice with as a class.

We also began Work Places this week which are small group activities and games that the children do indpendently or with a partner. They track their own centers to help build independence. They LOVED Work Places!

We haven't gotten into our theme work or theme centers yet but we will be starting out "Friend" centers next week!

Thank you so much to Vivian (Atlas) for being our first Friday Reader! We don't do Mystery Reader, we let the kids know who is coming. Please bring 3-5 books during Friday Reader. We talked to the kids about being a good audience member and reminding them that it is the parent's turn to read, not the first grader's. :)

1. Continue and conclude our UFLI "Getting Ready Lessons"

2. Begin our Friend Centers for theme.

3. Welcome back Mrs. Delacote!

4. Number racks and ten frames in math!

5. Addition

6. AND MORE :)

Wear TRS shirts on Friday!

September 7th: Labor Day: No School

September 16th: Scholastic orders in by 3pm

September 19th: Carnival, 11:00-2:30

September 21st: PD day, No school for students

October 2nd: Lunch Bunch begins! Lunch is open MOST Fridays beginning October 2nd. I'll let you know if there is a Friday it isn't!

October 6th: Class picture day for our class

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." - Thomas A. Edison