Dear Parents, September 9, 2013
This week in language arts we kick off our first theme! We will work on the consonants m, s, c, t, and the short sound of /a/. We will also begin reading in our reading series and start our sight words. In your child’s red folder you should find a tan envelope with this week’s sight words. This week there are only three. Practice the words with your child each night. The words need to be read correctly within three seconds (without sounding out). Please sign the paper indicating that you practiced with your child and return the envelope to school in the red folder. Your child will be tested once a week starting next Monday. If they know all the words, they will receive a new packet of words, if they don’t recognize the words, then they will keep the packet and continue practicing.
Our reading strategy this week is “predict and infer”. Our comprehension skill that will help with “predict and infer” is sequencing. Paying attention to the beginning, middle, and end of the story will help us determine the next logical step. Our phonics focus this week is blending letter sounds together and our grammar focus is on upper and lowercase letters. We will start our weekly spelling words (short sound of /a/) this week as well. Please check the daily planner for homework. Homework this week will start off with “Rainbow Write 2X” in the spelling journal and is to be completed using the “touch-bump-touch” method the children have been practicing in school. “Rainbow Write 2X” will be taught in class on Monday. Essentially it is writing the spelling word two more times in pencil. Then pick three colors and trace over the newly written words using one color at a time. We will have our spelling test Thursday morning.
In math, we will lay the groundwork for understanding time! Please make sure that you are completing the homework online! This is part of your child’s math grade.
Social studies finds us focusing on schools long ago and getting back to our skills of reading a map key.
In science we continue to learn about plants but focusing on the plant parts.
In religion, we begin our first lesson from our Family Life Series, titled “What Families Do”. We will also be having a special performance during our assembly on Thursday. This performance will be a poem we learned during class while we studied creation! Please join us if your schedule permits. The performance and assembly will be around 11am!
Reminders for the week:
- Please remind your child to bring their library book to school on Tuesday. The children can bring their books home but they MUST be returned to school the following Tuesday in order for them to check out a new book.
- PE is on Tuesday and Thursday. Please make sure that your child is following the dress code for PE days!
- Wednesday is Picture Day!
- Please continue to work with your child on tying their shoes and as a reminder, if they cannot tie their shoes they must wear Velcro shoes until they can. Please see the handbook on this policy.
- This week is All About… Ms. Manning! This is a special tradition in First Grade which will start with me as an example!
- Friday is a full day of school!
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. Have a wonderful week!
Ms. Manning
