We are on our way!

Well, families, our fantastic First Graders are doing an amazing job learning the ins and outs of 1st grade! We have a great group of kiddos that work well together and are very eager to learn. We have many things to look forward to this week.

SAT 10 Testing Monday and Tuesday – Our students will take the SAT 10 standardized test on Monday and Tuesday of this week. The test that they take will be based on their learning from Kindergarten. They will take the test again at the end of 1st grade to see how much they’ve grown throughout the year. Here are a few things you can do to help your child be successful:

-Make sure your kiddos get plenty of rest the night before the test.

-It is very important to be at school on time each day. If they should come in late, they will take the test during a make up. Late arrivals will not be able to enter the classroom.

-Children should get a good breakfast each morning, either at home or when they get to school. Please encourage them to eat well so that they’ll have plenty of energy.

-Exercise!!! Our children need time to release their energy – allow them time to play and rest their minds in the evening.

-Praise, praise, praise!! Praise your child for working hard and trying every day.

PICTURE DAY IS WEDNESDAY September 19.

Guided reading will begin later this week, once testing is complete. Your child will also begin to bring home a “Baggy Book” – this is a book that is on their reading level so that they may read it each night. Please listen to your child read and encourage them to read to siblings as well. Baggy books should be returned on Friday so that they can get a new book to take home the next week.

In math, we are working on beginning addition with numbers to 12. You can support this at home by having children count books, socks, toys, etc. They can add groups of things together. You can also make flash cards with numbers and allow children to draw objects on the cards representing the numbers (Card with # 5 would have 5 cats drawn). Then, allow them to pull two cards and add the numbers together. Write the problem using an addition sentence. (5 +2 =7)

The kids did a GREAT job on their spelling test last week!! Our new words for the week are:

tip     tap     nip    nap    hit    cap

We are focusing on the sounds of short a and short i.

We hope you have a great week – thank you again for supporting your child’s learning everyday!

Mrs. Duggins

September is here!

It’s hard to believe it’s already September! I hope you and your family and had a wonderful Labor Day weekend together! We had a very relaxing one and it was just great!

This week in math we will be comparing and putting numbers in order. For instance, if I give two numbers, the students will tell me which number is bigger and which one is smaller. Later in the week, they will be given 3 numbers to put in order from smallest to largest. If you are able, please try this at home with your kiddos.

In Science, we will discuss the habitats of different animals. In the last two weeks, we have learned about living and non-living things and what living things need to stay alive. This week we will choose 2 animals to research their homes together.

In Literacy, we will continue to learn the routines and procedures of 1st grade and our Daily 5 centers. I will begin testing students to see where they are in their reading levels as well as a quick spelling assessment to see what areas of spelling we need to work on with each child.

Our sight words for the week are:

said       the        play       are       she      he

As you read with your child this week, help them to look for the sight words that they know and the ones we are working on this week.

We are having a wonderful time in 1st grade! Your children are working very hard each day and are eager to learn.  Please feel free to contact me at school if you have any specific questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Duggins