Mrs. Kathleen Pritz
First Grade Room 6 and 8
Mrs. Jeannette Gindhart  
Welcome Back To School
 

First Grade Information

2010-2011

Welcome to first grade!  It is a wonderful year for your child, full of learning and growing.  Below you will find information on some of the things the children will be learning this year and first grade procedures.  We hope you find this helpful during the coming year.

 

Academic Information:

 

Religion:

  1. The topics we will be covering this year include:
    • the Church & its people                
    • the Trinity
    • the creation & other Bible stories
    • the Sacraments of Initiation
    • Saints, important feast days & holidays
    • Jesus' life, death & resurrection
    • the Holy Family
  2. We stress the importance of prayers & being reverent while praying.
    • please be sure to pray with your child every day
    • they are assessed on a number of traditional prayers including The Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory Be.
  3. We take the children to church for First Friday Mass & school paraliturgies.  We stress the importance of appropriate behavior, reverence & paying attention.  Please be sure to take your child with you to Sunday mass & talk about these things with him/her.

 

Math:

  1. Topics we will be covering this year include:
    • adding & subtracting up to 18
    • patterns
    • graphs
    • geometry
    • time, money & measurement
    • the calendar
  2. Time, money & measurement can be difficult & abstract topics for first graders.  Try to casually incorporate them into your child's everyday life.  Start by skip counting by 5's and 10's.
  3. To avoid test anxiety for the little ones, tests are not announced (except the Spelling quiz).  When you notice that the chapter is nearly finished in the math workbook, you will know your child will have a math test soon.  We will also be assessing your child on the application of various math skills learned throughout the year.
  4. For fun math practice, try the links on the St. Luke web site or the publisher's web page (www.eduplace.com/kids)

 

Reading:

In first grade, we spend the bulk of our day on the many components of reading. You will see tremendous growth in this area this year.

  1. The children are introduced to many different reading strategies & genres; our  goal is to make your child a strategic reader.
  2. The children are read to every day to help them appreciate literature & to model fluency & inflection during oral reading.
  3. Each child will have number of chances during the year to be the Star Reader of the day.  When it is your child's turn, s/he can bring in a book that they can read to the class.  Please help your child pick a book that:
    • takes about 5 minutes to read
    • s/he has practiced reading with you 
  4. The children will bring home their "Blue duck" copybook  every night.  Please review the high frequency words in this book every day with your child. These words should be able to be read by sight since many of them cannot be decoded.
  5. Please read with your child and/or have them read to you every night.

    6. Phonics:

  1. Each new phonics skill will be reflected in the spelling list.
  2. The pages in the phonics book do not go in the order they are taught.  Please note that a sticky bookmark has been placed in the book to make it easier to find the pages of concentration. Please keep the bookmark in the phonics book.
     
Writing:
  1. The students practice writing in many ways during the year. Their journals are mostly informal writing & used for mini-lessons in class. We encourage developmental spelling to be used in the journal. We also have the students work on required writing that is teacher directed and often cross-curricular.
  2. Grammar is taught & graded throughout the year. First grade does not have a grammar book.  We teach grammar through a variety of mini lessons & the practice book pages from the series.
  3. Throughout the year the children work together to make many classroom books in all subject areas. 
  4. Children will also be required to complete a number of independent writing assignments that will be graded on content, grammar, spelling, and presentation. 

 

Spelling (formal):
  1. Each new spelling list consists of 10 words: 6 are new & follow the phonetic pattern; 2 are review from the previous week & 2 are high frequency words.
  2. The new list we be given at the beginning of each new phonics skill.  This may not always fall on a Monday so please check each week's homework sheet to be sure when the test will be given.
  3. Starting in October, the spelling test will include a dictated sentence.   The sentence will include words from previous lists so it is important to continue to review all the words with your child.  You will also notice that the sentence has an LA grade that includes tested grammar skills.
  4. Check out the St. Luke's web page under links to find some great games to practice spelling.

Spelling (Informal)

Children will sometimes be asked to write words that they can not yet spell.  THey will be encouraged to write the sounds that they hear in the word.  This type of 'Kid-Writing' allows them to write without the frustration of spelling each word correctly.  As they develop a better sense of conventional spelling, they will be asked to edit their own spelling of words.  

 

Spanish 

Spanish instruction will begin in October.  This will be a non-graded subject so the children will not be assessed.  Instead, they will have the opportunity to practice a new language in a fun way.  Adios! 

 

General Information:

 

  1. Test folders are sent home periodically. After you review the test, please sign each assessment and move it to the right side pocket. Return the test folder with all test papers to school the next day.

  2. Each page of homework should be signed every night by the guardian.  Please make sure you check the accuracy of the homework with your little one.

  3. Please be sure to read the homework sheet. We add new information each week.

  4. A note about NOTES:

    • An absence note is required as soon as your child returns to school; this is a state mandate & must be retained in a teacher file.
    • If your child will be going home in a different line, please send a note with specific direction.
    • Children may only ride home on a bus if it is within the same district as your home( you must also send a note for your child to give to the bus driver).
    • Feel free to send email messages on my web site.  I will try to check it daily & get back to you as soon as possible.  If the message is very important or needs an immediate response, please send in a note with your child or call the office.  I can't guarantee I will check my e-mail everyday.  Absence notes & change of dismissal line notes may not be sent via e-mail.

 

We hope that this information is helpful.  It is our privilege to work with your child and look forward to a wonderful & exciting year.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.  Your child is best educated when the school & the family work together.  Enjoy the year!

 

 
SPECIAL SCHEDULE

Monday-    Computer & Library (starting as soon as possible)

Tuesday-    Art

Wednesday-Gym & Music


 
         
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