Halloween Week

 
First Grade has had a very busy week! Our new skating time seems to be working well. Thanks to all who are able to help out!
 
Math: The girls have begun working more independently in math. Each child receives two chips at the beginning of the math practice session, which can be used to ask for help from a teacher. This encourages not only personal problem solving skills, but also cooperative learning. We have completed unit 2. Please read the family pages of the Homelinks to see details of what is coming up for Unit 3; patterns, telling time, and using the number line and number grid to solve equations. Keep counting coins at home, dimes are coming soon!
 
Spelling:  Literacy Centers this week provided the girls with practice making words in the “et,” “eg” and “en” families and finding words with the short “e” sound in books they can read. This word study uses what the girls already know to strengthen their decoding skills. Some of you may be wondering why the words seem “too easy” for your daughter. The program Spelling Connections focuses on phonics, word study, reading and writing. All components ensure that not only those words studied (even if already known) are mastered, but that those decoding and spelling skills transfer to more difficult words they will encounter in their reading and use in their writing. Building reading and writing skills is a process. Research has shown that skipping early skills development produces gaps in the knowledge base later. In addition, studying words that children are not likely to have exposure to in their reading and writing is ineffective; they would merely be memorizing for the test. Knowing how to spell words in isolation cannot be a goal in a balanced literacy program. We can discuss adding more challenge words for those students who are ready. When monitoring handwriting practice at home, please check to see that your child is holding the pencil and forming letters correctly.
 
Reading: The girls are now choosing books to bring home for practice. Mrs. Harris and I, and also Mrs. Donnaruma in Library, have been working with the girls to find books that are at their instructional level (no more than 2-3 unknown words per page). When these come home, they can be reread daily for practice, building confidence and fluency. Please send back classroom books after 4-5 readings, or when the girls are no longer interested in reading them. Paper books coming home are for the girls to keep. Books from the classroom will come home in a plastic bag-please send them back that way too. I will be speaking with all of you about specific reading skills and levels at the conference.

Social Studies: Our class is becoming a solid community of learners. The girls are learning to depend on themselves and to look to peers for assistance. They are becoming more independent every day. Interplay, our social skills building program, has proven effective in helping the girls to “stay on the path.” We will broaden the concept of community to includethose who provide services in our neighborhoods.

Conferences: Conferences will be taking place on Tuesday (no classes) and on Thursday morning. Students will be in attendance, there will be a sub in on that day. Being on time is always important as we have twenty minutes to view your child's current level of academic and social/emotional achievement.  We will also look at work samples to see what progress has been made since the first day of school.  I am excited to meet with the parents of the wonderful children I am fortunate to spend each week with!  Remember, conferences are not the only time for us to meet. I encourage you to set up a time to meet with me to get an update on how your daughter is doing in first grade whenever that seems appropriate.  You will receive detailed, written progress reports at the end of January and June; our next scheduled conference day is in March.