Whitman's World of Wonder May/June 2011 Welcome back to the Whitman's World of Wonder webpage. I hope you have been able to visit often to stay updated on happenings in our first grade classroom and what our precious first graders have been learning this school year. Hopefully it has been informative and helpful.
Whitman's World of Wonder is, traditionally, the best class in the school. There are 11 boys and 8 girls; 19 wonderful students in all. Mrs. Bass and I enjoy working with our first graders every day. We are involved in many fun and exciting activities. Learning is fun. There is a character trait each month. These are traits that good citizens strive for. The May character trait is "positive attitude". (We've also kept last month's trait of "self control". We are learning what it means and various ways to show it in our everyday lives. We are practicing this at school in first grade. Our first grade Rockwell Rockets have learned new things about reading, sight words, spelling, writing stories and handwriting, math, science, social studies, art, music, library, computers, guidance, and living and working in a community, side by side. In first grade we are made new friends and learned with old friends. First graders were able to bring a healthy snack each day. No drinks. We took 10 minutes to have our snack time while we worked. Saltines were provided for those who didn't have their snack. If you provided a box of regular Saltines for our class we greatly appreciated it. Getting homework assignments in on time is a good habit that most of our first graders mastered in order to ensure school success for years to come. Homework contracts were provided for every full week of school. We sent the weekly homework contract to you on Friday. It was due the following Friday. Some families worked on the homework during the week. Some families had more time to do homework on the week ends.
Students needed to "layer" their clothes. We kept a sweater or sweatshirt in the cubby that could be put on if our classroom got too cold while the air conditioner is on. (and it did get cold!!) Also, thank you for putting your child's name in the clothing.
If you haven't already, you'll want to get a free library card from the public library in order to check out books for your child and you to enjoy.
We have seen reading improvement in the students who consistently read at home during the school year! Read, read, read!!! Continue to let your child read to him/herself, you read to him/her, or you read together. Remember when you read with your child that you get him/her to retell the story to you in order of beginning, middle, and end including many details and the names of the characters. It is best to just say, start at the beginning and tell me what happened in this story. The desired outcome is that your child can retell the story with very little prompting from you. Get him/her to tell alot of details without your questions. Another good idea is to have your child tell his/her favorite part of the story and tell why or what the problem in the story is and how it is solved.A tip for fluency (reading smoothness) is to have your child read an easier story several times. Pick one that is easy to read, then read it over and over several times to practice that skill. You could read the book smoothly, with expression, then allow your child to read just like you. Many times the "choppy" reading smoothes out when this is done consistently. Also, your child could stretch out the words without cutting the sounds off in a choppy manner which would help also. (Student holding and stretching a slinky helps with this, sometimes)
Each student has been assessed on their sight words (high frequency words). Each has an individualized list of words he/she has to learn. They learned them at an individualized pace. Practicing these each night, this summer, will ensure that your first grader will be able to read these words that do not always follow phonics/spelling rules. Also, if your child "gets stuck" on a word, you write a short sentence that your child tells you using the word on the back of the card. Then when he/she "gets stuck" again, the child can read the sentence on the back as a clue. After your child learns to read them, he/she willneed to learn how to spell them. When learning to spell them at home, have your child write the words. Muscle memory will help your child to spell them each time. Learning these words will also help your child's written expression (writing stories) to improve. Many of the students have reached the goal!!!! Job well done!!!!
There was spelling work and sentences turned in each week with the homework contract. The "at home" practice test was turned in and labeled such. The current spelling words can be found by clicking on "Flashcards" at the top of this newsletter. In math, we are learning about the hand held calculator. We are adding and subtracting with it. The students have enjoyed this. We used and reviewed all the skills we learned this year in our literacy centers and small guided reading groups. Also how to segment and blend sounds to make words which helps in spelling and reading. We know that pictures and words on the same page go together and taking a "picture walk" through a story helps us to relate our experiences to the story. We constantly reviewed skills that make us good readers. We wrpte daily. We tried to become automatic when putting periods at the end of a sentence (thought) and starting the next one with a capital letter. We also got our good ideas written down on paper. All of us are authors and illustrators. We wrote "small moment" stories. To help with the writing skills, have your child write at home. Have them write directions to something or notes to family, etc. This summer, have him/her take a couple minutes each day to write down what happened and his/her feelings about it. Keep this in a spiral notebook. It will be fun to go back and read what was written. Thank you for participating in your child's education. Please know Mrs. Bass and I appreciate your help at home with reading, sight words, math facts and homework. Please contact me if you have any concerns or questions about your child and school this year. We tried to teach your child the importance of working as hard as possible. We have been so busy, busy, busy!!! Also, a big thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers who who helped our students  in the literacy stations in the AM's!!! Important Dates:
Monday, May 30 - Memorial Day, school holiday for all.Thursday, June 2 - 1st Grade Beach Day; details to followFriday, June 3 - Volunteer Breakfast, 8-9:00, invitation onlyMonday, June 6 - 1st Grade yearbook signing-(we will make for those not purchased)will do in the afternoon.Tuesday, June 7 - Field Day; all school related fees must be paid in full in order to participate. Parents who can help please call the school and volunteer!!!(library book fees, library books must be turned in, pictures, lunch charges, etc.)Wednesday, June 8 - Rain date for Field DayFriday, June 10 - at shelter 9-11:00, 1st Grade Ice Cream SocialFriday, June 10 - Last day of school for students. Report Cards will be in the backpacks Friday AM.
Our lunchtime is 11:32 - 12:02 Please feel welcome to have lunch with your first grader until the last day of school. It is such a special treat for your child and we love company! Please sign our guest register beside the door, too.Please stay in contact with me in Whitman's World of Wonder by note, phone, or email to Schoolnotes.
We have had a happy, productive, successful year!!!
|
