St. Michael First Grade
August 19th - August 23rd
 

Important News

• The students have started learning the routine for Daily 5.  I am very impressed with how well they are doing so far.  We will continue to work on this for the next couple of weeks.  We should be ready to start working independently while I teach small groups in about two weeks.
• We are busy working on our beginning of the year assessments.  We will soon have the math portion finished.  We will then move onto the reading portion.  I will send home reports as soon as I finish each area.
• We have had our first fire drill and lockdown drill.  First grade did an awesome job!  We will soon be doing a tornado drill.  We practice all of these in class before the actual drills happen to help alleviate any stress and worry.
• We will begin our regular reading routine and spelling words on Monday.  You will find the spelling list in your child's green folder today.

What's Happening in Academics?
Reading: This week's stories will focus on what children do at school.  On Monday and Tuesday we will read and discuss "Jack Can" beginning on page 14.  This reading book will come home on Monday for you to listen to your child read to you.  Please make sure you send the book back on Tuesday moring because we will need it for class.  On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday we will read and discuss "Nat and Sam", beginning on page 6.  This book will come home on Wednesday for you to listen to your child read and discuss the story.  Please return the book the next day.

High Frequency Words: does, not, school, what   
Your child will be assessed over these words on Friday.  He/she will simply need to read the words to me. 

Phonics: We will be working with the short "a" sound.  We will work on reading and spelling words with the short "a" sound.   

Math: We have officially started our first chapter in math.  We are working on the basic concept of addition.  We will work together in whole group and continue practicing on our own.  We will soon begin working on our small group routine.

Writing: We are going to review basic sentence structure and identify complete sentences.

Spelling: man, can, nap, tap, cat, hat, not, does  Our spelling test will be on Friday.  The students will be told a word and then they will have to write it on their paper.  The first six words are based on a phonics skill that will be practiced in our reading book.  The last two words are from our high frequency words for the week.

Religion: We have been busy working on learning how to correctly use our rosaries.  The first graders are doing a great job!  I am planning on first grade joining the school at rosary on Wednesday, August 21st.  We have also started working on chapter 1 in our religion books.  We will finish this chapter on Wednesday with a short test on Thursday.  You will find the study guide in your child's green folder on Wednesday evening.

Science: We have started our first lesson in unit 1.  We will be busy learning and exploring sound and how it is made.

Social Studies:  We have started Unit 1 in our books.  This unit covers people and traditions.  We will discuss how people and things have changed over time.  We will also talk about important people in history as well as holidays and traditions.


Important Dates
September 2nd - Labor Day (no school)
August 22nd - First religion test
August 23rd - First reading and spelling tests