Guided Reading

Guided Reading is a small group of students, usually 4 or 5 students, who are all on the same level working together with a teacher to develop reading skills.  Your child will learn reading strategies to use when they come to a word they don't know.  This will help with fluency.  Your child will also learn good reading strategies that help them with comprehension.

Each day your child will bring home a zip-lock baggie with a book from their guided reading group.  This book is specific to your child's level.  If your child is reading above grade level they will have a higher leveled book.  If your child is reading below grade level, they will have a lower level book.  This is a book we have read 3-4 times already in the group and your child can read it successfully.  Please have your child read this book each day to help improve fluency.  Even if it seems like your child has only memorized the book, please have them read it and point to the words as they read.  Additionally, every other day there will be sentence homework in an envelope.  On the days where there is sentence homework, your child will need to put the sentence in order and then stick it in the homework book provided.  Have your child read and point to the words in this sentence.  Finally, your child may draw a picture of the sentence.

IMPORTANT!
It is very important that your child completes this homework.  This homework is specific to your child's reading level and needs.  If your child does not complete this homework they will not be prepared for the following day's lesson.  Students who complete this homework are more likely to increase their reading fluency and comprehension.  Students who do not do their homework will more likely end the year behind their peers who did complete their work.

You can have your child read their book in the car, to a sibling, pet, neighbor, etc...  Make it fun and tell remind your child that reading is FUN!  :)

Spelling

Each week your child will have spelling homework.  There are 10 words each week.  Six of the words are part of a spelling pattern, 2 words are review words from the previous week, and 2 words are High Frequency Words from our shared reading story.  It is important to develop a routine for how your child will study their spelling words to prepare them for their test on Fridays.  Every student learns differently so feel free to have your child practice their spelling in a way that works for them.  I will provide suggested activities and paper but you can study and prepare however you want.  A weekly spelling page will be turned in on Friday indicating how your child studied their spelling words.  Two activities are required per week.

Helping your child develop number sense

This year in 1st grade, your child will be developing number sense.  This is the main focus of our curriculum.  Your child will develop an understanding of adding and subtracting with one and two digit numbers, understand five and ten relationships, counting and number patterns, tens and ones place value, comparing and ordering numbers to 100, adding and subtracting with tens and ones, length, time, analyzing data, and geometry.  We will use a variety of strategies to teach and learn these concepts.  We will use ten-frames, counters, place value mats, cubes, and other hands-on materials.

In order to help your child develop these concepts I will be sending home a letter about the math unit we are beginning.  In the letter it will explain what we are about to learn as well as some at home activities you can do with your child.  As your child brings home their daily math page you can review the skill and complete any problems that were not completed at school.  This will help reinforce the skill at home.

Other activities you can do as we begin the new school year is to practice counting by 1's, 2's, 5's, and 10's. You can do this in the car, while you prepare dinner, or anywhere else.  Just a few minutes a day helps develop number sense of what numbers are bigger and smaller.

1st Grade Parents- Reading

As you begin to think about your child starting 1st grade you need to know what they will be learning this year!  After all how can you help your child succeed if you don't know what their learning objectives are!

This year your child will be learning how to read.  Some students will begin the year with a good understanding of print and can already read sentences.  Some students may begin the year without knowing all the letters and sounds.  Either way there are things you can do as a parent to help your child be successful this year!  It is a Washington Elementary expectation that your child read for 10 minutes each night 80% of the month.  No matter what level your child is at by doing this your child will develop their reading skills and be more successful.

Parents should create an environment at home that is free of distractions (yes, that means turning the TV and/or video games off) where your child can focus on reading and doing homework.  By setting routines and expectations for homework and reading early your child will get into a routine of how and when to study, do homework, and read!  Of course, we understand that sometimes families have plans or something comes up and there is no time for school work, which is why our expectation is 80% and not 100%.  Please keep in mind that parents who do not make sure their child is reading each night but continue to report that their child is reading are only hurting their child's education.  Teachers know who is really reading and who is only pretending.  Those students who read each night end the year far above those students who did nothing or little at home.

So GO and READ with your child!!  Let your child read to you and let your child listen to you read!  Children who listen to fluent reading become more fluent themselves!  Set an example and let your child see YOU reading your own book for fun!  Talk about the books your family reads and ask each other questions about the story to check for understanding!