Quarantine

In the event that your child/family needs to be quarantined, I will put together packets similar to what we’ve used in the past. I believe the school will deliver them and I’ll reach out with details on where we are in each subject. Also, note the checklist hyperlinks below this post. They will help you with the completion of daily tasks.

Unfortunately, the first-grade team has found that the live meetings make classroom management difficult now that we are in-person. The hybrid model allowed us to juggle the platforms because we only had half of the class in the room. Screen time is also a concern for us. Now, if for some reason the quarantine were to be extended beyond ten days, our plan is to return to some form of video interaction with the class. We’ll cross that bridge if we get there …

Reading Checklist

Math Checklist

 

You may also want to make use of my YouTube Channel …

 

 

Spelling

This week students will have their first experience with a formal spelling test. They have been working hard to learn our core words, but there are basic strategies that first graders need to know beyond memorization.  Students have had practice making word-families, so they have already been exposed to some of the strategies.

Please use the list found in the newsletter to help your first grader prepare for the test.  Keep these words for the entire week and return the worksheet on the day of the quiz. There will be eight words to practice.

To review the procedure;

Each Friday you will find a list of words in the yellow homework folder. There will be a total of eight points possible each week. Run through the list every night with your first grader and note any patterns. We will discuss the words in class as well. You may also want to administer a “practice test” at home on Thursday nights.

We will continue to address spelling primarily within authentic writing experiences (journals), but these tests will certainly promote useful spelling skills.

 

Welcome Back!

I’m sure that you and your first grader are excited about returning to the building tomorrow, as am I. It feels like the first day of school! I’m also certain that it will take some time to reacquaint ourselves with the routines, and each other, but I’m not worried. We’ve got the materials needed to hit the ground running and you can be confident that I’ve been preparing for this day.

Now, you have a lot of materials at home and are probably wondering what should be done with them. Hold tight! Please don’t throw anything just yet. I am going to ask for you to return most of it, but not on the first day. Let’s do it slowly. Below you will find a list of items to send back this week:

Blue Bookbag

Green Take-Home Folder

Mr. Cole’s Storybooks  

School Device (iPad)

Don’t fret if you can’t locate some of these items. I do have extras, but please return them when they appear. I’ll be asking for the packets and other tools in the near future.

Also, we now have snow on the ground so be sure to send hats, mittens, and snow pants!

Hasta Luego,

Mr. Cole