For me, March is an exciting month because it’s tournament time! So, I thought it might be nice to try and bring some of that March excitement to our classroom. I’m currently planning activities for the week of March 15th – 18th. Hopefully, this will help students stay engaged as we conclude the winter season. Stay tuned …
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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 …
You may also want to make use of my YouTube Channel …
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.
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
Mr. Cole’s first graders are beginning to learn about aspects of time and will be developing an understanding of how long a minute is. Students will also be learning how to read an analog clock using the hour and minute hands to tell time to the hour and half hour.
In the coming weeks, the class will focus on longer durations of time and use the calendar as a tool to measure days, weeks, and months. First graders need to know each of these units in their correct order.
At home, you may also want to review kindergarten concepts such as; yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
You can pick up a new bag of materials this week, and I’m including information that may help in attending multiple classes. Hopefully, you have had an opportunity to view the instructional video posted to Flipgrid. I’ve also created a technology topic on the site that families can use for troubleshooting purposes. Please use the links below, and good luck!
I know that you are being inundated with a lot of information in a short period of time. Remember, our daily schedule will not change, and never feel as if you need to accomplish everything on our list. Do what works for your family. I know that everyone’s situation is different.
And please recognize that right now we are developing resilient kids that will be able to tackle enormous challenges in the future!
As you are well aware, Halloween is fast approaching. On October 29th & 30th our classes will have small parties and I have a couple of requests …
Hopefully, your first grader has been able to explain some of the high-level addition strategies that we are now using (counting on, making ten, doubles, doubles plus one). Students are often playing games, completing addition worksheets, and participating in activities at school to help improve number sense and the automaticity of the basic facts.
I am now asking that you please have your child practice addition at home. To help with this, I will soon be returning your flashcards from the supply list.
At various times during the year, you will need to focus your child’s practice on specific strategies. The first assignment will be to concentrate on problems with a total of 10 (8+2, 7+3, etc.). Pull these cards from your pack and ask your first grader to state the entire equation. “Five plus five equals ten.” If you hear either the slightest hesitation or an error on one of the facts, spend some extra time on that fact. The best way to give extra practice is to begin by immediately supplying your child with the correct answer and repeating the problem once more.
Knowing these facts automatically will be essential in using strategies introduced later in the year. And as always, thank you for your cooperation and ongoing support.
We all know that first graders enjoy the social aspects of school, and for some kids, the connections fuel learning. But today’s health crisis has limited the practice, and we might be distancing a bit longer than anticipated.
The new reality is disrupting routines and lives. It’s unsettling. We miss daily contact! For this reason, let’s interact in a way that is not stressful. Fortunately, there are some online tools to keep things light and allow kids to reconnect. We can use Flipgrid for that purpose.
No assignment. No learning outcome … Just human connections!
Virtual Show and Tell:
Students that would like to participate can record themselves showcasing their talent or displaying their creativity – This could be as simple as explaining something they’ve drawn! My only request would be that students avoid sharing toys or purchased items. Let’s keep it imaginative!
I’ve posted the first video … Check it out!