Get to know Ms. Walker' first grade class:

 This month: In October I have an exciting month planned for your child.  We are continuing the year by making sure we read for 30 minutes at home daily (60 minutes on the weekend).  It is very important that we do this to help our students become fluent readers.  We will be reading for at least 30 a day in class as well.   In addition, we will be writing daily and practicing phonics (letters and letter sounds) and phonemi awareness (saying letter sounds).  Practicing writing at home is essential to build better writers and excel in first grade. The first genre of writing is narrative’s, but we will also be writing about informational text in the upcoming months.  This month we are reading Moon Roster and Amelia Bedilia.  We will be reading and writing and thinking about the texts in a number of different ways. Please ask your child about the readings that we do in class. It’s important to do this so they can discuss with you what they are doing in class as well as what they are learning.     

We will also be exploring math concepts and strategies for addition and subtraction this month using the curriculum Engage NY.  Students will be using number bonds and learning a number bond song to the tune of Jingle Bells (Part, part, whole.... Part, part, whole... means to add means to add whole and part means to subtract) This is the entire song, please learn this song so you can practice with your child. Students will also be expected to count on from a number and count back from a number from 0-20, count up from any given number and back from any given number within 50.  Please practice this at home so your child does well with fluency in adding and subtracting numbers later in the year.   

We will also explore air and weather and weather tools in science and communities in social studies.  Please remember to ask your child what they learned in school today :)   

*Side note, if you can send a snack with your child to school that would be helpful.  They eat lunch early (10:45) and by the end of the day they are a bit hungry.  If you can send a healthy snack for the class that would also be helpful (sometimes students forget their snack and it would be nice if everyone could have a little something to snack on) fruits, vegetables, chips and crackers are acceptable.  Sugary snacks and candy are not welcome and will be sent back home.  Thanks in advance for your thoughtful contributions.

Progress will be coming home on October 15th.  Please look at it carefully, sign and return the slip attached with it.