Classroom News

First Grade: Miss Hice, 1B

It’s hard to believe that we are almost halfway through third quarter!  The children are growing each day in their studies. I am so proud of them for their hard work!

A big THANK YOU to all of you that made our holiday parties so much fun for the children!  They loved the crafts, games and treats!  I truly appreciate all your creative ideas, time, and efforts!

UPDATES IN 1B:

Testing:  Next week we begin taking the IOWA Basic Skills Tests. The first 2 hours of each day will be devoted to completing these tests schoolwide. The children cannot study for these tests. The best way to prepare your child is to be sure he/she gets plenty of rest, has a healthy breakfast, and is at school on time.  Also a good dose of encouragement would be helpful!!  Some of the tests are challenging, however, I constantly encourage the children to just try their best and do not give up. We will take periodic breaks to relax and regroup.  Be sure to ask your child what dance he/she learned that day during the testing break!

Dr. Suess Day:  March 2nd is the birthday of the author Dr. Seuss!  First Graders will celebrate this day on Friday, February 29th, by sharing a wide variety of his beloved books!  Each child is asked to bring his/her favorite Dr. Seuss book to read with a buddy!!  Please help your child select a book from the public library or one of their own to bring in to share next Friday!

Religion:  As I mentioned on the homework record sheet, the children are learning about the Lenten season.  We will be working very hard to keep our Lenten promises.  Please discuss with your child our daily practice and his/her own promise. Rita Price, the director for The Office of Older Adults, visited our classroom last week to tell us more about the activities and services they provided for our seniors.  The children asked very thoughtful questions and even got to vote for their favorite logo!  Our “Pennies for Our Pals” collection will continue until the Wednesday during Holy Week.  All contributions will be given to the Senior Center.  Mrs. Price will tell us how our collection was put to good use! 

Math- Double Digit Addition.  We are working very hard in math!  We have been practicing double- digit addition without regrouping.  It is very importance to practice this skill often.  Write down some problems and verbalize each step.  This repetition is crucial in becoming proficient with this new skill.  Say each example, point to each number.  Add the ones place first then the tens place.  Practicing with dimes and pennies is also helpful. 

Doubles +1.  A new set of math facts will be introduced this week.  The strategy is to double the smaller number and then add 1.  An example is 4+5.  (4+4)+1=9.  In the beginning this concept may be challenging so it is important to practice these facts along with the others each day.

Reading/Phonics – We continue to introduce new skills each week.  This is why it is essential to keep practicing old wordlists and reading everyday. This week’s wordlist is made up of common sight words.   Currently we are working on blends, digraphs, and wrapping up our study of long u.  Long o will be introduced towards the end of the week.   We also continue to reinforce comprehension skills with all the stories and little booklets that are read.  Ask your child to tell you who are the main characters, setting of the story, and any other related questions.  The questions at the end of each story are a good source of comprehension practice as well.   It is vital that the children not only know how to read the stories but also they understand what they are reading.  If your child has difficulty, encourage them to reread that section or listen while you read it. 

*** Please encourage your child to complete homework neatly.  This is an indication of effort. We work very hard in class encouraging and practicing neat handwriting and coloring of assignments.  This includes writing our name on the line, forming our numbers/letters correctly and using proper spacing.