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At OPS, homework supports learning and reinforces skills taught in the classroom. Students will be assigned approximately 20 minutes of homework, Monday through Thursday, along with daily reading.

Homework in our classroom typically looks like the following:

Mathematics: worksheet following weekly lessons 

Fundations: a weekly work set including dictation and activity worksheets to be completed and handed in by Friday each week 

Reading: read for 15-20 minutes each night; reading is encouraged over the weekend. 

Highlights of  First and Second Grades

Planetarium First Grade Field Trip:

• First grade visit to the planetarium is always an out-of-this-world adventure!  Students learn about stars, planets, and constellations while experiencing the wonders of space in a fully immersive environment.  It's a day filled with curiosity and discovery as we explore the universe beyond our own.

Veolia Water Treatment Company In-Class First and Second Grades Visits:

• Through hands-on activities and engaging discussions, the Veolia Water Treatment team brings environmental science to life in our classroom. Students learn the importance of clean water, how it’s treated, and what they can do to help protect this vital resource.  Second grade visits Veolia on-site.

First Grade Musical:

• The first-grade musical is a highlight of the year, where students shine on stage while showcasing their creativity and teamwork. With songs, choreography, and costumes, it’s an opportunity for every child to build confidence and share their talents with the school community.

March Mathness First Grade Family Visit:

• March Mathness is a fun and interactive event where students strengthen their number sense, problem-solving skills, and love of learning through exciting games and challenges. It’s a month-long celebration of math that gets everyone excited about numbers!

Fundations First Grade Chalk Writing Family Lesson:

• Fundations Chalk Writing adds a creative twist to phonics and handwriting practice. Using chalkboards and colorful chalk, students enhance their letter formation skills and phonemic awareness while having fun in a hands-on, multisensory learning experience.

Smarty Plants Second Grade

• A fun and interactive lesson about plant life cycles, growth, and the importance of greenery in our world.

STEAM Leprechaun Trap Second Grade

• Creativity and engineering combined as students designed clever traps to catch mischievous leprechauns using STEAM principles.

End of the Year Writing Family Celebration Second grade

• The family celebration is a special event to showcase students’ growth as writers, celebrating their hard work and creativity throughout the year.

Support Literacy:

• Set a reading goal

• Encourage the use of decoding strategies 

• Retell stories when finished reading

• Talk about your reading when finished with a book

• Keep a reading journal 

• Read with your child daily

• Practice sight words

• Encourage writing activities 

Support Math:

• Help your child master basic math facts

• Practice skip counting by 2s, 5s, 10s, and 100s

• Read math word problems and find important numbers and key words for the operations

• Use words, pictures and math vocabulary to explain the math process used to solve a problem

• Use math in your daily lives such as time, measurement, and patterns

Encourage Independence and Routines:

• Establish consistent routines for mornings, homework and bedtime

• Assign simple chores to build responsibility and confidence

• Create a space at home for your child to work without distractions

Foster Emotional Growth:  

• Discuss emotions, practice problem-solving, and celebrate efforts 

• Encourage creativity through play, arts, and crafts  

• Use calm breathing strategies

• Encourage positive-self talk 

• Show good sportsmanship 

Stay Involved with School:

• Communicate with teachers, review homework, and attend school events  

• Create a quiet study space and set boundaries for screen time