Hello! My name is Shannan Whitt. This is my 18th year in the classroom, and my ninth year with Red Lick Elementary. I am a wife and mother to my beautiful family. My husband, Billy Whitt, is a loan originator with Mortgage Financial Services. Our daughter, Anna Blair, and her husband Davin, are the parents to our precious granddaughter, Porter Faye. Our son, Miller, will be a junior at Redwater highschool.
Teaching is a passion, and I feel very strongly about educating the whole child and the benefits of strong parent/teacher communication. First grade is such a pivotal year in the foundation of future learners. It is so rewarding to see the students blossom into accomplished readers, writers, and thinkers. My expectations are high, but are fostered through a loving and caring environment.
Throughout the year, if any questions or concerns arise, feel free to contact me through e-mail (swhitt@redlickisd.com), Remind, or by phone. My conference time is 1:10-1:55, each day. I would be more than happy to set up a conference during this time.
Important information:
First Grade lunch time is: 11:20-11:50.
Please check your child's blue communication folder, each day! All important information will be listed! You will see a monthly calendar, weekly homework sheet, and any notes or papers from the day.
We will utilize Bluebonnet Learning for Reading/Language Arts and Math. Topics to be covered will be listed on the weekly homework sheet.
Sight Word tests are administered on Thursdays. It is very beneficial to review the words, each night.
Guided reading level assessments will be given once a month. The passages are on-level and correlated to the month administered.
AR tests: AR is a wonderful tool to improve comprehension and fluency skills. I highly encourage students to read for at least 20 minutes per night (with an adult). Students may go the library at 7:30, each morning, to test and return books. Students are also allowed to test in the classroom. There are times allotted for exchanging throughout the day, and we (as a class) take a trip to the library on Thursdays. I will send AR reports home every couple of weeks, and students should pass the tests to gain points. Students are only allowed to test on a specific book, once.
What are we learning?
Bluebonnet Learning will be utilized for our math and reading curriculum.
Reading/ELAR
Unit Title
Focus Highlights
1 Sharing Stories Beginning foundational literacy skills
2 The Human Body Extends phonics and decoding with thematic context
3 Early American Civilizations Builds on literacy within cultural content
4 Astronomy: Space Exploration Decodable text practice in a science theme
5 This Planet Rocks Phonics & vocabulary within earth sciences
6 Animals and Habitats: The World We Share Habitat vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension
7 Fairy Tales Story structure and foundational skill wrap-up
Math
Module 1: Number Sense & Counting
Understand numbers, counting to 120
Identify one more, one less
Compare quantities and introduce addition and subtraction basics
Module 2: Addition & Subtraction within 20
Fluency with adding and subtracting using strategies
Use of number bonds and ten‑frames to develop understanding
Relate addition and subtraction sentences
Module 3: Measurement & Data (Length and Data)
Compare and order lengths using nonstandard and standard units
Measure objects and record data
Interpret and create simple picture graph
Module 4: Place Value & Tens
Understand place value (tens and ones)
Decompose and compose numbers using place value concept
Module 5: Addition & Subtraction within 100
Add and subtract fluently using place value strategies
Apply understanding of two-digit addition and subtraction
Module 6: Problem Solving & Mixed Practice
Apply number sense, place value, and operations in multi-step problems
Emphasize reasoning, fluency, and conceptual understanding