Language Arts

Reading
In first grade, students will continue to grow as readers and thinkers, building strong skills in phonics, fluency, and comprehension. We are excited to be using Amplify CKLA, a brand-new K–5 curriculum, to guide our learning this year. Students will explore engaging stories, poems, and informational texts that connect to the world around them. They’ll practice decoding words, building vocabulary, and thinking deeply about what they read, while also developing listening, speaking, and writing skills to share their ideas.

This program encourages hands-on activities, discussion, and meaningful practice. It’s designed to build confidence, spark curiosity, and help students see that reading and writing are more than just schoolwork—they are tools to explore and understand the world.

Reading Scope
In first grade, students will strengthen foundational reading skills, including phonics, sight words, and spelling patterns. They’ll develop comprehension strategies by exploring stories and informational texts, learning to ask questions, make predictions, and retell key details. Students will also expand their vocabulary, practice writing in response to texts, and develop strong speaking and listening skills. Each unit builds on the last, helping students grow step by step into confident, thoughtful readers and communicators.

Together, we’ll celebrate progress, big and small, as students discover the joy and power of reading. Like I mentioned, learning is an adventure, so let’s get ready to explore together! Be on the lookout for opportunities to volunteer and support our ELA learning throughout the year.

Spelling Update:

Spelling Update: December 1st

We are beginning our weekly spelling routine! Each Monday, students will take a pretest, and the week’s spelling words will come home that afternoon along with their pretest sheet. If a student earns 100% on the Monday pretest, they will move to the challenge list for Friday. The challenge words follow the same spelling pattern but provide an extra layer of difficulty.

For the next few weeks, the spelling patterns may feel a bit simple, and that is intentional—I’m focusing on teaching students the routine and helping them build confidence and independence before the words gradually increase in complexity.

I also want to gently share something I’ve heard in the classroom over the years: several students have mentioned that they may or may not receive a reward at home based on their score on the Friday spelling test. If you choose to encourage your child during the spelling routine, I kindly ask that the emphasis be placed on the process and the effort they put in throughout the week, rather than the result of the test itself.

When students feel pressure to “get a certain score,” it can unintentionally create anxiety and even lead to choices like peeking or trying to correct answers after a test. When we celebrate their hard work, practice, and progress, it reinforces healthy habits, builds confidence, and helps them take pride in what they’ve learned.

Thank you so much for your support in helping our students grow as joyful, motivated learners!

Amplify: Knowledge Domain One: Fables and Tales

This week, we will delve into our fable, "The Dog and The Manger". Ask your son or daughter what they think the moral of the story just might be. Continue to ask this question throughout our domain focus on Fables and Tales!

Phonics Terms: Useful terms to understand as students are on their learning journey!

Amplify: CKLA Reading

Sight Word Practice - 1000 Sight Words

These words won't be assigned as homework but they are great for practicing throughout the year. Students should spend time working on the first three hundred sight words.

DistanceLearningFrySightWordListsforTestingFREEBIE1000FryWords-1 (1).pdf

Why Sight Words?

Sight words are the “building blocks” of early reading. These are the small, common words your child will see again and again in books (like the, was, said, what). Because many sight words don’t follow regular spelling or phonics rules, they can be tricky to sound out. That’s why memorizing them is so important!

When children practice sight words, they become faster and more confident readers. Instead of getting stuck on every little word, they can focus on the story itself and really enjoy what they’re reading. Knowing sight words also makes writing easier as kids can spell these words quickly and correctly, which frees them up to focus on expressing their ideas.

A few minutes of practice at home can make a big difference. For example, reading flashcards, spotting sight words in books, or even writing them in fun ways. The more comfortable your child is with sight words, the smoother and more enjoyable reading (and writing) will be.

Fun At-Home Sight Word Activities

Flashlight Find – Write sight words on index cards, tape them to the wall, and have your child shine a flashlight on the word you call out.
Rainbow Writing – Have your child write each sight word three times, using a different color crayon or marker each time.
Sight Word Hunt – While reading a book together, ask your child to point out a specific sight word every time it pops up.
Chalk It Up – Write sight words outside with sidewalk chalk. Call out words and let your child hop, run, or stomp on them.
Memory Match – Make two sets of sight word cards and play a memory matching game.
Build with Magnets or Letters – Use magnetic letters, letter tiles, or even Scrabble pieces to “build” sight words.
Go Fish – Write sight words on index cards and play like “Go Fish.” (“Do you have the?”)
Word Toss – Write sight words on paper plates, spread them out, and toss a beanbag or ball. Read the word it lands on.
Sing It Out – Turn sight words into a silly song or chant. Adding rhythm makes them stick!

Page updated

Report abuse