Homework

Daily Reading - Monday through Thursday   

•    A reading bag will be located in your child's GES red homework folder. Three books, which will be at your child's independent reading level, will be located in the reading bag. These books should be easy, fast, and fun with an easy understanding of what is happening in the stories.  Please sign the reading log located in the reading bag letting me know that your child practiced their reading skills by reading the books to you.

•        Your child will also have  "Reading Power Goals" to practice. Your child's "Reading Power Goal" will be located in your child's reading bag.   The “Reading Power Goals” are individually designed for each student to help them succeed in reading and move up to the next reading level.  The "Reading Power Goal" may focus on a phonics skill, comprehension strategy, or power words for a certain IRLA reading level.

•        Power Words Booklets may be located in your child's reading bag. Your child needs to read and practice these words each night.  Once a parent initials that their child is ready to be tested on the phrases and group of words, I will assess them on those phrases and words.  Once a group of words and phrases are mastered, students will move onto the next list of words and phrases or a new IRLA level of “Power Words”.  

Making Words/Phonics/UFLI - Monday through Thursday 

•         Weekly Reading and Spelling Home Practice Guide 

This school year, first grade teachers will be using the UFLI Foundations program for reading and spelling instruction. Your child will be learning new concepts (sounds and letter patterns) to build their skills in reading and spelling words. The UFLI Foundations program includes Home Practice sheets to help families support their child’s learning at home. This is a guide for how to use these UFLI Foundations Home Practice sheets. 

1. New Concept and Sample Words - The Home Practice sheet will have the new concept listed at the top with a list of sample words for each concept. Instead of having your child memorize these words, use them to help your child practice applying what they have learned about letters and sounds. To read words, your child should say the sound for each letter or letter combination (d-i-sh) and then blend the sounds to read the word (dish). To spell words, your child should break the word into sounds and write the letter or letter combination for each sound. Example: sh shop shin dish lash crush 

2. Word Work Chains - When children practice building and changing words using word work chains, they are strengthening their reading and spelling skills. You can guide your child’s practice by asking them to spell or read a new word. The Sample Word Work Chain Script shows how to alternate reading and spelling practice. Resources for Word Work: 

Beginner Word Work Mat bit.ly/WordWorkMat1   

Intermediate Word Work Mat bit.ly/WordWorkMat2 

Paper Letter Tiles 

1. shin → ship → shop → shot 2. rash → dash → dish → wish 

Sample Word Work Chain Script shin → ship → shop → shot 

1. Make the word shin. [spelling] 

2. Change the n to p. What word is this? [reading] 

3. Change ship to shop. [spelling] 

4. Change the p to t. What word is this? [reading] 

3. New Irregular Words  -  Your child will also learn to read and spell irregular words. These words have a tricky part, and that part needs to be learned “by heart.” The rest of the word can be sounded out. An asterisk* next to a word indicates that the word is temporarily irregular. This just means your child hasn’t yet learned all the letter-sound connections in the word. 

4. Sentences - It is important for children to have opportunities to practice applying new letter-sound connections in connected text (sentences and books). Have your child practice both reading and spelling the sentences provided. Example:1. We go to the shop. 2. She said to pick up the trash. 

Math - Monday through Thursday (Optional)

•         A math worksheet will be sent home on Mondays that focus on the math skills your child has learned the following week. It is optional for your child to complete the math worksheet.  This worksheet is a great resource to practice the math skills your child is learning in school which helps prepare for the upcoming math assessments. The math worksheet is set up with three math problems for each day of the week. Your child may complete the whole worksheet in one night or work on it throughout the week. Fridays will be the last day to turn in the math homework to receive a sticker of their choice or a unity ticket.