Dear Parents and New First Graders,
Hello and welcome to First Grade!
I am so excited to be your teacher in September! I have put together a few items here for your information for our class and for you to keep up with what you have learned in kindergarten.
I have included a suggested reading list for over the summer. Please try to read at least 20-30 minutes each day. Most of these great books can be checked out of your local library, or purchase if you choose. Also, please keep practicing your words from your word ring list that you have from kindergarten class.
For Math: Practice math facts adding and subtracting sums up to 20. Car rides are a great time to do this as a game.
Practice skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s.
The Google classroom login and password will be the same as you used for kindergarten class. This will be your child’s login and password their entire time at OLMC. I will also be sending an email with an invitation to join the Google classroom right before school starts. In Google classroom under the Classwork tab you will find a link called Class Drive Folder. There you will find the supply list for next year and also the summer reading challenge list. I have included both of these lists in this packet but in case it gets lost that’s where you can find them. You can also find them on my class website page at this link.
Next is a list of skills your child needs to practice:
*Opening the various items in their lunch boxes, ex. Tupperware, juice boxes, containers, thermoses.
*Zipping up the various types of zippers and or buttons and buckles they will be wearing.
*Turning a jacket or shirt sleeves right side out.
*Wearing weather suitable jackets, our children go outside everyday unless the weather is below 32*.
*Please teach them to pack their backpacks immediately after they do their homework, so it’s not such a scramble in the morning.
*And last but not least, please help your child to learn how to tie their shoes over the summer. I am also including a suggestion to a Youtube video that has been extremely helpful to demonstrate an easy way to manage the laces. The video is by Timothy McConnell/tying shoes. Please help them practice this, it is a lifelong necessary skill.
First Grade is a big transitional year. We are much more academic and your child will be expected to write much more and to work more independently. We will have homework Monday through Thursdays, Friday it is usually a prayer for something or someone in particular. We also do a lot of collaborative work in groups as the year progresses, so that we learn how to interact and behave with partners. In Science we will be learning about plants and animals and habitats. We will also learn about space and sound. In Social Studies we learn all about communities and neighbors and how our states and country work together.
Together we will make this a great year for your children.
Mrs. Lisa Degen