Updated 4/15/20: Scroll Down For Updates
Begin Strong with Distance Learning
Returning
to school, even school at home, after an extended break can be
difficult. Here are some suggestions for getting your child back into
study mode!
●Help your child set short-term goals for learning each day. Use a prompt such as: “My goal for today is to ____.”
●Set a timer for focused work time.
●Break long tasks into smaller parts. Complete one part at a time.
●Schedule brain breaks and physical exercise into the day.
Dear Parents,
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. Our team has posted activities for
this week on our class webpages for families to access. Choice
boards, with optional activities, will be posted on our first grade
class pages
beginning
April 20th!
Each
week, the First Grade Team will be posting a Learning Choice Board on
our class web pages. The choice board will have optional learning
activities for
reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. It will also have
links to the Encore and Resource teachers’ web pages, which will also
have suggested activities for your child to do.
These activities will be a review of the
content taught this year in the classroom. We will provide enough
options for your child to do an activity in every subject area Monday
through Friday. These activities, when combined,
will provide 60 minutes of review, per subject, per week. Please keep
in mind, this is a resource for families, but you are
not required to complete them. If you find the choice board too
overwhelming, simply pick and choose the activities you feel most
comfortable doing.
😊
You may select activities from the choice
board that best suits the needs of your child. The activities on the
choice board will change each week.
The work that is completed will not be collected or graded, but
please feel free to share pictures of your child enjoying their
learning.
Don’t forget to include 15-20 minutes of independent reading each day.
We
will have office hours every Wednesday from 10:00 - 11:00 am. This is a
great time to email us with any questions or concerns you may have
about the
choice board. If your child isn't able to participate in
our class meetings, they can still enjoy the learning activities available on
our class web page whenever it fits into their schedule!
Thank you for your continued support,
The First Grade Team
Updated 3/26/20: Scroll Down For Updates
Below you will you find a list of the Standards of Learning for first grade. The highlighted
standards and objectives
are ones that we did not get to cover before school closed. As of right
now, there will be no instruction on new material (highlighted
standards/objectives) and all optional learning opportunities will be
a review of previously taught standards.
First Grade Standards of Learning
We encourage you to check out the county's site of optional Home Learning Resources .
The site has schedules with links to movement, art, and quiet time
activities. It also has optional academic activities that are organized
by content area. The home learning site links are organized by
content area as well. There are some great resources
and suggestions and the site is very user friendly!
Please
be advised no new assignments or activities will be assigned to
students at this time. All resource materials provided will not be
graded and are optional for students to complete.
Please continue to monitor
our class page along with the PWCS home page for important updates
during this closure.
________________________________________________
First Grade Newsletter
Welcome to First Grade!
During the first few weeks
of first grade we will be learning our classroom rules and daily
routines. Below are some general first grade items that you need to be
aware of:
Snack: Each class has a designated time for
snack during the day. You should send in a healthy snack on a daily
basis for your child. Suggestions include but are not limited to fruit,
crackers, and yogurt. You should avoid candy, chocolate, and drinks.
*Please provide a bottle of water daily for your child. The bottle
needs to have a push top or sports cap to prevent spills and may be sent
in on Mondays for the week and taken home on Fridays for washing.
Recess: All first grade classes have recess
each day. With the temperature still fairly high, please dress your
children appropriately. Layers work well for cool mornings and warm
afternoons. Sneakers are a good rule most days. The PWCS regulations
prohibit the wearing of flip-flops or shoes with wheels due to safety
concerns.
Schedules: The county has continued
to utilize the block schedule where we teach each of the subject areas
at a specified time. Our special classes, called “Encore,” will follow a
five day rotation.
Lunch money: It works best if you send in a
check to be credited to you child’s lunch card account. If you choose to
send cash daily with your child please remind them that it is their
responsibility. Please send all money in an envelope with your child’s
name on it. You may also pay online at www.MyLunchMoney.com.
Homework: The first graders participate in a
homework program first semester that centers around word patterns. We
also expect first graders to read nightly for 10-15 minutes. First
graders will be participating in the “Book It” reading program this
year.
Take Home Folders: Your child’s take-home folder will come home every night. Check your child’s folder daily for
notes, newsletters, homework, completed class work or other important
information. This is an important communication connection between home
and school.
Curriculum Highlights:
Language Arts: During the month of September,
teachers will complete reading and PALS testing so that our guided
reading groups may be formed. Once we begin guided reading, students
will begin to bring home small books to read at home. They can read them
to you, a sibling, themselves, in the car, in their room, or anything
else creative you can think of — make it fun! Please make sure to return
these books each day.
Math: Our new math program is called Math Connects. We will continue using Math Investigations this
year as well. Our first grade math curriculum will be a “blended
approach”. The students will be assessed for beginning math concepts
during the month of September. These concepts include counting, writing
numbers, and number identification.
Social Studies/Science: All Prince William
County Schools teach the “Code of Behavior” during the first weeks of
school. In addition, first graders learn about appropriate school
manners and bus safety. We will also begin our study of seasons and the
effects of change on animals and plants.
Yearly Academic Goals:
Read on a first grade reading level by the end of the year.
Write 5 complete sentences on one topic by the end of the year.
Be master counters by the end of the year. (Count to 100 by 2s, 5s, and 10s, & count backwards from 30.)
Know the addition and subtraction facts to 18.
How to Help At Home:
1. Check your child’s folder daily for any news from the classroom and homework.
2. Make a time, quiet place, and routine for your child to work at home.
3. Review class newsletters and completed classwork to practice
additional school skills at home, including our Baldrige goals.
4. Help your child be responsible for returning necessary materials
to school each day (daily folder, library books, homework, & take
home reading books).
5. Make time every day to read!
Thank you for your support at home. We are looking forward to a great year!
The First Grade Team