|
Here are a few tips to help you as you practice reading.
1. Look at the picture. 2. Get your mouth ready for the first sound. 3. Look for parts (chunks) you know. 4. Think about what makes sense. 5. Go back to the beginning and read it again. |
|
1. Reading 2. Math 3. Bible 4. Handwriting 5. Spelling 6. Language 7. Science 8. History 9. Projects |
|
1. Be patient with your child’s efforts. Remember that practice is important 2. Set aside 20 minutes each day for reading. 3. Do not forget to read to your child, even after he/she has learned to read. Remember that your child’s listening vocabulary is much larger than his reading vocabulary, especially in these early days of reading. 4. Ask your child questions about what you’ve read to help instill comprehension. 5. Do not forget to enjoy good books with your child as they journey into the world of literature. |
|
Reading (Open Court Publishing) |
|
The Dolch sight words are a group of 220 words most commonly used in text. We will practice reading these words by memory. As one list of 20 words is memorized, the student will move on to the next list of 20 words. I will mark off the list on their book and on my records. The student will receive a new set of flashcards to take home, also. The sight word book must stay in the EAGLE notebook in order to travel to and from school EVERY day.
Literacy Box
The student’s first project in first grade will be to create a Literacy Box. This is a shoe box that the student will decorate himself. The students will bring the box to school to share with the class, but then it will stay home the rest of the year. The purpose of the box is to store all of the little decodable take home books and flash cards your student will bring home this year. We want to save them and read them over and over again. Practice, practice, practice! |
|
Math (Mathematics Purposeful Design ACSI)
GCS adopted the ACSI math curriculum in order to provide the students with a more challenging outlook on mathematics. The ACSI curriculum requires many higher level thinking skills to be used and applied during our math lessons. We use manipulatives (hands-on supplies) on a daily basis to help us apply what we are learning in math. If you were to visit a math lesson in our first grade class, you would |
|
see the students using pattern blocks, tangrams, base ten blocks, Judy clocks, and many other tangible items such as dried beans, Gold fish crackers, etc. We usually work in groups during our math lessons, also. There is a unit test at the end of each math section. |
|
Bible (ACSI)
Our Bible lessons are from the ACSI Bible curriculum. I have rearranged them a little in order to integrate Bible in our daily lessons by including them into an overall unit. For example, we begin the school year memorizing Genesis 1:31 “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good”. We will learn that God made each of special. We will read Bombus the Bumblebee, a cute book about a bumblebee that thought he was a mistake but learns God made him for a purpose. We will study how our bodies are made in science. We will note facts such as height and weight to compare later in the year. And we will then begin our study of creation.
Memory Verse A new memory verse will be assigned each Monday and is to be recited from memory on each Friday unless otherwise noted. The memory verses should be kept in the EAGLE notebook.
Chapel The students attend chapel every Thursday. We sing praise and learn an object lesson from Mrs. Moore. Each class puts on a chapel special for the elementary and their families once a year. Our chapel special is usually in the spring around March. |
|
Handwriting (D’Nealian Scott Foresman)
Handwriting does not receive a numerical grade on the report card, but I am not lenient in regards to neatness, either. The student will receive a letter grade (E, S, N, or U) for handwriting. Here are the rules for D’Nealian handwriting.
Be patient, positive, and encouraging. children learn in different ways and at different rates.
All letters should be made in a smooth and continuous movement.
|
|
Spelling
Spelling words will be recorded on the right hand side of the planner in the EAGLE notebook each week as well as on the back of the memory verse. Practice spelling them by writing in sand, practice tests, spelling bees, etc. Tests are weekly.
Our spelling words are words we are reading and writing in our reading curriculum. |
|
Language (The Shurley Method)
We will begin learning the Shurley jingles in language around the end of October. The Shurley method teaches the students the parts of speech and how to identify them in sentences. In addition to this, we will do other activities to reinforce the skills taught.
|
|
Science Macmillan/McGraw-Hill
Science is a fun, hands-on way to learn in first grade. The first graders enjoy experiments and we also enjoy some exciting field trips. Two fun science field trips include the Sabine Creek Bee Farm and the trip to the pond to study animal habitat. Last year we brought several tadpoles back to our classroom to watch grow!
Science is also a great subject to include biblical integration. We have a wonderful time exploring God’s world through science in our first grade classroom.
|
|
History (My America and My World Abeka)
History is another fun way to explore God’s world. We can look back in time and see His hand at work. We will learn about our communities, our country, and our world this year in history. I may ask for volunteers to speak or present about states, countries, or other topics.
|
