A Word About First Grade...

Some developmental characteristics displayed by many seven-years- olds

• Are more serious, quieter, and less physically active than at age six
• Tend to be worries and have many fears, such as fear of the dark; however, many have overcome earlier fears like dental visits or swimming
• Frequently brood, sulk, and are moody during this quiet, withdrawn age
• Sometimes show a growing independence, such as a desire to problem-solve without help
• Display great perseverance with a task or situation; while getting started may be difficult, once on task it may be hard to quit
• Fatigue easily often demand too much of self; will need help establishing stopping points
• Appear to be very self-absorbed while building and discovering a sense of self
• Want to do things just right; when involved in deskwork, many will use erasers a lot; some teachers call this “the eraser age”
• Show varying energy levels; will have “high learning days” and “forgetting everything days”
• Can tell time and love having a wristwatch—an aid to help plan the day
• Typically need between 10 and 11 hours of sleep
• Like to help with some routine chores at home such as making bed, emptying wastebaskets, straightening own room, and helping with the dishes
• Enjoy family outings
• Tend to argue less with friends than at age six, but play is not always harmonious
• Like to play with friends but also enjoy solitary activities, such as watching TV, reading, or writing

Upon completion of First Grade, the student should be able to:

Language Arts

Reading

• Comprehend sound/symbol relationships: consonant sounds (initial, middle, and ending sounds), short vowel sounds, digraphs, and blends
• Recognize rhyming words
• Sound out words phonetically
• Recognize and pronounce sight word vocabulary
• Read for meaning and comprehension
• Use picture clues to understand a story
• Develop left to right, top to bottom eye progression
• Distinguish between fiction and nonfiction
• Apply background knowledge to make story predictions
• Recognize compound words
• Recognize and understand contractions, plurals, and possessive words
• Develop self-confidence and a desire to read for pleasure
• Identify the cover, title page, and table of contents of a book
• Read aloud with age-appropriate fluency, accuracy, and expression
• Identify the main idea, characters, plot, and setting of a story
• Sequence a familiar story

Spelling/Writing

• Use inventive spelling for creative writing
• Learn weekly unit words and use them correctly in daily writing
• Write dictated sentences
• Use capitalization and punctuation in sentences
• Write in complete sentences
• Write legibly

Science

• Understand the use of the five senses
• Identify and compare plants and animals
• Review colors, shapes, and sizes
• Understand differences between living and nonliving things
• Recognize types of energy used to move things
• Describe the earth’s landforms, air, and bodies of waters
• Recognize weather changes (daily, temperature, seasons)

Social Studies

Discuss:

• Families, neighborhoods, schools, and communities
• Basic needs—food, clothing, shelter, love, and care
• Rules and laws that help people live together
• Differences between needs and wants
• Differences between goods and services
• America ’s past
• Holidays and days of special recognition
• Earth’s landforms and bodies of water using maps and globes
   

Math
 

• Count and write the numerals 0-100
• Solve basic addition and subtraction facts through 18
• Solve story problems using addition and subtraction
• Add three numbers
• Recognize even and odd numbers
• Learn greater than and less than when comparing numbers
• Tell time to the hour and the half hour
• Learn the days of the week and months of the year, using a calendar
• Identify and write the number of tens and ones in a two digit number (place value)
• Count by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s
• Identify and count pennies, nickels, and dimes in mixed sets
• Recognize different methods of measurements (linear, weight, temperature, and volume) in metric, standard and non-standard units
• Create and read simple graphs and charts
• Identify and name basic shapes (solid and plane)
• Use ordinary numbers first through twelfth
• Recognize and extend a given pattern
•  

Music
 

• Recognize and sing from memory a variety of songs
• Sing independently, on pitch and in rhythm, while maintaining a steady tempo
• Develop creativity
• Identify high and low, fast and slow, and loud and soft during singing, and in musical examples
• Respond appropriately while playing musical instruments
• Echo short rhythmic and melodic patterns
• Develop self-discipline and self-confidence when participating in class activities
• Demonstrate appropriate behavior in a variety of settings, especially during a performance

Art

• Develop visual awareness and appreciation through art history
• Understand and apply the elements and principles of design
• Develop responsible work habits understand how to prepare and manipulate the art medium (clay, paint, etc.)
• Understand and apply primary and secondary colors, warm and cool colors, and the tints and shades
• Develop problem solving, abstract thinking, and special thinking processes
• Respect and care for tools, materials, and work environment
• Develop fine motor skills to use art tools and materials in an effective manner
• Develop subject matter awareness (human body/face, animals, trees)
• Review the put on and pull out process with clay (moist)
•  

Physical Education

• Understand and follow rules and procedures
• Use a variety of basic loco motor movements (skip, hop, gallop, jump, run)
• Use a variety of basic non-loco motor movements (turn, bend, twist, reach)
• Perform a variety of manipulative skills (throwing, catching, kicking, striking, dribbling)
• Use concepts of spatial awareness and movement control (speed, over, under, change of direction)
• Use concepts of body awareness in balance activities
• Develop small and large muscle skill coordination
• Engage in activities that increase respiration and heart rate
• Engage in activities that develop flexibility, muscular strength, and endurance

Your Child’s Homework

While there is a lot of learning going on in school, it is very important for your child to continue the learning process at home. Daily homework deepens your child’s understanding of what is being taught in the classroom. It also reinforces the study skills necessary to really learn the concepts and material presented by the teacher.

Homework Expectations for First Grade

• Read to an adult the daily reading assignment
• Complete and return math practice worksheet two days per week.
• Study spelling list each night for Friday’s test
• Take time to review and evaluate your child’s school work that is sent home each Friday
• Second semester, be prepared to do a book report every Friday 

Ways You Can Encourage your Child to Read

• Set a good example. Read for pleasure. Show and share that pleasure.
• Read aloud eagerly to your child. Show him or her how much you enjoy this reading time. Make it special and do it each night!
• Ask your child to read to you. Don’t be anxious or impatient with his or her reading ability. Listen to your child read; do not listen for reading mistakes.
• Encourage your child to share what he or she has read in books. Discuss stories, plots, characters, conflicts, resolutions, and feelings.
• Visit the library together.
• Be pleased with your child’s reading progress.
• Give specific and genuine praise.
• Let your child select books he or she wants to own.
• Give books as gifts on special occasions or as reading rewards. 

Help Your Child Succeed in School

• LET YOUR CHILD KNOW THAT SCHOOL IS IMPORTANT. Help them know that school today will help them in their job later.
• PROVIDE A SETTING FOR THEM TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK EVERY EVENING. Children thrive on routines.
• LIMIT THEIR TV VIEWING. Help them choose quality programs ahead of time. Teach discretion.
• INSIST THAT THEY TREAT AND SPEAK TO YOU WITH RESPECT. Encourage conversations but don’t allow them to be sassy or talk back. This will carry over to how they speak to their teachers.
• TEACH THEM TO TREAT ALL OTHER CHILDREN WITH RESPECT. It is OK for them to tell another child that they don’t like what they are saying/doing, without being unkind or lashing out. This, too, can start at home.
• INSIST THAT THEY EAT A NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST. A child who comes to school without breakfast is like a driver starting out on a long trip with very little gas in the tank.
• VISIT THEIR CLASSROOM. You can make special arrangements anytime.
• BE SURE THAT THEY ARE GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP. They will listen better, think better, get along better, and be happier.
• TALK TO YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER OFTEN. Ask questions. Keep in touch.
• THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE TAKING YOUR CHILD OUT OF SCHOOL. Sometimes there’s no choice, but try hard to avoid it.

Home-School Communications

We welcome your partnership in helping your child achieve success in school. By working and talking together, we can create a very positive learning environment

Ways We Keep in Touch

• Open House (September)
• Parent/Teacher Conferences (November and February)
• Weekly Teacher Talk Newsletter
• Notes and Telephone calls
• Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher with questions or concerns