Links

FUSD: The MV school link has a link to my email. Please feel free to contact me  if you have any questions or concerns. It also includes a calendar and menu. 

Brainpop and BrainpopJr: We are very fortunate that our booster club pays for this site. They have a variety of animated videos that are engaging and informative. There are also quizzes and games. It is a favorite site for First Grade. 

You can access the site from home- the login is: mtvista with the password: wildcats

AR: As students make progress in their reading and become independent readers they will start Accelerated Reader. It is a program designed to help students improve in their independent reading and reading comprehension. In First Grade most students don't start with this program until January- we usually wait until students have learned through the gray wordlist. In 2nd-5th AR is part of their everyday. Your child can take their test at home, they just need their student id and password.

Starfall: An educational site that reviews letters, letter sounds, blending and site word reading. It is a fun site. 

We are reading!!!

Reading groups are well under way. I have made time in the day to read with all students in small groups. I am excited to see the progress they are making and their confidence grow as they become readers.

As you read with your child give them time to decode and blend words that they are struggling with. This will help them remember the word the next time they read it- whether to blend it faster or as a word they now know. This is why sight word practice (from the First Grade Word List) and knowledge is important. They are learning these words in isolation so it is extremely important that they read in order to see those words in context. 

Your child should have completed the red list from the first grade word list and should be reading words from the blue list. It is extremely important that you keep pace with the list and not fall behind. 

Birds

We are moving on to birds this week. As part of one of our themes we have been learning about penguins the last two weeks. So far we have learned about the Emperor, Adelie, Macaroni, Little, Royal and Gentoo. We have watched several videos on http://www.arkive.org/explore/species?q=penguin. Penguins are the perfect lead-in to birds. By the end of the week they will have learned everything there is to know about birds :)

We are well into adding. We are finding sums by any means necessary- our fingers- but our end goal is adding by counting on. 

I started guided reading groups this weeks and the kids are very excited about reading. It is important that you are reading with your child at home to help improve this skill. 

The students are getting used to the rhythm and routine of first grade and our days are running smoother. 

Mammals

We started our mammal unit today. Ask your child to name a mammal characteristic and why they are a mammal and not a bird :)

Assessments

We have finished with initial assessments and sending them home. Please check your child's homework folder.

September

September will be an exciting month in First Grade. This is when First Grade really begins. The students have been assessed, Waterford is under way and we will begin RTi. Click on the links for more information on Waterford and RTi- www.waterfordearlylearning.org
http://www.rtinetwork.org/learn/what/whatisrti

The students will come back after the holiday weekend to find they are no longer in rows but are now in pods. Seating assignments are fluid are we are still trying to find the right seating partner for everyone. 

In class we will focus on mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles. Johnny Appleseed celebrates his birthday in September- so we will spend a week with him and learning all about apples. 

We have begun addition in math. At the moment we are working with addition facts through 12. 

The homework will include sight words this week. Please make sure your child has time to practice at home. They will also be given opportunities in class but it is important to reinforce this skill with practice at home. 

Routine, rules and procedures are still being learned so please ask your child how their day went. Remember students always have the opportunity to go back to green if they have changed their card during the day. 

Looking forward to a great month!