Preparing for First Grade Mrs. Fleming Burnell, Mrs. Powers, Ms. Speegle, & Mrs. Terhune

BE PREPARED! As soon as school begins, we hit the ground running with homework, spelling tests, and high expectations!

Expectations of Students Entering First Grade Students recognize all 26 letters (both uppercase and lowercase) and know the corresponding sounds. Students begin spelling tests the first full week of school. Students can blend 3 letter words. Students know at least their kindergarten sight words. Students are writing sentences by sounding out words.

Expectations of Students Entering First Grade Students are starting to use capital letters and punctuation, appropriately, in sentences. Letters are wrote correctly and legibly. After reading or listening to a story, students can retell in sequential order what happened in the story. Students will start the Accelerated Reader (A.R.) program within a month of starting school. Students can count to 100, and have basic understanding of math facts to 10.

What Can Parents Do to Give their Children the Best Start? READ, READ, READ! Have your child read to you every night, and read to him/her. Practice those sight words from kindergarten, and begin adding first grade sight words through the summer break. Practice letter writing and letter sounds. Practice math facts and counting to 120.

Practicing Letters/Sounds Leap Frog Letter Factory video/song Between the Lions shows Estoria-Scholastic Books Letter Sound BINGO Fiddle! Check our websites for great resources! Letter/sound Activity

Fun Ways to Practice Sight Words Play Concentration Sight-Word Twister Beachball Bang! Slap-it Sight Word Game Word-O Practicing Sight Words 10 Fun Ways to Practice Sight Words

Fun Ways to Practice Letter Writing & Fine Motor Skills Write letters in shaving cream or sand Write on mirror or in bath tub with washable markers Use play-doh or wikki stix (found at Dollar General) to form letters String Fruit Loops Cut play-doh with scissors Picking up rice (small objects) with tweezers **Watch for correct scissors hold/pencil grip and that your child is writing letters from top down.

household items for counting: beans, buttons, clips, etc. check the $1 bins at Target for manipulatives Greater Than/Less Than with cards Play War with cards Adding dots on dominoes or dice Show a handful, take some away, and ask how many are missing. Fun Math Skills Fun Ways to Practice Math Skills

What Parents Should Expect When School Starts: Homework starting the first full week of school. Due every Friday. Regularly doing homework will be an important key to your child’s success! Students will read 2 A.R. books a night. Spelling Test every Friday starting first full week of school.

What Parents Should Expect When School Starts: Mandatory Accelerated Reader (A.R.) meeting to explain the program and expectations. Bronco Binders: White binder that travels to and from school EVERY DAY with your child. It contains a behavioral calendar that needs to be checked and signed, daily. Homework is stored here and important home/school communication.

Sample Passage (Beginning of Year):

Sample Passage (December):

PTA will have a prepackaged Supply bundle for purchase online.

For more helpful information you can visit our classroom webpages!