Mrs. Kathy Rathbun
1st Grade: Reading/Language Arts & Social Studies
kathyr@cccparish.org
Hello and Welcome!
First Grade is THE place to be! Our days are packed full with reading, writing, spelling, listening to read-alouds, exporing our text books, practicing being kind Christian children, and having fun!
Language Arts
Throughout the year we work through our Journeys reading program. We were blessed with new, revised editions of all our Journeys materials last year due to the amazing generosity of our Donum Fidei Auction. In addition to that we have small group reading instruction for all students. I incorporate the Daily 5 components (Read to Self, Read to Someone, Listen to Reading, Word Work, Work on Writing), plus I am adding Computer as one of the options. I have used Daily 5 for years and appreciate the structure it provides for students to enhance their language arts skills while I work with small reading groups.
Reading
As your 1st grader develops as a reader there are some helpful things that can be practiced at home:
- encourage using strategies beyond sounding out - pictures; stretch out all the sounds & put together; skip the word, read the rest of the sentence and then go back; try a word that makes sense; try a different vowel sound
- they read a page, you read a page
- 5-word rule: if they are unable to read more than 5 words on a page the text is too difficult for them to read alone
- for harder texts, have them find words they do know on the page before you read it
- comprehension (understanding what was read) is as important as word-calling; always ask your student to tell you about what they just read (by book, by chapter, by page, whatever works best)
- if unable to retell what was just read, have them read it again, slower if necessary, and concentrate on comprehension
Writing
We begin writing on day one of 1st Grade, and by the end of the year our stories will be amazing! However, you may not always be able to read what we are writing, but we will get better and better. Since we aren't born knowing how to spell, and spelling in the English language is not easy, much of our writing will begin as 'temporary spelling'. As children are writing a word they don't know how to spell they listen for the sounds they hear and write the letters that make those sounds. This temporary spelling is not always easy for us adults to read (unless you've had years of experience like I have), but it is much more effective than each student waiting for an adult to spell the word they want to write. And they really do learn how to spell those words they are writing!
Social Studies
Our Social Studies textbook is aligned with ourJourneys Reading series, with six units that correspond with the six Reading units. Throughout these units we learn about History, Civics/Government, Geography and Economics.
Test & Quizzes
Spelling
New spelling words come home on Wednesdays and spelling tests are the following Tuesday. Each student needs to bring in a copy of spelling practice from home, signed by a parent, or you can email a picture of practice.
SPELLING LISTS
Current Topics: Since today was Friday the 13th we listened to some 'scary music' (Pandora style), wrote scary stories in the dark and then shared them around a pretend campfire! Whoooo!
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES: The Big Bazoohley was a great success - thank you so much for your participation and support!
Reading Groups will begin next week. Every student will have Reading Group twice a week, either Mon/Wed or Tue/Thur. When they have anything to bring home for Reading Group it will be in a colorful (red, blue, green, or yellow) canvas tote. PLEASE help your 1st grader remember to return the tote bag to their backpack so it will be here with them for their next group time. When they bring the bag home the homework will always be to share the book with Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother, Grandparents, Dog, Cat, Stuffed Animal...in other words, anyone and everyone that will listen! And again, thank you in advance for your support!
Classroom Party Sign UpParents, click the link below to sign up for various classroom parties throughout the year!
Sign Up Genius - Rathbun