Welcome Firsties 2012-2013

Welcome to first grade! I bet you are wondering what your little scholar will be learning this year. Foundationally, first grade is a huge academic milestone. Your child will be expected to sit and focus longer than they have in grades prior to this. Therefore, our first task will be to build stamina.

In addition to reading, writing and math your child will learn problem solving strategies, critical thinking skills, reading comprehension, inferencing, sequencing, main topic and details. Likewise, in writing they will learn different types of writing including acrostic poetry, writing opinions, narrative writing, persuasive writing and much more. Math concepts are taken to new levels well beyond the basics of ordering numbers and basic counting skills.Learning math vocabulary is another very important skills for firsties.

With so much to learn, you may be wondering if your child is up to the challenges of the state benchmarks and common core. In order to answer this question, lets consider Mastery Learning, which was built upon the concepts of Benjamen Bloom, an educational psychologist who observed and studied how children learn best. He developed a well known theory called Bloom's Taxonomy.

His theory encourages higher cognitive thinking in children. The peacock pictured above explains the different levels involved in this theory, as well as what those levels encompass. The most basic cognitive skills start with remembering and moving to students being able to create for themselves. We will use this model in most areas of learning this year. I will supply parents with materials to participate and reinforce higher thinking skills at home as well. This model helps all students - from those struggling to those who may be considered gifted. It is a wonderful model to base differentiated (individual) lesson plans on and really encourages children to go beyond the basics of who, what, when, where, and why questions and to dive deeper in discovery. I will provide parents with a packet of how to ask questions which require children to feel more challenged in exploring the topics and concepts that they are learning about! 

 Your child will have much to learn this year. In reading they will study identify setting, characters, main idea and details and much more.Students will be able to recognize different genres. They will take a tremendous leap in writing as they learn more about grammar and usage. Math soars to a new level as students recognize new math symbols, explore math rich vocabulary, word problems and solving strategies become more complex, we explore measuring, time and money and much more. Firsties will be immersed in science, at COTI will take it a step farther and learn the basics of marine science as well. Social studies move beyond the home, school and community into the understanding of United States, countries and globes.

Yes, first grade is time of great learning and growth not only academically, but socially too.We will build class community and school spirit. It is important for parents to understand that we are a team. After all, you were and are your child's first and forever teacher on this educational journey. Please help your child appreciate their educational opportunities and help them build good study habits and healthy attitudes. It is the first step of many years of learning how to be successful in school and life.

I look forward to working with you and your child. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have. Remember, we have no limits!