Mrs. Symmonds’ First Grade Class

Welcome to Mrs. Symmonds' first grade class!  Here is just a little bit of information about our room.

 

             Daily Schedule

8:00-8:20        Morning Activities

8:20-8:40        Opening Circle

8:40-9:15        Accelerated Reading Time

9:15-9:30       Recess

9:30-9:45   Whole Group Reading

9:45-10:30     Reading Clubs/Centers

10:30-11:20    Whole Group Reading (ART - W)

11:20-11:35     Recess

11:35  11:50  ADD/DLR

11:50-11:55     Wash Hands/Prepare for Lunch

11:55-12:20     Lunch

12:25- 12:40   Story time

12:40-1:20     Mad Minute/Math

1:20-1:30         Prepare for Specials

1:30-2:20        P.E/Music/Health/Computer Lab/Swimming

(Schedule changes on 1st/3rd Weeks and 2nd/4th Weeks)

2:20-2:40       Snack/Show and Tell

2:40-3:15        Teacher Directed Activity

3:15-3:35        Prepare to go Home

3:35                Dismissal

 

 

 

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                   Family Fun/Learning Time

Remember that reading is very important especially in the early years of learning.  Here are some tips on how to incorporate reading almost every moment of the day! 

-       when driving, have your child read the signs on the road or on buildings as you pass by

-       when reading the newspaper have your child pick out words or sound out words in the sub titles

-       anytime possible share a book with your child: have them read to you, you read to them, read together and talk about the pictures

-       when in play: have your child make list and read them back to you, make signs for the cars/roads, make books and read them aloud

-       when cooking have your child sound out the words in the cookbook or on the recipe

-       when shopping, have your child read the words on packages or find numbers on items and/or have them read the shopping list and help find that item in the store.

 

 

 

Accelerated Reading Program     

This program is very important in first grade.  It is a lot of fun because there is so much growth in the reading area in first grade.  The following are the certification levels  children earn during first grade:

READY: Read eight or more books to or with student, can be done as a class. Tests are taken with adult assistance. 

SET: Read ten or more books to and with the student within that student's appropriate reading level.   The student must pass 6 tests at 80% or higher.  Tests are taken with adult assistance. 

GO: Read ten or more books independently at 1.6-1.7 level.  The student must pass 6 tests at 80% or higher with minimal or no adult assistance. 

Some children may go above these levels, depending on each child's reading ability. 

It is extremely important for the family to help with this area in the first grade student's life.  Take time to sit down and enjoy a book and talk about it.  It can be a very rewarding and fun time for the first grader and the listener!

 

 

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Reading

First graders work very hard during the whole year to learn how to read!  We use the Macmillan/McGraw-Hill series, TREASURES,   that will guide the children through the reading process at the level that your child is reading at.  We will work on Oral Language, Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Spelling, Writing and Grammar to enhance our reading skills.  Along with the reading series we will incorporate the Accelerated Reading Program also, see below 

Math

In the afternoon, we brush up on the ol' math skills.  We have lots of fun using manipulatives to help us learn our basic addition and subtraction skills, money, time, measurement, placement value, geometric shapes and many other skills. 

Handwriting

We use the Zaner-Bloser handwriting series.  We work on handwriting skills about 20-30 minutes a day.  It is a lot of fun to watch the children's handwriting skills develop over the school year.  At the end of the year we take out our journals that we have been working on all year and compare our handwriting from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.  The children chuckle when they see the difference!  As for the teacher, she loves to hear them laugh, but she is oh so proud of all the children and their development! 

 

        

Physical Education, Music, Art, Health, Swimming and Computer Lab

 This year almost all of our above mentioned classes will be at the Holcomb Elementary School.  The only class that the children will not leave our building for is Art; it will be at the Wiley Elementary School.  My first graders are so responsible and grown up and they learn the importance of crossing the street safely! 

Show and Tell/Snack

This is a special time of our day to get to share something special from our home!  The children are assigned days on the snack calendar to bring something for show and tell and to share a snack with the whole class. 

 

 

                                             

All Through the Year!

Fall, winter, spring and summer!  We have lots of growth through the year but we have fun learning and exploring together!

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Each and every year I look forward to my new adventure with children.  I appreciate my families sharing their children with me.  We have such fun, learning and growing together! 

 

 Last Updated: Dec.06, 2004

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