Mrs. Shields' Weekly Update

This class has been amazing. They are adapting to so many rules and changes like rock stars. I am very proud of them. We are really working on many self-help skills at the beginning of the year. I hope that you will see the carryover at home:

• Routines, unpacking, and getting started for the day without reminders.
• We are also working on doing things for oneself. This includes tying our own shoes, opening water bottles, and snacks.
• Paying attention to what is going on around you.

As always please reach out with any questions or concerns.

FUN RUN!

See the Ireland Newsletter for more information and to get your child signed up!

HOMEWORK

Your child will have a Saxon Phonics page and Math homework page each night M-TH. These pages should not take long. I do ask that you sit with them and read the directions and ensure that they are doing the work correctly. Later on, you will be able to get them started with directions, let them work, and then check the homework when they are done. If you notice mistakes on the homework please help them fix it.

There will also be High-Frequency words. These are not Spelling words. Your child only needs to be able to read these words, not spell them.

IMPORTANT LIBRARY INFORMATION

Mrs. Gossett has asked that our library books be returned on Friday so she can get them checked in for our Library time on Monday.

Library is on Monday but books should be returned on Friday, please.

Saxon Phonics

We will be starting the first lesson of Saxon phonics. Saxon Phonics is an incremental approach to phonics instruction. It combines a systematic explicit instruction with daily practice opportunities and ongoing assessment to ensure prior knowledge sticks and new knowledge accumulates.

I have added a Saxon button to the website and will add helpful guides and information so you can help with homework

Monday - Thursday your child will have a Saxon homework page:

• On the top, the new letter will be introduced. Your child will need to write 5 of the capital letters and 5 of the lowercase letter. I ask that you sit down with your child and make sure he/she is forming the letter correctly according to the Zaner-Bloser printing guide I included in your open house folder. You can also use the button below to see the correct way to form the letters. All letters start from the top and your child should put a space between each letter. The circle letters like a, d, g, o, q are tricky so please help your child get the correct starting point. These letters DO NOT start at the bottom. Letters b & p start by making the stick first.
• At the bottom of each homework page, there is an explanation for parents about what your child learned that day and how to help with homework. You can also look at the front to see how it was done in class.

Math

Lesson 1

• Counting and adding
• You will receive a family letter explaining how you can help.
• We ask that your child does not learn to add by using fingers. Tokens or objects are ok when explaining the concept of adding 2 numbers.
• The ultimate goal of math facts is MEMORIZATION.

I will send the addition and subtraction facts flashcards 0-6 home this week.

1st Quarter Skills

Math:

• ordinal numbers
• Addition and subtraction facts 0-6
• Solve real-world problems using facts.

Reading:

• Recognize the components on a sentence (starts with a capital, complete thought, and ends with a punctuation mark)
• Blending Sounds to make words
• Add/delete or substitute sounds to change words. Change the i in pig to e and write the new word. pig = peg
• Distinguish beginning, middle, and ending sounds.
• Segment sounds pig /p/ /i/ /g/
• Read common word families cap, gap, map, sap, trap, clap, etc
• Read accurately and fluently supporting comprehension. Books have levels of difficulty from A-Z. Level C is considered on level 1st quarter. I will be adding level C books to Raz kids for your child to practice.
• Ask and answer key details about the main idea and details in a fiction text.
• Plot, Character, and setting
• Ask and answer questions in a non-fiction text.
• Use context clues and text features for unknown words.
• Sort words into categories.
• Write upper and lower case letters legibly.

BUTTONS, BUTTONS, BUTTONS!!

Below you will find lots of clickable buttons.

I want you to have easy access to resources to help your child have an amazing and successful school year. Check them out!

Most are self-explanatory. I will explain a couple:

• 1st Grade website: Most of the things found on the website can be found on a button below. But just know it is available.
• Photo circle: most have signed up but if you haven't please check it out. I usually don't post on Facebook. Most classroom pictures will be posted here.
• Saxon: This is a great guide for helping your child with homework.
• Phonics and Math videos: lots of good practice.

Canvas Login

I will send a notecard with your child's login and password in the sleeve of his/her take-home folder. Please put this is a safe place because they will need it to log into Canvas.

Once logged in:

The "homepage" has a modules button and right now this takes them to the monthly reading and math number sense. I will be adding buttons to the home page as the year progresses. If we go to eLearning there will be a button for that.

The blue hyperlinks on the left-hand side will give your child access to:

Connect Ed which houses our reading series called Wonders: You can pull up the reading material from there. This is useful if your child forgets his/her reader. I will also be putting assignments on there to get them prepared for Elearning.

Clever: Learning A-Z is a leveled reading site. Your child can practice by reading and listening to books on his/her level.

Learning games: Freckle, Prodigy, & ABCYa

Canvas Observer

I have also invited each of you to be an observer to our Canvas Course. You will be able to view what your child is working on and is available to them on Canvas using your own login information. This will enable you to see what is happening on Canvas, and access current and previous newsletters and announcements. Let me know if you have any questions.

I am really excited to share the free online digital library platform EPIC!. This program allows your child to read and listen to thousands of books. Check it out!

Login to Epic

Enter Our class code: iar1280

You can then bookmark this site and your child can get on it anytime. You bookmark a site using the Chrome browser by clicking on the star in the address bar.

I take a lot of photos and love to post pictures here, on Cluster, and sometimes on Ireland's Facebook page. Please let me know if you prefer not to have your child's photo posted. Thank you.