FIRST GRADE

Time sure flies when you're having fun!  First grade has been busy learning so many new things in 2012.  We are eagerly awaiting Spring and can't wait to see the signs of God's creation out our classroom window.  First grade will soon begin their Lenten journey.  During the 40 days of Lent, we will open a plastic egg each morning.  Each egg contains a slip of paper with something we need to work harder on that day.  Some examples are praying the rosary with our whole heart, lining up quietly, complimenting someone and being a good friend.  During the season of Lent, we are reminded to be more like Jesus in all we think, do and say.

In Phonics, we have studied all the sounds the short vowels make and have taken spelling tests related to each short vowel sound.  Each student has a mini-book for each short vowel in their book box for them to practice with.  The new year will have us learning our long vowel sounds while continuing to review our short vowel sounds. We continue to write in our journals and are working hard on improving our handwriting skills.

In Math, we are continuing to add AND subtract using number lines.  We are now working on understanding and recognizing the relationship between addition and subtraction by identifying the parts and whole in each.  Fact families have been challenging but also fun.  Place value is next then on to Geometry!

It is so wonderful to see the students so excited about reading.  Students continue to meet in their reading groups to work on reading comprehension, reading fluency and new vocab.  They especially like learning the "amazing vocab" for each story.  So far this year we have learned over 100 amazing words.  Our new reading series, Reading Street, provides each student to be successful at their own level through the use of leveled readers.  They really are enjoying the stories provided in the level readers and look forward to bringing them home in their book buddy bags.  We have been working hard on identifying the characters, setting, problem and solution of a story and have just started to identify the main idea and details as well. 

We continue to use the 6 + 1 Writing Traits program in First Grade.  The students are loving it!  So far, we have learned what a topic is, how to select a topic, then how to make that topic fun to read.  We use the word "conventions" when talking about capital letters, periods and spacing in our sentences.  We have worked on adding details to our writing and will now move on to the organization trait for the third marking period. 

As we get ready for Valentine's Day, 100th Day and more importantly the season of Lent, I thank you for the blessings of each of your children.  Each of them is a wonderful gift from God.  May God bless you with a holy Lent and a joyous Easter Season. 

                                 Mrs. Mastrogiovanni