Welcome to First Grade!

Mrs. Shea has been teaching for twelve years at St. Christopher's School. She has taught first, second, and fifth grade.  Mrs. Shea graduated from St. Joseph's College with a Bachelor's degree in Child Study, and a Master's degree in Literacy and Cognition. Mrs. Shea holds five New York State teaching certifications in areas of General and Special Education, as well as Literacy. In addition, Mrs. Shea has earned her Basic Theology Certificate from the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

Week of September 16th

HOT LUNCHES BEGIN ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th. LUNCH CARDS ARE $20.00.
SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDER FOR SEPTEMBER - DUE BY 9/27
SEPTEMBER READING LOG - DUE BY 10/1

ELA

• "Unit 1: Consonants" - we will continue reviewing partner letters and identifying initial sounds.
• "Lesson 1" in Journeys - SHORT A
• Spelling Words: am, at, sat, man, dad, mat
• High Frequency Words: and, be, help, play, with, you
• Main Selection: What is a Pal?
• Essential Question: What is important about being a friend?
• Comprehension Target Skill: Main Idea, Informational Text
• Comprehension Target Strategy: Summarize
• Grammar: Nouns
• Writing: Narrative Writing, Labels (Focus Trait: Elaboration)
• We will also continue reading some "Back to School" favorites!

• "Chapter 1: Addition Concepts" in Go Math
• We will use concrete objects to solve "putting together" addition problems.
• We will solve adding to and putting together situations using the strategy "make a model."
• We will discuss why we can add addends in any order.
• We will model and record ways to put together numbers within 10.
• Essential Questions: How do you model putting together? How do you solve addition problems by making a model? What happens when you add 0 to a number? Why can you add addends in any order? How can you show all the ways to make a number?

• Chapter 2: We Gather to Celebrate Mass
• We will recognize the cross as a sign of Jesus' love for us.
• We will discuss how our parish community gathers in church to celebrate Mass. 
• We will discuss how Jesus is with us when we pray in our church community.
• We will identify objects found in a Catholic Church.

Reminders from Back to School Night

Absent Notes: If your child misses school, please send in a note with the date and reason of your child's absence. The nurse must be called as well.

Behavior: Our class follows a traffic light system. If your child ends the day on a green light, he or she made good choices. Yellow and red lights mean that poor behavior took place and notes will go home that need to be signed and returned.

Birthdays: Each child will get a birthday crown for the day. We will also complete a special birthday book during class that will get sent home with the birthday boy or birthday girl. No treats are sent to school.

Dismissal: Notes must be sent in if there is a change in the way your child usually goes home. 

Grading:
4- Student work demonstrates a thorough and consistent understanding of grade level standards and objectives. Student completes work independently and integrates learned concepts and skills.
3- Student work demonstrates an understanding of grade level standards and objectives. Student completes work satisfactorily and applies expected skills to work. 
2- Student work demonstrates partial understanding of grade level standards and objectives. Student exhibits inconsistent understanding and application of concepts and skills.
1- Student work demonstrates minimal understanding of grade level standards and objectives; evidences very limited organizational, reasoning, and critical thinking skills; completing independent tasks only with assistance, struggles with grade level standards and objectives producing less than expected work. 

Homework: Homework assignments are given Monday-Thursday. Please initial your child's homework each day.

Lunch Money: Please send your child in with his or her lunch money in an envelope labeled with his or her order for the day. Exact change is appreciated! Lunch cards are also available for purchase ($20.00).

Reading Log: Our goal this year is to read 100 books! The title and author of each book read together at home gets recorded. With each 10 books your child finishes, there is an activity for him or her to do at the bottom of the page based on one of the books. Children will earn a special reading related prize after they hand in each reading log.

Rewards: Our class is arranged in groups. "Terrific Tickets" are awarded to tables that are doing the right thing throughout the day. The group with the most tickets at the end of the week wins a prize.

Snack: We have snack in our classroom each afternoon. Please send your child's snack in a disposable bag.

Resources