Mrs. Sheila Oldham's First Grade

What's Going on in Reading:    

During the first two weeks of school, we will be reviewing the alphabet by studying a letter each day.  We will also be going over High Frequency Words, (HFW), each day.  These words are basic sight words that are used frequently in sentences.   Your child should begin to recognize these quickly. These are not to be confused with their regular reading words learned each week for the reading story.  These HFW will be put on a "Word Wall" so your child will see them daily.   

After this review, we will begin our reading series by Scott Foresman.  There are 5 reading books to finish this school year.  Each reading book has six stories to be completed in six weeks.  During those six weeks your child will be learning vocabulary words, phonics skills, writing skills, and comprehension skills. 

Reading is a process that takes time.  We must lay a good foundation by learning the letters and the sounds they make.  Then,  we use this knowledge to make words.  These words are used in sentences, then paragraphs, and ultimately stories.  It takes a lot of practice to be good at this skill, just as you would practice a sport.  The more practice...the better you become.  Some learn quickly, while others take more time in learning to read.  However, all can learn with much practice and effort.  It takes work at school, but also home effort is very necessary. 

Our Weekly Schedule for Reading is the same all year: 

Monday

Vocabulary Words for this week's story will go home.  

"Take Home Reader" will go home.  Child needs to read.  Sign and return.

Tuesday

"Take Home Reader will go home.  Child needs to read.  Sign and return.

Wednesday

Flash cards will go home in zip-lock bag.  Empty bag into large zip-lock, and return empty bag on Thursday.

Thursday

Reading book will go home.  Child will read the story for the week, and also a small article.  Sign the book note and return. 

Friday

There are 3 tests today.  One will be over the 10 vocabulary words given to you on Monday.  The second test, the child will recognize the vocabulary words in sentences.  The third test will be comprehension of the story.   Word List Folder will go home today to review the words learned this week.  Please sign the folder and return on Monday.

Please note***

This schedule is our guide.  We will follow it rigidly each week.  However, when we have a short school week... we will be testing, catching up, reviewing, or working on a project suitable for the week.  Then, the reading schedule will continue the following Monday. 

JUST TO GIVE YOU A RECAP:  

1.  We will have 2 folders for each of our 5 reading books.  One  is called the "Reading Folder" and the other is the "Word List Folder".  The Reading Folder is kept at home, so you may review words at any time.  The Word List Folder will go home each Friday to be signed and returned on Monday.  There will be a red line marked in this folder.   Please sign after practicing these words once again, and return on Monday. 

2.  Each week they will be given 10 new words to learn.  We will work on these in our stories all week.  They will be given a test over these on Friday.

3.  Each Friday there will be 3 reading tests.  One over the 10 words, one over those same words used in sentences, and one comprehension of the week's story. 

4.  They will take their reading book home on Thursday to read this week's stories to you. This homework assignment will be very helpful in passing the comprehension test on Friday.

5.  Every Monday and Tuesday they will bring home "Take-Home Readers" for homework.  These books will help develop skills taught this week. 

6. On Wednesday they will bring home the the small zip-lock bag with words in it.  These empty bags should be returned the next day.  The words are flashcards to help in working on the weeks words.  Please empty these into the large zip-lock I sent home earlier.  At the end of the year, you will have all the words for all our stories. 

7.  When we finish each reading book, the children will take a "big" test over the book before going on to the next book.  The results will be sent home.

*THIS IS OUR SCHEDULE FOR READING FOR THE YEAR.  THE EXCEPTION WILL BE WHEN WE HAVE A SHORT SCHOOL WEEK.  THEN, WE WILL MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.

Kindergarten Review Words:

Vocabulary:  These are words that were learned in Kindegarten last year.

Week 1         Week 2            Week 3