Sterling's Snippets: Homework at School?!?!

Good Evening 1st Grade Families,

We had another great week at school building our independence and preparing for 2nd grade. A few new word work stations were added to our Daily 5 Menu including Bead-It, Desk Write and Roll and Record. I am always on the hunt for fun and exciting ways to practice our sight words in class and this year, it is proving to be very beneficial because the students are master sight word readers and spellers! Check out a few of the new stations in action!

Preston writes on his desk to practice his words.

Hazel builds CVC words at the roll and write station.

Olivia uses beads (teeny tine ones!) to build words on pipe cleaners and then records on a recording form.

I enjoyed visiting with many of you this week at Parent Teacher Conferences. It is such a fun time of celebrations as we look at the year's accomplishments. With only three months left of 1st grade, it is time to praise your child for all of their hard work and encourage them to keep working hard for the remainder of the year. I look forward to visiting with a few more families on Monday evening.

We celebrated the students in our classroom again at this month's Character Champion Assembly. This month's Character Champion was Olivia. Olivia was chosen for her ability to show kindness and friendship to all students. Way to go, Olivia!

The first graders have worked so hard this year on the nightly homework. We will have one more week of regular homework (Days 116-119) and then beginning on March 7 (Day 120), students will be given the last 12 minutes of the school day to complete the homework independently. I won't be able to support them on the homework, like you can in a one on one setting, but I will be available for individual questions. If students finish their homework, they can turn it in. If they can't quite get it done in that time, they will bring it home to finish with you. My goal is that by Day 140, they will have mastered enough independent work skills to take with them to 2nd grade. Then (Shhhhhh, don't tell! It is a surprise!) on Day 140, homework is done for the year! Their only homework for the remainder of the year is to read and play outside! It will be just in time for spring and nice weather, so enjoy the break!