First Grade: January 27 - 31, 2025
Dear First Grade Families,
Thank you for joining us at Curriculum Night, where we enjoyed catching up, discussing our class project for the Auction Fundraiser, and hearing from our Specialty teachers about the learning taking place in their classrooms! It was also fantastic to see representation from our class at the All-School meeting. Your support is appreciated.
Last week, the class strengthened their understanding of arithmetic and demonstrated an improved ability to add and subtract, in particular. Families are encouraged to reinforce these concepts at home in a lively manner whenever desired, for example, when preparing for and sharing meals (adding and subtracting numbers such as dinners over the course of a week, place settings on the table, ingredients in a dish, etc.). The children will gain confidence and be proud to show what they know!
In other news, one of the highlights of the school day is the snack time read-aloud. Last semester, the class took great interest in following the story of Laura Ingalls and her family in their cabin in the deep woods of Wisconsin. Despite the setting taking place over 150 years ago with its very different way of life, the class was able to relate well to the characters of Little House in the Big Woods, imagining themselves in their shoes. While listening to the many descriptions of handwork, cooking, and farming processes that are based on the real events of the author’s childhood, First Grade, whether conscious or not of a comparison, could see a reflection of student activities at our school in the life of the Ingalls family.
For the remainder of the winter, the read-aloud selection is Winnie-the-Pooh, originally published in 1926 and therefore approaching its centenary! After hearing the first chapter, the children had fun writing their names after the style of the author, A.A. Milne, and the illustrator, E.H. Shepard, i.e., their first two initials followed by last name. Perhaps there is a future author or illustrator in the class.
Announcements and Reminders for First Grade:
Please sign up for First Grade Parent Conferences.
Valentine’s Day: As has been our tradition at The Garden School, please save all student card/gift exchanges for play dates off campus.
2/6: Lunar New Year Performance: 11:30 a.m.
2/6: Parent Conferences: Half-Day Dismissal
2/7: Parent Conferences: No School
2/17-2/21: Mid-Winter Break: No School
2/24: Teacher In-Service: No School
Warmly,
Ki Michelle
