First Grade: January 21 - 24, 2025

First Grade

Jan 22

Dear First Grade Families,

Following an unexpected four-day weekend, the class enjoyed a whirlwind week of Math, free play, both as a class and with their friends in Second/Third Grade, and deeper wading into their new knitting project! During Main Lesson, the class demonstrated an increased understanding of regrouping, illustrated by a story about 10 rabbits escaping to their holes in two separate groups. The children were fascinated to see a pattern emerge within the different combinations of numbers resulting in a sum of 10, as you will have seen on the practice page sent home in their Friday folders. Furthermore, the transition from rhythmical counting to skip counting is moving along nicely. At dismissal one afternoon, a student spontaneously began skip counting the stairs on the way out of the building, proudly announcing at the bottom that she had managed to count by twos all the way to the end!

The students’ time outdoors in the brisk winter air has provided rich fuel for their big imaginations. From pretending to ice skate to finding gold in the ice to playing dragons of many varieties, the children enjoy ample opportunity to engage fully in their feelings, which is very healthy from a developmental standpoint. It warms the hearts of onlookers, to boot! During these free moments, students have plenty of time to share their thoughts, such as which season is their favorite! Just after a conversation between two students and the teacher about the merits of winter, including bird watching among the bare trees, a child in a completely different part of the playground was following the sweetest little fluffy bird as it zipped about. These shared experiences and attunement with nature really help hold the children’s hearts together! It is so exciting to anticipate the remainder of the winter and the coming spring.

Announcements and Reminders for First Grade:

Please sign up for First Grade Parent conferences.