First Grade: March 9 - 13, 2026
Dear First Grade Families,
Thank you for attending conferences to connect and celebrate your child’s progress at school. If any additional questions or comments arise, we are only a phone call away. I look forward to partnering with you this spring for the remainder of First Grade and seeing you at our assemblies and class play!
The class had a short, but busy, week of fun in the forest! Birdsong, blossoms, and sprouting leaves formed a peaceful backdrop to students’ learning and play. Spending lessons on their beloved platform, the children seemed at home and regulated as they approached the more academic portion of the day. Once it was time for pure recreation, the natural space for it was just steps away!
The class is becoming more confident in blending sounds to read words and full sentences. They enjoy spelling words with their eyes closed! At this stage in their learning, the First Graders are ready to tackle high frequency words in earnest. Although many of these words are decodable (meaning they can be sounded out), as most of us know, English is (in)famous for its spelling aberrations! Referring to the words as “heart words,” words that must be learned by heart, students notice the regular spelling patterns in words while bringing their awareness to the irregularities. i.e. the parts they need to memorize. For example, the word “the” contains the digraph th, but the vowel sound for the “e” is not the long or short sound that students have been learning. Instead, it can be uttered as the sound “uh” (called a schwa) or as a long “e” when it precedes a vowel sound, as in “the apple.” Although it may sound complicated, learners are able to grasp these rules and apply them successfully when they are given plenty of exposure and practice!
Announcements & Reminders:
Grandfriends Day is coming soon! Wednesday, April 1st, you, grandparents, and other special grownups in your child’s life are welcome to join us in our forest classroom for light refreshments and time to enjoy your student in their school environment! Guests are also encouraged to attend the Grade performance at 10:30 a.m. Please remember to e-mail your visiting guest information by Friday, March 27th.
March 18–19: Picture Day - Class photos will be taken, along with a makeup opportunity for students who missed photos in the fall
April 1: Grandfriends Tea at 11:00 (All students and family members are welcome to join) (Full day)
April 6-10: Spring Break (No School)
Warmly,
Ki Michelle
