Rising First Graders

Dear Rising First-Grade Parents,

“Summer slide” is the tendency for students to lose some of the achievement gains they made during the previous school year. While we advocate a robust respect for time and balance, educational research indicates that the equivalent of at least two to three months of learning loss can take place during the summer months . To protect your child's academic growth, we encourage you to take advantage of learning opportunities that occur in everyday experriences. 

We recommend that you create a summer routine ( a set time each day for reading and math), so that summer learning is well paced and meaningful. You are your child's greatest link to learning over the summer.  

SUGGESTIONS: Things to Do Throughout the Summer

 Reading and Writing

• Read with your child every day. 

• Watch this video on HOW TO PICK a GOOD-FIT BOOK with your child:                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-Gj0-h5JV0

• While reading a story with your child, ask him/her "who," "what, "why,"  "when," and "where" questions.             Have your child retell the story.

• Use note cards to label objects in your house and frequently ask you child to name these objects. 

• Drawing pictures and writing about fun summer experiences will continue your child's important                         connection bettween spoken and written words.

Math

• Practice counting skills by encouraging your child to point to each item counted. Playing games like Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders prepares your child for addition, subtracton, number sense, and counting skills.  Puzzles support your child's patterning and spatial skills. Sorting items by color, size, shape, and and purpose helps your child notice how objects are alike and different.

• Practice addition and subtraction by using real objects. Example: Addition - place 3 Cheerios next to the number three, add 5 more below with the number 5 next to it and add up the amount; reverse - put 5 cheerios on top and 3 Cheerios at the bottom to model that the same number of Cheerios are present (fact family connection)

• You are welcome to try any of the websites on my Math Website page.  

Thank you in advance for all your support. Have a delightful summer. 

Respectfully,

Marian O'Brien

First Grade Teacher

St. James Catholic School