Our class has been hard at work learning the routines of the classroom and school. Now that we are big first graders, we are using the whole school and need to be very independent!
Most of our activities do take place in our classroom (pictured above), but we do visit the Gym, Library, Music room, Drama and Dance portable and the Art room to learn from specialist teachers. At lunch, we eat under the supervision of lunchroom supervisors in the Junior Gym with other students in grades 1-4.
Taking care of our belongings, learning where to find classroom materials and how to use classroom supplies is integrated into the curriculum. You can see us using whiteboards and whiteboard markers to practice writing letters. After we do our assigned work, we have some time to explore the materials by drawing pictures. All this work is helping to strengthen the muscles in our hands and fingers. We will need these muscles as we spend more time writing and drawing to communicate our thoughts and ideas.
We are learning to use our time wisely. We monitor ourselves using a variety of time keeping methods (visual timers, sand timers, digital and analog clocks).
Here we are at work:
Some reminders:
-Each child needs a pair of shoes to wear inside the school. Please send a pair as soon as possible.
-Some children have shoes with laces. We need to put on and take off our shoes many times during the day. It is very helpful when the children can do this independently. Please make sure that your child is practicing tying their shoelaces at home. They will need extra time to do this in the beginning, but with your support, they will learn to do this for themselves.
Best,
Ms. Gladman
