Week of October 18th

Week Review:  In reading groups this week, we will focus on our writing skills.  Levels A and B will be using sight words to create a story using repetitive language.  We will be using our books for an example, but we will continue the story by adding our own sentences.  For example, "We will go (up/down)."  Level C will be writing sentences that include an new/unknown word that we found in our story for the day.  Levels D and E will be writing sentences that include the -ed ending.  We will discuss dropping the silent e at the end of words such as "baked" or changing the "y" to "i" such as cried.  Levels F and G will be writing sentences using the new vocabulary that they were introduced to in their new book.  While writing out the new words, we will listen to chunks of the word at a time.  Levels H and above will be focusing on writing sentences that answer a question about the story we just read.  They will try to restate the question in the beginning of their writing.  Q:"Why are Kenny and Amber still hungry at the end of the story?"  A:"They are still hungry because Gilbert ate all of their food."


Book/Author Suggestion:  This week is another fun-filled week in October.  We have a firefighter visit this week AND we will be celebrating Missouri Day and Columbus Day.  Soooooo...I have THREE suggestions this week ;)

• A Day with Firefighters by Jan Kottke * is a book that gives a simplified version of a day in the life of a firefighter.  It is a 1.2 reading level and should be the perfect level for your first grader.  You may need to help them with some of the more challenging words, but encourage them to read it to you :) 
• Christopher Columbus by Lola M. Schaefer * is a biography of Christopher Columbus without giving too many details and your first grader begins to lose interest.  The reading level for this book is 2.1 (a little higher), but the content is appropriate for Kindergarten through Third Grade. 
• Missouri by Patricia K. Kummer, the Capstone Press Geography Department, is my final choice.  The reading level is actually a 4.0 which is too high for many of our first graders, but the Fun Facts, Famous Missourians, The Missouri Timeline and pictures all make it easy to use and worth the time to talk about with your child.  Many of the pictures are of places that you have traveled with them.  So take the time to peruse through and maybe it will inspire your family to take a field trip!

* indicates if it can be found in the Sappington Library. 


Parent Tip:  Now is a good time to check with your child to make sure they can recognize or read important safety signs.  Do they know how to read the word "exit" or "stop"?  As they grow in their ability to read at school, encourage them to take on responsibility with their safety.  Read the street sign and practice writing the name of the street that you live on.  If they are riding their bike, can they read the "stop" sign, or "warning" signs in your area, "construction" signs when you are stuck in traffic?  My last suggestion is to create and write a plan in case of an emergency.  If there is a fire, what is the family plan?  What do they do? Where do they go?  By writing out these plans, you are practicing their skills, but also helping them to remember what to do in an emergency.  It's always good to practice.