First Grade
Welcome to First Grade! We are so excited to partner with you for an amazing upcoming school year.
Transitioning from kindergarten to first grade is a major milestone. In first grade, students grow leaps and bounds as independent readers, writers, mathematicians, and critical thinkers. To help your child feel confident and ready on day one, we’ve put together a few simple ways you can practice and prepare at home this summer.
📚 Reading & Literacy
You don't need formal lessons to keep your child learning! The best thing you can do is weave reading into your daily routine.
- Read Together Daily: Aim for 15–20 minutes of reading every day. Read to your child, listen to them read, and talk about the pictures and the story.
- Practice Sight Words: Reviewing high-frequency kindergarten sight words (like the, of, and, a, to, in, is, you, that, it) gives them a massive head start.
- Keep Phonics Alive: Play simple word games in the car. Ask them to blend sounds (like "/c/-/a/-/t/ makes cat") or identify the beginning and ending sounds of random objects.
🧮 Math in the Real World
First-grade math is highly visual and hands-on. You can build a great foundation during everyday activities.
- Count Everything: Count snacks, steps, toys, or cars. Practice counting forward to 100 and backward from 20.
- Skip Counting: Practice counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s.
- Spot Shapes and Patterns: Point out 2D and 3D shapes in your house or at the grocery store, and create simple patterns using everyday objects (like apple, banana, apple, banana).
✏️ Fine Motor & Independence Skills
Academic readiness is only half the puzzle. Social and physical independence helps our classroom run smoothly and builds your child's confidence!
- Writing Practice: Practice writing first and last names using correct capitalization (only the first letter should be capitalized). Encourage proper pencil grip.
- Tool Mastery: Let your child practice using child-safe scissors, glue sticks, and opening their own lunchbox or snack wrappers.
- Daily Routines: Practice multi-step directions (e.g., "Please put your shoes away, wash your hands, and come to the table").
💡 The Golden Rule: Keep it Fun!
The goal of summer preparation isn't perfection—it's momentum. Turning these practices into lighthearted games and positive moments will ensure your student arrives on the first day excited and ready to learn.
We cannot wait to see your child's smiling face very soon. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Warmly,
The First Grade Team
Resources to Help at Home: