Preparing for First
Grade
Mrs. Fleming Burnell, Mrs. Powers, Ms.
Speegle, & Mrs. Terhune
BE PREPARED!
As soon as school begins, we hit the
ground running with homework, spelling
tests, and high expectations!
Expectations of Students
Entering First Grade
• Students recognize all 26 letters (both uppercase
and lowercase) and know the corresponding
sounds.
• Students begin spelling tests the first full week of
school.
• Students can blend 3 letter words.
• Students know at least their kindergarten sight
words.
• Students are writing sentences by sounding out
words.
Expectations of Students
Entering First Grade
• Students are starting to use capital letters and
punctuation, appropriately, in sentences.
• Letters are wrote correctly and legibly.
• After reading or listening to a story, students can
retell in sequential order what happened in the
story.
• Students will start the Accelerated Reader (A.R.)
program within a month of starting school.
• Students can count to 100, and have basic
understanding of math facts to 10.
What Can Parents Do to Give
their Children the Best Start?
• READ, READ, READ! Have your child read to
you every night, and read to him/her.
• Practice those sight words from kindergarten,
and begin adding first grade sight words
through the summer break.
• Practice letter writing and letter sounds.
• Practice math facts and counting to 120.
Practicing
Letters/Sounds
• Leap Frog Letter Factory
video/song
• Between the Lions
shows
• Estoria-Scholastic Books
• Letter Sound BINGO
• Fiddle!
• Check our websites for
great resources!
Letter/sound Activity
Fun Ways to Practice
Sight Words
•
•
•
•
•
Play Concentration
Sight-Word Twister
Beachball
Bang!
Slap-it Sight Word
Game
• Word-O
Practicing Sight Words
10 Fun Ways to Practice Sight Words
Fun Ways to Practice Letter Writing
& Fine Motor Skills
• Write letters in shaving cream
or sand
• Write on mirror or in bath tub
with washable markers
• Use play-doh or wikki stix
(found at Dollar General) to
form letters
• String Fruit Loops
• Cut play-doh with scissors
• Picking up rice (small objects)
with tweezers
**Watch for correct scissors
hold/pencil grip and that your
child is writing letters from top
down.
Fun Ways to Practice
Math Skills
•household items for
counting: beans,
buttons, clips, etc.
•check the $1 bins at
Target for manipulatives
•Greater Than/Less Than
with cards
•Play War with cards
•Adding dots on
dominoes or dice
•Show a handful, take
some away, and ask how
many are missing.
Fun Math Skills
What Parents Should Expect
When School Starts:
• Homework starting the first full week of school. Due
every Friday. Regularly doing homework will be an
important key to your child’s success!
• Students will read 2 A.R. books a night.
• Spelling Test every Friday starting first full week of
school.
What Parents Should Expect
When School Starts:
• Mandatory Accelerated
Reader (A.R.) meeting to
explain the program and
expectations.
• Bronco Binders: White
binder that travels to and
from school EVERY DAY with
your child. It contains a
behavioral calendar that
needs to be checked and
signed, daily. Homework is
stored here and important
home/school
communication.
Sample Passage (Beginning of Year):
Sample Passage (December):
PTA will have a
prepackaged Supply
bundle for purchase
online.
For more helpful
information you can visit
our classroom webpages!
http://www.mooreschools.com/site/default.aspx?PageID=1