Doing something different this year.....

I want to incorporate more into the homework calendars. That's right folks, HOMEWORK. I know that it's a lot but this year, it's vital. Not only is it vital, but it's on the report cards!

I'm not really going to focus on the same things as last year on the homework, this year, I want to branch out and really incorporate the standards of learning. I'm using a site called
theschoolbell.com and am following their sight word lists. Every month, your child will be responsible for the accuracy of their sight words. Sight words are just that, they should be able to read them upon sight, not first have to sound them out. This will be easier for some than for others. In addition, now that we are all in first grade and some in second, the students are also responsible for the spelling of these words in their writing!

In addition, we're going to have monthly projects for AT HOME. Yes, they have to be done because we're going to display them in class. I'm going to leave one week per month where the only homework is to work on these projects. However, since it's the third week of the month that I'm going to leave (so far anyway as I'm working on the homework calendars for the year this week), you have the option to work on it well ahead of time. I'm not expecting amazing pieces of work (parents/adults may help but please make it the child's project). Again, I know that it's tough and priorities can be elsewhere, but it's time together and feel free to get the whole family involved!

Projects are mainly going to focus around science and social studies standards (for example: September's project is to make a time line of yourself). We're only talking about 5-8 years here but think of things that are important in that time. Maybe you documented when they took their first step, lost their first tooth, went to school, said "mommy" for the first time, broke their first bone, finally got a joke, made a mess of the kitchen. Whatever it is, pick out some great ones together and make it fun! Other projects may include: making a map of a faraway land using a map legend and other elements to be determined, creating a list of rules or "laws" as they are in your house, science experiments of what mixes with whatever and what doesn't, five senses experiment. These are only some that I'm working on developing for home enjoyment. I really want to showcase these projects in our classroom to show what our boys are capable of and with the schedule of therapies, social skills, block scheduling (YAY INCLUSION), and enrichment rotations, some of the more fun projects, have to be shifted home. Again, more will be forthcoming as I work up the calendars this week.

Hope you're enjoying yourselves!