First Grade Buzzzz
Second Semester Homework

Welcome to the Swarm's Homework Page for the Second Semester of First Grade

Look in your child's backpack for the red homework folder. Any and all papers in that folder are due the next day. Place all completed homework papers back in that red homework folder and have your child return it to me in the morning.

The following are simply suggestions to do with your child this second semester. They will enable you to spend "Academic Time" with your child in a way that is void of stress (e.g. nothing "due" the next day). Use these ideas to strengthen your child's skills:

   READING        

Now that we are into our second semester, we will work even more on fluency and comprehension. After you read to your child, or after your child reads to you, check to see if he/she can tell you the theme, plot (problem and solution), setting and characters of the story. Check that the story is retold in proper sequence and that your child can answer who, what, when, where and how questions.

Just as in the first and second quarter, your child is to continue to read from the booklets or books in the orange folder that will often come home in the red homework folder. Please continue to return the orange folder daily so I can check on what your child has read and/or ask a volunteer to listen to your child read the book that was sent home.

We will look at components of a story to help us in writing our own stories. We will look for setting, characters, a problem and how the problem is solved. This can become a foundation from which to report or to write.

   WRITING        

During this second semester we will work on contractions, spelling, and writing a story complete with setting, characters, a problem and how to resolve the problem. Use of capitals and punctuation marks will be stressed. Encourage writing in a daily journal or diary. Sending letters, notes or cards to family members and friends is a way to teach your child the necessity of learning to write properly.

   MATH        

During this second semester we will learn to count money. We will be introduced to geometry and fractions. Help your child to see fractions in everyday life: the dividing line on a graham cracker, Hershey bar, or pizza. Ask what fraction it is when you divide an apple in two equal parts, etc. We will work on telling time to the hour and half-hour and reading a monthly calendar. We will work with basic measurements in inches, pounds, and cups, pints and quarts. Let your child help you measure in cooking, or use a ruler to measure several items around the house (the most common error is for a child to lay the item being measured next to the ruler beginning with the "1" inch on the ruler, rather than putting the end of the ruler at the end of the item being measured). We will continue to try to memorize math facts to 18 and learn how to add and subtract two digit numbers, without regrouping.

   RELIGION        

Each Monday look for directions in the Parent Letter. I will tell you which pages in the religion text to review with your child. Look for the religion book in your child's backpack. Return that book the next day because we will be using it in class daily.

We will focus on the miracles of Jesus during this second semester. Then we will begin our Lenten journey with a day of retreat on Ash Wednesday. Our prayers, sacrifices and alms will help us grow during the forty days of Lent. We will experience Holy Week in prayer and with a prayerful skit. This will prepare us to celebrate Easter and the feasts of the Ascension and Pentecost.

This second semester we will be praying a decade of the rosary each day in May. Try to include additional prayers in the evening to our Blessed Mother as we celebrate Her as our Queen and Mother during the month of May. During nightly reading, be sure to choose stories from the Bible to read to your child...read some of your own favorite Bible stories to your child and share that part of your faith with your child.

   SCIENCE        

We will complete our unit of the first semester on plants and animals with our study of the rainforest. It will culminate in our rainforest skit for our families.

Our second semester of science will begin with the theme of keeping fit and healthy. Talk to your child about why he/she will not be having a favorite sweet treat. Talk to your child about why you are packing fruit, nuts, etc. as a healthy food item. Allow your child to pick from several healthy food choices that you have available for a lunch or at-home meal or snack.

Earth Day will also be celebrated in April. We will learn more about God's world as we learn to explore matter in solids, liquids and gases. We will also be learning about the extinct "wonder" creature...the dinosaur.

   SOCIAL STUDIES        

During this second semester we will review maps and famous American symbols. We will discuss differences between city and country and what makes up a community. We will discuss differences in transportation, housing, foods, dress, etc. of people who lived long ago and how we live today. Tell any stories that you know of about how your grandparents or great-grandparents dressed or traveled, etc. Share old photographs showing differences in housing, dress, etc. of "now and long ago."

In closing this section, I thank you for all you do throughout the year for our school and our first grade. The above are only suggestions to help you and your child enjoy TOGETHER the world, knowledge, and love God has gifted to us.