Hello and welcome to First Grade Circle Time! This ongoing, first grade level class meets 4 days a week, Monday through Thursday, for 50-55 minutes. It runs through May 23, with a few breaks throughout the year. (See below) 
You can enroll at anytime and you can stay for 1 week, a few weeks, or for the whole school year! 

🌈Expect lots of fun learning, lots of interaction, and lots of encouragement!

⭐️Here are some of the many topics and skills that will be covered throughout the school year, but not limited to:
~~Reading- phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics, high frequency/sight words, vocabulary words, comprehension
~~Writing- punctuation, correct usage of capital letters, writing complete sentences, types of writing (fact, narrative, opinion), expanding sentences, parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives), topic sentences and details
~~Math- number sense, skip counting, ordinal numbers, addition and subtraction, mainly focusing on 0-20 (strategies include: counting on, using a number line, composing and decomposing numbers, using a 10 frame, making a 10 to add, doubles and doubles plus 1, adding 3 addends, fact families, missing addends, number bonds, balancing equations), fact fluency to 10, 2-D shapes and 3-D solid figures, time to the hour and half-hour, dividing shapes, comparing numbers, place value, adding 2-digit numbers with and without regrouping, graphs 
~~Science- 5 senses, plants, animals, habitats, life cycles, matter, weather, light and sound waves, patterns in space
~~Social Studies- good citizenship, geography (maps and models, continents, oceans), long ago vs. today, communities and families (culture and traditions), basic economics/goods and services
~~Arts and Crafts- I will also provide instructions for an optional arts and craft activity each week. Learners can complete the projects outside of class and can even share their creations by posting a picture in our Classroom! 

✏️The academic skills will very slowly progress throughout the school year, similar to a traditional first grade program. In September, we will work on CVC words (short vowels- run, dig, top) and simple addition/subtraction (10 - 6 = 4, 5 + __ = 7). Then we will gradually add consonant blends, long vowels, digraphs, r-controlled, etc (spot, beach, show, thorn) and more difficult math concepts (14 - ___ = 5, 25 + 20 = ___ ) as the school year progresses. However, each week has stand alone lessons. Learners can jump in at any time!

✏️Prior Knowledge- Learners are expected to be able to:
~Recognize, write, and know the sounds of all letters of the alphabet
~Recognize and write the numbers 0-30

✏️✏️✏️PLEASE NOTE that if your child is already reading fluently on their own and can solve math problems quickly, the level of this class will probably be too easy for them.

☀️Daily Activities:
~Calendar
~Weather
~Vocabulary ("Fancy Word" of the Day)
~Sight Words & Phonics and/or Phonological Awareness
~Short Math Activity-Number Sense, Skip Counting, or Number Pattern
~Math Story Problem of the Day 

🌻Additional/Extended Activities:
Mondays - Reading 
Tuesdays - Math 
Wednesdays - Science or Social Studies
Thursdays - Writing/Grammar
-Optional Arts and Crafts 

⭐️Class experience:  Students will learn through discussion, demonstration, slides, stories, flashcards, guided practice, writing, drawing, games, songs and movements.

⭐️Sometimes I may need to mute students due to background noise or if we're singing or reading together, as it can get confusing. Please be sure your learner knows how to use the unmute button. It would be very helpful if students have a quiet, distraction-free area, if possible.

⏰ While I try my best to stay on schedule, there may be times when we may not get through every activity planned for that day. I like to make adjustments if the students are not understanding a concept and need further clarification/additional strategies. Other times, we may spend more time than anticipated on an activity if students are showing a particular interest in the topic. 

⏰ Our official class instructional time is 50 minutes.  After that time, I will often offer a few extra minutes for socialization or for assisting those who may have questions or need help finishing an activity. 
-Each Sunday, I will post a newsletter with information about the week's learning, as well as any printable resources for in-class learning and supplies needed. 
-I often have additional, optional resources available to print for extra practice, or links to fun activities for extended learning ideas outside of the class time. 

✏️📒🖍✂️Materials:
Please see the "Supply List" tab below for a list of what we use in class.

Holidays: Sometimes holidays may be mentioned in class as we discuss our Calendar or Social Studies, though activities are not centered around specific holidays. Students are welcome to share about special holidays that their family celebrates. 


🍎September 9-12
Reading- Phonics: CVC words with short a;  Sight Words: (does, too, who), Comprehension: Key Details in Fiction- "A Visit to the Apple Orchard"
Math- Addition: Ways to Make 5
Science- What Do Scientists Do?
Writing/Grammar- Verbs
Optional Art/Craft- Self-Portrait/About Me

🍎September 16-19
Reading- Phonics: CVC words with short e;  Sight Words: (walk, once, his), Comprehension: Key Details in Nonfiction- "Johnny Appleseed"
Math- Addition: Ways to Make 6
Science- Our Five Senses
Writing/Grammar- Fact & Opinion
Optional Art/Craft- "Cater-feeler" Craft

🍎September 23-26
Reading- Phonics: CVC words with short i;  Sight Words: (put, said, they), Comprehension: Story Elements- "A Strong Bundle of Sticks"
Math- Ordinal Numbers
Social Studies- What is a Good Citizen?
Writing/Grammar- Capital Letters and Punctuation Marks
Optional Art/Craft- Apple Tree Craft

🍎September 30-Oct. 3
Reading- Phonics: CVC words with short o; digraph ch;  Sight Words: (two, have, again), Comprehension: Story Elements- "Jack and the Beanstalk"
Math- Addition Strategy: Counting On
Science- Plants: What do plants need? What are the parts of a plant?
Writing/Grammar- Adjectives
Optional Art/Craft- Jack and the Beanstalk Craft


*IMPORTANT NOTE:
This is an ongoing weekly subscription class.  You can join for one week or continue for several weeks. You will be automatically charged each Sunday for the following week once you've subscribed.  When you want to unsubscribe, be sure to do so before Sunday so you won't be charged for the following week. 
If your child misses a live class, a video of the class will be available for your child to use.
If a class isn’t scheduled for a particular day or week, you will not be charged. 

⭐️This class will NOT meet on the following days:
Fall Break (Nov 25-29) 
Winter Break (Dec 23-Jan 5)
Spring Break (March 24-28)