Alissa Opfer

Homework

Students will bring home their folders each day. Please look for notes and corrected classwork, which should be reviewed and kept at home. If you have a note for your child's teacher, please place it in the folder and it will be collected the next day. In addition, your child's homework pages will be sent home each day. Please review the assigned homework with your child and assist as necessary. It is important that a parent edit homework for errors after it has been completed. Please help your child correct any errors before he/she turns the homework in the next day. We appreciate your help to make sure your child accurately reinforces concepts taught in class.

Math Sheets

Side A is completed through guided instruction in class; side B (homework) is a review of the day's concepts/lesson. Beginning in October, your child will bring home an additional math fact homework page. The "A" side is completed in class and corrected by your child. Students have one minute to complete as many facts as possible. Our end-of-year goal is for students to successfully complete 20 facts in one minute. Don't worry if your child has not met that goal yet. Teachers have discussed with students that they do not have to answer 20 facts in one minute yet - they only have to try their best and improve over time. The "B" side is to be completed for homework. Your child may complete it untimed or timed by you - whatever you and your child prefer. If you wish, you may write how long it took your child to complete the page correctly on the bottom of the paper. Don't forget to help your child correct any errors. Thanks!

Paper Books

Each paper book reviews the target sound/sounds of the day's phonics lesson. For homework, your child will read the book aloud to you at least one time. Please help your child reread any missed words and then discuss the story. Possible dialogue questions include:

• Who was the main character?
• Describe the setting of the story.
• What was the main problem in the story?
• How did the problem get solved?
• Would you change anything about the story? Why or why not?

Language Arts Pages

Read directions and complete accordingly.

Free reading

Please spend 15 - 20 minutes each night reading to your child and having your child read to you. Encourage your child to select books from a variety of genres (fiction, poetry, nonfiction, etc.) Reading together and discussing the text will help your child build confidence and develop a love for reading.

Optional Homework Enrichment Ideas

At the beginning of the year, the purpose of first-grade homework is to help students build confidence and establish a study routine, in addition to reinforcing concepts taught in class. If you feel that the homework is not challenging enough for your child, you may help him/her select an idea from the following list to complete in addition to the original assigned homework. Please keep in mind that these suggestions are completely optional. First-graders should spend no more than twenty minutes each night completing homework, in addition to free reading each night with an adult. Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions about homework.

• Write a sequel to a “paper book” that includes words using the target sound of the day. Illustrate your sequel.
• Read a book of your choice and write about the main idea, characters, and plot. Share your opinion about the book.
• Use the weekly spelling words in sentences.
• Write a story using the weekly spelling words.
• Alphabetize the weekly spelling words.
• Make rhyming word pairs for as many weekly spelling words as you can.
• Write an addition or subtraction story problem. Solve the problem.
• Make up a math problem related to a concept included on our daily math page.
• Ask a grown-up to write down an addition or subtraction computation problem. Solve the problem.
• Use a dictionary to find out the meaning of a new word. Write down the word, meaning, and make a picture to demonstrate the meaning of the new word.
• Name as many geometric shapes as you can. Make a graph to show how many of each shape you can find in your house.
• Research the name of a state. Locate that state on a map.
• Research the name of a country. Locate that country on a map.
• Think of a place you would like to visit. Find out three special things about that place. Write down what you learned.