Writing and Math Journal Instructions
The journal is meant to help your child develop their writing skills, higher-order thinking, and problem solving skills. There will be 2 assignments per week, one writing and math assignment. These assignments are challenging, please assist your child but do not give the complete answer.
Writing Tips: Help your child develop their writing.
1. Adding details to pictures-First grade is a continuation of what was taught in Kindergarten. Students will be expected to develop drawings by adding more details to enhance their writing.
2. Writing phonetically-Students are expected to write multiple sentences in first grade. It will be important to focus on organizing ideas before writing. We will be working on opinion writing, narratives and writing stories.
The first stages of writing, children sound out words and write what they hear. Please do NOT try to get your child to spell ALL words correctly. Children will start asking adults to spell every word and won't try to write independently. Most times children shut down because they know they cannot spell the words correctly without help. It can be overwhelming. Instead focus on having them write sight words correctly and continue to write phonetically for other words. As children grow older and build their vocabulary, they will begin to spell words correctly.
3. Add details-Help your child by asking them questions like, "How can you add details? What color will the cat be? Write black cat instead of cat. Is it a big or small dog?" Your child can add details by adding adjectives to their writing. Adjectives are descriptive words. (ex. yellow, blue, big, little, tall, short, smooth, spikey, round, square, flat, sharp, silly, funny, sad, happy)
Math Tips: Remind your child to use the various math strategies when solving a problem.
1. Organization/Neatness-organize your pictures or groups of objects into rows.
2. Counting-count the objects to check your work.
3. Labeling-number the objects when doing math.
4. Explaining-explain your work by writing your thought process to solve the problem.
Writing Tips: Help your child develop their writing.
1. Adding details to pictures-First grade is a continuation of what was taught in Kindergarten. Students will be expected to develop drawings by adding more details to enhance their writing.
2. Writing phonetically-Students are expected to write multiple sentences in first grade. It will be important to focus on organizing ideas before writing. We will be working on opinion writing, narratives and writing stories.
The first stages of writing, children sound out words and write what they hear. Please do NOT try to get your child to spell ALL words correctly. Children will start asking adults to spell every word and won't try to write independently. Most times children shut down because they know they cannot spell the words correctly without help. It can be overwhelming. Instead focus on having them write sight words correctly and continue to write phonetically for other words. As children grow older and build their vocabulary, they will begin to spell words correctly.
3. Add details-Help your child by asking them questions like, "How can you add details? What color will the cat be? Write black cat instead of cat. Is it a big or small dog?" Your child can add details by adding adjectives to their writing. Adjectives are descriptive words. (ex. yellow, blue, big, little, tall, short, smooth, spikey, round, square, flat, sharp, silly, funny, sad, happy)
Math Tips: Remind your child to use the various math strategies when solving a problem.
1. Organization/Neatness-organize your pictures or groups of objects into rows.
2. Counting-count the objects to check your work.
3. Labeling-number the objects when doing math.
4. Explaining-explain your work by writing your thought process to solve the problem.