Showing posts with label curriculum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label curriculum. Show all posts

What is Fundations?

Your child may come home talking about Fundations and Echo, the owl and you may be wondering, "What in the world is Fundations?" Here is you answer.

Research indicates that systematic and explicit phonic instruction is effective for all children. Fundations provides a systematic and explicit approach to reading and spelling with phonics. We will combine this with other reading techniques to make your child a well-rounded reader.

1. Fundations is systematic because it follows a sequence for teaching and it follows a procedure.

2. Fundations is explicit because it does not leave room for guessing. It teaches all concepts directly. As the year progresses, Fundations introduces many aspects of word structure and sentence structure. At the beginning of each unit, I will be sending home guides and activities to help you support your child. These letters will outline what we are doing in class too!

At the end of each unit, there is an assessment. The finished and graded assessment will go home in Friday Folders too. You will see notes from me on additional help your child  might need from you or things I will be doing to support him/her in class.

What is Daily 5?

Over the next few weeks, I hope to familiarize you with some of our first grade curriculum/programs.

It won’t be long until you hear your child talk about the Daily 5.  So, what is the Daily 5?  It is a way of structuring the reading block so that every student is independently engaged in meaningful literacy tasks.  The research based tasks are ones that will have the big impact on student reading and writing achievement, as well as foster children who love to read and write.  Students receive explicit whole group instruction and then are given independent practice time to read and write while I instruct individuals or small groups of students. It allows me to reach every reader and writer, no matter what the level. 

There are five parts to Daily 5.

1)Read to Self 
2)Read to Someone
3)Work on Writing
4)Word Work
5)Listen to Reading 

This program will help me learn about your child’s greatest strengths and needs as a reader which will help me plan for his/her individual instruction.  One thing you might notice is a decrease in the number of worksheets your child brings home.  Instead your child will be taught how to select “Just Right Books” for reading.  By reading books that are “Just Right” for your child, he/she will be able to read it more fluently and comprehend the book that they are reading.  Your child will be spending  time reading, which research supports as the #1 way to improve reading.  I anticipate the Daily 5  along with other reading instruction will motivate and improve your child’s reading.  I am excited about implementing this  reading program and giving your child the opportunity to grow as a reader this year. 

A book can take you on an amazing journey without even leaving your house! 

What is Daily 5?


It won’t be long until you hear your child talk about the Daily 5.  So, what is the Daily 5?  It is a way of structuring the reading block so that every student is independently engaged in meaningful literacy tasks.  The research based tasks are ones that will have the big impact on student reading and writing achievement, as well as foster children who love to read and write.  Students receive explicit whole group instruction and then are given independent practice time to read and write while I instruct individuals or small groups of students. It allows me to reach every reader and writer, no matter what the level. 

There are five parts to Daily 5.

1)Read to Self 
2)Read to Someone
3)Work on Writing
4)Word Work
5)Listen to Reading 

This program will help me learn about your child’s greatest strengths and needs as a reader which will help me plan for his/her individual instruction.  One thing you might notice is a decrease in the number of worksheets your child brings home.  Instead your child will be taught how to select “Just Right Books” for reading.  By reading books that are “Just Right” for your child, he/she will be able to read it more fluently and comprehend the book that they are reading.  Your child will be spending  time reading, which research supports as the #1 way to improve reading.  I anticipate the Daily 5  along with other reading instruction will motivate and improve your child’s reading.  I am excited about implementing this  reading program and giving your child the opportunity to grow as a reader this year. 

A book can take you on an amazing journey without even leaving your house!