Welcome to First Grade! We are going to learn so many great things this year, and I can't wait to learn with you. This is my first year in first grade, but I have been at Ripley for 10 years and have mostly taught Pre-K.

Fun facts about me:

I have two kids, Rylee (11) and Xander (9). In my spare time, I enjoy reading and being outside. I also have a small farm where I take care of chickens, cows, and rabbits.

Classroom Goal: To promote independence and for students to enjoy coming to school and learn.

What to expect:

Math: We will be learning lots of new things, as well as building a deeper understanding of what you learned in kindergarten. Some of the things we will learn about are: Representing and solving problems involving addition and subtraction

  • Adding and subtracting within 20

  • Working with addition and subtraction equations

  • Shapes, measurements, and time

  • Understanding place value

  • Using place value and properties of operations to add and subtract

ELA (English Language Arts): In 1st grade, students will learn:

  •  To read independently

  •  To love reading

  •  New and exciting vocabulary

  •  To write detailed stories

  •  To research and write about nonfiction topics

  •  To give and receive feedback to improve the quality of their work

  •  To reflect on his/her learning and set goals to improve performance

Book challenge: All RCS scholars will be challenged to read in a variety of different genres (i.e., fiction, non-fiction, poetry). We are looking to break our school record of words read!She/he will have plenty of opportunities to choose independent reading books, so you can work on the challenge.

Science & Social Studies: Units are in-depth studies that offer real-world connections and inspire students. During this time, students will create, imagine, explore, engineer, and research many topics such as:

  •  Rules and Laws

  •  We Are Family

  •  Unity in Community

  •  Economics

  •  Exploring Organisms

  •  It’s Just a Phase: Patterns in the Sky

  •  Lend Me Your Hears: Discovering Sound Properties

  •  Watt’s So Bright: Discovering Light Properties

Reading Homework:

  • Read for at least 15 minutes every night and log it in the reading log.

 Research demonstrates that children who read for 15 or more minutes nightly achieve the greatest academic gains.

  • Practice high-frequency words. If you need another set sent home, please let me know.

Math Homework:

  • Practice math fluency daily.

Document all completed homework on homework log.

Communication: I believe that communication is key to a successful school year. If you need anything please send a message through Rooms or please send an email to crosage@ripleycsd.org