First Grade's First Week

Shorecrest first graders in Mrs. Casano’s class spent their first week of school getting to know one another, starting with the very thing that makes each of them unique - their names.

As part of a classroom name study, students read "Your Name Is a Song" and "Chrysanthemum" and discussed how their names reflect who they are.

“In addition to sharing where our names came from and why they are meaningful and perfect for each of us, we used our phonics skills to study them closely,” shared Mrs. Casano. “We looked carefully at the letters and sounds in our names, counted syllables, and even discovered any “heart parts” that don’t quite play by the [phonics] rules!”

The week also introduced students to the classroom's "Learning Assets," a set of skills teachers say will be emphasized throughout the year: Collaborating, Communicating, Researching, Thinking, Contributing and Self-Managing.

Students began with the first two. As Collaborators the class worked together to draft a list of student jobs to help maintain the classroom and support their community. As Communicators, students explored how people convey messages with speaking, and through facial expressions and body language. To practice, partners took turns in pairs building and then describing a LEGO creation while their partner tried to build a replica without seeing the original — a hands-on lesson in clear communication.

Students also got a first look at what it means to be Researchers, by slowing down and observing details closely. They put these skills into practice by creating careful scientific drawings of a flower. 

First graders wrapped up their first week with a stronger sense of identity and community. As the year continues, they will learn what it means to be Thinkers, Contributors, and Self-Managers as they grow into thoughtful, independent learners.

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