We will begin the year learning about the numbers 1 through 10. It is important that when your child forms their numbers, they begin on the top line as they do with each letter. All numbers will begin on the top line. Please familiarize yourself of the correct formation of each number using the chart above and guide your child in correctly writing their numbers.
Shapes:
Your child should know the following shapes. Please continue to practice these shapes throughout the year. Look for objects with these shapes.
Flat Shapes: Rectangle, Square, Circle, Triangle, Trapezoid, Hexagon, Rhombus
Pentagon, octagon,
3D Shapes: Cube, Cylinder, Triangular prism, rectangular prism, sphere
Counting
Children have been practicing counting by ones, twos, fives and tens to 120. You can help your child by counting objects at home. Count as you go up and down the stairs, the number of steps to your child's bedroom, peas on a dinner plate, legos, toys in the tub, etc. See if your child can identify what number comes next or before. Have your child compare sets of objects and determine if a number is greater than or less than. See if your child can count on from a given number. Look for numbers in your travels. See if your child can identify numbers on signs or on objects. Allow your child to help with baking and encourage them to learn how to measure items needed for a recipe. Take time daily to practice counting orally and counting objects to help build speed and fluency. These activities will help build number sense for your child.
Addition
Addition is the first math skill most students learn and mastering addition in first grade can be the first step toward a long-lasting appreciation of math. Today's children are bombarded with messages about the challenging nature of math. Girls in particular are susceptible to stereotypes that they aren't good at math and these stereotypes can hinder their performance. Basic addition helps first graders gain confidence and demonstrates to them the real-life usefulness of math. This can create a lifelong interest in math that will help your child excel when they reach more challenging math classes. Your child doesn't need to memorize complex addition problems to master the basics of addition. Instead, I will focus on helping your child use physical objects, called "manipulatives," to help them count. Counting and adding manipulatives helps students understand the concepts behind math problems. Number writing and recognition, as well as memorization of a few basic addition problems, are also part of our first grade addition curriculum.