Question for those with 1st graders

julesmom wrote: I read the post about the math dittos. Great site, btw!

I am wondering where 1st graders are, work-wise. I know they are all different, but...

What books are your 1st graders reading completely independently?

Are they doing addition and/or subtraction? Up to what digit? Single or multiple digits?

MommyToAshley replied: Ashley is reading chapter books independantly (lots of words, little pictures) but she only reads a chapter a night. However, the level of the books vary in her class -- there are four different reading groups ranging from picture books to chapter books. They have learned most of the phonetics rules already, they've gone over contractions, have 5 new sight words each week, and have weekly spelling tests (usually focusing on word groups from a phonetics rule they learned).

She is doing both addition and subtraction in school. They go past twelve (I am not sure how high though), but they don't do anything in class that you have to carry the number over yet (although Ashley knows how to do this from a website she plays games on). The do add three numbers together such as 6+3+5=14. They are getting ready to have timed math facts tests (both addition and subtraction) so they should have the math facts memorized. They won't have time to figure them out or add on their fingers during the tests.

They also have science and history tests based on their units of study.

luvmykids replied: Kylie can read just about anything now, she even reads the Bible by herself Colt is a teeny bit behind her in reading but not far. Are you wanting specific book titles, or just a guideline? Their teacher said a good rule of thumb is to pick up a book, open it to any page, and let them start reading. If they have a few mistakes or need help more than a few times on any given page, it's probably not a good one for them to read on their own.

In math they're doing addition and subtraction, adding three numbers, very basic algebra, etc. In addition there are double digits but I'm not sure how high, can't be too high though because at times Colt still uses his fingers. Subtraction I think they've only gone to 10 as a double digit.

julesmom replied:
Yes, could you name a couple? Thanks!

luvmykids replied: For picture books, Kylie loves the Fancy Nancy series (the authors name is escaping me at the moment). A lot of them are still packed but of the ones on the bookshelf, here are a few.
Too Many Murkels, Heidi Charissa Schmidt
The Fancy Nancy series, Jane O'Connor
Pets in Class, Chris Meramec
The Cow Who Wouldn't Come Down, Paul Brett Johnson
Seasons, Warbe Aska (this one is a little tougher but she can get through it)

For chapter books, the only one I can find at the moment is Piper Reed, Army Brat by Kimberly Willis Holt.

They also like to read Dr Seuss

jcc64 replied: There is a HUGE range of abilities in first graders, from kids like Ashley who can read complex chapter books (one girl in my dd's class is reading "Black Beauty") to kids who can only handle a few simple words on a page. Corey's pretty much in the middle of the pack. Her teacher uses a graduated letter system, with the easiest books being rated "A" all the way up to the most complex books rated a "Z". The teacher assesses the kids individually twice a month, and based on whatever progress they've made, she assigns them a bin of books from which they can choose. It's highly individualized, and the kids move at their own pace. The kids who need the most assistance have adults work with them (like me); the better readers work independently.
For math, they do basic addition and subtraction up to 20, using 2 or 3 numbers at a time; they do A LOT of word problems, very simple fractions, "buying" things with money; measuring, graphs, estimating, and who knows what else? My dd gets two homework packets on Monday, one for math, one for spelling, and she has to hand them in on Friday, when she's tested on the information. They do not have science or history tests, for which I'm grateful--I think they have their whole lives to "perform"; the teacher should be able to ascertain how much they're picking up from their classwork w/o doing formal testing, which a lot of kids find very stressful at this age. And about the timed math tests, my kids didn't see that kind of stuff until 3rd grade with the multiplication tables.

MommyToAshley replied:
I asked the reason behind the timed math tests as I thought the same thing as you. I thought it was more important to know how to get the answer than it was to memorize a bunch of math facts. But, the answer makes sense. They will need to be able to recall the math facts when they move onto the addition and subtraction where you need to carry-over a digit. It puts them way behind if they are still trying to count on their fingers. That makes sense to me. And, they do work on knowing how to solve both addition and subtraction problems and their relationship to one another before they move onto memorizing the math facts.

MommyToAshley replied:
Ashley really likes the Magic Tree House series.
Here's a sample you can look inside the pages to see if it is a good fit:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/037581365...ASIN=0375813659

She's on book 14 of the series, I think. Maybe it's 15?

Ashley also likes the scholastic readers. She just finished reading this book that the teacher had sent home for her to read.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/059047484...ASIN=0590474847

julesmom replied:
Wow, Ashley is a really good reader!

I asked what they were reading and about math because I wonder how my district matches up with others. My 1st grader is not doing any addition in her class. The are working on counting up shapes. She can add and counting is so easy for her.
So our school isn't doing addition, but they don't do multiplication tables in school either. They use math investigations. I wish they'd go back to the old fashioned way of doing things!

As for reading, I know all kids are on different levels. My daughter gets Wilson Fundations, a multi-sensory reading program because she is most likely dyslexic. So I know I can definitely not compare her reading to others. I was just interested to see what other 1st graders are reading compared to our school.

I don't think any of our 1st graders are reading Magic Tree house. The other book you mentioned, I can see our kids reading. But Magic Tree house is a 2nd grade book here.

They use the "just right book" idea. If the child makes 5 mistakes on one page, the book is not "just right" for them.

jcc64 replied: Corey is not as advanced as Ashley with her reading. A book that she and I both adore is the old classic, "Ferdinand the Bull" by Munro Leaf. It's got an amazing message, and Corey can read through it by herself with ease. This was one of my favorite books as a child as well, and one I was very happy to share with her.

Boo&BugsMom replied: In Tanner's elementary school they have what's called Book In A Bag. It's a program where they bring a book home every night to read, from levels 1-20. Tanner is passed level 20 already (not sure when the average for it is), and after they are passed level 20 they can pick out their own chapter book to read and bring home. The teacher gives them about a week to finish the chapter book, but Tanner usually finishes them in a couple days. Lately though he has been not wanting to read the chapter books as much. He's just always been a kid who likes non-fiction books instead. He likes learning about facts and different subjects, rather than reading a "story". So, his teacher has been letting him bring home a few nonfiction instead. In all, his reading ability is at a 3rd grade level.

Tanner started doing beginning algebra because he seems to fly by in addition and subtraction. His teacher will send him home some extra worksheets to challenge him periodically. Math seems to be his strongest subject, along with Science. For addition and subtraction they are doing their timed testing right now. The tests go from A-Z...Tanner is on Q I think. There are all single digits right now with multiple digits coming soon. I believe they are doing multiple digits with in class work, but it hasn't carried over in their timed tests yet. They are also doing a lot of what Jeanne mentioned in her post as well...word problems, graphs, etc.

Tanner seems to have gotten the teacher that likes to give homework too. The other teacher does give so much, which is fine, but sometimes the homework is kind of tedious. They have also been given tests in science and social studies.

I'm not sure what is average, but in Tanner's class they are split up into groups by ability. In each subject Tanner is at the most advanced table (slight mommy brag ). His teacher said that as long as he continues to put forth the effort he will continue to be an outstanding student. He has always been a bright kid from very early on...his problem is that he gets "lazy". And occassionaly he does get bored if not challenged properly.

MommyToAshley replied:
Ashley has a children's encyclopedia from Usborne books that she loves. I bet Tanner would like it too. She's always looking up facts in it, and I think it is about on the same reading level that Tanner would be on. Ashley loves this book and sometimes chooses it over other reading. I like it because it covers a lot of subjects in just one book. Ashley seems to visit the astronomy and dinosaur section the most though.

Here's what it looks like, if you are interested:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/079450754...ASIN=0794507549

Anyways, I just thought I would mention it as I am always on the look out for suggestions for good books for Ashley.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Tanner would LOVE it! Thanks DeeDee!

Kirstenmumof3 replied:
Wow that's really impressive! Emily wasn't reading that series until grade 2. But she was reading Early Reader books in SK and grade 1. I remember her first book that she read to us, it was the Wish Fairy.

Claudia knows her math really well. She can add and subtract, but has trouble with her fine motor skills, so she goes to the learning centre. She gets frustrated doing her work at school, because she has a hard time printing the letters. But we have a lot of flashcards, addition subtraction and word recognition and she does really well with those.