September · Week 1 of 4 · School week 1 of 36
Week 1: Welcome to School
Skills this week
Phonics and listening
Letters A, B. Listening for sounds.
RF.K.2
Reading & writing
Classroom routines, letters A and B, books have a front cover and a title
RF.K.1d, RF.K.3a, RI.K.5, SL.K.1a
Math
Matching, sorting and counting 1 to 3
K.MD.B.3, K.CC.B.4a
Science
What scientists do: look closely and ask questions
NGSS practices 1 and 3
Social studies
Classroom rules and places in our school
C3 D2.Civ.3.K-2
Letters this week
A a says /a/
apple, ant, alligator
Open wide and drop your jaw: /a/ as in apple.
A is a vowel. This month we use its short sound, /a/.
B b says /b/
ball, bus, bear
Lips together, then pop them open with your voice on. Keep it short: /b/, not "buh".
Little b and little d get mixed up. Bat first, then ball: the line comes first in b.
Day plans
- Day 1Hello, School!
The Kissing Hand - Day 2Our Rules
What If Everybody Did That? - Day 3Places at School
Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes - Day 4Scientists Notice
Ada Twist, Scientist - Day 5Our First Week
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Centers this week
- Blocks: build our school
- Play dough: roll the letter of the day
- Book nook: look at books and find the front cover
- Sorting tray: buttons, beads or toy cars
Student games this week
Letters A and B Rules at School Think Like a Scientist
Week at a glance (printable)
| Block | Day 1 Hello, School! | Day 2 Our Rules | Day 3 Places at School | Day 4 Scientists Notice | Day 5 Our First Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question of the day | What do you like to play? | What is one way to be kind? | Where is your favorite place to learn? | What would you like to learn about? | What was the best part of this week? |
| Phonics | Show capital A and lowercase a. Say: "This is A. A says /a/." Your child repeats the name and the sound. | Quick review: show the A card. Name? Sound? (A, /a/.) | Show capital B and lowercase b. Say: "This is B. B says /b/." Your child repeats the name and the sound. | Quick review: show the B card. Name? Sound? (B, /b/.) | Letter flash: show A, a, B and b in mixed order; your child says the name and the sound. |
| Read-aloud | The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn | What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick | Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin | Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty | Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault |
| Math | Pour a small pile of buttons or toys on the table. | Match pairs: socks, mittens or picture cards. | Show 1, then 2, then 3 blocks in a row. | Sort blocks into two groups: big and small. | Game: "Show me 1, 2, 3." Hold up fingers, then clap that many times. |
| Science / social studies | Social studies: Ask: "Why do we need rules?" (to keep us safe and help us learn). | Science: Say: "Scientists look closely and ask questions." | Social studies: Walk to the places where you learn and play (the reading spot, the table, the outside area). | Science: Go on a 10-minute noticing walk with a bag. | Social studies: Make a class promise poster: "We will be safe, kind and curious." |
| Writing | Draw yourself at school. Your child tells you about the picture and you write their words under it. | Draw one of our rules. Help your child label it with one word, like "kind". | Draw your favorite learning place. Write the first letter of its name together. | Draw one thing you found. Your child tells you one describing word and you write it. | Write your name (as much as you can) on the promise poster. Celebrate every try. |
| Game | Rules at School | Think Like a Scientist | Rules at School | Think Like a Scientist | Letters A and B |