Learning Academy (LA) is a school wide intervention program. Our first grade meets Wednesdays and Thursdays for 30 minute sessions. The entire first grade is divided up into ten small groups. We determine the make-up of these groups by a child's need, which is determined through quick assessments. These assessments are not for grades. These assessments are for information that is used by teachers to determine the best instruction for your child. These assessments let us see what your child knows and what your child doesn't know. Groups are formed from this information in order to teach and practice the very specific skill your child needs. Groups range from remediation to enrichment. These groups are very flexible and change on a regular basis in order to give the children skills that will benefit each child the most.
Below are some of the skills practiced during the Learning Academy times:
11/2/09 thru present
This week we are moving into the vowels. We will begin by reviewing the short vowel sounds and then in the next few weeks we'll work with long vowel sounds and the many different spelling patterns that make these sounds.
10/26/09
This week we're working with digraphs. Digraphs are two letters that make one sound. We're working on the following digraphs this week: sh, th, ch, wh, ph
10/12/09 thru 10/19/09
This week we are writing numbers. Some groups are writing numbers to 100. Other groups are writing the tens. Other groups are working on number reversals and some groups are writing numbers beyond 100. Our groups are divided up to help students with his/her individual needs.
It's very busy and a lot of fun!
10/5/09
The past two weeks our first graders have been working to master the writing of our kindergarten sight words/high frequency words. It is very important for students to be able to write these words easily and automatically. These words are some of the building blocks for successful reading and writing.
9/23/09
We are continuing our work with patterns this week. Some kids will still focus on mastering an understanding of a four element repeating pattern. Some kids will move into growing patterns.
9/16/09
Repeating Patterns is our skill in Learning Academy this week. First Graders are building four element repeating patterns and then describing what they have built to help master this skill.
