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Sussex County’s only independent school, Hilltop Country Day School.


Welcome to First Grade
In the First Grade classroom children learn best through exploration and investigation, and want to participate as actively and fully as possible. Students will be most successful by: sharing experiences in a combination of social, educational, and safe environments; and in cooperation with the surrounding community, families, and one another. Children are exposed to a variety of teaching and learning strategies in an effort to recognize each child’s unique learning style. There are on going opportunities geared toward practical application, personal relevance and successful socialization. There is a focus on the skill building process to create students who are self-confident, self-motivated and are able to continue to experience the thrill of learning.


CLASS NEWS
Summer Reading Curriculum

Incoming Grade 1 Summer Reading 2010

 

 

     Our goal for Lower School students during the summer is for them to spend time reading, not creating projects. We encourage you to include some time during each day for reading. The most successful way to retain the skills that your children’s teachers have developed during the school year is through daily reading, either independently or through shared experiences.



Summer Reading Curriculum

Using the guide below to help you choose books on your reading level, please read at least two books from the recommended list (with help if needed). Please complete the Summer Reading Log and return it during the first week of school in September. Have a wonderful summer of reading!

Choosing Books for Independent Reading

READ A COUPLE OF PAGES.  IS THE TEXT MAKING SENSE? CAN YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE READING?  IF NOT, THEN YOU WILL NOT ENJOY READING THIS BOOK.

AND/OR

Five Finger Test

Open the book to the middle and choose a full page of text to read

Read the page (aloud if possible)

Put one finger up for every word you can not say or do not know

If you get 4 or 5 fingers up, then the book is too hard for you to read on your own

If you have no fingers up, but are reading VERY slowly and decoding almost every word you will not enjoy reading this book by yourself

Summer Reading Curriculum

Recommended Series for Emerging and Beginning Readers:

 

Students come to first grade and second grade with varying reading readiness skills. The beginning reader books are made for children to read independently. These books have short sentences, larger print, and a controlled vocabulary. The cover usually suggests the reading level.

 

Any book in the A is for Amber series by Paula Danziger

Any book in the Annie and Snowball series by Cynthia Rylant

Any book in the Biscuit series by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Any book in the Bones series by David A. Adler

Any book in the Commander Toad series by Jane Yolen

Any book in the Cowgirl Kate and Coco series by Erica Silverman

Any book in the Dumpy:  My First I Can Read series by Julie Andrews Edwards

Any book in the Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant

Any book in the Horrible Harry series by Suzy Kline







Recommended Series Continued

Any book in the Iris and Walter series by Elissa Guest

Any book in the Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park

Any book in the Magic School Bus Chapter books series

Any book in the Marvin Redpost series by Louis Sachar

Any book in the Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo

Any book in the Minnie and Moo series by Denys Cazet

Any book in the Mr. Putter and Tabby series by Cynthia Rylant

Any book in the Nate the Great series by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Any book in the Poppleton series by Cynthia Rylant

Any book in the Puppy Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant

Any book in the Olivia Sharp series by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Any book in the Ricky Ricotta series by Dav Pilkey

Any book in the Young Cam Jansen series by David A. Adler

Additional Sources for Grade 1 Readers
  • All Aboard Reading
  • Bank Street Ready-to-Read
  • Beginner Books
  • Bright and Early
  • Dial Easy to Read
  • First-Start Easy Reader
  • Giant First-Start Easy Reader
  • Hello Reader!
  • I Can Read
  • My First I Can Read
  • Ready-to-Read
  • Rookie Reader
  • Step Into Reading
  • Stepping Stones


Summer Reading Log
Summer Reading Log