How did your child adjust to first grade?

Was it an easy transition? I was shocked to hear that the 22+kids that are in dd's kindergarten class will be the same 22+kids with only 1 teacher and NO assistant. Seems like hard work for the teacher, no? How does 1 teacher control that many kids and make sure they are fully educated at the end of the day. I seriously dont get it.

Message edited 2/22/2012 9:03:53 PM.

Re: How did your child adjust to first grade?

It's the end of February and my first grader is still adjusting LOL. He's just that kind of kid.

On the topic of class size, he has 27 kids in his class, one teacher, no assistant. I am not pleased with the class size (my third grader, in the same school, has 19 in his class) but i must say that his teacher is doing a great job.

Message edited 2/22/2012 9:41:48 PM.

Re: How did your child adjust to first grade?

Re: How did your child adjust to first grade?

They both did fine. They were in the 1/2 day enrichment program so going to full day at one school was a switch.

Also they do mature a bit more so I could see the ratio changing to 1 teacher but 22:1 does sound like a lot for a student-teacher ratio.

One thing for sure, teachers amaze me with the way they can control a class.

Re: How did your child adjust to first grade?

In our district, it's 1 teacher for 20-22 kids in 1st grade and above.
DS had no problem adjusting, and I never heard an issue of adjusting from any of the other parents I know. And DS had an issue with almost any kind of change at that age.

Re: How did your child adjust to first grade?

Posted by PrincessP

Posted by PatsBrat

It's the end of February and my first grader is still adjusting LOL. He's just that kind of kid.

On the topic of class size, he has 27 kids in his class, one teacher, no assistant. I am not pleased with the class size (my third grader, in the same school, has 19 in his class) but i must say that his teacher is doing a great job.

27 kids
No really...how do they get them to read, do math, do projects? Do you find that you are doing the other half of what an assistant would be doing? In other words, is he coming home with a ton of hmwk? I noticed dd gets about 4-5 pages of hmwk and I feel like I am doing the second half of educating my dd that really she could be doing in school. AND thats with an assistant. I dont know how kids arent getting lost in the education system.

Re: How did your child adjust to first grade?

I didn't comment on the homework part. I think 4-5 pages of homework is pretty standard.

Re: How did your child adjust to first grade?

Re: How did your child adjust to first grade?

I teach first grade and this is what my kids get for HW each week:

1) Read for a minimum of 15 min every night
2) On Monday, they get a Reading Packet that has 1 page for M-Th for them to complete.
3) Math HW every night
4) Spelling notebook that goes home on Monday in which they need to complete 2 assignments by Friday (e.g. 3x each and writing sentences)

How do we control that large of a group of kids? We just do. It's part of our job and we've got lots of strategies for making it work. I wouldn't worry!

Re: How did your child adjust to first grade?

Just fine. My DD is in 1st grade now and has 26 kids in class and 1 teacher. She's never complained or told me the class was out of control or anything (I mean yeah, the same two or three kids, if anything...). She loves her teacher and is thriving.

As far as homework, she gets one math page, one phonics page and an assignment in her notebook dealing with that week's spelling/vocab words--write the words 3x, sentences, etc. She also reads a story a night. She averages three tests a week. You can tell the homework is planned well in advance so I don't see any of it as a "catch up."

Re: How did your child adjust to first grade?

My son had major issues adjusting to K but none to 1st grade - smooth sailing. As for homework, 1st grade has been lighter than K so no issues. He gets 15 minutes of reading, a math worksheet and another sheet - language/reading/etc. He started spelling in November and he has a spelling activity every night since. His homework outside the reading - takes maybe 20 minutes - give or take. Last year his homework would take 30 minutes to an hour so this year is like a breeze. He has 21 kids in his class and 1-2 teachers (only 2 because his class is an inclusion class but from what my son tells me teacher #2 isn't there all day and only helps certain children - but I have no clue myself outside what he says). The regular classes all have about 21 kids and 1 teacher.

Re: How did your child adjust to first grade?

DS adjusted well. Socially he had some friends from K, so that helped him. There are more kids on 1st than K... 27 kids and one teacher, no assistant, although 2 of those 27 kids have a one on one teacher.

Academically, he has been going to Kumon for a while, so he was used to do homework. He has to read 20 minutes every day (read or be read to) and he gets a homework package every monday that it is submitted the next monday. On his hw in reading they work on 8 words I(4 according to the vowels and 4 sight words) and they have to write them and make sentences. In math they have about 4 activities (adding and subtracting and "showing the process"), plus a reading log. Each friday they have a spelling test with the words from that week.

Re: How did your child adjust to first grade?

My DS was fine...loves it actually

Re: How did your child adjust to first grade?

My daughter is doing great. She loves it more than Kindergarten. She was in a special reading program in Kindergarten for advanced readers. They do not do this in 1 and I have to tell you her reading is doing even better this year. Her growth is HUGE. She is reading chapter books already. She is loving science right now and telling me all about liquid, solids and gases, quoting the freezing points and what different things turn to what. She is doing well with math. I am impressed with the terminology that they use with these kids (like lines of symtery). She is doing really well with telling time on an analog clock (no longer just the hour). Her writing skills and poetry skills are great. She looks forward to her poem binder coming home.



As for the homework, she is doing 4-5 pages of different things each night. Homework is reinforcement of skills learned. I am not sure why you think you are doing the assistants job in teaching? If your daughter is having a hard time with the material then you need to speak to the teacher.

She has 24 kids in her class and no assistant.

Re: How did your child adjust to first grade?

Re: How did your child adjust to first grade?

DS is in an integrated class this year. I was happy since his class size is 25. There is a 1/2 day sped ed teacher and FT aide in the class, so I think that helps, plus with the pull outs the other kids get more attention.

First Grade starts guided reading groups and writer's/reader's workshop.


We have one math sheet and one ELA activity a night for HW.

Re: How did your child adjust to first grade?

I have twenty eight students in my first grade class.
They get a homework packet on Monday night and bring it back on Friday.
We do a lot of ELA and Writers workshop.
Some students transition well others have a hard time.