Ruhnke Review 3/28/2025
651-771-8494 aruhnke@stjeromeschool.org
We are Learning About:
Groves/Phonics: We have begun learning about the vowel digraph ‘ai.’ Vowel digraphs are two vowel letters that go together to make one new sound & one tap. An example would be the words, ‘sail,’ ‘pail,’ ‘wait,' & ‘vain.’ We just finished learning about the /ng/ nasal sound like the word “sang.” This changes the vowel ‘a’ to sound a little funny. We continue to practice syllables, one and two word syllables and where to divid the word correctly & we continue to work on the long /u/ sound which can say /u/ as in cube, or the u can sound like /oo/ as in tube. We also continue to work on the r-controlled vowels: if 1 vowel is followed by an r, then the vowel does not make its short sound. The r changes the vowel to a different sound because it is controlled by the letter r; ar says /ar/, or says /or/, er, ir, and ur all say /er/. When tapping, the vowel and r get one tap. WOW! So many rules! The English language is complicated and difficult to learn! Please help your child if you are able.
Math: We are now on: Chapter 13: Geometry: Vocabulary: two-dimensional shape, closed shape, open shape, square, rectangle, triangle, side, vertex (vertices), corner, circle, hexagon, rhombus, trapezoid, curved, solid shape, three-dimensional shape, cube, rectangular prism, cone, cylinder, sphere, face, edge, flat surface, curved surface, plane shape, logical reasoning. Chapter 14 we finished before Christmas. Chapter 15: Time. Vocabulary: minute hand, hour hand, half past, one hour, one half hour, half-hour pattern, hour pattern, day, night. Chapter 16: Money. Vocabulary: penny/one cent, nickel/5 cents, cent (c), dime/10 cents, quarter/25 cents, total amount, dollar/100 cents, dollar sign ($), work backward. PLEASE, if you haven’t already, take out your Addition flash-cards that were on the 1st Grade supply list. (You can purchase addition & subtraction flash cards at the Dollar Store)! Please, help your child practice 10 minutes every evening!! .
Religion: Chapter 19: “Jesus was Raised to New Life.” Lessons: Jesus Is Risen, We Celebrate the Mass, We Can Live Forever, The Resurrection of the Body. Chapter 20: “Jesus Begins the Church.” Lessons: Christ’s Work Continues, The Work of the Church, The Church Leaders, The Church Today. Chapter 21: “Jesus Goes Back to Heaven.” Lessons: Jesus Prepares to Return to the Father, Go Forth & Baptize, The Ascension, Jesus Will Come Again. Chapter 22: “The Holy Spirit Comes.” Lessons: The First Novena, The Holy Spirit Came, The Apostles Go Forth, The Holy Spirit & the Church.
Sight Words:
Again, this year your child will be working on Memory/Sight words. I will list them here as we do them so that you can work with your child at home, also. We have begun with some review words from last year. We will continue learning more each week. Memory/Sight words are words we find in every sentence we read. Students must know these words to be able to read a sentence. Students should memorize these words, NOT sound them out. Please practice these words every day, both reading them and spelling them.
a, I, and, the, is, was, as, has, to, do, go, no, me, be, we, see, you, are, her, his, or, for, said, of, my, by, like, one, he, she, have, they, were, there, where, from, what, come, some, new, any, many, out, our, saw, how, now, look, old, cold, hold, sold, child, wild, mild, find, kind, mind, bolt, colt, jolt, post, most, two, should, would, could, so, both, put, over, under, after, here, your, once, give, live, shove, again, against, been, does, goes, know, very, every, too, talk, walk, down, into, want, only
Last 1st Grade Mass on April 16th
Our last 1st Grade Mass is on April 16th. Please came and join us! We welcome your presence! (Just an FYI: we will NOT be having a reflection at the end of mass this time).
If your child has a reading part in the Mass, I am sending that reading part home today with a note asking you to practice with your child. This is very important so that they will know how to: read carefully, with good intonation, read it slowly & smoothly, to use their voice projection and not mumble so that it will be heard by all. Thank you for your help.
Homework:
In 1st Grade, the students will have homework most nights. This is what to expect:
1. Math. Almost every night your child will have 1-2 math worksheets to do. Please help your child so that they understand what they are doing (if you have trouble with it, look at the sheets we did together in class. This will show you what/how to do the problems on the homework sheets).
2. Daily Reading. Your child should be reading 20-30 minutes every day! As I stated above, fill out the Reading Log every day with how many minutes your child read, then sign it (or initial it), and send it back to school at the end of each month. Sr. Audrey, our Reading/Literacy Specialist will be giving your child a book in a bag every day. Your child should read the book at home, then return it to school the next day, and Sr. Audrey will give your child a new book to read. This reading will count towards minutes read on the “Reading Log” also!!
3. Monthly Memorization. This is usually a poem of some sort. Each month (although September & October are together), I will send a memorization piece home with your child. Please work on it each day for 10 or so minutes until your child memorizes it. I will be listening to each student recite the poem at the end of every month. The St. Jerome Pledge came home for the September & October Memorization poem. All students that were at St. Jerome School last year in Kindergarten said it every day , so they should know much of it already! In November, I will send home another poem or memorization piece for them to know by the end of November. Thank you for helping your child learn these!
September & October: Saint Jerome School Pledge. November: “Dr. Welbody’s Heroes,“ December: “Star Light, Star Bright” January: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” February: “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat” March: “The Pasture” April: “Rope Rhyme” May: “The Swing”
4. Prayers. We will continue to work on the prayers that your child began learning in Kindergarten. I sent home a sheet with the prayers your child needs to work on. PLEASE don’t throw it away, or lose it! This could be kept on the refrigerator for all to see, and so that your 1st grader and your family can say these payers together daily. This way, not only are they learning the prayers, but they will also be praying to God and with the entire family!! What more could you ask for??!! Here are the prayers your child should practice/say: 1) Sign of the Cross 2) Glory Be 3) Hail Mary. 4) Our Father. 5) Grace (Prayer) before Meals. 6) Angel of God.
Specialist Schedule
Monday=Phy. Ed/Gym
Tuesday=Phy. Ed/Gym & Music
Wednesday=”The Forge”(Science & Art)
Thursday=Music
Friday=”The Forge” (Science & Art)
Upcoming Events:
4/13 Palm Sunday
4/16 1st Grade will be doing the Mass today. Please come join us! This will be our last mass of the school year.
4/17 Holy Thursday. 7 Last Words of Christ at 2pm in the Church.
4/18 NO SCHOOL—GOOD FRIDAY
4/20 Easter Sunday May you have a joyful Easter! Alleluia!! The Lord Has Risen!!
4/21 NO SCHOOL— EASTER MONDAY
4/22 School Resumes
4/26 Spring Gala! Parents, please come and be a part of this wonderful evening!