The more children observe their families enjoying literature and written materials, the more they will be eager to explore reading as well. In a first grade classroom, most children are at the early stage of reading and are just beginning to acquire a network of strategies and skills to help them develop as readers. In this way, children are always reading for meaning. In order to read for meaning, children use their own experiences and background knowledge, their knowledge of how language works, and their knowledge of letter sound relationships to figure out words and comprehend texts. They learn through analogy, using what they already know about words to learn new ones.
Children learn to read by engaging in real reading experiences.
Mr. Steve Merchant, the Griswold Fire Marshall, did a presentation in each of the first grade classrooms. He discussed smoke alarms, Stop, Drop and Roll and dressed completely in his fire fighting gear. The children learned not to be frightened during a fire and how to act safely in case they were in a fire. All of the first graders took home a fire hat. These hats were provided by Masse Insurance Agency in Jewett City.