Teaching 1st Grade Naturally, Simply and Inexpensively

Printing
Get a pad of paper for teaching printing that has different colored lines. Get a pencil grip to assure proper hand position. Have him copy your examples of printing. First just start out with the letters of the alphabet. Review each letter each day, and add a new one. Watch carefully and require that he always form the letters correctly. Put a little heart above the really perfect letters. Be very encouraging, make a big deal about good work, and only a little comment on mistakes.

Phonics
Have the child write, use letter cards, do word games, etc to teach phonics. Teach him to recognize the vowels: a, e, i, o, u. First teach the short sound and call it the "sound" Then after he has learned all the consonants, teach him the long sounds of the vowels, but call them the "names" When he can copy all the letters perfectly, start having him copy simple words.

First have him write words that are simple to sound out like:
hot, pig, nut, etc

Then teach these diphthongs, move slowly, make sure he knows one completely before going to another one:
oo, ee, ai, ow, sh, ch, th, ing, ea, oy, oi, oa, aw, ou

Then teach final e:
(The little "e" at the end of the word is shy. He never talks. But he whispers to the vowel, "Say your name!")

cake, rake, bake, hope, wave

Reading
Get the "Bob" books. They are phonetic and a good start. You can find them in many homeschool catalogs. I know that Latter-Day Family Resources does have it. When you have read some of the Bob books, check out some books by Margaret Hillert at the library. They will give him a simple sight word vocabulary. (Yes, phonics is best, but some sight reading is necessary.) Read the other handout with more instructions on reading. After reading all the Bob Books, and Margaret Hillert books, your child may be ready to read simple library books. There is an excellent reading development series by World Book that is helpful at this stage.
Phonics Fun

Calendar
This teaches a lot of time concepts. Each day the child writes the number of the day on the calendar and discusses the day of the week, month, season etc. Make a simple chore chart with the days of the week on it to help make learning about time relevant. Put pictures on his calendar to look forward to, like make a birthday cake picture on his birthday.

Story Time
You read to him. This will be the most important thing you do, and probably his favorite. Spend at least 30 minutes per day. Read uplifting, classic literature and good non-fiction at his level. Pick books you know he will love. I like to do this during the day, then again for another 30 minutes before bed.
Here are some suggestions to get you started:

Peter Rabbit
Winnie the Pooh
Frog and Toad stories
Charlotte"s Web
Little House in the Big Woods
The Boxcar Children
Naya Nuki
Trumpet of the Swan
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Magic School Bus

Weekly Activities:

Choose several of these to incorporate into your schedule:

Science Day
Do experiments, read library books, watch "Bill Nye the Science Guy" and "Kratz Creatures"

Cooking Day
He can help you cook dinner, or make cookies, etc.

Journal Day
He can dictate to you, then illustrate it with a picture. If you have a computer have him dictate as you type. Then you can enlarge the words and print them out for him.

Music and Art Day
Listen to good music, talk about how it makes you feel. Draw picture as you listen to music. Get books at the library of art projects of children. Just be sure that the child is given room to use his creativity in the art he produces.

Service Day
Make cookies and take them to a friend. Help an elderly neighbor shovel snow, or take out their garbage, etc.

P.E. Day
Go swimming, or play baseball, or take a nice long walk. What active things do you enjoy doing together?

Game Day
Play educational games. You can check some out at the library, or at the Natural History Museum. Make up some games to practice skills you are currently working on.

Educational Video or TV Day
Check out videos of things interesting to your student, or watch some good PBS shows.

Library Day
Go to the library or museum and spend some time reading, or playing on the computers, then check out some neat stuff!

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Revised: June 21, 2005.