First Grade...What Do You See?

The BASICS,,,
The idea of children's growing or unfolding is never more important than in first grade.
First grade children don't generally think logically. For example, many don't yet use "because" correctly. Some have trouble with words indicating location -"over," "under," "behind," and "in front of." Most first graders don't realize that, by changing the shape of a ball of clay by rolling it out, the amount of clay remains the same - it just LOOKS different. Many don't see that, while two and three are five, by taking away the two and the three we are back at the starting point.

We adults can mistakenly assume that first graders are capable of our ways of thought. First grade children vary in their development. In first grade, boys, particularly, need time. It is a teacher's task not to worry. Often, a little bit of learning in a child is OK.