SNAP SHOT OF FIRST GRADE

Do you remember starting the first grade? It was your first year of going to class all day. It was a little scary because you were now a big kid. But, it was also exciting for the same reason. First grade promises a lot of firsts for the students which makes for a very unique and interesting year.
First graders are an exciting group of students. They go through changes often. It’s during this time that they hit a growth spurt and feel a little awkward physically. They develop the need to have a “best” friend and even hang out away from school. First graders are always keeping you on your feet with off the wall questions and concerns. Students at this age need to be shown a lot of patience, acceptance, and reassurance. At this age, the responsibilities of school alone become stressful to them.
First graders depend on a structured environment to create a comfort zone for them. They love the idea of having a routine. Most of them wake up in the mornings just in time to brush their teeth, comb their hair, and eat their bowl of cereal before going to school. But, some of them like to have a more laid back morning. They like to get up early, watch a TV show to wake up, and then get ready for the day. Either way, the routine transfers right into school work. Having a daily routine makes the students feel stable and lets them build up a comfort zone. First graders are very active and growing very quickly, along with their physical activity. At this age, the children are aware of the fact that our fingers are like tools. They are typically sloppy writers because they are trying to race the other students in the room. They want to get done with work or an activity first. First graders tend to get tired easily and always have an illness of some sort. They love to test their strength and skills. The kids this age will want to be involved in various sports. They are not always the most athletic, but they are very fun to watch and they love to play the game. The kids are going through changes in their bodies at this age. They sometimes look awkward with growth spurts or losing teeth. But, in no time they will be just fine. First graders are still developing their coordination so sometimes kicking, catching, and throwing may take some time to master. Unlike some different ages, first graders find schoolwork very fun and interesting. They love to ask questions and they learn the best through discovery. They are very hands-on learners. They tend to focus on one issue or topic at a time and are not the best with multitasking. At this age, they start to understand days of the week and time. They like working as a group. If you make the classroom a “team”, the class will run smoother. By letting the students know that it takes everyone in the class to make it work, they will try harder in hopes of not letting down the team. First graders are very self-centered and competitive. This is the age where a “best-friend” comes into play. They are more than likely to tattle tell, tease, boss, and complain a lot. But, that just comes natural. Tattling sometimes means the child is trying to reach some stability in their life, and if another child comes and messes that up, that triggers them something is wrong, so they tattle. On the other hand, they are very sensitive and cannot take criticism very well. First graders are very interested in rules. Playing with friends outside and during school becomes very important. First graders love to be active, loud and they tend to speak their minds. First graders take “bling” to a whole new level. They love to wear all the neon colors and they try to keep in with the ‘trend’. The girls love to wear dresses that they can twirl and dance in. They are covered in rhinestones and glitter from head to toe. The boys are more laid back when it comes to clothes. They are normally just dressed in their favorite sports team, the logo of their school, or maybe a superhero shirt. But, both boys and girls like shoes and want the most fashionable styles. Experts recommend cutting back on the time in front of a television or on a computer for this age. By cutting this back, it will give the children time to go out and be active. They will be able to build friendships with other kids. But, if they are watching TV, they tend to love the Disney Channel. As for computer games, they love to play games that have them learning or applying things that they have learned. They like action games that keep them on their toes and using their brain. The adults in a first grader’s life are very important. They are the ones that motivate the child. If the dad likes the Steelers, the little boy will also. They look up to the adults in their life. They don’t want to let anyone down or disappoint them. They are constantly trying to get attention from the older people. They like to draw pictures or make special projects to show the adult how important they are to them. Their language skills seem to go through the roof at this age. They become very good readers. They are able to sound out words that may be a little bigger than normal and they get a grasp of the meaning of the word. Children at this age write notes, little short stories, and love to draw pictures. In math the students can count, normally up to 200. They add, subtract, multiply, divide, and work with money. Science experiments should get the students to understand the world around them. Though students at this age will still give animals human characteristics, if you take a closer look with them at such things, they will be able to figure out that animals do not speak like we do, but they do have their own way of communicating. Zig Ziglar said it best when he said, “Kids go where there is excitement. They stay where there is love”. Although first grade can be a time of changes for students, it is exciting. A good teacher will use this excitement to not only motivate the students but also to reassure the students that they are loved for who they are.

Works Cited
“About the Author.” 30 Facts About First Graders That Every Mother Needs to Know. Web. 18. Feb. 2015. http://athome.readinghorizons.com/blog/30-facts-about-frirst-graders-that- every-mother-needs-to-know.
“How a First Grader Thinks.” How a 1st Grader Thinks. Web. 18. Feb. 2015. http://www.education.com/magazine/article/How_child_thinks_first_graders/.
How Your Child May Develop This Year. “Your Six Year Old.” PBS. PBS. Web. 18. Feb. 2015. http://www.pbs.org/parrents/childdevelopmenttracker/six/
McDevitt, Teresa M., and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod. Child Development and Education. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Merrill/Prentice Hall, 2002. Print.