# Grade 1 — Week 1: Fresh Start Sounds

> **PICTURES FIRST:** Open the child Story Studio:  
> `illustrated/storybooks/grade-1-week-01.html`


**Life Academy** · Parent script · mastery before speed  
**Rule:** Explicit teaching (I do → We do → You do) + spaced retrieval every day.

## Week targets
| Strand | Target |
|--------|--------|
| Literacy | Short vowel CVC review (a i o e u) |
| Math | Add within 10 fluency |
| Science/History | School tools / observation |
| Life Skills | Morning routine checklist |
| Heart words | the, a, I, to, you |

## Materials
Word cards, pencil, lined paper, 20 counters, ten-frame, ruler, coins, week journal, US / home-state map printout as needed

## Heart words / academic vocab this week
the, a, I, to, you

## Parent coaching stance
Model once. Wait 10–20 seconds for productive struggle. Prompt — don’t take over. Accuracy first, then speed.

### Day 1

#### 1) Literacy — Short vowel CVC review (a i o e u) — introduce (25–35 min)
**Target:** Short vowel CVC review (a i o e u)  
**Words / text:** 8–10 new/review words on cards  
**Heart / vocab:** the, a, I, to, you

**I do:** Say the pattern cleanly; think aloud while blending 2 words.  
**We do:** Blend 4 words together; sky-write the grapheme 5×.  
**You do:**  
1. Read 8 word cards
2. Build 4 words with tiles
3. Dictation: 3 words

**Fluency / retrieval (3 min):** Reread yesterday’s phrase list smooth.  
**If stuck:** Drop writing; oral sound boxes until 4/5 correct.

#### 2) Math — Add within 10 fluency (20–30 min)
**CPA path:** Concrete → Pictorial → Abstract (stay Concrete until 4/5 easy).

**I do:** Concrete: model 1 problem with objects while thinking aloud.  
**We do:** Solve 2 together (objects → drawing).  
**You do:** 5 problems concrete; then 3 pictorial.  
**Retrieval (3 min):** 3 problems from last week.

#### 3) Science / History / Geography — School tools / observation (15–20 min)
**Focus:** School tools / observation  
**I do:** State the question; show how to observe for 60 seconds.  
**We do:** Observe together; list 2 facts.  
**You do:** Child records 1 drawing + 1 sentence in week journal.

#### 4) Life Skills — Morning routine checklist (10–15 min)
**I do:** Demo the skill once, slowly, narrating steps.  
**We do:** Do it together; child leads the last step.  
**You do:** Child performs alone; parent checks checklist.

#### Movement break (2–3 min)
Jumping jacks, wall push-ups, or stretch — then resume.

### Day 2

#### 1) Literacy — Short vowel CVC review (a i o e u) — decode & sort (25–35 min)
**Target:** Short vowel CVC review (a i o e u)  
**Words / text:** Word sort: pattern vs not-pattern (10 cards)  
**Heart / vocab:** the, a, I, to, you

**I do:** Model sorting 2 cards with a reason aloud.  
**We do:** Sort 6 cards together; fix errors with evidence.  
**You do:**  
1. Independent sort
2. Read all pattern words
3. Write 3 pattern words

**Fluency / retrieval (3 min):** Speed-read the pattern column 2×.  
**If stuck:** Fewer cards; whisper-blend each sound.

#### 2) Math — Add within 10 fluency — strategy talk (20–30 min)
**CPA path:** Concrete → Pictorial → Abstract (stay Concrete until 4/5 easy).

**I do:** Show a second strategy (make 10 / count on / related fact).  
**We do:** Child explains which strategy you used.  
**You do:** 6 mixed problems; child names strategy before solving.  
**Retrieval (3 min):** 2 missing-addend prompts.

#### 3) Science / History / Geography — School tools / observation — deepen (15–20 min)
**Focus:** Add a comparison or map/timeline mark.  
**I do:** Model one comparison sentence.  
**We do:** Find 2 similarities/differences together.  
**You do:** Child adds a second journal entry.

#### 4) Life Skills — Morning routine checklist — refine (10–15 min)
**I do:** Point out one quality upgrade (neatness/safety).  
**We do:** Practice the upgrade together.  
**You do:** Independent repeat with timer or checklist.

#### Movement break (2–3 min)
Jumping jacks, wall push-ups, or stretch — then resume.

### Day 3

#### 1) Literacy — Short vowel CVC review (a i o e u) — sentences (25–35 min)
**Target:** Short vowel CVC review (a i o e u)  
**Words / text:** 2–3 decodable sentences using the pattern  
**Heart / vocab:** the, a, I, to, you

**I do:** Scoop phrases with finger; read with expression once.  
**We do:** Echo-read sentences; mark capitals/periods.  
**You do:**  
1. Read sentences alone
2. Write 1 dictated sentence
3. Illustrate the sentence

**Fluency / retrieval (3 min):** Timed 1-minute reread (accuracy > speed).  
**If stuck:** Use shorter sentences; point under each word.

#### 2) Math — Add within 10 fluency — real-life word problems (20–30 min)
**CPA path:** Concrete → Pictorial → Abstract (stay Concrete until 4/5 easy).

**I do:** Act out 1 kitchen/home word problem.  
**We do:** Write equation together from the story.  
**You do:** 4 word problems (draw bar or set → equation).  
**Retrieval (3 min):** Flash 5 fact cards (prior fluency).

#### 3) Science / History / Geography — School tools / observation — experiment/map (15–20 min)
**Focus:** Hands-on or map task.  
**I do:** Demo the procedure/safety once.  
**We do:** Do the steps together.  
**You do:** Child repeats key steps and states the result.

#### 4) Life Skills — Morning routine checklist — apply (10–15 min)
**I do:** Connect to a real household need today.  
**We do:** Plan who does what.  
**You do:** Child completes the real job.

#### Movement break (2–3 min)
Jumping jacks, wall push-ups, or stretch — then resume.

### Day 4

#### 1) Literacy — Short vowel CVC review (a i o e u) — encode & apply (25–35 min)
**Target:** Short vowel CVC review (a i o e u)  
**Words / text:** Dictation + apply in a real note/label  
**Heart / vocab:** the, a, I, to, you

**I do:** Segment a word slowly; show finger-tapping sounds.  
**We do:** Co-write 1 sentence for a real purpose (label/note).  
**You do:**  
1. Dictation: 4 words + 1 sentence
2. Child writes own sentence using 2 pattern words
3. Read it to parent

**Fluency / retrieval (3 min):** Quick review deck: 6 prior-week words.  
**If stuck:** Accept temporary spelling on non-pattern words; insist on pattern accuracy.

#### 2) Math — Add within 10 fluency — abstract check (20–30 min)
**CPA path:** Concrete → Pictorial → Abstract (stay Concrete until 4/5 easy).

**I do:** Model 2 numeral-only problems after concrete warm-up.  
**We do:** Partner check: child solves, parent verifies with objects.  
**You do:** 8 abstract problems; star any that need concrete retry.  
**Retrieval (3 min):** Exit ticket: 3 problems, 2 correct minimum.

#### 3) Science / History / Geography — School tools / observation — teach-back (15–20 min)
**Focus:** Explain to family.  
**I do:** Model a 20-second teach-back.  
**We do:** Child rehearses with parent.  
**You do:** Child teaches a sibling/toy 2 facts.

#### 4) Life Skills — Morning routine checklist — own it (10–15 min)
**I do:** Ask child to teach the steps back.  
**We do:** Child teaches; parent follows.  
**You do:** Child does skill once with no reminders.

#### Movement break (2–3 min)
Jumping jacks, wall push-ups, or stretch — then resume.

### Day 5 — Mastery Friday (Week 1)

**Theme check-in:** Fresh Start Sounds

#### Spaced Retrieval Quiz (test first — then reteach misses)
1. **Literacy:** Read 10 words + 2 sentences on this week’s pattern (Short vowel CVC review (a i o e u))
2. **Math:** 5 tasks: Add within 10 fluency
3. **Heart/vocabulary:** Parent flashes 6 cards (3 new + 3 prior weeks)
4. **Science/History:** Child states 2 facts from this week without notes
5. **Life Skills:** Demonstrate: Morning routine checklist

**Pass rules:**
- **5/5** → celebrate → preview next week’s target card
- **3–4/5** → Saturday/Monday reteach missed strand before advancing
- **0–2/5** → repeat Days 3–4 of this week (mastery over coverage)

#### Family showcase (10 min)
Child teaches the parent one literacy move and one math move from this week.


## Real-life extension (weekend optional)
Connect **Fresh Start Sounds** to one real outing or home job. Child uses at least 5 new words out loud and solves one real math moment (count, pay, measure, or time).