The first part of this workbook has no children instructions. They are thoroughly explained in the teacher’s manual. Later on, when the children should be able to read the instructions, they are included on the pages.

With perhaps a few exceptions, every other page is a cut-and-paste exercise. This is for several reasons. First, children can not print neatly until they have developed good hand coordination. Learning to use a scissors helps to develop this coordination. Second, though a bit messy, cutting and pasting is a time consuming and enjoyable pastime for first graders. Like in anything else, they can be trained to be neat with this. Stress using only a little bit of glue or paste, and cleaning up their mess when they are finished.

There is no teacher’s manual for this seatwork book. Simple instructions are included on each page, and each lesson is designed so that the pupils can work independently without much help from the teacher. In short, it is to keep the children busy without making the teacher busier.

1. Enthusiasm is your keyword.
The attitude with which children tackle their lessons is often a reflection of their teacher’s attitude. Therefore the importance of showing enthusiasm can not be overstressed. From the very first day of school, children should be guided to look forward to the time when they can read. You might say, "Won’t that be nice when you can read stories all by yourself?"

Learning should be an interesting, challenging experience that lasts even beyond the time the pupil attends school. If the interest and ambition to learn is not instilled into the child when he is young, there is a danger that he will never really enjoy learning. Though a child’s education begins long before he starts to school, you must remember that his first actual experience in book learning lies in his first-grade teacher’s hands. How she guides him through those first weeks of school could very easily determine the type of pupil he will be throughout his years in school. And it does not stop there. One writer said, "As the morning is to the day, so is the child to the man." As we can expect a bright, sunny morning to turn out to be a nice day, an industrious, willing pupil can be expected to become just that type of grown-up. 

Since a teacher’s enthusiasm rubs off on her pupils, you should never be afraid to say, "This page looks interesting.  You’ll like doing it." Never, never tell first graders their work isn’t hard or it isn’t important. Let them feel as if they have accomplished something, even if it is only a simple lesson. In order to teach first graders, the teacher must see their lessons through the eyes of six-year-olds. She must imagine herself in their place and take an interest in the things that interest them. It is only when children have gained confidence in their teacher and confidence in themselves that they are ready to enjoy school. And only when they enjoy school will they tackle their lessons with enthusiasm.

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