Welcome to First Grade Ecoff Elementary School Chester, VA

Welcome to Welcome to First GradeFirst GradeWelcome to Welcome to First GradeFirst Grade

Ecoff Elementary SchoolEcoff Elementary School

Chester, VAChester, VA

First Grade Team:• Beth Craig – Beth_Craig@ccpsnet.net• Mary Patrick – Mary_Patrick@ccpsnet.net• Emily Serfass – Emily_Serfass@ccpsnet.net• Sangeeta Lovisa – Sangeeta_Lovisa@ccpsnet.net• Cameron Baskerville-

Cameron_baskerville@ccpsnet.net

First Grade Schedule

• Arrival:                    9:00• Unpack/Breakfast:  9:00-9:15• Morning Meeting:    9:15-9:40           • Guided Reading:       9:40-10:40• Math:              10:40-11:40• Recess:                    11:40-12:00• Lunch:                      12:10-12:39 (Exact time will vary by

teacher)

• Shared Reading:      12:40-1:10• Word Study:                  1:10-1:30• Writing:                       1:30-2:15• Resource:                  2:15-3:00• Snack 3:00• Science/Social studies   3:00-3:45   • Dismissal:                 3:50

Resource Schedule

• Monday- Art• Tuesday- Music• Wednesday- Library• Thursday- Computer• Friday- P.E- Remember

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Math• Strategy based learning.• We teach with hands on games

and manipulatives, so you will not see a lot of worksheets.

• There will be a monthly menu of math homework.

Guided Reading• During this time, small groups rotate

and work with the teacher, instructional assistant, and independently.

• The Daily 5• Small groups will change according to

each student’s developmental level.• RAZ-kids.com – more info to follow.

Shared Reading• Whole group reading and

discussion of stories.• Comprehension strategies

taught.

Writing• Writer’s workshop daily.• Writing prompt each 9 weeks.• Graded using a rubric.• Not all writing will come home.

Word Study• Spelling assessment is given to determine

word study groups.• Groups will be made based on the pre-

assessment.• Your child may not have the same words as a

neighbor.• Word sort MUST stay in the zipper pouch found

in your child’s binder. They must be returned to school daily for use in the classroom.

• The pouch is for the sort only, NOT pencils!• Wall Words are also taught weekly• Students will complete practice sort tests on

Thursday nights for homework. Students will be tested every Friday on sort words and wall words.

Science/Social Studies

• Rotate topics throughout each 9 weeks.

• Test study guides will be sent home before the test. Most topics will last 1-2 weeks.

• Please keep the study guides in the binder in the page protector provided while we are studying that topic.

Assessments• DRA (Developmental Reading

Assessment) is given each 9 weeks.• Students must be reading on a level 16

by the end of the year. The benchmark at the end of Kindergarten was a level 3.

• PALS (Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening) assessed in the fall and the spring.

• Will discuss DRA and PALS results at conference day in November.

• Math number concept assessments will be given ongoing throughout the year to show growth.

Signed Papers• Graded papers are sent home for you to

review with your child.• Sign the envelope and return the papers

back to school the next day.• If any papers have a grade of M or N,

please sign that individual paper as well.• Report card grades should not be a

surprise if you have reviewed all of your child’s graded papers.

• First set will come home October 2nd.

Grading Scale• E 94-100• S 74-93 (big range)• M 73-64• N 63 below

Supply Reminder• What we use them for• Why we need so many• How extras are stored• What is still needed

Blue Folder/Homework

• Students will have NIGHTLY homework M-Th.• Please check your child’s blue folder/binder

every day! • Homework is a part of our work and study

habits grade on the report card.• Each child should be reading at least 10

minutes nightly. Reading to your child is a great way to build fluency.

• Teacher websites will list homework as well.• Homework will begin Sept. 30th.

The Matthew Effect• Student who do not read regularly become

weaker readers each year, while their peers who read become stronger readers. This creates an ever-widening achievement gap.

• It is so important for students to read nightly. You may read to them, with them, or have them read to you.

• Exposure is key!

Classroom Management Plan• We are a team!• Positive reinforcement -

Refocus– Class rewards

• Parent contact• No news is good news!

Show Off Learning• Opportunity for parents to see

what’s happening in First Grade.• 2 times will be held throughout the

year. • December 5th 10:10-10:40• March 11th 11:10-11:40

Field Trips• We will go on 3 trips this year.• These trips will be related to our units of

study and the SOLs.• Meadow Farms (Past and Present)

– October 31st

• Swift Creek Playhouse (Seasons) – December

• Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens (Plants)– May

Attendance

• If possible, schedule doctors visits during lunch and resource or after school.

• If your child is tardy they will miss Guided Reading

• If your child is picked up early they will miss Science and Social Studies.

• Most class work is hands-on learning and difficult to make-up.

Snack• Send ONE healthy snack.• Be conscious of allergies in your

child’s classroom.• Do not send drinks (water fountain

available).• Please dry finger foods only!• Something they can eat quickly

due to snack being eaten during instructional time.

Birthdays/Food at Ecoff

The following is the school policy on birthdays as written in the handbook.

• First: If you bring food to your child at school, that you neither bring food for anyone else’s child nor share your or your child’s food with any other child. • Second: If you wish to send treats for other students, that – regardless of whether for a birthday or any other celebration – you send non-food treats such as pencils, bookmarks, etc. • Third: Unless specifically asked to do so, that you not send any food to school for consumption by other students. If asked, it must be pre-made, store-bought.

• Students will be recognized on the announcements and in our classroom for their birthday.

Sign up for a conference!

• Conference Day is Tuesday, Nov 5th. Please sign up for a time.

• There is also a sign up for Room Parent and Room Parent Helpers.

Thank you for coming!

I look forward to working with you!

It’s going to be a GREAT First Grade Year!Mrs. Patrick

Technology Survey Link: http://www.bbyt.es Access Code: BN7FP