Curriculum Night August 12, 2015

Template created by Debbie Candau

of First Grade

The

s

Attendance• Unless your child is ill, please make

every attempt to have your child present at school and on time.

• Our day begins promptly at 7:35 and the dismissal time is 2:35. Students that arrive late are a disruption and waste valuable instruction time for the rest of the class.

• •If your child is going to be out, please call before 9:00 A.M. on the day of absence. Please include date, duration and specific reason for absence.

Behavior•Every student is expected to follow the 3 BEEs

BEE RespectfulBEE ResponsibleBEE Safe

•Students that choose to follow the rules will earn coupons and get “B” bucks for rewards.•Likewise, there will be consequences for students that CHOOSE to break the rules (color card change, time outs, parent contact, or in extreme cases a visit to the principal’s office, etc. )

BE SAFE BE RESPECTFUL BE RESPONSIBLE

PLAYGROUND

Walk on the sidewalks only Keep your hands and feet to yourself Play only in assigned play areas Use equipment safely Keep rocks, sticks, sand, etc. on the ground

Wait your turn to use the equipment Follow Sierra game rules Share playground equipment Practice good sportsmanship Include others Use polite language

Put away equipment Pick up trash Line up when the whistle blows

LUNCHROOM

Walk in line Keep your hands and feet to yourself Raise your hand if you need something Eat your own lunch Stay seated

Speak quietly Say “please” and “thank you” Clean your area before leaving Sit properly at the class table

Use indoor voices Keep food on your tray Pick up after yourself

ASSEMBLIES

Walk in a line to your space Keep your hands and feet to yourself

Use indoor voices and sit on your pockets

Be an active listener Clap only after the presentation or when

prompted

Enter and exit quietly

BATHROOM

Walk Keep your hands and feet to yourself Wash your hands with soap

Respect each other’s privacy Use equipment and supplies properly

Speak quietly Flush toilets after use Clean up after yourself Return quickly and quietly

HALLWAY Walk on the right side of the hall Keep your hands and feet to yourself Stay in a straight line

Be polite and considerate at all times Keep hands and feet off of walls

Speak quietly Take care of school property Complete your task and return promptly

COMPUTER LAB

Enter only when an adult is present Keep your hands and feet to yourself

Speak quietly No food or drink allowed Leave the lab in ready condition for the

next class

Learn your student number Handle all equipment and materials with

care Abide by the technology user agreement

you signed

CLASSROOM Maintain personal space Clean up supplies Push in chairs

Be honest Take care of yourself

Be a risk taker Be prepared Make good choices

ALL SETTINGS

Keep bodies calm in line Report any problems Ask permission to leave any setting

*Treat others the way you want to be treated

*Be an active listener *Follow adult directions *Use polite language *Help keep the school orderly

Be an active participant Give full effort Be a team player Do your job

Curriculum Following the Common Core Standards

• Reading and Language Arts • Mathematics • Science • Social Studies and Health• Physical Education • Art, Music, and Library

•In 1st grade, we will focus on developing phonemic awareness, decoding skills, word recognition, comprehension and oral reading fluency. •The more sight words a student knows, the more fluently he/she will read. •Practice reading the anchor words nightly.

1. Read to self.2. Read to

others.3. Listen to

Reading.4. Work with

Words.5. Work on

Writing.

• Reading whole group to improve reading fluency.

• Write, edit, rewrite, and publish to improve sentence fluency.

• Share and discuss in small groups and pairs to learn cooperatively.

• Classroom structure and organization to promote a successful learning environment.

• A variety of grouping strategies will be utilized to deliver our reading and language arts curriculum. Whole class and small group lessons will be delivered to ensure mastery of skills.

• We will focus on the following throughout the year:

Reading StrategiesComprehension Skills Reading FluencyVocabulary and Word AnalysisSpelling, Grammar, Usage, and

MechanicsWriting Listening and Speaking

•We do lots of writing in first grade. Children are encouraged to use phonetic spelling when they first start. Our goal is to encourage risk taking and independence in writing. Part of this process is to stress to children that phonetic spelling is acceptable, and to build their confidence in their ability to communicate in writing even if they can’t spell the word with “dictionary spelling.” •However, as high frequency words and spelling rules are introduced children will gradually move toward more conventional spelling.

By the end of first grade, students will… •Understand and use the concept of “ones” and

“tens” •Add and subtract numbers to 20 with ease •Tell time to the half hour •Count, write and order numbers to 100 •Measure with simple units •Identify and locate shapes in their environment •Describe data, analyze, and solve simple problem

situations

•Each day begins with students solving real-world math problems and recording their “mathematical-thinking” and solutions in Math Journals. • Math instruction continues with a lesson from the Investigations Math Curriculum.

1st grade students will learn about:• Rocks and Earth • Sky and Weather• Living things and Non-living

things• Movement and Balance• People and Careers in Science• Health Topics

1st grade students will learn about: •Families •People from other cultures •People today and long ago •Holiday origins and traditions •Responsibility of citizenship in a free society •Symbols, icons, and traditions of the United States •Maps and globes •Life skills

1st grade students will learn… •The meaning of “physical fitness” •Coordination and movement skills •Sportsmanship •Group cooperation •Prerequisite skills for sports

•Please make sure your child comes to school each PE day with proper shoes and clothes for running, jumping, climbing, and participating in physical education activities. **PE is on Mondays

First grade students will receive:

A comprehensive curriculum infused with the Arts. Students will learn about and develop skills in music, dance, drama, poetry, and fine art. Instruction will be delivered by Ms. Kilgard, our Music instructor and Mrs. Maki-Tiede, our Art instructor, as well as included in their regular classroom experiences throughout the year.

Differentiated InstructionIn order to provide the best possible instruction to each child… •Not all children will be on the same page, in the same book, at the same time. •Please let me know if your child is really struggling or if he/she is not being challenged.

Email** Most information and updates will be sent home via email.I am usually with the students away from the computer unless there is a special. I usually stay late after school and will answer email at that time.

Field Trips

•We will have 1 field trip this year.

•Our goal is to provide students with “real life” connections to our curriculum.

Grades• Students will not receive letter grades in 1st grade. However, much of their work will be scored using a percentage scale in order to determine level of mastery. •Every week the children will be assessed in reading, spelling, and mathematics. I will let you know which days assessments will be given. Spelling lists can be found on our website and tests will be given on Tuesdays. •Please take the time to look them over each week and review any skills or areas of weakness with your child.

Homework•Every month, students are expected to complete the homework calendar and reading log. •It is important that 1st graders read for a minimum of 15 minutes EACH night. This may include practicing their decodables, shared reading with an adult or older sibling, and reading and decoding good fit books on their own. •In addition, skill practice packets will be sent home on Thursdays and will be due on the following Wednesdays., starting in September.

• Oh, the places we will go and the things we will learn this year as we sail through 1st grade!

• I will try to keep you updated when our routine or schedule changes and with any news from Sierra.

• Due to unforeseen circumstances, our itinerary does change often.

Itinerary

Just Right Books•Studies have shown that those children whose parents are actively involved in the reading process will become the best readers. •Reading to your child and listening to them read to you, taking them to the library and providing quality just right books at home is of the highest importance.

Keeping Informed• Visit our classroom website frequently.

The itinerary will let you know what we are learning about each week, and our calendar will keep you up-to-date, reminding you about

upcoming projects, due dates, and events. •Watch for emails

Learning Environment•I feel that the best way to help children learn is to make learning fun. •Our classroom will be an active environment where all students are expected to engage in the learning process.

Mystery Readers•I would like to invite all parents, older siblings, grandparents, or other special people to surprise your child by being a “Mystery Reader” this year in our classroom. •Mystery Readers will visit us every other Friday afternoon at 2:15 for approximately 20 minutes. If you can’t make it in person, you could also send in a film or voice recording of you reading the story.

Move on When ReadingWhat is Move on When

Reading?• Arizona State statute requires screening of the reading ability of all students in kindergarten through third grade.

• The law, (A.R.S. 15-701) passed in 2010, states that when a third grade student scores far below the third grade level on AzMerit, they will not be promoted to fourth grade.

• Requires additional instruction or retention for students who are not meeting minimum requirements by the end of third grade.

• Exempt students include:– ELL or LEP students who have received less than

two years of English Instruction.– Students with an IEP in Reading or Language and

the student’s parent or guardian agrees that promotion is appropriate.

What is the identification process and timeline?

– All students are screened using DIBELS by the end of August.

• Parents of students identified for intervention are contacted by their child’s teacher prior to Fall Parent-Teacher conferences.– A parent-teacher conference is requested by the

school to create an intervention plan.• Mid-year progress

– Students reading progress is closely monitored and check-in points are identified. Interventions are updated as needed.

• End of Year– Notification of 3rd grade promotion or retention

occurs upon receiving results of AzMerit.

Notes or EmailPlease send a note with your child or send an email if: •You know your child will be missing school for an extended period of time. An independent study can be arranged if a student will be out for 5 or more consecutive days. •A change in pick-up or after school care will be occurring. •You would like to schedule a conference or have concerns. •Watch for notes and emails from the office and me, and don’t forget to check the Sierra Folder nightly. This will be our primary way to send information home to you.

Other Items•Sierra Folders •Birthdays •Class Parties •Scholastic Book Orders •Daily Snacks

Parent-Teacher ConferencesParent/Teacher conferences will be

held on Monday, October 21-28 and February 24-March 2. During these conferences, we will be discussing your child's strengths and weaknesses, homework, behavior and any additional concerns you may have. Additional conferences scheduled as needed.

QuestionsPlease feel free to contact me anytime you have questions. You can do this in a variety of ways: •Write a note •Send an email •Make an appointment for a conference

Report CardsReport cards will be distributed once each quarter. • October 19• January 11• March 21 • May 19

Student of the Week•Each child will have a special time during the school year to be the Student of the Week, starting in September. •Students will be asked to bring in pictures and items from home for a special bulletin board and to lead us in special class activities during that week. Every child will have a turn! A list of assigned dates will be sent home shortly.

Tests Tuesdays •Spelling Test •Reading Test

Fridays•Math Assessment

Other Assessments •Reading Fluency •Core Phonics •Sight Word Reading •Rubric-Scored Writing

UniqueEvery child is unique and learns in his/her own way and at his/her own speed.

Visitors and Volunteers•Our school policy requires all visitors/volunteers to check in at the school office. Visitor Badges are required if you will be in the school hallways or entering a classroom. •Also, anyone that wishes to help in the classroom more than twice a month, excluding parents, will need to be fingerprinted. Information is available in the office.

Website•If you haven’t already taken a look at our classroom website, make sure you do so. *Communication is usually via email, butinformation can be found on our websiteas well.

EXtra Supplies•Often the supplies collected at the beginning of the year are sufficient to last until the end of first grade. Please take the time to look at my Wish List. I will update it on our website as needed. All donations are truly appreciated!

You•You are your child’s first and most important teacher.

•I hope that we can work together this year to make your child’s 1st grade school year a huge success!

Zzzzz…•Please make sure your child gets plenty of sleep each night, so that he/she is well rested and ready for the challenges of first grade. It is recommended that 5 and 6 year olds get 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night.

•This year will ZOOM by, so let’s make the most of it.

Thank You for Coming!• Thank you for coming this evening and for

showing an interest in your child’s education. • If you should have any questions or would

like to speak with me further about your child, please contact me by email at swhite@Kyrene.org or call the school to schedule a time for us to meet.

WELCOME ABOARD!