1. Do Now Please look for your child’s chair and your folder. Write your name on the name tag provided. Please write your child a note using the “pants” paper on your child’s desk. Please include your hopes and dreams for your child for first grade. Fill out the paper on your child’s desk. Please print neatly.

2. Welcome to Back to School Night! September 11, 2013

3. What are the purposes of this evening? Experience your child’s learning environment. Gain an understanding of our mutual expectations as partners in your child’s education. To meet one another in a non-conference atmosphere.

4. Building Our Classroom Community Morning Meeting –Greeting –Share –Activity –News and Announcements Your Turn… Please join us in one component of our morning meeting.

5. Taking Care of Business Please always contact both of us : –jsantoro@mtsd.usjsantoro@mtsd.us –jdavison@mtsd.usjdavison@mtsd.us Parent pick-up notes After School Activities Early Dismissal

6. Birthday Books! Preferably a new book Whole class signs it Return at the end of the year Summer Birthdays We do not celebrate with food

7. Related Arts Schedule Day 1 Gym/Health with Mr. Sullivan Day 2 Library with Mrs. Share & Spanish with Mrs. Stuart Day 3 Art with Mrs. Diatlo Day 4 Music with Mr. Violette & Spanish with Mrs. Stuart Day 5 Gym/Health with Mr. Sullivan Day 6 Gym/Health with Mr. Sullivan & Technology with Mrs. Magalio

8. Web Site Go to: http://www.mtsd.k12.nj.us/montgomerytsd/site/default.asp http://www.mtsd.k12.nj.us/montgomerytsd/site/default.asp Click on ‘Select a school’ Choose ‘Orchard Hill’ Click on ‘Faculty Webpages’ Find ‘Santoro/Davison’ Click and enjoy!

9. Co-Teaching Dual planning, instruction, & assessment Student- Teacher ratio is lower Differentiated instruction even more! Dual communication with students and parents 2 pairs of extra hands

10. A Day in First Grade 9:30-9:40 Morning Routine/ Do Now 9:40-10:10 Morning Meeting/ Calendar 10:10-11:00 Writer’s Workshop 11:00-11:10 Snack 11:10-11:55 Math 12:00-12:40 Special 12:45-1:00 Talk Time 1:00-1:50 Lunch/Recess 1:50-2:00 Word Work 2:00-3:00 Guided Reading 3:00-3:40 Science/SS/Special 3:40 Pack up/Dismissal

11. Balanced Language Arts Program Writing Focus on writing instruction at all grade levels through Writing Workshop Writing Workshop Daily Format –Mini-lesson (Whole Class Direct Instruction) –Independent Writing –Individual Writing Conferences –Strategy Groups –Share Partnership with Teachers College Reading Reading Workshop Daily Format –Mini-lesson (Whole Class Direct Instruction) –Independent Reading –Individual Reading Conferences –Reading Partnerships/Daily 5 –Guided Reading Word Journeys (Developmental Spelling Program)

12. Math in Focus: Math Workshop Approach Mini-lesson - Whole Class Direct Instruction using Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract progression Practice -Games, Activities, & Written Practice Small Group Instruction Infused Technology Goal Based Fact Fluency Practice Problem Solving Experiences COME TO OUR FAMILY INFORMATION SESSION ON SEPTEMBER 30th at 7:00 PM at OHES. Read the e-blast for more information!

13. K-4 Science and Social Studies Students will learn about their communities and the world around them through: Social Studies Culture and Diversity Geography and map skills American symbols and history Science Scientific investigations in Life, Earth, and Physical Sciences Developing Science Process Skills, such as Observation, Hypothesis, Scientific Drawing, Measurement and Collecting Data Engineering projects embedded within units of study At all grade levels, there is an increased focus on non-fiction and informational texts in both Science and Social Studies.

14. Promoting Responsibility & Creating a Learning Environment Elements of a Responsive Classroom –Caring for ourselves, each other, & our materials –Logical Consequences –Reflective Questioning –Think Time Form

15. Conferences and Report Cards Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled twice a year. (Fall and Spring) - Fall Conferences: November 21 st, 22 nd, 25 th, 26 th –Morning conferences are available as well Report cards are issued twice a year

16. Parent Volunteers VIP guests…send in forms Many Other Opportunities Our room parents this year are… * The district is obligated to provide all necessary items for student learning. If you would like to supply “nice to haves” for our classroom, then it would be greatly appreciated, but completely voluntary.

17. Interactive Read Aloud! The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

38. Before Ending the Evening Please take a few minutes to write your child a note using the “pants” paper in your folder. Please tell them your hopes and dreams for them for this year. Thank you for coming and have a great night! “We have one very important thing in common…your child”