1. Welcome to First Grade! Teachers Ms. Karen Kinel/ formerly Mrs. Duvall Miss Melinda Langworthy Mrs. Deanna Versprille Mrs. Julie Voigt

2. Communication  Email karen_duvall@nobl.k12.in.us  Phone 773-0582, ext. 30211  Notes in folder Go to www.noblesvilleschools.orgwww.noblesvilleschools.org Go to Schools and select Stony Creek Elementary Select Classrooms Select Teacher on Classroom Directory  Class information and newsletters will be posted regularly. Please check back often. Please contact us anytime with questions or concerns.

3. Daily Schedule 8:40 – 8:50 Announcements/Pledge/ Check-In/Morning Work 8:50 – 10:05 Math 10:05 – 10:15 Math 10 10:15 – 10:35Inquiry/2 nd Steps 10:40—11:30 Lunch/Recess 11:35-1:05 Literacy 1:05-2:05 Writing 2:05 – 2:45Specials: A/ Art, B/PE, C/Tech, D/Music 2:50- - 3:25Interventions 2:40 – 3:15 *Specials on 2 hr. delay days

4. Transportation A transportation list is created that states each student’s way home from school (bus number, walker, car rider, AYS). Anytime and every time your child is to go home from school any way other than his or her normal way, you MUST SEND A NOTE or CALL THE OFFICE. Please do NOT send an email.

5. Daily Class Work We will do a lot of work together, especially at the beginning of the year. If a page was completed together, your student will put a star or a happy face at the top. Letter grades will not appear on graded class work. Students will receive stars, stamps, stickers, happy faces, etc. Some work may be marked as a fraction. For example: 9/10. Please go over completed papers at home to see if your child understands what was missed.

6. Literacy Whole group: Science, Social Studies, and Reading are interwoven and will be used together in the Literacy portion of our day. We will concentrate on comprehension and phonics. We will be using a reading series entitled Journeys. Small group: Guided reading group made up of a small group of children who are reading on similar levels. Homework: Folder will come home on Mondays and is to be returned to school on Fridays. There will be 3 books and a comprehension page which will be due each Friday. (This will not start for a few weeks.) *There will also be daily Math homework in your child’s Take-Home Folder.

7. Spelling 12 words per week 6 phonics and 6 sight words Practice every night for test on Friday. These words should be spelled correctly in daily work once we have learned them.

8. Writer’s Workshop Students will write every day. Most of this work will be done in our Writer’s Notebooks and/or Journals so you will not see it come home on a regular basis. We will be using the Lucy Calkins Writing Progressions. This curriculum will encourage writer development within each genre. We will focus on listening for the sounds in each word, utilizing the word wall, leaving a finger space between words, using capitals and punctuation, and writing complete sentences.

9. Handwriting We use Handwriting Without Tears Proper letter formation Top down – no push ups! Review of uppercase from Kindergarten, but our focus will be lowercase Use the lines (they are different) Our main goal is legibility and no frustration

10. Math We cover many concepts in first grade! We will use manipulatives, games, and our Math series-Everyday Math. Learning addition facts is crucial. They will be practiced at school daily and it is an expectation that they will be practiced at home each night as well. First graders should know facts to 20 by May. Homework MOST nights

11. Suggestions Practice counting by ones, twos, fives and tens. Practice identifying coins and their values. Practice addition facts to 20. (timed) Do the homework. It will usually be assigned Monday – Thursday nights.

12. Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences Thursday, October 1 from 1:15 – 8:00 pm. and Tuesday, October 6 from 1:15 – 3:45 pm. 15 minute time slots Bring your student

13. Birthdays We promise to make your child feel very special on his or her birthday! Due to Noblesville’s Health and Wellness Initiative treats will not be allowed. If you would like to donate a book or indoor recess game for the class to share, you are most welcome to do so

14. Volunteers We would LOVE to have your help! If you are able to volunteer in the classroom, OR ON FIELD TRIPS, please go to the Noblesville Schools website and complete the volunteer clearance by Monday. Check with the office to confirm approval.

15. Money If you send money to school, please be sure that it is in a sealed envelope with your child’s name on it. Also, write on the outside of the envelope the purpose for the money. Lunch money should always be sent to school in an envelope with your child’s name clearly written on the outside of the envelope. Be sure to include the lunch code inside. You may also pay online: Noblesvilleschools.org -Parents -Food Services -Payment Options -Paypams

16. Behavior Calendar

17. Miscellaneous Medical: If your child has allergies to food or other health issues that I should know about, please inform me of that in writing. Water Bottles: If your child wishes, these need to be brought to school each morning and taken home to be washed nightly. Restroom: Please have your child go to the restroom before he or she leaves for school in the morning. -We have 3 scheduled restroom breaks during the day. Students are strongly encouraged to try to go during those times. -Students are allowed to go individually in an emergency, but it is discouraged since they may miss valuable class time. Lunch: Talk about lunch choices before school each day so that your student knows what to select. The menu is available on the school website. Library Checkout: Every Friday. Be sure to return books.

18. Questions? Thank you for coming!