Back to School Night First Grade Southeast Elementary

Student Goals Love of Learning Independent Responsible Compassionate Resourceful Knowledgeable

I have come to a frightening conclusion. I am the decisive element in the classroom. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher I possess tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that will decide whether a crisis will be escalated or de- escalated, and a child humanized or dehumanized. Hiam Ginott Teacher and Child Avon Books, 1976

Teacher Goals Support and Nurture Develop Talents Meet Individual Needs Integrate Learning Styles Connect Curriculum to the Real-World Challenge and/or Restructure Stay Connected to Home

Curriculum- Where does it come from?

Reading The Comprehension Toolkit Focuses on “reading as thinking” Builds skills and competence in key thinking strategies for increased comprehension Supports time for shared reading, guided reading (small groups), independent reading, and collaborative discussion and sharing Provides opportunities for students to read in a variety of genres including nonfiction. Fountas & Pinnell Word Study Builds students word knowledge through instruction in phonics, spelling patterns, high frequency word knowledge, vocabulary development, and word-solving actions

Reading Daily Five  Integrate reading and writing activities.  Participate in lessons on phonics and word attack skills.  Participate in lessons on using many reading strategies. Listen to and respond to good literature. Select material at the appropriate level. Focus on comprehension. Match students with “good fit” reading texts

Reading at Home  READ, READ, READ!  Read out loud, to an adult.  At least 10 to 15 minutes every night. Home readers will go home in October Reading logs document books read and time spent reading. Class Reading Goal: 40,000 minutes.

Language Arts Traits of Good Writing: Meaning Structure Detail Voice Conventions Writing Experiences: Personal narratives Descriptive writing Poetry Journal writing Story writing Report writing Friendly letters

Spelling Begins after conferences Start slow, work through spelling patterns together. Spelling words sent home on Monday. Option for challenge with 2 bonus words Test on Friday.

Social Studies and Geography Integrated Units of Study: All About Me Cultures Economics Neighborhoods Past, Present, and Future Integrated into our reading and writing.

Mathematics Everyday Mathematics: Emphasizes conceptual understanding while building a mastery of basic skills Explores the full mathematics spectrum, not just basic arithmetic Based on how children learn, what they’re interested in, and the future for which they must be prepared Program Highlights: Data and Chance Geometry Measurement Operations and Computation Patterns, Functions, and Algebra

Science Science and Technology for Children: Students make their own discoveries Knowledge is actively constructed by the learner Hands-on experimental environment Scientific reasoning skills Units of Study –Weather –Changes

Character Education and Tribes Character Education: Compassion Honesty/Integrity Respect Self-Discipline Courage Perseverance Responsibility/Accountability Teamwork Tribes- Ways of cooperating with each other: Attentive Listening Appreciation/No Put-Downs The Right to Pass Mutual Respect Character is doing the right thing even when no one is looking. – JC Watts

Chinese Students will speak only Chinese by October Recognize 75 characters by the end of the year Build vocabulary through songs and visuals Strengthen proficiency through games and opportunities to converse with peers

Specials Art Music Physical Education

Additional Information Communication Conferences Star of the Week Birthdays Homeroom moms

Technology Integrated into the daily routine of the classroom through: –Information retrieval –Student productivity –Problem solving –Decision making –Communication and collaboration –Delivery of lessons –Classroom management