Welcome to First Grade The establishment of expectations and routines are the major focus of the first six weeks of each school year. As a first grade team, our first job is to build, with the children, the foundation for a productive and cooperative year of learning and an atmosphere of support and collaboration.

What Will We Be Learning?

Small Group Instruction Language Arts Whole Group and Small Group Instruction Guided Reading/Writing Phonics or Word Study Independent Reading/Writing Modeled mini-lessons

Daily 5 Tasks Read to self (read the words, read the pictures, retell the story) Read to someone (read with a partner) Listen to reading (books on computer) Work on writing Word work (Words Their Way sorts, “chunks”, vowel patterns) We will be working with guided reading groups, strategy groups, one –on-one

Just Right Books If your child can read most of the words on the page without error, then it is probably just right. 100%-95% = independent 94%-90% = instructional below 89% = frustration District BenchmarkTargets Nov = E March=G June = I *Fluency, accuracy and comprehension are all factors in determining an instructional level.

Spelling/Word Work Spelling, vocabulary, phonics instruction program. Students have been pre-tested and will be placed in an appropriate level of instruction after assessment. Word Study involves phonics, vocabulary, being able to read words with certain patterns, spelling words in writing, etc. May involve sorts that include pictures, words, spelling patterns, beginning sounds, ending sounds. The purpose of the sorts is the child to learn the spelling rule Each week there will be 3 high frequency words Your child will receive their words on Monday and the test will be on Friday We will also work during the week on the specific skill

Working Memory/Automaticity Age MemoryCapacity Time on Task 3 O 5 minutes 5 OO 7 minutes 7 OOO 9 minutes 9 OOOO 11 minutes 11 OOOOO 13 minutes 13 OOOOOO 15 minutes 15 OOOOOOO 17 minutes Develop Automaticity 80 IQ=55x 100 IQ=35x 120 IQ=25X Drill & Practice 70% to 85% Known

Writer’s Workshop Goal: Students to improve on their spacing between words, letter formation, spelling, ideas, and their organization. Units of study include: Small Moments (personal narrative) Revision How-To Authors as Mentors Opinion Letter Writing Non-fiction

Math is taught using whole groups, Bridges Math Number Corner Daily Supplemental Materials The goal for students in math is to gain a basic understanding of numbers (number sense), add and subtract numbers with accuracy, identify and count coins, tell time, estimate, read and understand a graph, 3D shapes and fractions. Math is taught using whole groups, small groups, independent practice and games.

Steps of the Scientific Process New Plants Air & Weather Solids & Liquids

What is a Citizen? What Is A Family? How Do We Get What We Need or Want? How Do We Learn About Places? How Do We Learn About the Past? Core Democratic Values -Truth, Justice, Rule of Law

Data Notebooks Data Notebooks are a way for students to keep track of their: test scores goals (personal and academic) behavior (if needed) Provide visual aids (graphs) for students to monitor progress over time. Data Notebooks encourage students to take responsibility for their learning and also help reinforce many concepts taught in the classroom.

Data Notebooks-Why? Data Notebooks empower students by: *Teaching RESPONSIBILITY and ORGANIZATION *Students become accountable for their learning. *Track student progress *Provide visuals (65% of the population learn visually) *Help plan for success *Quick reference *Great tool for parent conferences

In the classroom and media center Use of laptop carts -Compass Learning -Xtra Math - Raz-Kids -Basic Microsoft Word

Homework About 10-20 minutes per day Read at home (books sent home) Practice word sorts Read & Write high frequency words Practice basic math facts Practice counting money Expand on a basic assignment Computer enrichments Bridges Home Connections

“If you promise not to believe everything your child says happens at school, I'll promise not to believe everything he says happens at home. ” ~Anonymous Teacher