Welcome to 1E! Room 117 Mrs. Karagory

Mrs. Tiffany Karagory 2001 graduate of Canon-McMillan HS 2005 graduate of California Univ. of PA 2011 earned Master’s Degree from Gannon University 6 th year teaching first grade at MES Live in Moon with my husband, Kris who is a PE teacher at OLSH, and our 5 month old baby girl, Kenley Alexis.

Schedule 8:50-9:15 Students arrive, select lunch, unpack 9:15- 10:30 English Language Arts 10:30- 11:00 Science/Social Studies 11:15-11:45 Lunch 11:45-12:15 Recess 12:15-12:30 Read-Aloud/Bathroom Break 12:30-1:10 English Language Arts 1:15-2:00 SPECIAL 2:05-3:05 Math 3:15 Dismissal begins

Special Schedule Monday- Integrated Arts Tuesday- Art Wednesday- Gym Thursday- Library Friday- Music

Go Green! Class news & announcements –Greater effort to use rather than paper copies. –If this isn’t a good way to communicate with with your family, please let me know. Thursday Envelope: –All info is ON-LINE! List of items can be accessed via NA website.

Website NA  Marshall Elementary  Building Staff  Karagory, Tiffany Class list Lunch menu Volunteer calendar

Think Central

Lunch Money You should have received a letter detailing the POS system used by our cafeteria. Your child has a “pin” number to purchase a school lunch in the cafeteria. Money may be applied to your child’s account on any day. Please make sure that your child’s name, our classroom section and room number (1E-117), pin number, and the amount are written on the outside of the envelope. If your child has brought money for only that day’s lunch, he/she will take the money with them to lunch.

Parent Volunteers Parent volunteers are very welcome and needed in our classroom. If you can assist in any way, your help will be greatly appreciated! Must have clearances! Sign-up tonight!

Parent Volunteers (con’t) Thursday mornings- CENTERS –9:30-11:00 2 parent volunteers will be needed to run a center, which might involve a game, craft, etc. Miscellaneous –Organizing, cutting, assembling, teacher’s helper

Volunteer Clearances Independent Volunteers – Any volunteer who 1) works under the general direction and supervision of an adult employed by the District; and 2) provides direct services to students or may, from time to time, have or may be reasonably expected to have unsupervised contact with students. Examples of Independent Volunteers include, but are not limited to: volunteer tutors, classroom center volunteers and chaperones for field trips. Assistive Volunteers – Any volunteer who 1) works directly under the supervision and direction of an adult employed by the District; and 2) does not provide direct services to students or have unsupervised contact with students. Examples of Assistive Volunteers include, but are not limited to: homeroom parents, individuals who assist with school activities and holiday parties. Classroom Presentation Volunteers – Any individual who volunteers to present during a classroom lesson or school activity and is under the direct supervision of a classroom teacher or administrator during the entirety of the presentation. These volunteer opportunities are typically one-time events. Examples of Classroom Presentation Volunteers include, but are not limited to: Guest Speakers, Mystery Readers, TAG volunteers and College Admission Career Day volunteers. Elementary Field Day volunteers may fall into this category provided they are under the guidance of and directly observed by a classroom teacher or administrator throughout the event. Individuals at North Allegheny will not be permitted to serve as an independent or assistive volunteer unless they have submitted the appropriate clearances.

Birthday Celebrations We like our children to share birthday celebrations with their classmates! Due to the “Wellness Policy” and to protect children with allergies, please consider a NON-FOOD item if you want to provide a treat. Non- edible treats such as pencils are great! Edible treats MUST be approved by nurse 48 hours prior to distribution – The on-line form is on my website Please do not send birthday invitations to school unless there is one for every boy or every girl, or the whole class. We don’t want any hurt feelings. Thank You!

Communication –I check it in the morning before 9AM, and after school when the students leave. Voic x6110 –I will check my voic each morning before 8AM Write a note –Pick up for today –Early dismissal for today –Medication for today Call school secretary –Pick up for today –Early dismissal for today –Medication for today

Homework Folder PLEASE check this folder every night! LEFT at home- keep all of these papers at home. (please empty nightly) Bring RIGHT back- this will almost always be your 1 st grader’s homework for the evening, or it will be something else that needs to be returned

Homework Spelling (Monday-Thursday) –Practice every night Math (Monday-Thursday) –The “Practice” side is homework, the “Problem Solving” side is optional Reading –Re-reading stories, sentences, etc. for fluency –All HW should not take longer than minutes, if there are any problems, PLEASE let me know!

Behavior Management Traffic Light system Green- no news is good news After one verbal warning… Yellow- 5 minutes off recess; yellow paper strip sent in homework folder- please SIGN and RETURN Red- stay in from recess and fill out behavior reflection with Mrs. Karagory (to be signed & returned by parent); phone call/ home Incentives: –Caught Being Good tickets given for following directions, using good manners, etc. –Positive praise, stickers, special allowances –Raffle tickets are chosen at random on Fridays and those students may pick a prize.

Book Orders Info in folder ALL ORDERS ARE TAKEN ON-LINE You will be prompted to make your own sign-in information- order & pay on-line Use our Class Activation Code: GZ94Y Going GREEN- no paper catalogues will be sent home. Please view Scholastic website for catalog choices. There are many to choose from!

Recess 11:45-12:15 everyday The children go outdoors for recess unless it is extremely cold, raining, or snowing. Please keep these factors in mind and dress your child accordingly.

Top Cat Schedule is in your folder Complete “Read All About Me” poster to be returned on Monday. Monday- share poster with the class Tuesday- write with a special pen Wednesday- comfy seat cushion day Thursday- “Cat’s Meow”-show & tell Friday- pick from treasure chest Teacher of math for Every Day Counts

Writing/ Book Buddies Builds confidence in writing and allows them to build friendships with older students. We will also do book buddies when we aren’t working on a writing piece.

ELA (English Language Arts Story Town- Harcourt- Year 5 using this series Thematic Components –Various types of literature –Phonemic Awareness –Phonics/Spelling –High Frequency Words –Comprehension –Fluency –Robust Vocabulary –Grammar –Handwriting –Writing Check my website under Curriculum

Math Developing concepts w/ manipulatives Practicing for understanding Developing fluency of numbers & facts Topics: –Addition & Subtraction Concepts –Addition & Subtraction Facts up to 18 –Graphs –Numbers to 100 –Geometry –Addition & Subtraction to 20 –Money –Time –Fractions –Measurement –Operations –Data –Problem Solving Texts/Resources: –Every Day Counts (calendar system) –Harcourt Math Pennsylvania Edition –Otter Creek Math Facts (Rocket Math) Differentiated Instruction based on how quick a student writes and how well they know their basic facts (+,-) –Problem Solver Check teacher website

Rocket Math Program to help memorize basic facts Differentiated Goal based on how many numbers they can write in 1 minute Addition/Subtraction/Mixed Facts Will not begin until second semester(January)

Rocket Math How to Practice –Use practice sheet that comes home to have your child verbally read the problem and the answer. If your child hesitates or gives an incorrect answer, tell the correct answer, your child repeats it, then goes back 3. Flashcards or ipad apps

Science Living and Nonliving Habitats How Plants and Animals Live Life Cycles Food Chains Land, Water, and Air Weather

Pond Walks Pond Walk –Each season, weather permitting, we will take a “Pond Walk” to the pond that is located behind our playground. –Our pond walks are always tentatively scheduled due to weather, volunteers, and possible other factors. –Please have your child wear old tennis shoes on the day of a scheduled pond walk. –Our first pond walk will be next week~ weather permitting)

Social Studies Scott Foresman Social Studies text- All Together UNIT 1: TIME FOR SCHOOL UNIT 2: IN MY COMMUNITY UNIT 3: WORK ! WORK ! WORK ! UNIT 4: OUR EARTH, OUR RESOURCES UNIT 5: THIS IS OUR COUNTRY UNIT 6: OUR COUNTRY, OUR WORLD

How Can I Help at Home? ~ NA Website ~Especially for Parents ~ Rocket Math

Report Card

CogAT Testing T he CogAT (a cognitive abilities test) will be administered to the First Grade students November Good night’s rest and breakfast –Nov. 10: Practice Test –Nov : Test –This test is used to determine whether a student will be tested for the Gifted program. Test scores are not returned until early January.

Anti- Bullying Getting Better At Getting Along Olweus Bully Prevention Program (OBPP) –Monthly Themes (i.e., respect, responsibility) –Anti-Bullying Rules –Class Meetings –Role Playing –Order anti-bully t-shirts

School-Wide Theme Every homeroom is working together on a monthly theme. Building character and reinforcing positive behavior. Class reward will be given when chart is complete.

MES Anti-Bullying Rules 1.We will not bully others. 2.We will try to help students who are bullied. 3.We will try to include students who are left out. 4.If we know someone who is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.

How can you help? If your child reports a bullying incident… –Bullying is an unwanted, repeated behavior. –Please or call Mrs. Karagory first!

Questions? Please call or me, no matter the problem (big or small) and we will work together to find a solution. I want our year to be successful, and for your child to enjoy being in first grade.

Thank You! Please make sure to sign up for: - Mystery Reader - Volunteering - ** Don’t forget to write a note back to your child Donation Tree ~ if you would like to take an apple, ANY of those supplies would be useful to our classroom. THANKS!