1. Welcome to Room 5!

2. Mrs. Durkin’s First Grade Class! Welcome Parents

3. Welcome to 1 st Grade!  This is an important year for you!  I will give you an introduction to first grade and to our classroom.

4. All About Me I was born in North Plainfield and attended Stony Brook. I then moved to Middlesex the summer before I entered second grade. I graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor of science degree in Administration of Justice. I later returned to New Jersey City University where I received my teaching certificate. This is my 9 th year teaching at West End School and my 9 th year in first grade! My husband, Spencer, grew up in North Plainfield and graduated from North Plainfield High School. He went on to graduate from Monmouth University and now works as a police officer for the township of Cranford. We just bought our first house in Middlesex last spring and are raising our 2 year old daughter Bella!

5. Math  Number operations and Mental Math  Measurement, Time, and Money  Estimation, Data, and Probability  Geometry  Fractions and Concepts  Patterns and Relationships We follow the Everyday Math Program! We will be focusing on these things…

6. Reading  Shared Reading (class reads together)  Read Aloud (teacher reads)  Guided Reading (reading in groups)  Independent Reading (students read independently)  Project Read (phonics)  Components of the Daily 5 This year we will be focusing on …

7. Language Arts  Shared Writing (teacher holds the pencil)  Interactive Writing (shared pencil)  Writer’s Workshop (write and concentrate on a specific skill)  Sight Words & Vocabulary Development  Spelling (Spelling will begin after conferences in November) This year we will be focusing on…

8. Learning Centers  Each day students go to two learning stations / Daily 5 centers.  Some Common Centers: ~Read to Self ~Work on Writing ~Listening Center~Read to Someone ~Science Center~Social Studies Center ~ Word Work

9. Guided Reading During our learning centers, children will meet in small reading groups with me. Reading groups are made up of 3-5 children on the same reading level. During guided reading, we work on phonics, fluency, and reading comprehension. We also work on any other language arts skills that we are working on for the week.

10. DRA How are reading levels determined? We use the DRA, the Diagnostic Reading Assessment, to establish reading levels. The test takes into account the student’s reading engagement, oral fluency, and comprehension. A student must be proficient in all three areas in order to advance to a higher reading level. Each student must also read at least three books at a current level in order to advance.

11. DRA Continued This program is designed to promote good reading habits for each child. The following are the three steps we use in the classroom when reading. ~ Previewing a text (picture walking) ~ Reading (expression, rate, commenting on pictures, stating why or why not they did not like a story, connections made, etc) ~ Retelling (being able to discuss what they just read using important events, characters names, and vocabulary from the story)

12. Reading Levels  In order to be considered ON grade level, each child must be reading on a specific DRA level by the end of each marking period. 1 st Marking Period…Level 4 2 nd Marking Period…Level 8 3 rd Marking Period…Level 12 4 th Marking Period…Level 16 If a child is below the required reading level, students will be marked below grade level. Students above the required level, will be marked above grade level. Students who are reading below grade level at the middle of the marking period will receive a progress report.

13. Social Studies  P.R.I.D.E. (Personal Responsibility In Daily Effort)  Family  Holidays  Community  Character Education (Fairness)  Famous Historical Figures This year we are focusing on…

14. Science  Plants & Life Cycles  Weather (Seasons)  Animals (i.e. spiders, bats, penguins, etc)  Habitats (i.e. oceans, rainforests, grasslands, etc)  Insects This year we will be focusing on…

15. Specials Schedule ~ Monday: Gym (Mr. Sepesi) Computers (Mrs. Durkin) ~ Tuesday: Art (Ms. Cerulo) Library (Ms. Gall) Book Exchange (Ms. Gall/Mrs. Durkin) ~ Wednesday: Gym (Mr. Sepesi) ~ Thursday: Music (Mr. Scott) Gym (Mr. Sepesi) ~ Friday: Health (Mr. Shapiro) Gym (Mr. Sepesi)

16. Teacher Websites All West End teachers have a classroom website which contains classroom and school information. You may find our websites at www.nplainfield.org www.nplainfield.org

17. 5 Star Listener  EYES are watching  EARS are listening  LIPS are closed  HANDS are still  FEET are quiet

18. Behavior Traffic Light  We have a large traffic light displayed in the front of the room. Each child has their name on a clip.  At the start of each day all of the clips are on green.  If I need to speak to a child about their behavior, they will need to move their clip to yellow.  If a child misbehaves again, their clip moves to red. If a child’s clip is on red, they may have to sit out of “free time”, computers, gym, etc.  Each child has the opportunity to earn their clip back to green by making better choices throughout the remainder of the day.  Please check your child’s Homework Journal each night to see what kind of day they had.

19. Homework  We are using homework books this year. Every day the children copy their homework into their homework books. They also mark their behavior which correlates to the behavior chart. There will always be a line for you to sign to acknowledge that you read what the homework was and saw the behavior mark. Please sign this each day!  Homework is given each night except for Fridays! There is usually one or two assignments. Some common assignments are: Math, Reading, Writing, Phonics, Science or Social Studies and Holiday Papers.  Students are expected to read nightly at home.  Homework is marked with a check plus, check, or check minus.  There is a separate section on the report card for homework. It will not be factored into individual grades.

20. ~ Homework is graded on the first grade report card with a mark of O for outstanding, S for satisfactory, N for needs improvement, and I for improving. ~ The following is how homework grades are determined on the report card. Outstanding 0 Missing Assignments Satisfactory 1-3 Missing Assignments Needs Improvement 4+ Missing Assignments Improving An improvement in homework from a prior marking period. Ex: 1 missing homework instead of 3.

21. Grading  Grading is based on assessments, class work, participation, and special projects. The first grade report card is administered four times a year. We will discuss the report card in more detail at conferences.  Marking Period Expectations are linked to my school website.

22. Effort Award  Each marking period an effort award is given out to all students who consistently put forth their best effort.  Effort Award Criteria: 1. Completes assigned tasks on time. 8. Works independently or works with a group. 2. Works quietly when necessary. 9. Hands homework in on time. 3. Follows written and oral rules. 10. Obeys all rules - school and class. 4. Cares for materials. 11. Exhibits good manners. 5. Takes turns. 12. Works neatly and accurately. 6. Is considerate towards others. 13. Listens attentively. 7. Shares materials. 14. Uses self control.

23. Please help your child be on time to school!  It is very important your child comes to school on time! Students are marked late if they arrive after 8:25am. Excess tardiness will be addressed by the office!  It is also very important your child is picked up after school at 2:35pm. I walk the children outside but often have meetings and can’t wait outside. If your child’s ride is not on time I will send them to the front of the building or office to wait. Please arrange pickups to be at West End promptly at 2:35pm. This is the safest option. Thanks for your help!!!

24. Birthdays!  Birthdays will be celebrated during the school day. Please feel free to send in a treat (small cupcakes, munchkins, fruit, etc.) and some napkins. Please do not send in cake! We celebrate birthdays at snack time (usually around 9:30 am.) We have 22 students in our class this year at this time!

25. Upcoming Events  Parent-Teacher Conferences are November 14 th, 15 th, 16 th, 19 th, & 20 th. Please sign up for a time before you leave tonight.  *Halloween is a full day this year. Please send your child to school in their costume but pack a change of clothes. The parade will begin at 8:45 am followed by a small classroom party.* …More information to follow

26. Please take an active role in your child’s education! 1.Join PTA. 2.Help your child become responsible. 3.Read to and with your child. 4.Play with your child. 5.Ask your child about school every day! 6.Attend school functions. 7.Get to know other parents. 8.Don’t hesitate to speak to your child’s teachers!

27. Let’s Have a Great Year!

28. How To Contact Me ~ The easiest way to contact me is by emailing me at: mindy_durkin@nplainfield.org ~ If you would like to leave a voicemail for me I can be reached at: 769-6083 ext. 7705. ~ Please continue to write any notes you may have for me in your child’s Homework Journal.