1. Welcome to Curriculum Night
First Grade
August 10, 2017
The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn.
*John Lubbock*  

2. “We can do anything ISH as long as we try!”
Ish emphasizes the power of believing in our abilities despite other’s reactions and despite our fear of failure.
“We can do anything ISH as long as we try!”

3. About Miss Makela “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
Grew-up in Gurnee, Illinois
Attended Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin
Minor in Adaptive Education
NAU Elementary Education M.Ed.
This is my 15th year teaching 1st grade at Cerritos!
This is my kid…
Wrigley

4. Classroom Information
Art Monday Library Tuesday (Please return books each week!) PE Thursday Music Friday Recess/Lunch 10:35/10:55 Teacher Duty Tuesday and Thursday after school at 2:30 School Hours 7:40-2:35 Please drop your child off ON TIME!! Wednesday until 12:35 Birthdays We will celebrate!!! Please do not send treats.

5. We are an AWARE Classroom!
We are an ALLERGY AWARE classroom. There are numerous allergies in first grade. It is critical that students do not share food. We are AWARE that the success and uniqueness of our class is driven by the diversity and differences between us. We are AWARE that our abilities and strengths will be celebrated and used as a basis to learn from one another. We are AWARE that we recognize each other through our strengths not our limitations. We are AWARE that people come first … not labels!!

6. Thank You for all of you support!!!!!
Volunteers
Class Parties - Please sign up if you are interested!
Reader Leader- Please sign up on the Sign-up genius (I will you soon) if you are interested in reading your favorite book to the class on a 10:15 – 10:30.
Thank You for all of you support!!!!!

7. Communication Parent Send a note Call 541-2353 E-mail
Teacher
Newsletters/ )
Notes home
Phone calls
Parent
Send a note
Call g

8. Students are responsible for turning things in to “MORNING BUSINESS”.
Blue Folder and Agenda
Please check daily for important papers and updates from your child about daily learning/behavior.
Send lunch money and
notes in folder.
Students are responsible for turning things in to “MORNING BUSINESS”.

9. Homework NO WEEKLY HOMEWORK
Playing and spending time with your kiddos is important, they work hard at school! Enjoy some family time!
Work at Home OPTIONS:
Work from workbooks (Lakeshore Learning)/Unfinished Work(sent home)
At home family projects (Habitats)
Monthly Reading at home with your kiddo!
Websites and Educational Apps
Enrichment Options (in folder)

10. Big Cheese Every student will be the “Big Cheese” for a week.
I will let you know the week prior to your child’s “Big Cheese” debut!
Every student will receive a book of special letters from the class at the end of their week!

11. Math Aligned with Math Common Core Standards
Calendar math
IFG Groups to differentiate!!!
Math Investigations
Engage NY
Hands-on math
Problem solving and learned algorithms
Math journal for problem solving
On-going interim assessments and a district test in the spring
Grades based on observations, class work, and assessments

13. Core Knowledge Language Arts
Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA), a comprehensive English Language Arts (ELA) program designed to teach students reading, writing, speaking, and listening, while developing deep vocabulary and broad background knowledge.
Based on years of cognitive science research, expert educators know that foundational skills and background knowledge are the keys to successful literacy. CKLA builds on this research by attending to the reading gap through addressing the knowledge gap. CKLA carefully sequences background knowledge, building vocabulary and comprehension while instilling a life-long curiosity for learning.
CKLA provides a thorough and meticulous approach to developing decoding and other foundational skills. It begins with the basic code and carefully helps students apply what they’ve learned through engaging 100% decodable readers and through response-to-text activities. Instruction continues to develop students’ reading proficiency, fluency, and comprehension.

14. Listening & Learning Strand and Skills Strand
CKLA Two Strands:
Listening & Learning Strand and Skills Strand
The Listening & Learning Strand provides complex literary and informational read-alouds carefully chosen and organized to build a staircase of knowledge within and across grade levels. The accompanying instruction helps students develop deep vocabulary through building background knowledge. Teachers engage students in rich, text-based discussions that help them develop important listening and speaking skills even before proficiency in reading and writing. Extension activities foster deeper learning by helping students apply their knowledge of the texts. The Skills Strand focuses on decoding, encoding, grammar, handwriting, and writing. Using the gradual release model, writing instruction includes genre writing and the writing process. Students learn the code and develop fluency while interacting with unique decodable readers that are organized like chapter books and designed to develop a breadth of literacy skills while bolstering code comprehension.

15. Reading and Writing Integration
Skills Strand
Listening and Learning Topics
Spelling begins in Unit 3—Weekly Assessments are given but not in the form of “Spelling Tests” (See Letter)
Grammar
Tricky Words (can’t be sounded out)
Student Workbooks
Student Readers (Decodable)
Writing instruction starts in Unit 3 using a 4 step writing composition process: plan, draft, edit and publish
Fables and Stories
The Human Body
Different Lands, Similar Stories
Early World Civilizations
Early American Civilizations
Astronomy
The History of the Earth
Animals and Habitats
Fairy Tales
A New Nation: American Independence
Frontier Explorers
Assessments
Reading Logs and at-home Reading assignments
What is it?
Workshop time is motivated by mini-lessons and a set purpose
Lessons are derived from trade books , chapter books, poetry and many forms of rich/relevant literature AND often correlates to Harcourt lessons
Consists of small group and individual instruction
Students have individual reading goals and read at appropriate reading levels
Often students will have choice in the books they read
Why Workshop?
Promotes higher level thinking
Allows students to make connections through literature
Allows students to read for meaning
Allows students to feel ownership a sense of responsibility for their learning
Writing Extras:
Star Leader of the Week Letters
Writing projects throughout the year
Interest based writing

16. Some examples of choices are:
Grab and GO!!!
We use choice activities when students are done with their assigned work. We have them for both math and reading. They include games, activities and previously taught activities and extensions!
Some examples of choices are:
Classroom Library
Math Games
Journal/Story Writing
Making words
Whiteboards
LEGOS
Stamping, making, creating
Interest based ideas
ENRICHMENT OPTIONS

17. Science Social Studies
Sky and Weather
Rocks, Earth Materials, and Conservation
Living Things and Their Habitats
Balance and Movement
The Scientific Process
Hands-on and inquiry based
Our self, family, and community
Mapping skills
Geography and mapping
Arizona History and Pilgrims, farming
Customs and traditions
US historical figures
Ancient Egypt
Thematic units integrated across the curriculum

18. See blue folders for donation needs!!
Creativity Students will exercise their imagination through purposeful play.
Goals
Critical Thinking Students will use knowledge gained through our curriculum to explore and expand their knowledge with hands on learning.
Communication Students will develop their listening and speaking skills as they work in teams and present ideas.
Courage Students will learn that failure gets you one step closer to a solution. Failure sparks innovation!
Collaboration Students will work together to brainstorm, problem solve, and “make stuff” in partnerships, teams, and small groups.
See blue folders for donation needs!!

19. Why a Leadership Focus?
We believe that every child possesses leadership skills.
We believe that every child will serve as a leader in some way, either in their careers or with family and friends.
We believe that students must be taught how to collaborate with others.
We believe that leadership training will have a positive impact on student achievement.

20. Leadership Notebooks School-wide Individualized
Goal Oriented (attainable and measureable)
Monitoring of goals and progress.
Intrinsic motivation for personal best.
Allows for REFLECTION
Will be used for student led conferences in Spring.

21. Clifford is HERE!!! He arrived as a puppy by special delivery!
He grows each day as if by MAGIC!
We lose him on Friday (tomorrow).
The next week is spent looking for Clifford and getting a tour of the school!
Clifford’s birthday will be the Friday we “find” him. He is 6. Again! (August 18th) We wear RED this day!
Clifford comes home for sleepovers!
Clifford will come and spend the night at your house for an evening! I send home his backpack with a journal and some of his favorite books.
This is REAL! 

22. Housekeeping
Did you receive the, “You are part of the 2017 – Distribution List” ?
Clifford – Wear red Friday the 18th!!
If you have not signed up for Listserv please do so soon to get all school and district communications
Cerritos Quick Info via text:
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Thank you so much for all of the donations!!!

23. I dreamed I stood in a studio And watched two sculptors there,
The clay they used was a young child’s mind
And they fashioned it with care.
One was a teacher
The tools she used were books and music and art,
One was a parent
With a guiding hand and a gentle loving heart.
And when at last their work was done
They were proud at what they had taught,
For the things they had worked into the child
Can never be sold or bought.
And each agreed she would have failed If she had worked alone.
For behind the parent stood the school,
And behind the teacher stood the home.

24. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS??