1. Welcome to Curriculum Night!
Bain Elementary School
First Grade
September 15, 2016

2. Overview of Curriculum - CMS
Literacy – Balanced Literacy with Making Meaning, Vocabulary and Words Their Way
Math – Investigations
Science – MacMillan
Social Studies - Nystrom
Writing- Being a Writer, Writer’s Workshop

4. Literacy – Balanced Literacy
Our Literacy Block is divided into two parts: workshop & instruction
Reading Workshop:
independent reading
partner reading
building stamina
conferring with teacher
choosing “Just Right” books
Reading Instruction:
shared reading
interactive read alouds
phonics instruction
vocabualry
Making Meaning
Words Their Way
Every child has the opportunity to read, write, work with words and is given support in reading every day!

5. Personalized Learning
Personalized Learning Vision is to utilize a Personalized Learning Philosophy to enhance our educational framework allowing us to encompass the whole child, increasing student ownership and striving for mastery learning.

6. Math – Investigations Overview
Lessons are based on research to reach all learners.
Mathematical processes and thinking are the emphasis, over rote memorization of facts.
Skills follow a scope and sequence to build and expand knowledge.
Skills taught meet the Common Core Standards.
Incorporates the use of manipulatives for hands-on learning.
Children learn math skills while enjoying the games and activities.

7. Math - Investigations Skills
1st quarter:
Introducing manipulatives
Comparing and combining quantities
Addition story problems
Counting 1-30
Geometry (2D, 3D)
2nd quarter:
Patterns
Story problems
Counting 30-60
Collecting data/graphing
3rd quarter:
Place Value (tens)
Data collection/ Graphing
Measurement
Addition/Subtraction
Counting 60-90
4th quarter:
Predictions/patterns
Numbers & beyond

8. Science – MacMillan Overview
Units of study involve learning about the natural world around us.
All units integrate inquiry into each lesson through using the skills of:
Observation
Infer
Predict and Communicate
Measure
Put Things in Order
Compare
Classify
Investigate
Make Models and Draw Conclusions
Read and Use Pictures
Write—RAW (reading and writing in science!)
Find Information
Use Tools

9. Science – Units of Study
1st quarter:
Inquiry Skills
Force and Motion
2nd quarter:
Earth and the Universe
Magnets
3rd quarter:
Plants
Animals
4th quarter:
Earth and the Environment
Earth Materials

10. Social Studies –Overview
All units are designed around a central theme.
Each unit integrates learning across the curriculum through:
Art
Science
Language Arts
Technology
Reading
Math
Units use the expanding approach by starting with topics that are close to the student and guides them through topics that are more abstract.

11. Social Studies –Units of Study
1st quarter:
Rules/Citizenship
Johnny Appleseed
Columbus Day
Fall
Halloween
2nd quarter:
Kid’s Voting
Native Americans
World Cultures
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Looking Back
3rd quarter:
President’s Day
Black History
Dental Health
Maps
4th quarter:
Good Citizens
Economics
Interacting with our Environment

12. Writing
Writer’s Workshop is based on providing students the opportunity to write each day.
Writing structures are established and carried out each day.
The year long writing curriculum is divided into month long units of study.
Daily writing time is divided into two parts:
Daily mini lesson
Daily writing time
Conventions of writing: capitals, spacing, punctuation, does it make sense?!, can I write at least 2 sentences
Free Write or sentence starter options

13. Behavior Chart
Your child has the ability to move up or down the behavior chart depending on their choices at school. Color codes are located in the binders each day.
*purple
*blue
*green
*yellow
*orange
*red
Rewards include: small pencils, stickers, coupons for special things like lunch with a friend, wear crazy socks, classroom privileges, etc.

14. Assessments
Your child will be assessed in a variety of assessments this year to diagnose and determine strengths and weaknesses in specific academic areas. Information will come to you as it is available to us.
Assessments include: Reading 3D (DIBELS), MAPS testing, Kathy Richardson for math, sight words, spelling inventories and various informal assessments and observations.
More in-depth information and individual results will be discussed at first quarter conferences.

15. In Addition…
Scholastic News on a weekly basis! (nonfiction text and technology!)
iPads daily!
Homework is going great!
September-nightly reading only
Please use RazKids, Dreambox and Xtra Math as needed.

16. Ways to Help Your Child READ, READ, READ….every night!
Asking questions before, during and after reading: “Do you know why the character…? How would you like this story to end?”
Talk and ask questions with math: “How did you know that? How did you figure that out?”
Praise your child!

17. Important Bain Elementary Staff
Tracey Hayes, Principal
Juli Peschel, Assistant Principal
Beau Cannon, Dean of Students
Belinda Swain, SSS
Kelli Drye, Literacy Facilitator
Christina Jackson, Speech Pathologist

18. Interested in Volunteering?
We can always use your help…in and out of the classroom.
If you are interested, please let me know and make sure you are a registered volunteer at:
If you are interested in chaperoning any field trips, you must be registered as a volunteer.

19. Thank you for coming to Curriculum Night!
If you have any questions or concerns, leave them on the notecard with your contact information. Drop the cards in the basket at the back table.