1. Language Arts/ Social Studies
First Grade Team

2. Reading 1. Data Used to Determine Level a. iStation b. Running Records
2. Reading bags
Four Stages of Reading are:
Emergent, Early, Developing, and Fluent Readers
**Each child is different. Our job is to help each child successfully move from one level to the next
DRA2 – BOY testing starts Monday and will last up to 2 weeks
Student not only reads to teacher, but also must show comprehension in retell as well. Students will also take text-level appropriate spelling checks as well.
**This is only one form of data we will collect on reading: Running Records throughout the year
**Your child’s level may go down (summer usually contributes to minor text-level shifts) – don’t worry! 
Reading bags – hold one up. After DRA2 and MAP testing results are examined, students will be placed in same or similar-leveled reading groups. Keith’s bags are pink – lucky us!  This should come home EVERY day. Our goal is 15 minutes or more of reading every night. Students need to be reading with an adult and out loud every night.

3. Spelling Tests 2. Words Their Way
We will be having periodic spelling tests over the course of the year, depending on the skill we are targeting. For example, next week we will be working on/reviewing CVC words spelled with short vowel sounds. In addition to reading, please help your child EVERY DAY practice spelling. (HOLD UP SPELLING TIC-TAC-TOE BOARDS) Tests will usually take place on the 2nd week after you have received the list – always on a Friday.
With the new Standards-Based Report Cards, we are no longer grading or scoring anything with a numerical grade. So we will be assessing spelling through your child’s writing. The goal isn’t to memorize a list, but rather be able to use that spelling in everyday writing.
Spelling lists (as well as the newsletter) can be found on the HES website.

4. Grammar-nouns, verbs, etc. Homework
JUST LIKE SPELLING, with the new Standards-Based Report Cards, we are no longer grading or scoring anything with a numerical grade. So we will be assessing grammar through your child’s writing. The goal isn’t to memorize a list, but rather be able to use that grammar skill in everyday writing. Some of the grammar skills we will be practicing are: differentiating between nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Pronouns (especially “I”). Adverbs (before, next, etc.). Prepositions and prepositional phrases. Compound words. Transition words.
Language Arts HW will always be given out on a Monday to be completed and turned in on Tuesday (unless there is a holiday). HW is never graded (even before the Standards-Based Report Card) and is more a reinforcement of what we learned in class.

5. Workshop Structure Writing Rubric
Writer’s Workshop
Workshop Structure
Writing Rubric
Santa’s Workshop vs. Writer’s Workshop
Four Levels of Writing: Emergent, Early, Developing and Competent
We expect our students to be able to show competency of an Early Writer, Stages 4-6, by the end of 1st grade. Students can accomplish this by:
*Demonstrating correct usage of capitalization, punctuation, and spacing.
*Neat handwriting (good writers have good manners so their readers can read what they wrote)
*Follow the District guidelines for stages 4, 5, 6 Nov. CONFERENCES WITH A LIST AS TO WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOUR CHILD GROW AS A WRITER AT HOME

6. Essential Questions Focus on Citizenship
Social Studies
Essential Questions
Focus on Citizenship
Social Studies in 1st grade is an extension of what was learned in Kindergarten with a focus on citizenship. We will target 4 essential questions, as outlined in your packet on page 3:
*What is a citizen?
*How do citizens work together?
*How does change impact citizens?
*What is an exemplary citizen?
**NEW CORNERSTONE TASKS: The District selected a committee to work extra hard on redoing our SS curriculum. Now each unit has a Cornerstone Task that each student must complete in order to show competency in the target skills. For example, for the last two weeks, we have talked in class about what characteristics it takes to be a good citizen. Students pinpointed three important characterisitcs: respect, responsibility and truthfulness. The cornerstone task required will actually be coming home tomorrow for your child to work over the weekend and turn in BY TUESDAY.
**SHOW SHEET

7. Any Questions? 