First Grade in Room 106 Lindbergh Elementary Mrs. Laura Waggoner 2018

Welcome Parents/Guardians Welcome and thank you to our parents/guardians for coming to Lindbergh tonight. A positive home/school connection is an important factor in a successful school year for your child. I encourage you to become involved in the PTA if you aren’t already. Welcome to Room Parents

Meet the Teacher I am a proud graduate of the Ken-Ton Schools, attending Hoover Elementary, Hoover Middle and Kenmore West. I have a B.S. in Psychology/Early Childhood Development from University at Buffalo and a M.S. in Elementary Education from Canisius College. I began teaching at Lindbergh in 1995. My own children attended Lindbergh. I live in the Village of Kenmore. My older son graduated from Kenmore West in 2016 and my younger one will graduate in June. I am highly involved in the school as a member of several school committees, serve as the building literacy facilitator, and I’m the co-director for the 4th grade musical, Winnie the Pooh KIDS.

Laura Waggoner’s Learning Targets for First Grade I can greet my students with a smile every day. I can appreciate and respect each child’s interests and learning styles. I can make my classroom fun, engaging and challenging in order to encourage a love of learning and a love for Lindbergh. I can communicate with parents regularly and as needed about any questions, concerns or celebrations. I can fulfill my professional obligations and teach the Common Core Learning Standards and district approved curriculum while staying committed to developmentally appropriate practice and being responsive to the needs of the whole child.

Newer Programs to Lindbergh Eureka Math: This is our fourth year teaching the research based Common Core math program K-4 this year. Our district has seen some encouraging gains in math scores from using this program. American Reading: This independent reading is part of our balanced literacy block and is in its third year at Lindbergh and my students LOVED books while making impressive gains in reading levels. It includes 30 minutes of independent reading in the classroom daily while the teacher meets with individual students and small groups. Reading needs are assessed and conferences take place to facilitate reading development and to establish and work on reaching literacy goals. Guided reading instruction will also take place to teach skills and comprehension. There is an important parent component and children will be expected to read for 30 minutes at home daily. Student incentives and celebrations are a part of the program. Information for parents about both programs will be on the district and school website.

Ken-Ton Balanced Literacy Block We have a very comprehensive Literacy Block in Ken-Ton. Tonight I am emphasize two of these components- Small Group Instruction and Independent Reading.

Your child will be reading leveled books on his/her independent level. Our September Goal…… Establish Baseline Level for Every Student Develop an Action Plan to Ensure Reading Proficiency for Every Student Monitor Progress Towards Goal The baseline level is the highest level at which a student can demonstrate proficiency without teacher help. For each level, a color has been assigned. Your child will be reading leveled books on his/her independent level. The IRLA will help you establish a baseline proficiency level for each of your students. The baseline level is the highest level at which a student can demonstrate proficiency without teacher help. The IRLA will help you show students where they are, where they should be, and what skills and behaviors lie in between. Through regular conferences, you will be able to outline and track a course of correction, acceleration, or maintenance, for each student and his or her family. The IRLA allows you to track progress in real-time. Each standard has been assigned a points value relative to the amount of time it should take a student to acquire that skill or concept. In each formative assessment conference, teachers score students on any standards they have mastered, allowing teachers and schools to track rate of reading growth for every student.

Daily Schedule 9:05-9:30 Arrival and Settling In 9:30-10:00 RTI 10:00-10:30 Morning Meeting (includes some math) 10:45-10:55 Snack 11:00-11:40 Some Specials Classes (Music, P.E., Art, Library, Wellness...times vary during the week) 11:40-12:30 Math 12:30-1:00 Lunch 1:05-2:10 Reading Workshop (Social Studies and Science are integrated throughout the day) 2:10-2:30 Recess (Inside or Outside) 2:30-3:10 Writing Workshop (Some afternoon specials are during this time as well) 3:25 Dismissal Mrs. Allaire is the teacher aide working with our class and Mr. Perryman’s class.

How can you help? Your child will come home each night (starting at the beginning of October!) with a book bag filled with leveled books on his/her independent reading level. Don’t be concerned if your child goes back a level, especially if he/she was above grade level to begin with…the expectations for comprehension and children talking independently about books in first grade is more advanced than in Kindergarten...”on grade level” at the beginning of first grade is a 2G. Read 2 steps at home (30 minutes…15 minutes equals 1 step) each night Monday-Friday. Extra reading is always encouraged and you can record it or not...it’s a family decision. Please sign your child’s log each night and ask them about what they read.

At Home Work National PTA guidelines and researchers recommend 10 minutes daily for first graders. The purpose of homework is to keep parents informed about what their children are learning (especially with new programs) and to reinforce skills learned in school. A homework schedule will be sent home each Monday (or the first day of the school week) with an approximated Math schedule to help keep all of us on track. Your child will complete the “Problem Set” in class and can complete the corresponding Homework sheet from the book sent home if you wish. It is up to your family to establish your own homework philosophy. Homework should not be returned to school unless your child needs help. If it is returned to school, please attach a post it and I will respond. American Reading homework steps will be required on a daily basis. 2 fifteen minute steps are required each night for a total of 30 minutes Monday-and including Friday night. Please sign or initial the Reading Log daily. If you have concerns about homework, please let me know and we can talk about strategies. Homework should not be stressful for your child or your family. I feel that your child’s most important homework is to play and interact with family members upon their arrival at home.

Lindbergh Leaders I will be recognizing positive behaviors throughout the day in all areas of the school with specific verbal praise and a Lindy Ticket. I will model, teach, and encourage positive behaviors daily and believe in developing mindfulness in our students. Children can purchase items or activities from the Lindy Mart. Special items and activities will be raffled off at scheduled celebrations throughout the year.

Come join the Lindbergh Elementary PTA! Please visit the PTA table in the hallway across from the nurse. PTA supports our programs including 100% of field trips. Our goal is 100% membership from our Lindbergh families. Join today!

Progress Reports and Conferences The first progress report will go home in December, at conference time. Please sign up for a parents only, 15 minute conference before you leave today. An additional report and a second conference will take place in March (including students) and a final report will be sent home on the last day of school. Please feel free to contact me at school via phone (before school) or email at any time if there are questions or concerns during the school year at lwaggoner@ktufsd.org Please sign up for a conference and to be a Mystery Reader!

Boosterthon Info! I will be sending you reminders by email! PARENTS! To give your child the best educational experience possible, we're excited to partner with Boosterthon to raise funds for field trips, assemblies extra curricular and the musical. Boosterthon is here with a Fun Run to help make that happen. Family and friends anywhere in the world can support our school by giving pledges toward the number of laps your student will run on the day of the Fun Run. More information coming soon! I will be sending you reminders by email! Please make sure I have your correct email address.

Reminders Sneakers are necessary every day as we participate in Physical Education, Wellness, and recess. Please do not send sneakers to change into as it is too time consuming to put them on and help with shoelace tying. If your child has a change in dismissal routine, please put it in writing and remind him/her to give it to me first thing in the morning. You can also email me to be sure that I got the note. I will respond. If you don’t hear from me, I may be out that day and feel free to call the on the Weekly Calendar. office just in case. Whenever possible, I let parents know if I will be absent Please sign up for ClassTag. Your child should bring one healthy and easy to eat (quick) snack (fruit, cheese stick, granola bar etc. no spoons, please) and water bottle to school every day (only water bottles, please). I don’t provide snacks if they are forgotten. Your child can also enjoy water during this time (no juice boxes or pouches, please and please be sure that your child can open everything independently). Please pack a change of clothing for your child in case of bathroom accidents or spills.

Thank You! First grade is a magical year. Thank you for your support as we watch your child bloom and grow together!