Welcome to Room 20! Mrs. Vanek 1st Grade 2013-2014

Welcome First Grade Parents! I am so excited that your child is in my class! I can’t wait to begin our learning adventure!

English Language Arts In 1st grade, your child will become a more independent reader and writer. Your child will continue to learn and practice rules for recognizing the sounds that make up words and will be able to sound out more Complex words. Students will learn to think about what they read and talk about the main ideas of simple stories.

English Language Arts Your child will also work on: Using phonics and word analysis skills to figure out unfamiliar words when reading and writing. Describing characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details. Getting facts and information from different writings. Writing a topic and supplying some facts, and providing some sense of opening and closing. Participating in shared research and writing projects (e.g., exploring a number of “how to” books and using them to write a sequence of instructions. Taking part in conversations about topics and texts being studied by responding to the comments of others and asking questions to clear up any confusion.

ELA Shift #1: Read as much non-fiction as fiction Students MUST Parents SHOULD Read more non- fiction Understand how non-fiction is written and put together Enjoy and discuss the details of non-fiction Supply non-fiction texts to read Read non-fiction books aloud or with your child Have fun with non-fiction in front of your children

ELA Shift #2: Learn about the world by reading Students MUST Parents SHOULD Learn more about Science and Social Studies through reading content rich fiction and non-fiction Use “primary source” documents (original materials created at the time under study) Build content knowledge through the use of texts Supply texts on topics that interest your child & encourage independent reading Find books that explain how things work and why Discuss non-fiction texts, their ideas, and text features.

ELA Shift #3: Read more complex material carefully Students MUST Parents SHOULD Re-read, learn new words more deeply Read books at their comfort level and more challenging texts Not just read, but comprehend . . . reread in smaller chunks Handle frustration and keep pushing to improve Provide more challenging texts your children want to read in addition to books they can read easily Know what is grade level appropriate Read challenging books with your child Show that challenging books are worth reading

ELA Shift #4: Discuss reading using evidence Students MUST Parents SHOULD Find evidence to support their arguments Form judgments and opinions Become scholars Discuss what they think the author is thinking Make predictions Talk about texts Demand evidence in everyday discussions, debates and disagreements Read aloud or read the same book as your child and discuss with evidence

ELA Shift #5: Write from sources Students MUST Parents SHOULD Make arguments in writing using evidence Compare multiple texts in writing Learn to write well Encourage writing at home Write “books” together using evidence and details Review samples of student writing: http://www.corestandards.org/assets/Appendix_C.pdf

ELA Shift #6: Build an academic vocabulary Students MUST Parents SHOULD Learn the words they will need to use in college and career Be able to use new vocabulary words in conversation, in writing, across disciplines Read often and constantly with young children Read multiple books about the same topic Let your children see you reading Talk to your children, read to them, listen to them, sing with them, make up silly rhymes and word games

There are 3 Ways to Read a Book Read the pictures Read the words Retell the story Work on retelling the story with your child. What happened in the beginning, middle, and end?

How Do We Choose Books to Read? I PICK Books: I choose a book. Purpose– Why do I want to read it? Interest– Does it interest me? Comprehend– Am I understanding what I am reading? Know– I know most of the words.

Words Their Way Spelling Words Their Way is a spelling, phonics, and vocabulary program based on how students are developing in word study. In word study, teachers encourage students to compare and contrast patterns and features of words. One way to do this is by having students sort words. When sorting, students use what they know about words to group words that go together from those that don't. This allows students to make generalizations about words and use this when reading new words.

Words Their Way Spelling In addition to sorting, students may: Hunt for words in their reading and writing that fit the pattern they are learning. Write meaningful sentences using the words they are studying that week. Play games and activities to apply their word knowledge.

Words Their Way Spelling Your child will be assessed on their ability to recognize the patterns they are learning rather than their ability to memorize single words. For example, your child may be given a list of up to twenty words during a word study cycle and then be assessed on only ten of those words. Your child will receive their list of words every Friday. They will have one week to study the word patterns in class and at home and will be assessed on the following Friday.

Math In first grade, your child will build on last year’s work and gain important new skills. One of the most important outcomes for the year is to improve speed and accuracy adding with a sum of 10 or less and subtracting from a number 10 or less (e.g., 8 – 5). Another important goal in 1st grade is adding with a sum of 100 or less; this will rely on understanding what the digits mean in a number such as 63 (namely, 63 is six tens and three ones).

Math Your child will also work on: Solving addition and subtraction word problems in situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing. Using understanding of place value to add and subtract(e.g., 38 + 5, 29 + 20, 64 + 27,80 – 50) Measuring lengths of objects by using a shorter object as a unit of length Making composite shapes by joining shapes together, and dividing circles and rectangles into halves or fourths

Math Shift #1: Focus: Learn more about less Students MUST Parents SHOULD Keep building on learning year after year Be aware of what your child struggled with last year and how that will affect ongoing learning Advocate for your child and ensure that support is given for “gap” skills: counting groups of tens/ones, identifying numbers, etc.

Math Shift #2: Learn skills across grades Students MUST Parents SHOULD Spend more time on fewer concepts Go more in-depth with each concept Know what the priority work is for your child at their grade level Spend time with your child on that work Ask your child’s teacher about his or her progress on the priority work

Math Shift #3: Develop speed and accuracy Students MUST Parents SHOULD Spend time practicing by doing lots of problems within the same standard Push children to know, understand, and memorize basic math facts 0-10 +/- in first grade. Know all of the fluencies your child should have; prioritize learning of the ones they still find difficult (counting, facts, etc.,)

Math Shift #4: Really know it, really do it Students MUST Parents SHOULD Make the math work, and understand why it does Talk about why the math works Prove that they know why and how the math works . . . “I know this because . . .” Notice whether your child really knows why the answer is what it is Advocate for the time your child needs to learn key math skills Provide time for your child to work at math skills at home Get smarter in the math your child needs to know

Math Shift #5: Use it in the real world Students MUST Parents SHOULD Apply math in real world situations Know which math skills to use for which situation (operations, tools, strategies) & more than one way) Ask your child to do the math that comes up in your daily life. Encourage your child to try to think of more than one way to solve a problem.

Math Shift #6: Think fast and solve problems Students MUST Parents SHOULD Be able to use grade level math facts quickly Be able to apply math in the real world Notice your child’s strengths and weaknesses in math Make sure your child practices the math facts/skills/strategies that prove most difficult for him/her Make sure your child thinks about math in real life

Homework We will begin assigning homework on Friday, August 9th. Your child’s homework should only take 10-20 minutes each evening. The most important thing is for them to read daily.

School Folders & Daily Work Your child will be given a folder that will travel from school to home daily. The pockets are labeled so that you know what needs to stay at home and what needs to come back to school. Check your child’s folder each night.

Communication: Questions or Concerns? Ask away! I am more than happy to answer any of your questions or discuss your concerns. Communication is important. Let’s work as a team to make this the BEST year possible for your child!

What’s For Lunch? Check the Lunch Menu . . . Hot lunches can be paid for online or by cash or check. Lunch: $2.50 Milk: $0.50

Volunteers Needed! Please fill out a volunteer form if you are interested in helping out in our classroom Hand the form to me before you leave!

Thank You For Coming! Please stay and ask any questions that you may have. I am happy to answer them! I look forward to our year together!