Curriculum Night Let the Games Begin… 1 st Grade

Welcome to Curriculum Night 1 st Grade Teachers Jennifer Alyssa Stephanie Holly

Schedule 7:45-8:25Writing 8:25-10:15Reading/Language Arts 10:15-10:35Recess 10:35-11:25Specials/Conference 11:30-12:00Lunch 12:05-12:25Calendar Math 12:25-1:45Math 1:45-2:10Science 2:10-2:35Social Studies 2:40Dismissal

Daily Folder Conduct Chart Teachers will mark daily conduct in the Daily Folder. Please check this each night, sign and return. Students that are on green for the day will have a green dot, a sticker, or an empty box. Other color changes will be noted in the folder. The behaviors are stapled in each Daily Folder.

Consequences GREEN – Excellent Behavior…positive reinforcement YELLOW – a reminder to check behavior….will walk 2 laps during recess BLUE – will want to make behavior changes…..will walk 5 laps during recess RED – automatic office referral….will walk the track during all of recess Students that receive a color change after recess will walk the track the following day.

Homework Math – Monday-Thursday Reading – Monday-Thursday Spelling – Monday-Thursday Science – Tuesday due Thursday

Guided Reading As part of our Balanced Literacy curriculum, teachers will differentiate reading instruction through Guided Reading. Teachers will use assessment data to plan and adjust small group Guided Reading lessons. Groups will be flexible and will focus on specific strategies and skills needed by students. Students will rotate between literacy-based activities, independent reading, and meeting with the teacher as part of our Reader’s Workshop approach.

1 st Grade DRA2 Reading Assessment Teachers will administer the DRA2 reading assessment for the 1 st, 2 nd and 4 th nine weeks. Teachers will use running record assessments to determine reading levels for the 3 rd nine weeks. Reading levels will be recorded on the report card. Minimum Reading Levels for First Grade

1 st Grade Word Study First grade will use an integrated word study program for phonics, vocabulary and spelling instruction called Words Their Way. This approach involves differentiation using hands-on lessons centered around five stages and instructional levels based on students’ individual needs. Highlights: Students are given an assessment to determine their word study level, and teachers will use the results to create word study groups. Students will meet with the teacher in small groups and will receive differentiated word lists that correspond with their level. Students will practice critical features of words through sorts, poems, games and other literacy activities. Students’ spelling lists will be individualized based on their word study groups. (No more one size fits all approach to spelling!)

Words Their Way Homework Monday – Students will receive lists with their Homework packet. Tuesday – Students should cut their sort and sort according to the spelling feature. Wednesday – You and your child can play the spelling feature game. Thursday – Students should practice spelling their words orally and on paper. Friday – We take the spelling test in class. We will take a Spelling grade only on the review test at the end of the Nine Weeks.

Home Readers Home readers will be sent home with students September 14th. Books may be returned on Mondays and Thursdays. A new book will then be sent home. We remind the students to turn in their books on Mondays and Thursdays but it is the students’ responsibility to turn in their Home Reader. We are unable to go through each student’s backpack. A $5.00 fee will be charged for all lost books. It is a good idea to keep the book in the bag when your child is not reading it.

Sight Words The newly revised Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) require that first graders identify and read at least 100 high-frequency words. We have added additional words to support their continued growth in reading and writing. As soon as your child masters a list of words, return the signature note at the bottom of the sight word page and we will test your child. A new list will be given out at that time. As your child learns more and more words, spend some time using them to make sentences building their fluency.

Sight Words Only ONE list will be sent home at a time. A new list will not be sent home until the previous list is returned. There are 41 lists to read by the end of May. If students return all 41 lists, they will be invited to the Sight Word Party at the end of the year. The first list was sent home on Sept. 2.

Safety Awareness A campus crisis team is in place at all campuses in the district. The Frost team consists of administrators, office staff and specialists. Campus Emergency Procedures Training was completed with the staff on 9/2/15 District staff training is underway ◦ Staff will complete district training requirements by 9/24/15  Blood Borne Pathogens  Child Abuse  Emergency Go Kit Training  Suicide Prevention ◦ Fire Drills will take place monthly ◦ Additional drills are conducted each semester (Lockdown, Duck and Cover, Evacuation, Shelter-in- Place)

Birthday Guidelines In accordance with district policy, we discourage food being brought in by parents/grandparents for the following reasons: protect instructional time; student food allergies (peanut, gluten, eggs); student medical conditions (diabetes); liability assumed by person bringing in food Foods brought in must be store purchased Flowers, balloons, pencils, invitations and any other treats in honor or recognition of a child’s birthday cannot be delivered or distributed at school.

Lunch Drop-off Once the school day begins, parents will want to follow these guidelines to drop off lunches: o Check in at the front office and receive a visitor’s name badge. o Proceed to the cafeteria with the lunch. o Place the lunch in the appropriately labeled bin near the cafeteria kitchen. o Students and/or teachers will check the bin at the beginning of the lunch period for their class.

Tardy Policy Students are counted as tardy if they are not in the classroom by 7:45 a.m. Students with excessive tardiness will be referred to the attendance committee for consideration of ISS and a home visit by the social worker. Three or more tardies in a 9 week period will disqualify students from attendance awards.

Dress Code Red, white, light blue or navy blue collared shirts are allowed. Tops may not have any visible logos. Viewable undershirts should be one of the uniform shirt colors. Sweaters and jackets must be solid red, navy, black, khaki or white. Khaki, navy, black, blue denim slacks, shorts, skirts, skorts and jumpers are permitted. School shirts and sweatshirts are allowed. Leggings and tights should be red, black, blue, white or khaki. No backless shoes, flip flops, overalls, hats, caps, scarves, skate shoes, sweat pants, or rolling backpacks are allowed.

Nine Week Behavior Expectations Infraction chart by grade level: Conduct grades will include infractions received for no homework. Office referrals will be counted as 9 infractions. Therefore, a student will receive no better than an “N” in conduct in nine weeks where behavior has resulted in an office referral. Students who choose to participate in clubs must maintain an S in conduct. N’s in conduct will result in a 4 week probationary period. U’s and F’s will mean dismissal from clubs. Grade LevelExpectations KindergartenS = 0-8 color changes/infractions N = 9+ color changes/infractions All other grades 1 st -5 th S = 0-8 color changes/infractions N = 9-12 color changes/infractions U = 13+ color changes/infractions

Transportation Changes If your child requires a transportation change, please send a note to the classroom teacher. Do not the teacher regarding these changes. You may also call the front office but no changes will be made after 2:00 p.m.

Newsletters Beginning on Sept. 1 st, all grade levels will post a copy of the newsletter on the Frost Elementary website and will do so each Tuesday evening during the year. In addition, an blast will be sent out to grade level parents with the newsletter attached. Newsletters will include special events, birthdays, learning objectives, assessment dates and any other information deemed necessary by the grade level team. Access to the newsletters is at:

LCISD Grading Policy All corrections on daily graded work must be made in school. Any work that is to be graded will not be sent home for completion. Students will not be given make-up work ahead of time when parents remove their children for trips during school days. Late Work Policy – classwork will be accepted late within the current grading period with these guidelines in place: One (1) day late = 0 points off Two (2) days late = 10 points off Three (3) days late = highest grade possible is a 70 Extenuating circumstances will be reviewed by campus policy.

Language Arts Grading 1 st & 2 nd 8 Daily Grades at 80% 3 Major Grades at 20% Two of the major grades will be written compositions; one is a language assessment All Other Subjects - Grading 8 Daily Grades at 80% 3 Major Grades at 20%

Reassessment (Minor & Major Grades) The teacher shall provide one reasonable opportunity to reassess failure to master the TEKS/Curriculum in each daily grade. The highest possible grade that can be earned and recorded on the reassessment is a 70. There will be no reassessment based on lack of effort. The teacher will make a note in the electronic grade book of the date and grade of the reassessment. Original grades will be recorded in the notes section.

End of Year Awards Principal’s Award – must have an A in all subject areas (medal awarded) A/B Honor Roll – must have an A or B in all subjects all year (medal awarded) Perfect Attendance – (present every day and fewer than 3 tardies) Science Expo Participant – Trophy Mars Rover-Trophy

Skyward Family Access Allows parents to track student grades and progress Go to and click on the Family Access button at the top of the page. Sign in with your username and password. Update all addresses associated with your account.

Parent Conference Dates Teachers will meet with parents to review student progress for the first nine weeks. Conferences will be held on November 5 th and 6 th. The first nine weeks report card will be distributed at the conference.

Guided Math Implementation of guided math consists of:  Whole group instruction: 1-2 days a week, primarily to introduce a new concept or topic  Small group instruction: 3-4 days a week so that teachers can effectively monitor student understanding and tailor instruction to meet needs of all students  Math workstations: 3-4 days a week during the guided math cycle  Fact Fluency: 3-4 days a week during the guided math cycle

Reading Recovery Reading Recovery is an intensive 20-week program designed to accelerate a child’s literacy abilities in reading and writing. The lowest first graders work with a trained Reading Recovery teacher for daily 30-minute one on one lessons. The goal is to accelerate the child’s literacy skills so that they are ahead of grade level expectations for that point in time. If they reach that point earlier than 20 weeks, then the student has successfully discontinued lessons and the next lowest first grader takes his/her place with the Reading Recovery teacher.