Mrs. Hamadi 2015/2016 First Grade Lake Wilderness Elementary School Welcome to Back to School Night

Developing life-long habits for successful, confident learning

Code of Cooperation/Behavior School-Wide Behavior Focus –We are Safe –We are Respectful –We are Responsible –We are Learners –We are Wildcats!

Classroom Tools: “How we are learning” rubric 4,3,2,1 provides direct correlation to report card Behavior chart “Thumbs Up” chart

Reading Program Reading instruction in first grade is a shared responsibility between all the first grade teachers, the resource room teacher, children and parents. Walk to Read: After the school year begins, students are grouped to receive specific instruction at their individual reading levels. We assess the children and regroup them as necessary throughout the year. All reading assessments and communication are the shared responsibility of the regular classroom teacher and the reading teacher. A typical week would include the following components:  Shared Reading  Read Aloud/Story time  Independent Reading  Guided Reading and Literacy Centers  Whole group Reading Lessons

Writing  Writer’s Workshop: Lessons and modeling of skills  Sharing: Celebrating work  Conferencing: Setting goals to improve skills  Handwriting Without Tears  Spelling: McCracken curriculum & TSD spelling tests (begin Dec/Jan)

Math Our daily math time may include any of the following: Whole group lessons: Math Expressions curriculum. Math practice: Small group time to practice different math concepts through the use of games, manipulative experiences and projects. Problem Solvers: Word problems or story problems solved through specific problem solving strategies Fact Fluency

Fact Fluency: Begins in October Quick recall of addition and subtraction facts for sums to problems in 90 sec. Passing: 90% (18/20 or better)

Integrated Units Communities Australia Marine Life

Read At Home Program A book chosen especially for your child goes home in a zip lock bag. Student reads aloud to parent 2-3 times, more if desired. This book will be at your child’s independent reading level and should be easy. Parent signs off on log sheet. Return book in it’s bag along with log sheet when you are finished with that book. A new book comes home!

Homework in 1 st grade: An average of 100 minutes of at home reading each week. Spelling tests: practice begins in December; more information will come home at that time. Fact Fluency practice Math Expressions: Unit packets will go home. They do not need to be returned.

Second Step Program Develops social/emotional skills Learn how to problem solve social issues in order to foster a community of respect (ie: recess, playing fair)

Miscellaneous  Take Home Folders as communication  LWES Website/Class website for documents  Contact via or note vs. phone message (long distance is not available)  2 field trips per year: Storybook Theatre at Renton’s Carco Theatre Seahurst Park in May or June

Interested in volunteering? Confirm your volunteer clearance status Sign up on SignupGenius for classroom volunteering (see classroom website for link) Contact LWES Art Docents to become an art docent volunteer

If your student has lost any items at school, please visit the back of the room and then Lost and Found outside Office B. Thank you for coming!