1. Welcome First Grade Parents Bain School Curriculum Night 2012-2013

2. Overview of Curriculum Literacy – CAFÉ, The Daily 5, Imagine It!, Month-by-Month Phonics Math – Investigations, Problem Solving, Kathy Richardson Assessments Science – MacMillan Social Studies - Harcourt Writing- Being a Writer!,

3. Literacy - Changes Last Year: Imagine It - Phonics Imagine It - Comprehension Imagine It -Writing Lucy Calkins - Writing Teacher Created - Workshop New This Year: Month by Month – Phonics Imagine It! - Phonics CAFÉ – Comprehension Being a Writer – Writing Common Core – Writing The Daily Five – Workshop Guide What’s Different? – A Balanced Literacy Approach!

4. Independent Reading Writing Word Work Supported Reading Balanced Literacy

5. Literacy – Balanced Literacy Overview CAFÉ focuses on Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, and Expanding Vocabulary Short Focus Lesson on CAFÉ Strategies:  Preparing to read – focuses on sounds/spellings to decode words  Reading and responding – focuses on vocabulary, comprehension, and Inquiry  Language arts – grammar, usage, and mechanics Students read every day (listen to reading, read to someone, read to themselves) Shared Writing, Guided Writing, Independent Writing Assessments are designed to monitor progress and allow for differentiation for each student. Teacher Conferences – designed for small-group instruction. Focuses on and reinforces skills learned during whole class instruction.

7. Literacy Tips for Parents http://www.elmhurstpubliclibrary.org/Kids/ForParentsHelpingBeginning Readers.php Reading Before reading, look at the pictures. Look for patterns in the words. Use beginning sounds, pictures and sentence meaning to help with unknown words. Students should “track” the words with their finger. Reread a book for fluency. Discuss the book and make connections. Writing Let students sound spell most words. Only correct spelling on commonly used sight words. Ask your child to “read” their story to you instead of saying “what does this say?”. Encourage your child to include details and a beginning, middle and end. Make lists, write letters, play school, etc.

8. Reading – Fluency is Important One of the most important things about reading in first grade is the speed at which students read. The faster first graders are able to read, the easier it is for them to understand the text. By the middle of first grade, students should be reading approximately 20 words per minute. By the end of first grade, students should be reading a minimum of 40 words per minute. One of the most important components of fluency is sight words. The better recognition students have of the kindergarten and first grade sight words, the easier reading is. Another important aspect of fluency is practice, practice, practice! When working with nightly reading, have students read a text twice or even three and four times. The more familiar they are, they can read more fluently. They also need to see fluency modeled. Show them what good reading sounds like. By working together, we can have these first graders reading with speed and accuracy!

9. Math – Investigations - Overview Lessons are based on research to reach all learners. (http://investigations.terc.edu/) Mathematical processes and thinking are the emphasis, over rote memorization of facts. Skills follow a scope and sequence to build and expand knowledge. Skills correspond to the critical learning phases for mathematics. Skills taught meet the Common Core State Standards. Utilizes manipulative tools for hands-on learning. Children learn math skills while enjoying the games and activities. Provides opportunities for parents to play the games at home.

10. Critical Learning Phases – Number Sense Counting Objects: One-to-one correspondence One More/One Less: Counting patterns Changing Numbers: Knows relationships of numbers More/Less by Tens: Compares numbers by Tens Number Arrangements: Recognizes groups and knows different combinations Combinations of Numbers: Combine parts, uses related facts, knows totals Missing Parts: Knows missing parts by using related facts.

11. Math - Investigations – Skills 1 st quarter:  Introducing tools  Counting and number sense  Comparing  Combining quantities  Algebra – Problem Solving 2 nd quarter:  Geometry (2D, 3D)  Number Patterns  Algebra – Problem Solving 3 rd quarter:  Place Value (tens)  Data collection/ Graphing  Measurement  Addition/Subtraction 4 th quarter:  Predictions/patterns  Numbers to 100 and beyond

12. Science – MacMillan - Overview Units of study involve learning about the natural world around us. All units integrate inquiry into each lesson through using the skills of:  Observation  Infer  Predict and communicate  Measure  Put Things in Order  Compare  Classify  Investigate  Make Models and Draw Conclusions  Read and Use Pictures  Write  Find Information  Use Tools

13. Science – MacMillan – Units of Study 1 st quarter:  Inquiry Skills  Earth and the Universe 2 nd quarter:  Force and Motion  Magnets 3 rd quarter:  Plants  Animals 4 th quarter:  Earth and the Environment  Earth Materials

14. Social Studies – Harcourt - Overview All units are designed around a central theme. Each unit integrates learning across the curriculum through:  Art  Science  Language Arts  Technology  Reading  Math Units use the expanding approach by starting with topics that are close to the student and guides them through topics that are more abstract.

15. Social Studies – Harcourt – Units of Study 1 st quarter:  Rules at home, school and community  Authority figures at home, school and community  Resolving Conflicts at home, school and community  Comparing Schools  Folklore 2 nd quarter:  Folklore  Neighborhood Changes  National Holidays  Diverse Cultures 3 rd quarter:  Learning about maps  Using geographic tools  Characteristics of landforms and water  Famous Americans  President’s Day 4 th quarter:  Changes in the environment  Natural Resources in the community  Earning money for goods and services  Goods and services in our community  Supply and demand in the community

16. Writing – Being a Writer! – Overview Being a Writer is based on providing students the opportunity to write each day, edit writing and publish pieces of writing. Writing structures, routines and procedures are established and carried out each day. Trade books are used as examples of good writing. Teacher and students write together daily. Students build stamina, fluency and competence in writing. Students choose from various genres of writing:  Narrative  Explanatory  Opinion  Poetry  Response to Reading; Fiction and Non-fiction

17. Accelerated Reader Students in First Grade start AR as they are ready. Students need to be independent readers before they are ready for AR. AR in first grade is used to prepare students for second grade requirements. All students will be on AR before the end of first grade.

18. AR – Accelerated Reader How do I find AR books? www.arbookfind.com AR Levels and Colors: Yellow 0.5-1.5 Green 1.6-2.0 Blue 2.1-2.5 Red 2.6-3.0 Pink 3.1-3.5 White 3.6-4.0 and up AR books can be found in our class library, school media center, public library or from home.

19. Important Bain Elementary Staff John LeGrand, Principal Joyce Fullington, Assistant Principal Shawn Shaver, PTA President Twila Quattlebaum, SSS Kelli Drye, Literacy Facilitator Patricia Wasco, Speech Pathologist

20. Questions for Mrs. Harmon

21. Thank you for coming to Curriculum Night Please remember to email me with any questions you have.