1. Curriculum Night August 11, 2016 Template created by Debbie Candau
The s
of First Grade
Curriculum Night August 11, 2016
Template created by Debbie Candau

2. Attendance
Unless your child is ill, please make every attempt to have your child present at school and on time.
Our day begins promptly at 7:45 and the dismissal time is 2:35. Students that arrive late are a disruption and waste valuable instruction time for the rest of the class.
•If your child is going to be out, please call before 9:00 A.M. on the day of absence. Please include date, duration and specific reason for absence.

3. Behavior •Every student is expected to follow the 3 BEEs
BEE Respectful
BEE Responsible
BEE Safe
•Students that choose to follow the rules will earn coupons and get “B” bucks for rewards.
•Likewise, there will be consequences for students that CHOOSE to break the rules (color card change, time outs, parent contact, or in extreme cases a visit to the principal’s office, etc. )

6. Curriculum Following the Common Core Standards
Reading and Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies and Health
Physical Education
Art, Music, and Library

7. •In 1st grade, we will focus on developing phonemic awareness, decoding skills, word recognition, comprehension and oral reading fluency.
•The more sight words a student knows, the more fluently he/she will read.
•Practice reading the anchor words nightly.
Read to self.
Read to others.
Listen to Reading.
Work with Words.
Work on Writing.

8. Reading whole group to improve reading fluency.
Write, edit, rewrite, and publish to improve sentence fluency.
Share and discuss in small groups and pairs to learn cooperatively.
Classroom structure and organization to promote a successful learning environment.

9. A variety of grouping strategies will be utilized to deliver our reading and language arts curriculum. Whole class and small group lessons will be delivered to ensure mastery of skills.
Reading IFG- grouping across grade level to reach all learners
We will focus on the following throughout the year:
Reading Strategies
Comprehension Skills
Reading Fluency
Vocabulary and Word Analysis
Spelling, Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics
Writing
Listening and Speaking

10. •We do lots of writing in first grade
•We do lots of writing in first grade. Children are encouraged to use phonetic spelling when they first start. Our goal is to encourage risk taking and independence in writing. Part of this process is to stress to children that phonetic spelling is acceptable, and to build their confidence in their ability to communicate in writing even if they can’t spell the word with “dictionary spelling.”
•However, as high frequency words and spelling rules are introduced children will gradually move toward more conventional spelling.

11. By the end of first grade, students will…
•Understand and use the concept of “ones” and “tens”
•Add and subtract numbers to 20 with ease
•Tell time to the half hour
•Count, write and order numbers to 100
•Measure with simple units
•Identify and locate shapes in their environment
•Describe data, analyze, and solve simple problem situations
•Each day begins with students solving real-world math problems and recording their “mathematical-thinking” and solutions in Math Journals.
• Math instruction continues with a lesson from the Investigations Math Curriculum as well as Engage New York.

12. 1st grade students will learn about:
Rocks and Earth
Sky and Weather
Living things and Non-living things
Movement and Balance
People and Careers in Science
Health Topics

13. 1st grade students will learn about:
•Families
•People from other cultures
•People today and long ago
•Holiday origins and traditions
•Responsibility of citizenship in a free society
•Symbols, icons, and traditions of
the United States
•Maps and globes
•Life skills

14. Differentiated Instruction
In order to provide the best possible instruction to each child…
•Not all children will be on the same page, in the same book, at the same time.
•Please let me know if your child is really struggling or if he/she is not being challenged.

15. Email **Please send me emails at lhall@kyrene.org.
Most information and updates will be sent home via .

16. Field Trips •We will have 1 field trip this year.
•Our goal is to provide students with “real life” connections to our curriculum.

17. Grades
• Students will not receive letter grades in 1st grade. However, much of their work will be scored using a percentage scale in order to determine level of mastery.
•Students will be assessed in reading, spelling, writing, and mathematics.
•Please take the time to review any skills or areas of weakness with your child.
**If papers are returned without a grade it for practice, please feel free to review and practice the skill it with your student.

18. Homework
•Each week homework will be available on the First Grade website on Thursdays and due on the following Wednesdays.
***The first homework will be uploaded Thursday, Sept. 1st and due Wednesday, Sept. 7th.
•It is important that 1st graders read for a minimum of 15 minutes EACH night.
We would also like 30 minutes of Dream Box to be completed each week.
***** Website LINK*****

19. Independence
Oh, the places we will go and the things we will learn this year as we sail through 1st grade!
Please assist you child in becoming more independent learner! Examples: tying their shoes, being responsible for their own homework, library books, snacks, water bottles,
* All are subject to change

20. Just Right Books
•Studies have shown that those children whose parents are actively involved in the reading process will become the best readers.
•Reading to your child and listening to them read to you, taking them to the library and providing quality just right books at home is of the highest importance.

21. Keeping Informed • Visit our classroom website frequently.
•Watch for s for our monthly newsletters

22. Learning Environment
•I feel that the best way to help children learn is to make learning fun.
•Our classroom will be an active environment where all students are expected to engage in the learning process.

23. Move on when Reading

24. Move on When Reading What is Move on When Reading?
Arizona State statute requires screening of the reading ability of all students in kindergarten through third grade.
The law, (A.R.S ) passed in 2010, states that when a third grade student scores far below the third grade level on AzMerit, they will not be promoted to fourth grade.
Requires additional instruction or retention for students who are not meeting minimum requirements by the end of third grade.
Exempt students include:
ELL or LEP students who have received less than two years of English Instruction.
Students with an IEP in Reading or Language and the student’s parent or guardian agrees that promotion is appropriate.

25. What is the identification process and timeline?
All students are screened using DIBELS by the end of August.
Parents of students identified for intervention are contacted by their child’s teacher prior to Fall Parent-Teacher conferences.
A parent-teacher conference is requested by the school to create an intervention plan.
Mid-year progress
Students reading progress is closely monitored and check-in points are identified. Interventions are updated as needed.
End of Year
Notification of 3rd grade promotion or retention occurs upon receiving results of AzMerit.

26. Notes or Email Please send a note with your child or send an email if:
•You know your child will be missing school for an extended period of time. An independent study can be arranged if a student will be out for 5 or more consecutive days.
•A change in pick-up or after school care will be occurring.
•You would like to schedule a conference or have concerns.
•Watch for notes and s from the office and me, and don’t forget to check the Sierra Folder nightly. This will be our primary way to send information home to you.

27. Other Items •Sierra Folders •Birthdays •Class Parties
•Scholastic Book Orders
•Daily Snacks

28. Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent/Teacher conferences will be held in October February. During these conferences, we will be discussing your child's strengths and weaknesses, homework, behavior and any additional concerns you may have.

29. Questions
Please feel free to contact me anytime you have questions. You can do this in a variety of ways:
•Write a note
•Send an
•Call me at school
•Make an appointment for a conference

30. Report Cards
Report cards will be distributed once each quarter.

31. Student helpers- 2 helpers a day
Hold doors
Line leaders
Carry lunches

32. Tests •Spelling Test •Core Phonics •Reading Test Reading Fluency
•Math Assessment
•Sight Word Reading
•Rubric-Scored Writing
Other Assessments
•Reading Fluency

33. Unique
Every child is unique and learns in his/her own way and at his/her own speed.

34. Visitors and Volunteers
•Our school policy requires all visitors/volunteers to check in at the school office. Visitor Badges are required if you will be in the school hallways or entering a classroom.
•Volunteer Schedule will begin in September- remember most volunteer work will be prep work outside of the classroom.

35. Workroom Training
•Please sign up for training on the form provided if plan on volunteering! Thank you!

36. EXtra Supplies
•Often the supplies collected at the beginning of the year are sufficient to last until the end of first grade. Please take the time to look at my Wish List. I have posted wishing stars in the classroom this evening. Any and all donations are truly appreciated!
•My Wish List is also posted on our classroom website and will be updated throughout the year.

37. You •You are your child’s first and most important teacher.
•I hope that we can work together this year to make your child’s 1st grade school year a huge success!

38. Zzzzz…
•Please make sure your child gets plenty of sleep each night, so that he/she is well rested and ready for the challenges of first grade. It is recommended that 5 and 6 year olds get 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night.
•This year will ZOOM by, so let’s make the most of it.

39. Thank You for Coming!
Thank you for coming this evening and for showing an interest in your child’s education.
If you should have any questions or would like to speak with me further about your child, please contact me by at or call the school to schedule a time for us to meet.
WELCOME ABOARD!