1. Welcome to First Grade!
Mrs. Hack 1B

2. A Teacher’s Prayer
Lord, help our words and actions bring positive changes to each child in this room. Lord, you know how each student today needs a special touch from You. Please make each child’s needs clear to us, so that we may become your hands to touch that child for you. Thank you for bringing us all together so that we may work as partners in each child’s spiritual and educational journey. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

3. OurMission
We are a R.E.A.L. Catholic community that nurtures the whole child through academic excellence, 21st Century innovation and active Catholic stewardship.
Faculty Vision Statement and School Philosophy
We know parents are the first and most important teachers and we are the facilitators of their child’s learning.
We model and teach with parents that our Catholic faith is a way of life.
We support the Pope John Catholic School Community in its efforts to provide a safe environment.
We recognize that every student has gifts and talents to be shared through a Christian Life of faith and service.
We use teaching strategies that foster creativity, divergent thinking and problem solving skills.
We ensure every student the opportunity to practice a spirit of understanding, peace, justice and compassion.
We prepare students to be life-long learners and encourage them to develop to their fullest potential.
We commit ourselves to grow professionally as a staff and as individuals to serve the needs of our students.

4. SCHOOL-WIDE LEARNING EXPECTATIONS
A Saint John XXIII Catholic School Community student will be...R.E.A.L.
Responsible Christian Leader
Effective Communicator
An Independent Thinker
Life-Long Learner
We are a R. E. A. L. community.

5. Our Curriculum Diocesan Curriculum for First Grade
Arizona State Standards

6. Handwriting We will use Handwriting Without Tears this year.
Here is our rubric

7. Why do we use this paper? Line Success Double Lines and Other Lines
With so many lines and so many styles, children need paper that will prepare them for it all. HWT double lines quickly teach children how to place letters. Small letters fit in the middle space, tall letters go in the top space, descending letters go in the bottom space.
Students can apply the HWT philosophy to other styles of paper they use in school. Our workbooks also give them practice with different styles of lines.
As shown below, many children have trouble understanding multiple lines. Giving children a blue line, a dotted line, a red line, and another blue line and then asking them to start at “2 o’clock between the dotted line and the red line” is too confusing.

8. Developing a good GRIP for Life!

9. Journeys is our Reading and Grammar Series

10. Math Math in Focus Touch Math Strategies Concrete: using manipulatives
Pictorial: using drawings
Abstract Approach: symbolic
visit: for
overview of the chapters
Touch Math Strategies
Wonderful tool that we teach as a strategy for math computation.

11. Pillars of the First Grade Curriculum
Theology of the Body
Pillars of the First Grade Curriculum
Creation is a gift
Order, Design, and Meaning
Generosity and Fruitfulness
Beauty
Original Solitude
Human Work
Vocation
Virtue and Freedom

12. Touch Math
Touch Math is a multisensory program that uses its signature TouchPoints to engage students of all abilities and learning styles.

13. Homework = Home Work!
Homework Folders- HOMEWORK MENUS starting in September
Go home first day of the month and return back the end of the month
Extension of skills learned in class
You will be able to check our websites for HOMEWORK DETAILS and WEEKLY NEWS! Also be sure to check our website for HOMEROOM information.
 DIOCESAN GUIDELINES= 1st grade homework is minutes a day.
Please read with your child daily.
WEEKLY SPELLING TESTS!
FRIDAY HIGH FREQUENCY WORD CHECKS!

15. Yellow Take Home Folders
Green: Great day! Right on task, great choices!
Yellow- Slow down and think about your choices, verbal reminders were given in an effort to change their behavior.
Red light- Stop the choices you are making, they are not in alignment with the classroom and school expectations.
Yellow or Red light- a note will be written in the behavior folder to you telling what happened
1 or more light changes a week /incident report = no sticker book.
Behavior folders go home every day to indicate daily behavior. Please initial by the date and send back to school. If you have a note for me, staple it in this folder.
Daily points will be deducted if folder is not signed or if the folder is not brought at all. 1 point is possible each day.

16. Yellow Take Home Folders
Weather Watch is part of our science grade!
We do daily weather watch which is found on the back part of your child’s yellow folder.

17. First Grade Report Card
All graded assignments will come home with the number your child got correct over the total number that is possible.
Example:
8 (right)
10 (total points possible)
The students will be graded on subject content and behavior.
Grading System
(M) is for Mastering: 89.5% - 100% (D) is for Developing: 79.5% %  (E) is for Emerging: 79.4% or below

18. Some Apps We’ll Be Using This Year: Academic Resources to Access at Home

19. We’re Using Epic! in Class
This year we’re using Epic! to support student learning by giving students access to thousands of high-quality fiction and nonfiction books.

20. At a Glance: What is Epic!?
Instantly access 25,000 high-quality fiction & nonfiction books for kids
12 and under
Includes personalized recommendations for each child based on individual reading
preferences and abilities

21. Benefits of Epic!
An incredible selection of high-quality books available right in our classroom
Access to reading lists that I create for the classroom
Thousands of nonfiction books
Popular fiction and Award-winning titles
Students love reading on Epic!

22. IXL Online resource we use for math practice
Designed to help your child learn at his or her own pace
Adaptive and will adjust based on your child's demonstrated understanding of the material
Your child's results will be saved, so you can monitor his or her progress anytime through  Analytics
For on-the-go practice, you can download in the app store.

23. Raz-Kids
An award-winning teaching product that provides comprehensive leveled reading resources for students
Checks for comprehension
Interactive learning portal designed to keep them motivated and engaged
Allows students to listen to, read at their own pace, and record themselves reading

24. Birthdays
You may bring in a non edible treat or goodie bag for your child to share with the class to send home. Please bring enough for each student (we have 19!)
Some Ideas:
Pencils
erasers

25. STAR STUDENT Each week a student will be chosen to be Star Student
A poster will go home with your child on Friday. Please send back on Monday!
You child will bring in 1 item for each day of the week to share with us.

26. Our 1st Grade Lovely Assistants
Mrs. Conway and Mrs. Gentry

27. Classroom Websites
Please visit our classroom website weekly for news and homework notes!

28. We are a team!