1. Welcome to First Grade Curriculum Night Check out the standing table in the back for class sign ups! Be sure to take the file from your child’s cubbie. Mrs. Katrina Hyland

2. Helpful Apps School Applications to use at home!
Tumble Books- a curated database of children’s e-books
UserName- grandpraire
Password- books
Razkids-Online reading program that is differentiated for your child.
Log in information is in the folder!
Zearn-Math program that goes along with our curriculum. Log in information is in the folder.
The first time you log in you need this class code- UT4P4Q You will only need to use this once!
Seesaw- This is a great application where there will be student portfolios, class pictures, and classroom reminders! Sign up information is in the folder. Please join!
Greatminds.org- This is for parents. It helps to understand Eureka
math and follow along with what your child is learning in the
class. Sign up information is in the folder.

3. Language Arts
We are implementing the Common Core Standards in English Language Arts.
Implemented through a balanced approach to literacy including guided reading, readers workshop, shared reading, read alouds with accountable talk, word study, writing workshop, and shared and interactive writing
Common Core Standards include:
Reading: Literature
Reading: Informational Text
Reading: Foundational Skills
Writing
Speaking and Listening
Language

4. Resources We have a variety of resources to teach each of these areas.
Readers Workshop by Lucy Calkins
Good Habits, Great Readers
Words Their Way
Units of Study in Opinion, Information and Narrative Writing by Lucy Calkins
Comprehension Toolkit
District 157c created curriculum

5. Writing Workshop Method of writing instruction
Mini-lesson, Write Time and Confer, Share Time
Students write about their own lives
Students cycle through the writing process
Collecting, drafting, revising, editing and publishing
Students will learn how to write several different genres of writing including: narrative, opinion, poetry, and informational
Students build independence

6. Structured Word Inquiry
Instruction that builds an understanding of word structure as a tool for investigating the interrelation of spelling and meaning.
Students investigate the meaning, structure and history of words through word webs, word matrices and guided inquiry

7. Word Matrix

8. Word Sums

9. Real Script Focus on correct letter formation
Students learn letters with the same pathway together (a, c, o, d,)
Lowercase letters are taught first
Students learn phonemes as they learn letter pathways

10. Eureka with Growth Mindset
Eureka Math
What is Eureka?
The Eureka Math resource was built around the core principle that students need to know more than just what works when solving a problem – they need to understand why it works.
Why Eureka?
Eureka has received high ratings from educators nationwide and school districts are seeing growth and impressive test scores after just one year of implementation.
Eureka with Growth Mindset
Students with a Growth Mindset aren’t afraid to
make mistakes. Brain research shows that mistakes
are good and help you to learn more. Kids with a
Growth Mindset achieve more.

11. What will Eureka look like in the classroom?
Typically, there are 6 components to each lesson
Fluency – Daily math fact practice which is used to maintain skills, prepare for the current lesson, and/or anticipate skills used in future lessons
Application Problem – Word problem which can lead into the concept development or review a concept from the previous day
Concept Development – Majority of the lesson which teaches a particular skill. Can include a variety of activities (whiteboards, manipulatives, partner work)
Problem Set – Independent practice to apply the skills taught from the concept development. Sometimes students will work on only
a few problems
Debrief – Reflection after problem set to review as a
whole class a few areas
Exit Ticket – Quick gauge of student understanding of
the day’s skill

12. Eureka School/Home Connection
Problem Sets
Problem Sets can come home unfinished and that is okay. It is encouraged to review and complete the Problem Sets with your child at home.
Exit Tickets
Exit Tickets will be coming home frequently and it is encouraged to review the Exit Tickets with your child at home.
Assessments/Rubrics
Assessments can be informal observations, exit tickets, mid module assessments, and end of module assessments.
Rubrics will be used to grade and inform you of your child’s
progress on the mid module and end of module assessments.

13. Eureka School/Home Connection
Daily Extra Practice
The purpose of daily practice at home is to reinforce skills taught at school and increase the home/school connection. The expectation is that your child will be logging into Zearn and/or completing an extra practice sheet sent home in the fluency bag.
Letter/Login
Please refer to your parent informational letter with your online account login information.

14. Social Emotional Learning
Second Step SEL
Researched based program
30 minute lesson once a week
Engaging activities – fun songs and games
Children learn how to make new friends, manage their emotions, solve problems, and deal with peer pressure

15. Assessments
There are several types of assessment that will be given throughout the year. Some include: formal, informal, formative, summative, outcome and universal.
Information from the assessments will guide my instruction for your child.
FASTBRIDGE is the district adopted assessment in ELA and Math
FASTBRIDGE will be administered 3x per year in grades 1st and 2nd. Our first assessment window opens on August 28th.
FASTBRIDGE results will be used for third grade Advanced ELA placement (students must be in the 95%ile or above in their school)
Please contact Janet McClarence, Director of Curriculum & Instruction or Kirsten Frankovich, GP Principal with questions

16. Homework Homework will start in a few weeks-Check your newsletters!
Grand Prairie’s homework focus will be on building reading fluency and fact fluency.
Nightly reading from fluency bags
The children will be bringing home their purple fluency bags with books they have read during guided reading.
Please listen to your child read a few books each night.
The children will reread the same books for several days. This will help the children build fluency.
Return the book baggies to school each day.
Math Fact Practice ( or skill practice as needed
Weekly Journal Writing in notebook
Word Sorts from Words Their Way- I will
send home information when homework starts

17. Star of the Week Begins on September 9th.
Information will go home the Friday before you child is Star of the Week.
Fill out the interview form.
Send the interview form and some pictures to put on display.
Selected on behavior.

18. Classroom Rules
Be Kind
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Work Hard

19. Behavior Management
Students will be held accountable for expected school behavior.
No stop light system, we earn golden tickets by showing expected behavior. We can lose tickets and give them back to the class if unexpected behaviors occur. Students decided what unexpected behaviors should make the students give the tickets back to the class. On Friday students will come home with a sheet showing how many gold tickets they earned.
Concerns will be addressed quietly with the child.
Students will set their own behavioral goals each week and reflect.
Individual behavior plans will be made for students who need them.
Parents will be notified of unexpected behavior with the use of a Think Sheet (see back white board for example.) Think sheets are filled out by the student and signed by them. It must be signed by a parent or guardian and returned to school the following day. Please be sure to check your child’s folder nightly.

20. Discipline Continued- Positive Reinforcement
Every week students have an opportunity to earn Friday Fun!
On Friday students will count their golden tickets. If a student does well earning tickets, they will go right to Friday Fun. If a student doesn’t do well earning tickets we will spend some time discussing this (privately) and creating a goal together for next week before joining in on Friday Fun.
We receive cotton balls for compliments in the hallway. When the jar is full we will have a party.
Students caught showing great character will receive a Character Counts Award.
Students recognize other students’ positive
behavior by filling their buckets (see back
display).

21. Flexible Seating
What is it? Just like it sounds! There are several different spots to sit, stand, lay as students work throughout the day.
Why?
Meets the needs of all learners.  I cannot create a product or work on a lesson plan by staying in one spot the whole time....and I don't expect my students to either! It's not natural. I specifically want my students who have difficulty attending and who are hyperactive to have seating and work spots that help them do their best work.
Students have an opportunity to choose which results in more productivity.
Allows for more collaborative learning
Rules are posted and reviewed daily along with expected and
unexpected behavior photos.
Structure in the classroom will allow for this to be fun and successful!

22. Special Areas
We have a few special areas around the room that can be helpful for students to manage their feelings.
Conflict Corner- Students use the conflict corner to talk through their problems. They are taught to speak and listen respectfully. Students also learn how to manage their time in the conflict corner and solve their problems independently (when appropriate).
Calming corner- In our calming corner students are allowed to use the quiet, calm space to help them stay calm, get focused, and be ready to learn.

23. Parties and Volunteers
Party sign up has changed school wide. There is a note on the standing table for you to fill out and return if you would like to help at any party.
We need a room parent to plan and prepare for all parties!
Library is also looking for volunteers!
Volunteer to help at lunch

24. Communication
I will be using SeeSaw this year to share pictures and videos of students and their work! Please sign up (look in your child’s folder).
I will out a newsletter every Friday with important information such as what your child will be learning and what you can do at home to help. If you did not receive an from me already please let me know.
Important information can be found on the district website We have teacher pages on that website.
Most of my important information
will be sent you via seesaw, s, and my
weekly newsletter.

25. General Information
A lot of work is done in cooperative groups, on white boards, or hands on. There will not be a lot of papers sent home. Please read the newsletters to know what your child is working on weekly.
Papers may say “1-1”- This means your child needed extra support to complete the paper. He/She would benefit from practice at home.
Take Home Folders- please check them every night, empty them out, and return the next day.

26. Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent – teacher conferences are on November 25th and 26th.
Please sign up for a slot on the standing table.
There is also a sign in sheet on the table, please be sure to sign in.

27. Where can I see what my kids will be learning?
District office tab
Curriculum tab
ALL curricular expectations are listed for parents
Colleen

28. Hickory Creek guitars, music, green screen and PE Equipment
give. grant. grow.
MISSION: Raising funds throughout the year to fulfill teacher written grants. Over $2 million granted to date.
GRANTED TO: Grand Prairie, Chelsea and Hickory Creek
FUNDRAISERS: Annual Dinner Auction, Golf Outing, Coin Drive, Frankfort Fall Fest BETA Tent
RECENT GRANTS:
SMART BOARDS in 20 classrooms at Chelsea
Rebecca Caudill, Blue Stem and Monarch Book Programs
Electronic Signage at Chelsea
Razkids and Math Fact Programs at Grand Prairie
Hickory Creek guitars, music, green screen and PE Equipment
Netbooks and Tablet PCs at Hickory Creek
For more information and volunteering opportunities
visit our website at

29. Funding for field trips Sponsoring special assembly programs
The FSP is the Parent Teacher Organization for District 157-C. Our mission is designed to strengthen the partnership between home and school through parent volunteer opportunities, student enrichment activities and fun family events.
Some of the ways that we have enriched and supported the curriculum include:
Funding for field trips
Sponsoring special assembly programs
Providing scholarships
Providing curriculum enrichment funding to each school
Coordinating volunteers for all our events and programs
Each year we also hold FREE fun family events such as:
Fall Family Fun Night and Creative Arts Showcase at Grand Prairie
Exploration Night and Family Fitness Night at Chelsea
Come visit our table at Curriculum Night and visit us at
Like us on Facebook at
Contact us via at
Karen Monaco

31. Welcome to Meet and Greet!
*Check out the flexible seating options- Please be respectful of our seating options and be sure to put them back where you got them from!
* Get your bus tag and glow stick from your cubbie!
Supplies:
By the sink Kidney shaped desk By the front door
Soap pencils Kleenex
Paper towels erasers baggies
sticky notes wipes of any kind
green, blue, purple folders
In your cubbie
Labeled folders- red- work folder, yellow- test folder (markers are on front table)
Binder & headphones
labeled notebooks- writing homework, science, math, reader’s response
filled supplies box-1 box of crayons, Scissors, 3 sharpened pencils,
1 eraser, 1 glue stick, sock for eraser, 1 dry erase maker,
1 green felt tip pen/marker, 1 black felt tip pen, markers
All other supplies go in a zip lock bag and place in the bottom of
cubbie (bags are on the front kidney table if needed)