1. Welcome to First Grade
The establishment of expectations and routines are the major focus of the first six weeks of each school year.
As a first grade team, our first job is to build, with the children, the foundation for a productive and cooperative year of learning and an atmosphere of support and collaboration.

2. What Will We Be Learning?

3. Small Group Instruction
Language Arts
Whole Group and
Small Group Instruction
Guided Reading/Writing
Phonics or Word Study
Independent Reading/Writing
Modeled mini-lessons

4. Daily 5 Tasks Read to self
(read the words, read the pictures, retell the story)
Read to someone (read with a partner)
Listen to reading (books on computer)
Work on writing
Word work
(Words Their Way sorts, “chunks”, vowel patterns)
We will be working with guided reading groups,
strategy groups, one –on-one

5. Just Right Books
If your child can read most of the words on the page without error, then it is probably just right.
100%-95% = independent
94%-90% = instructional
below 89% = frustration
District BenchmarkTargets
Nov = E
March=G
June = I
*Fluency, accuracy and comprehension are all factors in determining an instructional level.

6. Spelling/Word Work Spelling, vocabulary, phonics instruction program.
Students have been pre-tested and will be placed in an appropriate level of instruction after assessment.
Word Study involves phonics, vocabulary, being able to read words with certain patterns, spelling words in writing, etc.
May involve sorts that include pictures, words, spelling patterns, beginning sounds, ending sounds.
The purpose of the sorts is the child to learn the spelling rule
Each week there will be 3 high frequency words
Your child will receive their words on Monday and the test will be on Friday
We will also work during the week on the specific skill

7. Working Memory/Automaticity
Age MemoryCapacity Time on Task
O minutes
OO minutes
OOO minutes
OOOO minutes
OOOOO minutes
OOOOOO minutes
OOOOOOO minutes
Develop
Automaticity
80 IQ=55x 100 IQ=35x 120 IQ=25X
Drill & Practice
70% to 85% Known

8. Writer’s Workshop
Goal: Students to improve on their spacing between words, letter formation, spelling, ideas, and their organization.
Units of study include:
Small Moments (personal narrative)
Revision
How-To
Authors as Mentors
Opinion Letter Writing
Non-fiction

9. Math is taught using whole groups,
Bridges Math
Number Corner Daily
Supplemental Materials
The goal for students in math is to gain a basic understanding of numbers (number sense), add and subtract numbers with accuracy, identify and count coins, tell time, estimate, read and understand a graph, 3D shapes and fractions.
Math is taught using whole groups,
small groups, independent practice and games.

10. Steps of the Scientific Process
New Plants
Air & Weather
Solids & Liquids

11. What is a Citizen?
What Is A Family?
How Do We Get What We Need or Want?
How Do We Learn About Places?
How Do We Learn About the Past?
Core Democratic Values
-Truth, Justice, Rule of Law

12. Data Notebooks
Data Notebooks are a way for students to keep track of their:
test scores
goals (personal and academic)
behavior (if needed)
Provide visual aids (graphs) for students to monitor progress over time.
Data Notebooks encourage students to take responsibility for their learning and also help reinforce many concepts taught in the classroom.

13. Data Notebooks-Why?
Data Notebooks empower students by: *Teaching RESPONSIBILITY and ORGANIZATION
*Students become accountable for their learning.
*Track student progress
*Provide visuals (65% of the population learn visually)
*Help plan for success
*Quick reference
*Great tool for parent conferences

14. In the classroom and media center
Use of laptop carts
-Compass Learning
-Xtra Math
- Raz-Kids
-Basic Microsoft Word

15. Homework About 10-20 minutes per day Read at home (books sent home)
Practice word sorts
Read & Write high frequency words
Practice basic math facts
Practice counting money
Expand on a basic assignment
Computer enrichments
Bridges Home Connections

16. “If you promise not to believe everything your child says happens at school, I'll promise not to believe everything he says happens at home. ”
~Anonymous Teacher