Back to School Night September 23, 2015

of First Grade

The

s

Attendance• Unless your child is ill, please make every

attempt to have your child present at school and on time.

• Our day beings promptly at 9:05 and the dismissal time is 3:35.

• If your child is going to be out, please call before 9:00 A.M. on the day of absence. Otherwise you are required to provide a written note on the first day your child returns to school. Please include date, duration, and specific reason for absence.

Behavior• Every student is expected to follow the 5 BEEsBEE Respectful Always BEE WorkingBEE Responsible BEElieve in YourselfBEE Safe• Students that choose to follow the rules will move up the

clip chart and earn rewards.• Likewise, there will be consequences for students that

CHOOSE to break the rules (moving down the clip chart, time outs, parent contact, or in extreme cases a visit to the principal’s office, etc.)

PinkOutstanding!

If you move to Outstanding, you’ll get todecorate your clip and take a happy notehome! You will also be able to choose a reward coupon.

PurpleGreat choice!

As you continue to make good choices, you’lladvance to “Great choice!”.

BlueGood choice!

Making a good choice will help you move up tothe blue section of our chart.

GreenReady to learn

You will get to start out each day on “Readyto Learn”. You will move your clip up or downdepending on your choices each day.

YellowSlow down

If you receive a warning, you will move yourclip down to help you remember to think about

your choices.Orange

Think about itIf you continue to make poor choices, you will

move to “Think about it”. You will think about it at a table by yourself until you are ready to join

the group again.Red

Parent contactIf you still choose to make bad decisions, you

will move to “Parent contact”. You will get a note or phone call home.

Curriculum• English Language Arts• Mathematics• Science• Social Studies

• We will continue to use Reading Street.

• Each week our new story will allow us to integrate writing, science or social studies as we build on reading skills.

• 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.

• We will focus on the following throughout the year:Phonemic AwarenessPhonicsSpellingFluencyHigh Frequency WordsComprehensionVocabularyWriting and ConventionsListening and Speaking

• 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.

New Program: GO MATH!

By the end of first grade, students…• 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

Each lesson begins with the students solving real-world math problems and recording their “mathematical-thinking” and solutions in Math Books and Daily Calendars.

1st grade students will learn that:

• Weather can be observed, measured and described.

• Matter exists in three forms.• Plants and animals meet their needs in different ways.

1st grade students will learn about:

• Families• People from other cultures• Holiday origins and traditions• Symbols, icons, and traditions of the United States

• Maps and globes

Differentiated InstructionIn 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.

Email addressMy school email address is liscio.s@deptford.k12.nj.us. I check email daily. If you have an email address that you’d like me to be aware of, please let me know.

Field TripsFirst grade visits the Philadelphia Zoo in the spring! It’s an exciting chance to see in person the animals that we will be reading and writing about

this year!

Grades

ELA and MathStudents will be evaluated through tests and teacher

observation.ELA is broken down into 5 categories and Math has 4 categories.

Students will be graded on a 4 point scale.4 (91%-100%) exceeded expectations

3 (90%-76%) met expectations*&^%$2 (75%-66%) has shown growth

1 (65% or below) needs intensive support

Homework• Every night, students are expected to complete their homework which is located in

the front of their blue homework folder.• Reading packets will go home on the first day

of the story. We will start out with a 5 day cycle and then move to a 6 day cycle. Check the due date on the packet.

• Math homework is typically given Monday through Thursday and needs to be returned daily.

Independence

By the end of first grade, your child will be able to work independently in all areas of the curriculum! Together, we can provide your child with the support and encouragement he/she needs to meet this goal!

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.

Keeping Informed

•Make sure to read the weekly news letter.

•Watch for emails.

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.

Math This year we will be using “Go Math” as our

math program. Students will be exposed to math skills in a sequential order through whole group and small group instruction. Students will be exposed to math in a hands on way using the Smartboard and math games.

NotesPlease send a note with your child if:• If you know your child will be missing school for an

extended period of time.• 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 emails from the office and me, and don’t forget to check the homework folder nightly. This will be my primary way to communicate with you.

Other Items• Homework Folders• Birthdays• Class Parties• Scholastic Book Orders

Parent-Teacher Conferences• Parent/Teacher conferences will be held in

December and February. During this conference, we will be discussing your child’s strengths and weaknesses, homework, behavior and any additional concerns you may have.

QuestionsPlease feel free to contact me anytime you have

questions. You can do this in a variety of ways:• Write a note• Send an email• Call me at school• Make an appointment for a conference

Report CardsReport cards will be available on-line once each quarter.

November 23rdFebruary 8th

April 18thJune 14th

Snack/Specials• Please send in a snack and juice for your child

everyday.• Our specials will follow an A – F cycle• Day A Library• Day B Phys. Ed.• Day C and D Music• Day F Art

TechnologyYour child will have the opportunity to use the computer, IPad, and Smartboard during whole group instruction, small group instruction and center time.

Units of Study1st Grade Unit Themes in Reading Street

My WorldAnimals, Tame and Wild

CommunitiesChangesTreasures

Great Ideas

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. You will be asked to show a photo ID.

Weekly Tests and Math AssessmentsEvery week the students will be assessed in reading and spelling. These tests will be administered Fridays for the Review Unit. Beginning with Unit 1, a spelling and story test will be given at the conclusion of the 6 day story cycle.

Please take the time to look the tests over each week and review any skills or areas of weakness with your child.

Fridays/End of 6 Day Story Cycle Math AssessmentsSpelling Test Math Chapter TestReading Story Test Math Quarterly Test

EXitParents and visitors must enter and exit the school through the Monmouth Road doors, and check in at the Main Office. Be prepared to show your license or other form of ID.

• 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!

You

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.

• This year will ZOOM by, so let’s make the most of it!

• Once again, 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 email at liscio.s@deptford.k12.nj.us or call the school to schedule a time for us to meet.

WELCOME TO OUR CLASS!