Welcome to First Grade

First Grade Team

• Leslie Behrends• Melissa O’Connor• Dana Tecza

Parents’ Responsibilities

• Visitor’s badge -Sign in at the office

• We recommend that an adult accompany your child home during the first two weeks of school.

• Absences & tardiness– Returning child must have a written excuse

• Homework Folders– Check daily for school information

Student Expectations

• In the classroom children are expected to:– Raise a hand to speak– Listen carefully and follow directions– Work quietly and give their best effort– Be respectful to each other– All teachers implement strategies to

encourage appropriate behavior.

Language Arts

(Reading, Writing, Spelling)

Five Big Ideas in Reading:

*From the National Council of Reading

-Phonological Awareness

-Phonics

-Vocabulary

-Comprehension

-Fluency

Language Arts Continued

District Reading Series:

Publisher: Harcourt Trophies

• Research-based, developmental program• Variety of genres and styles• Leveled books provide reading at individual levels• Assess students reading level periodically throughout

the year

Writer’s Workshop • Mt. Lebanon teaches the same writing

process from K-12th grade• First graders spend 45 minutes of their day in

writing workshop• 1st Quarter- Rituals and Routines, Narrative

Account• 2nd Quarter-Narrative Procedure • 3rd Quarter-Report Writing• 4th Quarter- Functional Writing (procedural

and letter writing)

What is the Writing Process?

• Mini Lesson – procedures, author’s chair• Prewriting-generate ideas, decide on purpose, focus

on the topic, arrange ideas logical order.• First Draft – keep writing, don’t worry about

mistakes-just get your ideas down• Revising – make complete sentences, clarify ideas • Editing – proofread for errors in grammar, usage,

spelling, and mechanics• Author’s Chairs – Selected students share work

Spelling

• Part of the Harcourt integrated language arts program

• Lists will come home each Monday in your child's homework folder

• Spelling tests will be every Friday• High frequency words and word family words

are included• Invented spelling is developmentally

appropriate for regular writing assignments

Mathematics

• Dual Usage Program

• Scott Foresman Addison Wesley

• Investigations

• We are in the Second Year of a Two-year implementation plan for a new k-5 mathematics program.

Mathematics Continued

• SFAW –Scott Foresman Addison Wesley• Traditional text focusing on procedural Understanding• Learn, Check, Think About It, Practice Learning cycle• Problem Solving, technology, and manipulatives

integrated into lessons• Math facts- Addition and Subtraction mastery to 12.

(Good solid understanding to 18.) Math Minutes will start with addition during the second grading period.

Mathematics Continued

• Investigations• Organized into 3 to 8 week units • Units Include: Geometry, Addition and Subtraction, Data

Analysis and Measurement• Activity-Based program focusing on concepeptual understanding

built over time• Teacher as facilitator• Student-centered to encourage creative thinking (Students

construct knowledge)• Mathematical connections are inherent in the units• Students participate in engaging games that reinforce their

understanding of important mathematical concepts and skills• Students work cooperatively with their classmates.

Science

A hands on approach is used, teaching children to explore, reflect, and apply as they investigate.

• Air & Weather

• Insects

• Health Science (senses)

Social Living

• Heartwood– Respect, Courage, Loyalty, Love, Justice,

Honesty, and Hope

• Weekly Reader

• Social Studies Alive

Homework• Vocabulary/High Frequency Words

– Check every Friday

• Spelling– Test every Friday

• Reading- 15 minutes each night

• Math - worksheets, flashcards, games

Multiple Assessment Criteria

• Points and Percentages

• Rubrics

• Observations

• Reading Screening DIBELS – 3X a year

• Report Cards – after every nine weeks

First Grade Specialsby the Day

• Monday – Music• Tuesday – Music, Gym• Wednesday- Spanish, Library• Thursday – Art• Friday – Spanish, Gym