Welcome to First Grade!

Back to School Night2011-2012

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Please visit the First Grade Blog regularly for important information!

– weekly curriculum updates– important upcoming events– grade level announcements

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Language ArtsShared Reading•Anthology books (whole class) with “Story of the Week”•Mini skills are taught with each story•Weekly end-of-selection tests (sent home each week)•End-of-Unit benchmark tests (5 units)

Guided ReadingIn guided reading, your child will work at their instructional reading level. Each teacher incorporates many different reading activities throughout the day to help your child become a successful reader! •Incorporating phonemic awareness lessons •Book n’ Bags/Reading Bags•Weekly reading logs-please sign and return every MONDAY!•5 Finger Strategies – see next slide for strategies•Nightly reading is critical to your child’s reading success!

Sight Word Practice•100 word list-automatic recognition•Helps with reading fluency

Five Finger Strategies

What are the 5 Finger Strategies?

1. Look at the pictures!

2. Get your lips ready to make the beginning sound of the word.

3. Skip the word and go back to reread to see what would make sense.

4. Is there a part of the word that you know (ex: and in candy)?

5. Take a guess. Fill it in with something that makes sense!

NOTE: Please reinforce these strategies at home while you read with your child every night. Thank you!

Sitton/Word Study Program• The Sitton Spelling program focuses on spelling features and incorporating correct

spelling when writing. The focus is on strategies, not short-term memorization.

• First Grade No Excuse Words– By the end of first grade, the children are expected to accurately spell the first

grade list of 35 No Excuse Words. New words will be introduced throughout each unit and assessed as well.

• “Brave Spelling”– When they are trying to spell a word they don’t know, rather than supplying the

word for them (with the exception of no excuse words/sight words), we tell them to “be brave” and try it on their own writing all the sounds they hear. This encourages them to take risks with their writing and prevents them from developing a fear of writing because they don’t know how to spell every word correctly.

• Starting the second grading period, short word study tests will be administered-the children will NOT study these words at home! They will be applying the skills they have learned and take these tests independently. More info. to come before the start of the second grading period!

- By the end of first grade, we expect the children to correctly spell the following word patterns:

• All short vowels: a, e, i, o, u• Beginning blends: ex-cr, br, tr, dr, tr, ch, cl, pl, sl, sn, sp• Beginning digraphs: ch, th, sh, wh• Ending blends: ex-ft, st, nt, nk, ng, nd, mp

Writing Workshop

• Use of logical inventive spelling

• Various writing activities: free choice writing, writing to a prompt, friendly letters, and creative story writing

• Sharing work with peers

• Each classroom follows a 5 day writing plan:Day 1: Web DayDay 2: Mini-Lesson DayDay 3: Modeling DayDay 4: Writing Workshop Day (independent writing with teacher support)Day 5: Conferencing/Free Choice Writing Day

• 6 Traits Mini-Lessons (voice, conventions, sentence fluency, word choice, organization, focus)

Handwriting

• uppercase and lowercase letters

• Correct Formation for Numbers and Letters (Note: Reversals are still common at the beginning of the year, but we continue to reinforce correct letter/number formation as the year progresses.)

• Please encourage your child to start from the top of the headline or midline when forming each letter. The hand movement should always be from top to bottom.

MathInvestigations

• In grade K-5, we use Investigations in Number, Data, and Space. This math may be very different than what parents experienced while in school themselves. Investigations is an innovative approach to teaching mathematical concepts based on engaging activities and group learning experiences. Students will solve problems by describing, comparing, and discussing their approaches. Communication about mathematics is central.

Math Advantage• We work to make sure children can break apart and put numbers together,

before memorizing number facts. Much of this is done through structuring numbers through 10, both concretely and visually. This early understanding of numbers will be the foundation they need for future mathematics.

Daily Routine and Calendar Activities• Math concepts, including structuring numbers, time and money, are

reinforced during daily routine and calendar activities.

Social Studies

• Good Citizenship• Government

• History/Timelines• Cultural Diversity• Economics

• Geography/Map Skills

Science

1st grade Key Topics• Animals–Needs & Habitats • Solids, Liquids & Gases• Force & Motion

• Plants

• Many of our science lessons are incorporated and linked to our reading and writing program.

• Our experiments allow the students to investigate, explore and observe. Many of these come from the AIMS program (Activities Integrating Math & Science).

Health

• Personal safety• How to ask for help• Nutrition and fitness• Dental health and personal hygiene• Healthy choices

• Many of our health lessons are incorporated and linked to our reading and writing program.

Ice Cream Social

Hope to see you at our annualMiller/Craddock Ice Cream Social!

Thursday, September 22nd 6:00 – 8:00pm

Leighton School Cafeteria