Mrs. Reynolds’sMrs. Reynolds’sFirst GradeFirst Grade

Curriculum NightCurriculum Night

Haddam ElementaryHaddam Elementary

September 2013September 2013

RSD 17 MISSION STATEMENTRSD 17 MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of Regional School District 17 The Mission of Regional School District 17 is to engage our students in an educational is to engage our students in an educational community that challenges students with community that challenges students with

high standards and builds their capacity to high standards and builds their capacity to succeed and their aspiration to improve succeed and their aspiration to improve

themselves and their society.themselves and their society.

GoalsGoals

Nurture the whole childNurture the whole child Improve academic skillsImprove academic skills Increase confidenceIncrease confidence Develop social skillsDevelop social skills Instill responsibilityInstill responsibility Create self-directed, life-long learnersCreate self-directed, life-long learners

… …in a caring, nurturing environment in a caring, nurturing environment

SpecialsSpecials

Monday – SpanishMonday – Spanish Tuesday – MusicTuesday – Music Wednesday – PE (plus extra PE every 3 weeks)Wednesday – PE (plus extra PE every 3 weeks) Thursday – ArtThursday – Art Friday – Library Friday – Library

Readers WorkshopReaders Workshop Your child will participate in many reading related Your child will participate in many reading related

activities each day:activities each day:

- Mini-lesson with accountable talk- Mini-lesson with accountable talk

- Independent reading (book boxes)- Independent reading (book boxes)

- Individual reading conferences - Individual reading conferences

- Reading groups / Strategy groups- Reading groups / Strategy groups

- Word Work/ Phonics (Reading Rotation)- Word Work/ Phonics (Reading Rotation)

- Class Read Alouds- Class Read Alouds

- The more opportunities your child has to experience- The more opportunities your child has to experience

text, the stronger the reader he/she will becometext, the stronger the reader he/she will become

Raz-KidsRaz-Kids

www.raz-kids.com Your child will be able to log on to this site Your child will be able to log on to this site

both at home and school.both at home and school. Allows for independent reading / listening/ Allows for independent reading / listening/

comprehension at your child’s reading levelcomprehension at your child’s reading level Progress will be monitored by the classroom Progress will be monitored by the classroom

teacherteacher

LexiaLexia

Builds reading / phonics skillsBuilds reading / phonics skills Site can be used both at home and at schoolSite can be used both at home and at school Program will automatically move your child Program will automatically move your child

up as they complete levelsup as they complete levels

MathMath Number Sense (Number Sense (involving counting & writing numbers to involving counting & writing numbers to

120, addition/subtraction to 10 with fluency, place value120, addition/subtraction to 10 with fluency, place value)) Problem solving Problem solving (children learn to explain/show their (children learn to explain/show their

thinking)thinking)

Measurement with non-standard unitsMeasurement with non-standard units Time to the hour & half-hourTime to the hour & half-hour Geometry (Geometry (discovering fractions of a whole in shapes)discovering fractions of a whole in shapes)

Math facts: The value of learning math facts Math facts: The value of learning math facts cannot be underestimated!cannot be underestimated!

Symphony MathSymphony Math

A math website to enhance your child’s A math website to enhance your child’s understanding of math number sense and understanding of math number sense and computations.computations.

It is very important not to help your child It is very important not to help your child solve the exercises as it will cause them to be solve the exercises as it will cause them to be moved up to levels that they are not moved up to levels that they are not developmentally ready for.developmentally ready for.

Writers WorkshopWriters Workshop Mini-lesson with teacher modeling of skills followed by Mini-lesson with teacher modeling of skills followed by

independent practiceindependent practice Narrative writingNarrative writing Nonfiction writingNonfiction writing Persuasive writingPersuasive writing Fiction writingFiction writing

Use authors as mentorsUse authors as mentors Making booksMaking books Use writing process: plan, write, revise, edit, publish, share Use writing process: plan, write, revise, edit, publish, share

(Culminating in an Author’s Tea)(Culminating in an Author’s Tea)

HomeworkHomework

Students will usually be assigned homework Students will usually be assigned homework every night except Fridaysevery night except Fridays

Students will be bringing home independent Students will be bringing home independent books on their levelbooks on their level

Students are expected to complete the Students are expected to complete the homework sheet, practice spelling words homework sheet, practice spelling words nightly, and READ every night.nightly, and READ every night.

Homework FoldersHomework Folders

Should be checked every night including Should be checked every night including FridaysFridays

Homework and forms should be put in as soon Homework and forms should be put in as soon as they are completedas they are completed

Tell your child when you are putting in a noteTell your child when you are putting in a note Homework folders need to be returned every Homework folders need to be returned every

day – even if the homework isn’t completed day – even if the homework isn’t completed

Behavior Management and Behavior Management and ExpectationsExpectations

Show self-controlShow self-control Cooperate Cooperate Respect othersRespect others Listen and follow directionsListen and follow directions Work independently and stay on taskWork independently and stay on task Sign and follow our Social ContractSign and follow our Social Contract Use of the Rainbow ChartUse of the Rainbow Chart

Changes in TransportationChanges in Transportation

Please send a note on the day of the event Please send a note on the day of the event Please do NOT email changesPlease do NOT email changes

One note for changes that will be in place for One note for changes that will be in place for the whole year will sufficethe whole year will suffice

If your child’s weekly schedule varies, be sure If your child’s weekly schedule varies, be sure to remind him/her of the plan each morningto remind him/her of the plan each morning

We can NOT make changes in transportation We can NOT make changes in transportation based solely on your child’s wordbased solely on your child’s word

LUNCHLUNCH

Students no longer buy tickets in the cafeteria. To Students no longer buy tickets in the cafeteria. To help make the mornings in the classroom a little help make the mornings in the classroom a little smoother, please send lunch money in an smoother, please send lunch money in an envelope/bag with the student’s and teacher’s name.envelope/bag with the student’s and teacher’s name.

Students are encouraged to prepay for lunches.Students are encouraged to prepay for lunches. Milk alone is 50 cents but is included in paid lunches.Milk alone is 50 cents but is included in paid lunches. Please remind your child if and what they are buyingPlease remind your child if and what they are buying

IMPORTANT!!IMPORTANT!! Morning snacks cannot contain nuts (peanuts AND tree nuts) or be manufactured in a facility that Morning snacks cannot contain nuts (peanuts AND tree nuts) or be manufactured in a facility that

processes nut productsprocesses nut products Please label your child’s morning snack.Please label your child’s morning snack. Safe snacks include:Safe snacks include:

Goldfish Goldfish PretzelsPretzels PopcornPopcorn Pirate’s BootyPirate’s Booty Smart FoodSmart Food

Tortilla ChipsVeggie ChipsGraham CrackersApplesuaceFruit Roll-up

VolunteersVolunteers

Room Parents : organize celebrations for our Room Parents : organize celebrations for our holiday party, Valentine’s Day, our author holiday party, Valentine’s Day, our author celebration, and an end of year party.celebration, and an end of year party.

Work at home on projectsWork at home on projects Sharing special interests/talents with classSharing special interests/talents with class Mystery ReaderMystery Reader

Book ClubBook Club

We participate in Scholastic book clubs.We participate in Scholastic book clubs. Order online or send forms into school.Order online or send forms into school. We earn bonus points that are used to build We earn bonus points that are used to build

our classroom library.our classroom library.

Report Card/ConferencesReport Card/Conferences

October – conferencesOctober – conferences December – first report cardDecember – first report card March – report cardMarch – report card April – conferencesApril – conferences June – report cardJune – report card

Any time you have a question/concern about your Any time you have a question/concern about your child’s progress, please don’t hesitate to contact me.child’s progress, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

As sugar and flour come together to makeAs sugar and flour come together to makeA wonderful cookie creation that you bake,A wonderful cookie creation that you bake,

Parents and teachers join as oneParents and teachers join as oneTo create an educated daughter or son. To create an educated daughter or son.

It takes lots of love, caring and understandingIt takes lots of love, caring and understandingBut an individual will emerge who is special But an individual will emerge who is special

notwithstanding.notwithstanding.We will work together to help each child bloomWe will work together to help each child bloom

So they can grow and prosper as they learn in this room. So they can grow and prosper as they learn in this room. So I share this little confection with you as I saySo I share this little confection with you as I say

I am committed to helping your child grow each and every I am committed to helping your child grow each and every day. day.

Yes, the road is long, but the journey's begunYes, the road is long, but the journey's begun As we strive to educate your daughter or your son. As we strive to educate your daughter or your son.