Welcome to First Grade!

Meet Our Team

Angela Allen Melissa Bemis Amanda Cary Jenny Ibarra/Diane Riley Kristin Kappenman

Birthday Celebrations

Kyrene District Policy:

“We understand that parents and friends like to celebrate

various occasions. However, balloons, cakes, candy,

flowers, etc. cause many distractions and cannot be

allowed on campus or on the bus. These items are

disruptive in the classroom and are a safety concern on

the bus. If they are delivered they will be kept in the

office. This policy helps to ensure that instructional time

is protected and that all students are treated equally.”

Reading

Text: Harcourt Trophies A researched-based, developmental reading/language arts program.

The program contains:

* Explicit phonics instruction

* Direct reading instruction

* Guided reading strategies

* Phonemic awareness instruction

* Systematic, intervention strategies

* Assessment tools

Language Arts

Each weekly lesson will include:

– A big book

– Story of the week in student anthology

– Decodable book

– Phonemic awareness activities

– High frequency words

– Comprehension activities

– Various writing activities

1st Grade Phonics Skills Rhymes 1st, middle, and last sounds in spoken and written words (recognize) Short and long vowels Wh, ch, sh, th at beginning, middle and end of words R, l, s clusters Contractions Double final consonants Two sounds of c and g Silent consonants – kn, wr, mb Vowel pairs – ee, ea, oa, oe, ow, ou, oo, ew, ue Sounds for y Endings – s, ing, ed, est, ly, ful, y, es, ies, (changing y to i), er, est Long i- igh, ight Compound words Ar, er, ir, ur, or, ear, wor Sounds for s (s, z) Recite alphabet Alphabetize to 1st letter

Reading Strategies

1. Go back and read again…

2. Try the beginning sound and read to the end…

3. Go back and read again…

4. Look at the pictures…

5. Now have a try Does it make sense?

Does it look right?

Does it sound right?

Go on.

1st Grade Writing Handwriting

• D’Nealian Handwriting Program

• Our main goal is to help your child write legibly.

• Most Lower case letters are written with one continuous stroke.

•Most upper case letters have two strokes.

•D’Nealian will allow your child to make an easier transition to cursive in second grade.

•We encourage you to use the D’Nealian alphabet and numbers at home during homework.

Writing Program Six-Trait Writing

Six traits writing include:

1. Ideas

2. Organization

3. Voice

4. Word choice

5. Sentence fluency

6. Conventions

Writing will include:

Writing – Thinking aloud as children watch the

teacher write – daily lessons. Emphasis on writing conventions – capitals, spelling, punctuation, etc.

– Children write to each other or pen pals, especially at the writing center. They write cards, notes, or letters and then deliver them to classmates’ mailboxes.

Writing

– Morning journals – sentence correction – emphasis on writing conventions – capitals, spelling, punctuation, etc.

– Composing group experience stories, recipes, letters – teacher writes as children participate in the process – shaping their ideas, choosing their words, reading what has been written, etc.

– Rewriting familiar books as a class

Writing – Writer’s Workshop – individual stories

that have gone through the writing process – brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, publishing

– Journals – read aloud to teacher and class

– Writing center

– Mini-lessons before writing times – grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.

– Book of squiggles

Arizona 2010 Mathematics

Standards or… The Common Core

ADE and The Kyrene School

District

An expectation of students at each grade level, putting

students, parents, teachers, and school administrators on the same page, working toward shared goals.

A progression of learning expectations.

While most states already have mathematics standards in place, they vary widely from state to state in their coverage and level of rigor.

What are the Common Core Standards?

Aligned with college and work expectations

Rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills

Informed by other top-performing countries so that all students are prepared to succeed in a global economy and society

Source: http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards/

What are the Common Core Standards?

A common set of standards ensures that all students, no matter where

they live, will be focused on graduating from high school.

In an increasingly mobile society, families with children transferring to new schools will not have to adjust to new learning expectations.

Standards will be the same for all students in states adopting them, making transitions smoother for students.

All students must be prepared to compete with not only their American peers in the next state, but with students from around the world

Why is This Important?

Links for more information

Arizona Department of Education

http://www.ade.az.gov/standards/contentstandards.asp

Math Resources

Investigations is an application based math resource. It encourages students to think creatively, develop critical thinking skills and acquire a deeper understanding of the mathematical content.

This is our primary resource. We also use other resources in supporting our teaching of the common core standards.

Science

Science will be taught in units.

Topics include:

•Rocks & Earth

•Sky & Weather

•Living Things and Their Habitats

•Movement and Balance

•People and Careers in Science

Social Studies The social studies curriculum is from Harcourt

Social Studies. The themes include: School Rules Solve a problem Community Rules Map and Globe skills People Lead the way Make a Choice by Voting Government Helps Us / Citizenship Our Rights / Work and Play together

Curriculum and Materials which include:

– Big Books

– Literature

– Maps

– Atlas

Social Studies

Technology

KTTP – Kyrene Teaches With Technology Project.

Integrate technology in everyday teaching.

All classrooms contain 2 desktops, 5 laptops, a projector and a Smartboard.

Our first grade teachers attend meetings to further knowledge and ideas of using technology in our classrooms.

Goal – For you to notice your child’s improvement in using the computer.

Computer Lab

One time per week we are in the computer lab.

Goals:

Recognize and use the computer effectively.

To create a PowerPoint slide show.

Use various programs such as; Pixie, Kidspiration, and Smart Notebook.

Use educational websites to enhance a unit.

School Wide Behavior Plan

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT STEPS

Step 1: Friendly Reminder

Step 2: Refocus Desk (in classroom)

Step 3: Call Parent

Step 4: Refocus Desk (in another classroom)

Step 5: Office Referral

Good behavior is rewarded with pride slips and individual incentives.

Thank you for coming!

We will be available in our classrooms if needed.

Have a great evening!