Welcome to First Grade!

1. Welcome to First Grade! SMES Parent Night August 11, 2011

2. Reminders from the Office • Attendance – 1 preapproved, supervision @7:00 • Send written absences excuses in when child returns • Transportation changes – email or note • Acceptable Use Policy – Handbook Form • Ethics – Classrooms gifts; personal gifts not to exceed $25

3. Sight Words and Reading Homework • Two Types of Sight Words Colored Paper – read White Paper – spell • Learn to read first set by Christmas and second set by May • Read take home book(s) NIGHTLY with your child and then sign log sheet

4. Reading Instruction • Levelized Reading Assessment • Benchmarks – C in August, F in January and G in May • Daily Integrated Read Aloud and Mini-lesson Phonics/Word Analysis and /or Comprehension Focus • Individual Conferences • Intervention Small Groups • SIGN UP FOR FRIDAY ASSESSMENT

5. Selected Reading Skills • Short Vowels and Short Vowel Families Rhyming words with ending like -an, -ot, -ug, etc. • Long Vowels and Long Vowel Families Rhyming words with endings like –ake, -oke, -ice, etc. • Consonant Blends (l, r and s blends) • Digraphs (sh, ch, th, and wh) • R controlled vowels (er, ir, ar, ur, and or) • Vowel Digraphs – ea, au, aw, etc.

6. Selected Reading Concepts • Identifying story elements (characters, setting, problem, solution) • Sequencing a story • Identifying main idea and supporting details • Visualizing (movie in your mind) • Drawing inferences and conclusions • Identifying and explaining cause and effect

7. Writing Instruction • Components – letter formation, grammar and content • Daily News – integration of many skills • Whole Class Mini-lessons • Individual Conferences • Independent Directed Writing

8. Math • Individual Assessment in August, January and May • Components – Number Fluency, Computation and Problem Solving • Number Fluency Benchmarks August 3-5, January 3-6 and May 3-7 • Addition and Subtraction Facts January - sums up to 10 May – sums to 20 and differences to 10

9. Selected Math Units of Study • Counting, ordering, comparing, adding and subtracting whole numbers • Comparing, classifying, representing and building two dimensional shapes • Solving story problems with addition and subtraction • Measuring length using nonstandard units correctly

10. Selected Math Units of Study cont. • Telling time on an analog clock to the 5 minute interval • Identifying the coins and counting a combination of coins up to $1 • Creating, describing and extending patterns with a variety of manipulatives and numbers • Counting and writing numbers up to 100 and beyond

11. Parent Help • Amy Mayhew – Room Mother Help her with parties and special day volunteers • Read with kids and check their sight words Email and then come ready to work • Field Trip Chaperones Art Museum, Children’s Theater and Botanical Gardens • Come eat lunch with us@11:05

12. Birthdays • Email reminder and then send individual portions (NO items requiring cutting or scooping) • Best choices are cookies, rice krispy treats, or other prepackaged small items • PLEASE NO CUPCAKES OR CAKES • Summer Birthday? Let’s celebrate in May • Invitations? Invite everyone or all one gender

13. Contact Information • Email - ssteinbeck@hoover.k12.al.us I check it many times throughout the day • Look for weekly emails highlighted what’s happening