Welcome to First Grade

Welcome to First Grade Ecoff Elementary School Chester, VA

First Grade Team: • Beth Craig – Beth_Craig@ccpsnet.net • Mary Patrick – Mary_Patrick@ccpsnet.net • Emily Serfass – Emily_Serfass@ccpsnet.net • Sangeeta Lovisa – Sangeeta_Lovisa@ccpsnet.net • Cameron Baskerville- Cameron_baskerville@ccpsnet.net

First Grade Schedule • Arrival: 9:00 • Unpack/Breakfast: 9:00-9:15 • Morning Meeting: 9:15-9:40 • Guided Reading: 9:40-10:40 • Math: 10:40-11:40 • Recess: 11:40-12:00 • Lunch: 12:10-12:39 (Exact time will vary by teacher) • Shared Reading: 12:40-1:10 • Word Study: 1:10-1:30 • Writing: 1:30-2:15 • Resource: 2:15-3:00 • Snack 3:00 • Science/Social studies 3:00-3:45 • Dismissal: 3:50

Resource Schedule • Monday- Art • Tuesday- Music • Wednesday- Library • Thursday- Computer • Friday- P.E- Remember sneakers

Math • Strategy based learning. • We teach with hands on games and manipulatives, so you will not see a lot of worksheets. • There will be a monthly menu of math homework.

Guided Reading • During this time, small groups rotate and work with the teacher, instructional assistant, and independently. • The Daily 5 • Small groups will change according to each student’s developmental level. • RAZ-kids.com – more info to follow.

Shared Reading • Whole group reading and discussion of stories. • Comprehension strategies taught.

Writing • Writer’s workshop daily. • Writing prompt each 9 weeks. • Graded using a rubric. • Not all writing will come home.

Word Study • Spelling assessment is given to determine word study groups. • Groups will be made based on the pre-assessment. • Your child may not have the same words as a neighbor. • Word sort MUST stay in the zipper pouch found in your child’s binder. They must be returned to school daily for use in the classroom. • The pouch is for the sort only, NOT pencils! • Wall Words are also taught weekly • Students will complete practice sort tests on Thursday nights for homework. Students will be tested every Friday on sort words and wall words.

Science/Social Studies • Rotate topics throughout each 9 weeks. • Test study guides will be sent home before the test. Most topics will last 1-2 weeks. • Please keep the study guides in the binder in the page protector provided while we are studying that topic.

Assessments • DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment) is given each 9 weeks. • Students must be reading on a level 16 by the end of the year. The benchmark at the end of Kindergarten was a level 3. • PALS (Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening) assessed in the fall and the spring. • Will discuss DRA and PALS results at conference day in November. • Math number concept assessments will be given ongoing throughout the year to show growth.

Signed Papers • Graded papers are sent home for you to review with your child. • Sign the envelope and return the papers back to school the next day. • If any papers have a grade of M or N, please sign that individual paper as well. • Report card grades should not be a surprise if you have reviewed all of your child’s graded papers. • First set will come home October 2nd.

Grading Scale • E 94-100 • S 74-93 (big range) • M 73-64 • N 63 below

Supply Reminder • What we use them for • Why we need so many • How extras are stored • What is still needed

Blue Folder/Homework • Students will have NIGHTLY homework M-Th. • Please check your child’s blue folder/binder every day! • Homework is a part of our work and study habits grade on the report card. • Each child should be reading at least 10 minutes nightly. Reading to your child is a great way to build fluency. • Teacher websites will list homework as well. • Homework will begin Sept. 30th.

The Matthew Effect • Student who do not read regularly become weaker readers each year, while their peers who read become stronger readers. This creates an ever-widening achievement gap. • It is so important for students to read nightly. You may read to them, with them, or have them read to you. • Exposure is key!

Classroom Management Plan • We are a team! • Positive reinforcement - Refocus • Class rewards • Parent contact • No news is good news!

Show Off Learning • Opportunity for parents to see what’s happening in First Grade. • 2 times will be held throughout the year. • December 5th 10:10-10:40 • March 11th 11:10-11:40

Field Trips • We will go on 3 trips this year. • These trips will be related to our units of study and the SOLs. • Meadow Farms (Past and Present) • October 31st • Swift Creek Playhouse (Seasons) • December • Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens (Plants) • May

Attendance • If possible, schedule doctors visits during lunch and resource or after school. • If your child is tardy they will miss Guided Reading • If your child is picked up early they will miss Science and Social Studies. • Most class work is hands-on learning and difficult to make-up.

Snack • Send ONE healthy snack. • Be conscious of allergies in your child’s classroom. • Do not send drinks (water fountain available). • Please dry finger foods only! • Something they can eat quickly due to snack being eaten during instructional time.

Birthdays/Food at Ecoff The following is the school policy on birthdays as written in the handbook. •  First: If you bring food to your child at school, that you neither bring food for anyone else’s child nor share your or your child’s food with any other child. •  Second: If you wish to send treats for other students, that – regardless of whether for a birthday or any other celebration – you send non-food treats such as pencils, bookmarks, etc. •  Third: Unless specifically asked to do so, that you not send any food to school for consumption by other students. If asked, it must be pre-made, store-bought. • Students will be recognized on the announcements and in our classroom for their birthday.

Sign up for a conference! • Conference Day is Tuesday, Nov 5th. Please sign up for a time. • There is also a sign up for Room Parent and Room Parent Helpers.

Thank you for coming! I look forward to working with you! It’s going to be a GREAT First Grade Year! Mrs. Patrick  Technology Survey Link: http://www.bbyt.es Access Code: BN7FP

Welcome to First Grade