Miss Townsend’s First Grade

1. Miss Townsend’s First Grade Back to School Night 2013-2014 *Packet can be found on our classroom website, for your reference!*

2. Classroom Rules We reinforce the BV Virtues Compassionis treating others the way you want to be treated. Courageis trying new things in 1st Grade! Honesty is telling the truth. Perseveranceis working hard to always do your best! Respectis listening to others share. Responsibilityis taking care of school supplies and property. Self-Disciplineis following directions and making good choices.

3. Positive Rewards & Reinforcement • Students can earn a sticker for staying on green all day! • Students can visit the treasure box if their month card is full of stickers. • Students can receive multiple tickets throughout the day for showing the BV Virtues. Two names are pulled at the end of the day, and if the students remain on green, they get a treat and certificate to take home! • Warm fuzzies/cookie compliments

4. Behavior Plan STOPLIGHT • Students will start each day off on GREEN. • Should a student make a poor choice, he or she will have go to YELLOW (loss of 5 minutes of recess). • If poor behavior continues, he or she will go to RED (lose recess/note home).

5. Behavior Plan • Should a student earn a “Red,” a note will come home to be signed by the parent that will describe the behavior(s). • Students who remain on green will earn a virtue sticker for the day. • Please reinforce this behavior at home – if a sheet does not come home, commend your child for a job well done! You’ll be able to keep track by looking at the assignment sheet each night!

6. Reading • A balanced program filled with Whole Group Instruction, Non-Fiction pieces as well as fiction, Small Groups, Read Alouds, Phonics, Spelling, and Literature! (LEAD 21) • Students will learn strategies for decoding, fluency, and comprehension. • My goal is to give your child the skills they need to succeed and a LOVE of reading that will last a lifetime!

7. Reading at Home • Leveled readers will come home 1-2 times per week • Sight word list– these are a supplement to our Reading Curriculum • Students should be reading minutes each night for their Reading Calendar. For every 100 minutes of reading, they get a sticker on a “Bubble Gum Machine” picture. When gumballs have filled up their machine, they earn gumballs from the class gumball machine!

8. Reading Assessments • Sight words - students will be assessed throughout each Unit in Reading • Students will be assessed through MAP testing throughout the year • Teachers will use Running Records, quarterly benchmark assessments, weekly assessments, and classroom observations to assess the students

9. Writing Students will write every day in 1st grade for a variety of purposes! • Journal Writing • Writing Center • Writing Process (First Draft, Editing, Conferencing, Publishing, Sharing) • 6 Trait Writing (Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sent. Fluency, Conventions) • Different Forms of Writing – letters, personal narrative, research, technical

10. Written specifically to address the KCCRS Researched based Allows for conceptual development for essential understanding Creates problem based interactive learning Students build from concrete to pictorial and finally abstract thinking and use the 8 mathematical practices

11. Daily Lesson Outline: Consists of four parts: -Part one: Daily Review -Reviews key concepts from the previous day’s lessons in a variety of ways with 3-4 questions -Part Two: Problem Based Interactive Learning -Students are engaged in mathematical conversation by interacting with peers based on a question provided from their teacher, creating questions, using manipulatives, and using the mathematical practices.

12. Daily Lesson Outline: Part Three: Visual Learning, Guided Practice, Independent Practice and Problem Solving -Students can see and watch the visual learning animation to expand on the concept and then are guided through practice problems with the help of their teacher. Students are then asked to independently solve problems. This includes questions expanding on the days topic. PartFour: Close and Assess, Differentiated Instruction, and Leveled Homework -Students are assessed by their teacher and k-2 students move to centers which 3-5 students move to leveled homework. Guided math takes place.

13. EnVision Math: Divided into mathematical domains: 1. Operations in Algebraic Thinking 2. Number and Operations in Base 10 3. Number and Operations-Fractions (3-5) 4. Measurement and Data 5. Geometry * Counting and Cardinality (Kindergarten only) Each domain is taught through entirely before moving on to the next domain. Skills are reviewed from previous domains in the Daily Common Core Review of the daily lesson.

14. Resources for students: All students will receive login information for an account on www.pearsonsuccessnet.com ~This will give students and parents access to online games, daily visual learning bridge animation that reinforce the skills of the daily lesson, and a daily quiz that allows teachers to assess students learning. After completing that assessment students are provided with leveled homework based on the score of their assessment: Re-teaching, Practice and Enrichment

15. Mathematics 1st Grade has 16 Topics • Understanding Addition • Understanding Subtraction • Five &Ten Relationships • Addition & Subtraction Facts to 12 • Addition Facts to 20 • Subtraction Facts to 20 • Counting and Number Patterns to 120 • Tens and Ones

16. Mathematics 1st Grade has 16 Topics • Comparing & Ordering Numbers to 100 • Adding with Tens & Ones • Subtracting with Tens & Ones • Length • Time • Using Data to Answer Questions • Geometry • Fractions of Shapes

17. Fact Fluency • BV has implemented Kim Sutton’s Block 10, for grades K-5 • I refer this as our “Fact Fluency” time • Songs and games help students to understand the “rules” in math, while becoming fluent with their facts • Assessments are given with each strategy taught • Utilizing Flash Cards at home is a HUGE support!

18. Technology Opportunities There are many opportunities for your child to utilize technology with our curriculum both at school and at home. • Edmodo • Lead 21 • enVisions Passwords will be taped to the GO! Folders so students can access the websites for their homework as needed.

19. Science • Scientific Investigation • Living and Non-Living • Seasons • Nutrition • Human Body • Animals • Objects in the Sky • Weather • Plants • States of Matter

20. Social Studies • Communities • Christopher Columbus • Native Americans • Holidays Around the World • Economics • Kansas Day • Presidents and National Symbols • Maps

21. Field Trips • September 5th : Wilderness Science Center – DECOMPOSITION – • September 25th or 26th: Ernie Miller Nature Center: The Teepee *In House, meaning he comes to us! We are hoping the others we have planned fall into place for us! Stay tuned...

22. Homework – Check the Go Folder! • READ, READ & READ each and every night • Baggie Books – At least once a week! • Sight Words • Spelling Words Pre-test on Mondays, Post-test on Fridays • Math Papers • EDMODO, Lead 21, and enVisions access at home • Look for the FRIDAY FOLDER containing the week’s work!

23. Snack! • Please have your child use a water bottle with a flip lid • Please send in healthy treats off the “Nut Safe” list • Snack is during writing time – “Finger foods” are best • Please adhere to this for birthday treats as well. Drinks are not necessary for birthday celebrations

24. Pick Up! • Please stay in the office and your child will be sent to you. Your child cannot be released to you from the classroom. • Students will be standing with their older sibling outside if they are a car rider. • Please send in a note or call the office if there is any change in transportation for the afternoon

25. Contact Information • E-mail is the quickest way to get a message to me • http://www.bluevalleyk12.org/che • You may find notes in your child’s “Go Folder” • Check out my website for schedules etc. • An email containing the link to the FIRST GRADE FLASH (Friday Newsletter) will be mailed at the end of each week • Edmodo for updates

26. Class Donations We need lots of items to be organized and successful in first grade. If you feel that you can donate an item(s) please take a yellow slip and help fill our supplies! Thank you SO much!

27. I’m looking forward to a fantastic year!