Back to School Night September 10, 2014

1. The s of First Grade Back to School Night September 10, 2014

2. Attendance • Unless your child is ill, please make every attempt to have your child present at school and on time. • Our day beings promptly at 9:00 and the dismissal time is 3:30. • If your child is going to be out, please call before 9:00 A.M. on the day of absence. Otherwise you are required to provide a written note on the first day your child returns to school. Please include date, duration, and specific reason for absence.

3. Every student is expected to follow the 5 BEEs BEE Respectful Always BEE working BEE Responsible BEElieve in Yourself BEE safe • Students that choose to follow the rules will move up the clip chart and earn rewards. • Likewise, there will be consequences for students that CHOOSE to break the rules (moving down the clip chart, time outs, parent contact, or in extreme cases a visit to the principal’s office, etc.) Behavior

5. Pink Outstanding! If you move to Outstanding, you’ll get a special sticker.You will also be able to choose a reward coupon! Purple Great choice! As you continue to make good choices, you’ll advance to “Great choice!”. Blue Good choice! Making a good choice will help you move up to the blue section of our chart. Green Ready to learn You will get to start out each day on “Ready to Learn”. You will move your clip up or down depending on your choices each day. Yellow Slow down If you receive a warning, you will move your clip down to help you remember to think about your choices. Orange Think about it If you continue to make poor choices, you will move to “Think about it”. You will think about it at a table by yourself until you are ready to join the group again. Red Parent contact If you still choose to make bad decisions, you will move to “Parent contact”. You will get a note or phone call home.

6. English Language Arts • Mathematics • Science • Social Studies Curriculum

7. We will be implementing a new reading program this year called Reading Street. • Each week our new story will allow us to integrate writing, science or social studies as we build on reading skills.

8. A variety of grouping strategies will be utilized to deliver our reading and language arts curriculum. Whole class and small group lessons will be delivered to ensure mastery of skills. • We will focus on the following throughout the year: Phonemic Awareness Phonics Spelling Fluency High Frequency Words Comprehension Vocabulary Writing and Conventions Listening and Speaking

9. We do lots of writing in first grade. Children are encouraged to use phonetic spelling when they first start. Our goal is to encourage risk taking and independence in writing. Part of this process is to stress to children that phonetic spelling is acceptable, and to build their confidence in their ability to communicate in writing even if they can’t spell the word with “dictionary spelling.” • However, as high frequency words and spelling rules are introduced children will gradually move toward more conventional spelling.

10. By the end of first grade, students… • Understand and use the concept of “ones” and “tens” • Add and subtract numbers to 20 with ease • Tell time to the half hour • Count, write and order numbers to 120 • Measure with simple units • Identify and locate shapes in their environment • Each day begins with the students solving real-world math problems and recording their “mathematical-thinking” and solutions in Math Journals and Daily Calendars. • Math instruction concludes with a lesson in our Everyday Math books.

11. 1st grade students will learn that: • Weather can be observed, measured and described. • Matter exists in three forms. • Plants and animals meet their needs in different ways.

12. 1st grade students will learn about: • Families • People from other cultures • Holiday origins and traditions • Symbols, icons, and traditions of the United States • Maps and globes

13. In order to provide the best possible instruction to each child…. • Not all children will be on the same page, in the same book, at the same time. • Please let me know if your child is really struggling or if he/she is not being challenged. Differentiated Instruction

14. My school email address is liscio.s@deptford.k12.nj.us. I check email daily. If you have an email address that you’d like me to be aware of, please let me know. Email address

15. First grade visits the Philadelphia Zoo in the spring! It’s an exciting chance to see in person the animals that we will be reading and writing about this year! Field Trips

16. Grades ELA (reading, writing and grammar) Students will be graded on homework, tests and quizzes. A letter grade of A, B, C, D, or F will appear on the report card. Math Students are assessed using classwork, tests and teacher observation. B-beginning D-developing S-secure

17. Every night, students are expected to complete their homework which is located in the front of their blue homework folder. • Reading packets will go home on the first day of the story. We will start out with a 5 day cycle and then move to a 6 day cycle. Check the due date on the packet. • The homework is also written in their assignment books. Homework

18. Ice Cream • Starting in October, ice cream will be sold on Wednesdays for $0.60. You will receive information from the cafeteria before the sale begins allowing you to pay for the whole year, partial year or by the week.

19. Studies have shown that those children whose parents are actively involved in the reading process will become the best readers. • Reading to your child and listening to them read to you, taking them to the library and providing quality just right books at home is of the highest importance. Just Right Books

20. Make sure to read the weekly news letter. • Watch for emails. Keeping Informed

21. I feel that the best way to help children learn is to make learning fun. • Our classroom will be an active environment where all students are expected to engage in the learning process. Learning Environment

22. Money Practice • We will be working quite frequently with money this year. In order for the children to grasp a firm understanding of this concept, we like them to work with real money.

23. Please send a note with your child if: • If you know your child will be missing school for an extended period of time. • A change in pick-up or after school care will be occurring. • You would like to schedule a conference or have concerns. • Watch for notes and emails from the office and me, and don’t forget to check the homework folder nightly. This will be my primary way to communicate with you. Notes

24. Homework Folders • Birthdays • Class Parties • Scholastic Book Orders Other Items

25. Parent/Teacher conferences will be held in December. During this conference, we will be discussing your child’s strengths and weaknesses, homework, behavior and any additional concerns you may have. Parent-Teacher Conferences

26. Please feel free to contact me anytime you have questions. You can do this in a variety of ways: • Write a note • Send an email • Call me at school • Make an appointment for a conference Questions

27. Report cards will be available on-line once each quarter. November 21st • February 7th • April 16th • June 18th Report Cards

28. Snack/Specials • Please send in a snack and juice for your child everyday. • Music with Mrs. Bonin: Tuesday and Friday (remember to wear sneakers) • Art with Mrs. Wolf: Monday • Gym with Miss O’Malley: Monday and Thursday • (remember to wear sneakers) • Library with Mrs. Valerio: Wednesday • Technology with Miss Emma: Tuesday

29. Your child will have the opportunity to use the smartboard, computer and iPad during whole group instruction, small group instruction and center time. Technology

30. 1st Grade Unit Themes in Reading Street My World Animals, Tame and Wild Communities Changes Treasures Great Ideas Units of Study

31. Our school policy requires all visitors/volunteers to check in at the school office. Visitor badges are required if you will be in the school hallways or entering a classroom. You will be asked to show a photo ID. Visitors and Volunteers

32. Every week the students will be assessed in reading and spelling. These tests will be administered Friday and returned on Monday for the review unit. Beginning with Unit 1, a spelling and story test will be given at the conclusion of the story and returned as soon as possible. Please take the time to look them over each week and review any skills or areas of weakness with your child. Fridays/End of Story Other Assessments Spelling Test Math Chapter Test Reading Story Test Math Quarterly Test Weekly Testsand Other Assessments

33. Parents and visitors must enter and exit the school through the front office. EXit

34. You • You are your child’s first and most important teacher. • I hope that we can work together this year to make your child’s 1st grade school year a huge success.

35. Please make sure your child gets plenty of sleep each night, so that he/she is well rested and ready for the challenges of first grade. • This year will ZOOM by, so let’s make the most of it. Zzzzz…

36. Once again, thank you for coming this evening and for showing an interest in your child’s education. If you should have any questions or would like to speak with me further about your child, please contact me by email at liscio.s@deptford.k12.nj.usor call the school to schedule a time for us to meet. WELCOME ABOARD!