*Welcome to Open House* August 14, 2012 Miss Imielinski’s First Grade Class

1. *Welcome to Open House* August 14, 2012 Miss Imielinski’s First Grade Class Please fill out the forms at your child’s desk 

2. All About Miss Imielinski • Not yet married, grew up in Oakleigh • 2 dogs (Diggy and Maui) • Attended McEachernHigh & Kennesaw State University • Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education • 3rdyear teaching in Cobb County • Currently live in Kennesaw, building a home close to Kemp!

3. Communication Information • Daily Folders- Allows 2 way communication • Please send all transportation changes/notes in here (this includes after school clubs) • Daily Reading Log- 20 minutes per night. Complete weekly reflection • Specials Calendar- Sent every month. Please make note of PE days (TENNIS SHOES!) • Weekly Folder- Student work from the week

4. “Miss Imielinski’s Wise Owls”Our Class Blog Will be updated each week (usually Friday). I will send an e- mail notifying you of updates. Or you can subscribe to my blog. What’s on the blog? - Upcoming Dates - Class and school wide news - Weekly Curriculum Overview - Websites and activities

5. Classroom Schedule • 7:15-8:00Morning Work & News • 8:00-8:20 Cougar Comp. • 8:20-8:30 Read Aloud • 8:30-9:00 Phonics/Spelling • 9:00-9:20 Shared Reading • 9:20-10:10 Reading Workshop & Centers • 10:10-10:46 WritingWorkshop • 10:46-11:16 Lunch Table 12 & Restroom • 11:20-11:40 Recess • 11:40-12:00 Math RAP/Number Talks • 12:00-1:00 Math Lesson & Math Workshop • 1:00-1:50 Specials • 1:50-2:10 Content Area Studies • *Dismissal at 2:15*

6. Our Class ExpectationsRules to live by… • Philosophy is to provide a safe and secure learning environment while encouraging children to become responsible citizens • Five basic character traits are emphasized…See wall • Active Listening • Personal Best • Truthful • Trustworthy • No Put Downs • Not “classroom” rules, but rules for living • Class Meetings are held each Friday

7. Classroom Management • Treasure Box: Students will earn terrific tickets when they are caught being good. These tickets are drawn every Friday for a chance to go to the Treasure Box. • Table Tallies: Students work together by following class rules and hallway procedures to earn table tallies each week (may not start for awhile) • Class Rewards: Miss Imielinski’s Warm Fuzzy Jar (compliments) • Weekly Behavior Sheets: Students will receive strikes for breaking classroom rules. Please sign and return by Monday! • Fun Friday: Students who receive less than 3 strikes in a week will earn a FUN reward on Friday!

8. Curriculum Standards • Cobb County Standards can be found on the CCSD PICASSO website or the Kemp website. • Moving to Common Core Standards • Emphasis on going “deep” not “wide”. • First grade standards located on the brochure in your folder.

9. Phonics • Words Their Way, Word Sorts and activities • Making Words- decoding skills • Shared Reading • Writer’s Workshop mini-lessons • SMARTboard activities

10. Writing • Handwriting- Zaner-Bloser Manuscript • Writer’s Workshop • - Writing Process • Mini Lesson • Teach grammar, language arts skills, writing skills • Shared Writing • - model/instruct skills and strategies • - think-aloud, provide support • Independent Writing • - student opportunity to work independently or in small groups to apply and extend writing skills taught in mini-lesson and shared writing • - Differentiation: Individual Conferences • Writing Genres (narrative, expository/informational, response to literature, persuasive)

11. Reading Shared Reading: Read orally, think-aloud, comprehension skills, model strategies (whole group with student participation) Guided Reading: Direct instruction on skills/strategies to create student-sustained reading. Students will work on comprehension, vocabulary, retelling, and fluency skills. Reading Workshop: Students will work in small groups or independently on reading, writing, phonics, grammar, and word work activities to extend and reinforce aspects of language arts taught in phonics, writing, shared or guided reading lessons Social Studies/Science Integration: Informational books will be integrated into reading to help students generalize their reading skills while making real world connections.

12. Math

13. Content Overview • Please refer to the standards flyer for science, social studies and health curriculum. • We will be integrating content into reading and writing this year! • Switch between science and social studies

14. Grades and Rubric Style Report Card • Can your child show consistent knowledge of the skill? • Mastery is expected by the end of the marking period. • No averaging • Pay close attention to homework and classwork. • Please use parent report card guide to know expectations for each 9 weeks. • Academic Alerts sent at 4 ½ week mark if needed.

15. Grades and Rubric Style Report Card 3+ Exceeds Standards (applies and inferences beyond expectations) 3 Meets standards consistently and independently 2 Progressing toward meeting the standard 1 Limited or minimum progress toward meeting the standard Practice Work – stickers/smiley faces/checkmarks/comments Graded Papers – 3+, 3, 2, 1 Performance Assessments, Constructed Responses, Performance Tasks rubrics (3+, 3, 2, 1) Skills Checklists –rubrics (3+, 3, 2, 1), checklist, teacher observation Please be aware that standards are performance based. Children will be assessed in a variety of ways, which will include checklists, rubrics, teacher observation and paper/pencil tasks.

16. Grades and Rubric Style Report Card Learning Skills and Behaviors: (Refer to Behavior Sheet) S = Successful P = Progressing N = Needs Improvement

17. First Grade Assessments • Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) (Accuracy and comprehension) • 1st Grade Sight Words (200) • Primary Spelling Inventory • Writing Rubrics • Computation Test • Problem Solving • Cobb County Benchmarks • CogAT – September 4th-6th

18. Homework…more than just a packet • Homework Journals will be sent home each week, DUE ON FRIDAY • Homework cover sheet will include weekly phonics focus, reading, writing, and math activities. Select one assignment from each category to work on every week. Students will need to generate their own phonics focus words each week based on that week’s focus skill. • Nightly Reading- 20 minutes, record on log. Complete short weekly reflection on reading log. • Battles with Homework…If you are battling with your child try this… • First make sure your child understands how to do the homework • Then set a timer for 30 minutes and let your child work • If they have still not completed it during that 30 minutes, put it away • Homework should not take more than 30 minutes to complete each night.

19. Miss Imielinski’s Pet Peeves…what you really need to know!  • Taking Responsibility: 1st grade is different from Kindergarten. Students are expected to work much more independently….this will come with time and practice! • Here is a quote I like to share… • “In the final analysis it is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.” Ann Landers • Classroom interruptions: I give 100% of my attention to the students everyday and want the same in return. It is challenging to get 24 children back on track after distractions. If you need to meet with me, please contact me and we will set up a time!

20. Absence and Dismissal Policy • Please send a note from home if there is an absence or change in dismissal. Must be in writing(not e-mail) • If you have a change of dismissal during the day, please call the office! • If a child is sick, please send a note on the day they return. • There will be no dismissal changes after 2:00 p.m. • Regular attendance and prompt arrival are vital to your child’s success in first grade.

21. New Carpool Policy • If your child is a regular car rider, you will be provided with a new car sign. • If you do not have a car sign to pick up a child, he or she must have a signed note. • If you do not have a car sign (or the child does not have a note in hand) you will need to sign the child out of the office. Please be prepared to show your photo ID.

22. New Bus Policies • Children under the age of 9 must have an adult to meet them at the bus stop. Any child that does not have an adult to meet him/her will be brought back to the school. • All children under the age of 9 will have a bus tag attached to their book bags. This tag is an indicator for the bus driver that your child is under the age of 9. Please do not remove this tag!

23. Cafeteria Information • Menus are available on the Kemp website. • Prices • -Student $2.15 • -Adult $3.25 • Lunches may be pre-paid • Breakfast is served for $1.25 • Extras may be limited by parents only  • Birthdays are only celebrated in the cafeteria. You are welcome to send in a small treat for your child to pass out during lunch.

24. Money Any money coming to school for PTA, lunch, field trips, ASP, etc. should be placed in an envelope labeled with the following: - child’s name - teacher - money amount - purpose for the money

25. Clinic/Medication Policies • ALL medications must be sent to the clinic in the original container. • Please send a note with all medications.

26. Communication • Daily Folders • Class Blog • PECS • Phone number-Kemp (678) 594-8158 • E-mail: josee.imielinski@cobbk12.org • E-mail is the fastest way to get in contact with me. I will get back to you as soon as I can. I check it frequently.

27. Helpful Contacts • Principal – Kristy Mason • Assistant Principal – Lori Ann Griffin • Counselor – Jenni Briggs • Room mom- Elizabeth Newlin

28. Opportunities to Help… • Small group library reading helper/AR helper/Mystery Reader • Special Center rotations (Fall Centers, Thanksgiving Feast, Valentine’s Day, End of Year) • Holiday Party • Preparing materials at home • Volunteer opportunities will begin once the class gets in the rhythm and routine of first grade. This takes anywhere between 4 and 6 weeks. I will contact you when we are ready for volunteers!

29. Take a look inside the folder… • Please review the Parent Handbook, sign and return • PECS • Inclement Weather Form • Classroom Directory

30. Still have questions?If you have any questions, please use the “parking lot” on the board. I will get back with you and address your concerns. I am looking forward to a WONDERFUL year!