Curriculum Night Curriculum Night 20142014

Presented by 1Presented by 1stst Grade/Mrs. Ursitti Grade/Mrs. Ursitti

Christa McAuliffe ElementaryChrista McAuliffe Elementary

What is Accelerated vs. Gifted?

Bright GiftedLearns with ease Already knows

Answers questions Discusses in details, elaborates

Grasps the meaning Draws inferences

Is pleased with learning Is highly self-critical

Good memorizer Good guesser/innate knowledge

Is receptive Is intense

The Talented and Gifted Student

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omx_iLtMjZA

Our Accelerated ClassHow Are We Different?

Beyond level lessons in

reading and math

Faster pace of instruction

Cooperative learning

Science experiments

Author studies

and paired literature

Creative writing

More challenging

spelling words

Brain Teasersand Critical Thinking

ValuableVocabulary

How Can I Support My Gifted/Accelerated Child

• Allow your child to fail! Help your child with their need for perfectionism and how that relates to their self-image. Be a good example to them by modeling your own attempts and your acceptance of mistakes.

• Help your child set realistic standards for themselves and to understand how unfair it is to hold others to their standards.

• Intellectually stimulate your child by exposing them to libraries, travel, theater, museums, and historical sites.

 

• Support their uniqueness. They often learn, act, and socialize differently.

 

Guided Reading• Students will participate in a combination of literacy

centers and independent activities for one hour each day while I work with small reading groups.

• Each reading group will meet with me for about 15 minutes to practice reading specific leveled text and to complete extension activities related to the focus skills of the week.

• Students will bring home Guided Reading books home in their book baggies. After practicing the books at home with your child, please make sure they are returned to school every day.

AR Program/ STAR tests

• Students have the opportunity to take AR tests on certain books in order to earn points. Most books are 0.5 pts. Chapter books are worth more.

• Each child will be given a specific “point goal” that they should try to meet each quarter based on needs & abilities.

• Every quarter, your child will take the STAR test, which is a computer-based reading assessment. It will indicate your child’s current reading level.

How can I check on my child’s progress in AR?

• Renaissance Home Connect

Grading Policy

• Daily Assignments – weight of 1• Quizzes – weight of 2• Tests – weight of 3

• Language Arts– Reading -Vocabulary– Phonics -Phonograms– Grammar -Writing– Spelling

Halloween Festivities

• A parade will take place Friday, October 31at 8:45am

• Parents will be able to watch the parade from the breezeway area.

• Each class will need a volunteer to help kids with costume changes after.

Thanksgiving Feast

• Tuesday, November 25th beginning at 11:45.

• Each class will have a feast in the classroom to celebrate the holiday.

• Each student will be assigned an item to bring in to class

• Kids will wear Pilgrim Hats/ Native American headdresses during the feast.

• We will need 2-3 volunteers per class to help serve food, etc.

Winter Celebration

Week of December 15

World Religion Centers

Thursday, December 18

Muffins and Milk with Santa

Classroom Craft Centers with Snacks/Holiday Movie

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta!

• May, 2015• This a BIG first grade event for students in

which they get to experience the culture, food, and celebrations of Mexico.

• We need to form a committee of interested and motivated parents who will help us with this event.

• Please sign up to help with this event!

Our Classroom Website

• www.mrsursitti.com• Weekly newsletters• Parent Resources• Kids Resources• Links to textbooks

We are going to have a GREATGREAT year! Thanks for coming!

•Class Directory

•World’s Finest Chocolates

•A sign-up sheet will be by the mailboxes for event sign-ups.

Last minute odds and ends…..

Questions Asked/Answered