Welcome to First Grade
First Grade Team
• Leslie Behrends• Melissa O’Connor• Dana Tecza
Parents’ Responsibilities
• Visitor’s badge -Sign in at the office
• We recommend that an adult accompany your child home during the first two weeks of school.
• Absences & tardiness– Returning child must have a written excuse
• Homework Folders– Check daily for school information
Student Expectations
• In the classroom children are expected to:– Raise a hand to speak– Listen carefully and follow directions– Work quietly and give their best effort– Be respectful to each other– All teachers implement strategies to
encourage appropriate behavior.
Language Arts
(Reading, Writing, Spelling)
Five Big Ideas in Reading:
*From the National Council of Reading
-Phonological Awareness
-Phonics
-Vocabulary
-Comprehension
-Fluency
Language Arts Continued
District Reading Series:
Publisher: Harcourt Trophies
• Research-based, developmental program• Variety of genres and styles• Leveled books provide reading at individual levels• Assess students reading level periodically throughout
the year
Writer’s Workshop • Mt. Lebanon teaches the same writing
process from K-12th grade• First graders spend 45 minutes of their day in
writing workshop• 1st Quarter- Rituals and Routines, Narrative
Account• 2nd Quarter-Narrative Procedure • 3rd Quarter-Report Writing• 4th Quarter- Functional Writing (procedural
and letter writing)
What is the Writing Process?
• Mini Lesson – procedures, author’s chair• Prewriting-generate ideas, decide on purpose, focus
on the topic, arrange ideas logical order.• First Draft – keep writing, don’t worry about
mistakes-just get your ideas down• Revising – make complete sentences, clarify ideas • Editing – proofread for errors in grammar, usage,
spelling, and mechanics• Author’s Chairs – Selected students share work
Spelling
• Part of the Harcourt integrated language arts program
• Lists will come home each Monday in your child's homework folder
• Spelling tests will be every Friday• High frequency words and word family words
are included• Invented spelling is developmentally
appropriate for regular writing assignments
Mathematics
• Dual Usage Program
• Scott Foresman Addison Wesley
• Investigations
• We are in the Second Year of a Two-year implementation plan for a new k-5 mathematics program.
Mathematics Continued
• SFAW –Scott Foresman Addison Wesley• Traditional text focusing on procedural Understanding• Learn, Check, Think About It, Practice Learning cycle• Problem Solving, technology, and manipulatives
integrated into lessons• Math facts- Addition and Subtraction mastery to 12.
(Good solid understanding to 18.) Math Minutes will start with addition during the second grading period.
Mathematics Continued
• Investigations• Organized into 3 to 8 week units • Units Include: Geometry, Addition and Subtraction, Data
Analysis and Measurement• Activity-Based program focusing on concepeptual understanding
built over time• Teacher as facilitator• Student-centered to encourage creative thinking (Students
construct knowledge)• Mathematical connections are inherent in the units• Students participate in engaging games that reinforce their
understanding of important mathematical concepts and skills• Students work cooperatively with their classmates.
Science
A hands on approach is used, teaching children to explore, reflect, and apply as they investigate.
• Air & Weather
• Insects
• Health Science (senses)
Social Living
• Heartwood– Respect, Courage, Loyalty, Love, Justice,
Honesty, and Hope
• Weekly Reader
• Social Studies Alive
Homework• Vocabulary/High Frequency Words
– Check every Friday
• Spelling– Test every Friday
• Reading- 15 minutes each night
• Math - worksheets, flashcards, games
Multiple Assessment Criteria
• Points and Percentages
• Rubrics
• Observations
• Reading Screening DIBELS – 3X a year
• Report Cards – after every nine weeks
First Grade Specialsby the Day
• Monday – Music• Tuesday – Music, Gym• Wednesday- Spanish, Library• Thursday – Art• Friday – Spanish, Gym
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