Curriculum Night

First GradeWoodland Hills

A – Alphabet of 1st grade-PTO Addresses

We are not allowed to share address information. Please refer to the PTO directory if you are interested in

the addresses of other students.

B – Book Orders

• Book orders (online or

checks only)

• More information will be sent along with the first book order

C – Conferences

• Conferences will be held November 15th-21 and February 28- March 6.

• Conference sign up will begin in October. There is only one 20 minute slot offered per child.

D – Do you have questions?

Please use the sheet on your desk to write down any questions you might have. Time is short tonight and I

want to thoroughly answer your questions. I will promptly call or email you with answers!

E – Everyday routines

• Our daily schedule and the monthly calendar are both posted on my blog.

• Take home folder should be going home and coming to school every day.

• Please be sure to notify me or the office if your child’s going home plan changes.

F – Film

Photos are taken with my personal digital camera.

I will be posting pictures on our blog from time to time.

At the end of the year, your child will receive a DVD slideshow containing lots of the pictures

taken throughout the year. Donations of blank DVD-R’s are greatly appreciated.

G – Guided Reading

Your child will be grouped with other readers at their level or with similar needs to ensure individualized instruction. These groups are flexible and change

regularly as needed.

H-Handwriting / Homework***• Our handwriting program follows the Zaner-Bloser model.

We begin by concentrating on making sure students are using a top to bottom motion when making letters.

• Reversals are common, but should be corrected one at a time.

• Our math program uses Home Links. This year, we will be using those Home Links during our math rotations, rather

than sending them home as homework. Once I have had a chance to view them, I will correct them and send them

home for you to discuss with your child. • Other homework will come on occasion. I will send out a

reminder if something needs to be returned.

I – If you want to give (Wish List)

Posted outside our classroom is a wish list. I have posted items we could use in our classroom. It will be updated throughout the year and any contributions are

greatly appreciated.

J – Jump, sing, read, and draw! (related arts)

• Day 1 & 4: PE with Mr. Beenken. Please be sure to send the appropriate shoes with your child on these days.

• Day 2: Computers with Mrs. Magee• Library with Mrs. Poppens

Please be sure to send checked out books in their library baggie on day 2 so kids are utilizing the library to its

potential. • Days 3 & 6: Music with Ms. Fuemmeler

• Day 3: Guidance with Mrs. Mavis (Mrs. Mavis is available for individual needs as well.)• Day 5: Art with Ms. Oetken

K – Keeping you up to date

• Class newsletters will be posted on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month. Please be sure to

read these as they will contain important information.

• Our building newsletter will be emailed to you on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month.

L – Literacy Block and Lunch

• Students will be participating in reading instruction called the Daily Five. This is a way of structuring the

reading block so every student is independently engaged in meaningful literacy tasks. We begin the

year building stamina in each of these areas and learning the behaviors of The Daily Five and eventually will develop the ability to work

independently.

• Lunch is at 12:00. We leave our classroom a few minutes early. If you are planning to eat lunch with

your child, please send a note or call letting me know how many to add to our lunch count.

• Lunch options this year: hot, salad, sandwich, Kidz-able

M – Math

Our district uses the Everyday Math curriculum. We are very excited at the possibilities it offers

children for individualized instruction. This program relies heavily on the combined effort of parents and teachers together. The philosophy

behind the Everyday Math curriculum is to expose children to as much math as possible

instead of skill and drill.

For more information, refer to the family letters that will be coming home at the beginning of

each unit.

N – No Junk Food!

I strongly encourage you to send healthy, nut- free snacks for your child. Reading the label is your best bet in determining whether or not the snack would be safe for our classroom. Good

nutrition is a big part of feeling good and being ready to learn! Some examples might be fruit,

cheese, crackers, pretzels, etc. Chips and candy of any kind are not allowed. Water will be the

only drink allowed in our classroom.

O – Open Door

Open Door policy. You are more than welcome to come to our classroom. Please follow the guidelines listed in the parent

handbook.

P – PBIS and practice words (high frequency words)

• PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Systems) is a set of strategies and systems adapted by Woodland Hills Elementary to reduce school disruption and educate

all our students on appropriate behavior.

• Our expectations: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, Be Caring

High Frequency Words• High frequency words are a list of words that are

frequently found in books. These words are ones that are difficult to sound out and need to be memorized.

R – Reading curriculum Our reading curriculum consists of several

components: • Word Work focuses on phonics

• Phonemic Awareness consists of songs and poems that emphasize these objectives.

• Guided Reading provides individualized exposure to books at your child’s level.

• Just Right Reading which is where students are involved with books that are independent to their

reading level. We practice all of these skills in whole group, small

group, as well as in independent settings. Our curriculum is also enhanced with outside

resources including Reading Lab, Extended Learning Program (ELP), and English as a Second Language

(ESL).

S – Spelling

• For most students, we encourage temporary spelling (ptza) to get students writing. However, we will work

on conventional spelling as confidence begins to grow.

• We will be studying each phonetic sound throughout the year. Spelling is incorporated through the Words

Their Way program as well.

T – Teamwork

Our classroom will be centered around the idea of teamwork. I work hard to demonstrate to students how

much better our classroom runs when we all work together.

U – Unified

Please remember it takes parents, teachers AND students to have a successful year!!! I ask that you

read, read, read, with your child and BE INVOLVED!! Ask questions about your child’s day and follow up with your child with suggested home activities listed in the newsletters. If you ever have a question or concern, PLEASE ask! Your children must always be assured

that you and I are on the same team!

V – Volunteers

Without volunteers, our room would NOT run as efficiently. I appreciate any help you may be able to provide! If you did not get the opportunity to sign up and would like to, please let me know when and what

you would like to do! THANK YOU!

If you have already signed up, I’ll be in contact soon to set up the September volunteer schedule.

W – Words Their Way

Words their Way is based on the most recent educational research which encourages children to pay closer attention

to words by sorting them according to sounds and meanings. The goal is to ensure that students become better spellers and develop skills that will sustain these

skills in higher grades.

It is encouraged that you practice with your child at home each week.

We will assess the words each cycle, but are only concerned with the spelling of the pattern they are focusing

on.  

X – Xerox

The district encourages us to limit our number of printed copies. Newsletters, calendars, lunch menus, etc. won’t be printed. Please access

them on my blog or the district website. If you don’t have internet access, let me know and we will make other arrangements. Please try hard to

return forms that are copied and sent home. Also, if you are able to donate reams of paper, white or colored, for our classroom, it would be

greatly appreciated! 

Y - Yes, we’re almost done / yo-yos and other toys

• Please be reminded that toys should not be coming to school unless we have a special

occasion.

Z – Zipper

• Please be sure you send the appropriate outdoor attire for your child. Please mark your child’s belongings to help with keeping track of each

student’s items.

• Remember to send boots, snow pants and appropriate gloves and hats when the snow begins to fall!

Thank you so much for being an active participant in your child’s education!

It takes parents, teachers and students working together to ensure success.

Welcome to our TEAM!!!