Welcome to Room 102!

First Grade

Mrs. Calkins

Parents’ Responsibilities

Visitor’s badge -Sign in at the office

Absences & tardiness- Returning child must have a written excuse

Take-Home Folders- Check daily for school information- Key to staying organized- Should always contain daily behavior log so that you have a sense of how your child is behaving at school.

Student Expectations

In the classroom children are expected to:- Raise a hand to speak- Listen carefully and follow directions- Keep hands, feet, and objects to self at all times.- Be respectful to each other and allow each other to learn

- Try their best!- We implement a lot of positive strategies to encourage appropriate behavior.

Language Arts

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Journeys

Journeys Curriculum

Designed to meet diverse needs of all students

A balanced literacy approachIncludes progressive skills in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and reading comprehension

Balanced Literacy: What does that mean?Teachers support each reader’s development as needed

Allows for differentiation through whole group and small group instruction (LEBO Time)

Follows a continuum beginning with a teacher’s read aloud, shared reading, and guided reading

The ultimate goal is independent reading

Important Terminology

Read aloud: Done by teacher to expose children to various types of literature; develops reading strategies

Shared reading: Children participate with the teacher; learn critical concepts of how print works

Guided reading: Students read text independently following an introduction; material selected based on an individual’s instructional level; discussion facilitated by the teacher

Assessment

ObservationRunning recordsSmall group instruction recordsWeekly phonics, vocabulary, and spelling testsCold read assessments every 3rd story of each unit

Unit testsBenchmark testsMAP testing (Measures of Academic Progress)DIBELS testing

Language Arts Continued

The balanced literacy philosophy: An effective way to help children improve their skills one step at a time.

The better your child learns to read, the more successful they will be in years to come!

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, 10 of these minutes are spent on learning appropriate handwriting techniques

1st/2nd Quarters- Rituals and Routines, Narrative Account

3rd/4th Quarters- Functional Writing: Reports, Narrative

Procedure

What is the Writing Process?

Mini Lesson – procedures, author’s chairPrewriting- 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

Publishing – students create a “good copy” of their work.

Author’s Chairs – Selected students share work

Spelling

Part of the Journeys integrated language arts program

Lists will come home each MondaySpelling tests will be every FridayInvented spelling is developmentally appropriate for regular writing assignments

MTLSD Math Curriculum

Our core resource is Investigations

complete K-5 mathematics curriculum

designed to help all children understand the fundamental ideas of number and operations, geometry, data, measurement, and early algebra.

Math Program Highlights

Develops a deep conceptual understanding of mathematics

Includes traditional learning of algorithms and math facts

Works to substantially expand the pool of mathematically literate students

Provides students multiple ways to prove that an answer is correct

Encourages student-centered workProvides whole group, small group and independent learning opportunities

Utilizes real world problemsMakes connections within and among conceptsProvides students with strategies and tools to solve problems

Math Program Highlights

MATH FACTSGr 1

Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4

13-

14

Introduces concepts related to addition and subtraction and develops an understanding of

addition strategies

14-

15Addition sums to 10

Subtraction facts with a minuend to 10

Mathematics

Investigations Organized into 9 units

- Counting, Comparing, Patterns (early algebra), Geometry, Addition and Subtraction, Data Analysis and Measurement

Science

A hands on approach is used, teaching children to explore, reflect, and apply as they investigate.

Air & Weather Growing and Changing (chicks) Insects

Social Living

Heartwood- Respect, Courage, Loyalty, Love, Justice, Honesty, and Hope

Weekly ReaderSocial Studies AliveOLWEUS Meetings- Program to prevent bullying in the school and in the community. Meetings every Wednesday afternoon.

Star of the Week

As a way to build a strong classroom community, we will be doing a ‘Star Of The Week.’

Each week it is a different student. - Monday – They get to pick their classroom job.- Tuesday –They bring in pictures from home to share with the class.- Wednesday – Show and tell. Students can bring in something that is

special to them or talk about a hobby that they enjoy.- Thursday – The other students will interview the “Star” student and

write a short message to them that will go in a book they get to keep.- Friday- They can bring in their favorite picture book that they/Mrs.

Calkins will read to the class.

‘Homework’ The homework schedule that is provided is 100% optional!

It has been provided to you because many parents have requested suggestions as to what they can do with their children for extra reinforcement at home.

If students complete their assignment each night and return the homework schedule on Friday, they will get a mark on their clip.

If you feel your child does not require the extra practice with spelling/Words to Know, you may substitute the assignment by having them read with you or independently.

If you engage in nightly homework, it should not exceed 10 minutes (computer time may be in addition to 10 minutes).

“Words to Know” - words students should recognize immediately. Go through these on a regular basis with your child. They will be tested on these words through weekly tests (application).

Spelling- Test every Friday (list is in bag on Mondays).

Types of homework assignments:

Reading- Read decodable books (black and white books).- Practice poems at home. - * Repeated reading of poems and decodable books will

increase fluency and comprehension.

Read to your child and let them see you reading!

Math - Games you can play with your child to increase numeracy

skills.

First Grade Specialsby the Day

Monday – Gym, Music Tuesday – Spanish, LibraryWednesday - OLWEUS, MusicThursday – Gym, SpanishFriday – Art

Please check out:

Mrs. Calkins’ Blog:

http://blog.mtlsd.org/calkins

Last thought…

Whose Child Is This?"Whose child is this?" I asked one daySeeing a little one out at play."Mine", said

the parent with a tender smile"Mine to keep a little while.To bathe his/her hands and comb his/her hair,To tell him/her what he/she is to wear,To prepare him/her that he/she may always be good,And each day do the

things he/she should".

"Whose child is this?" I asked one daySeeing a little one out at play"Mine", said the parent with a tender smile"Mine to keep a little whileTo bathe his hands and comb his hairTo tell him what he is to wearTo prepare him that he may always be goodAnd each day do the things he should"

"Whose child is this?" I asked again,As the door opened and someone came in."Mine", said the teacher with the same tender smile."Mine, to keep just for a little while.To teach him/her how to be gentle and kind,To

train and direct his/her dear little mind,To help him/her live by every rule,And get the best he/she

can from school".

"Whose child is this?" I asked once more,Just as the little one entered the door."Ours", said the parent and the teacher as they smiled.And each

took the hand of the little child."Ours to love and train together.Ours this blessed task

forever."Author Unknown