Welcome to Mrs. Chamberlin’s First

Grade Class!

Who is teaching my child?I am very excited to be starting my 7th year of teaching

and my third year at first grade. I graduated from Radford University with a degree in Elementary Education. I truly love teaching and have been fortunate to bring my experiences as a parent to my teaching style.

Parent volunteers are a vital part of this classroom. Parents are always welcome and I believe that your students education is an open book for you to access.

I believe communication is key in ensuring your child has a successful year . I will be sending home a weekly newsletter and the monthly plans will be posted on our website.

What is the Schedule Like?The Basics:

Monday Computer Lab

PE Music

Tuesday SEARCH PE

Wednesday Computer Lab

Art

Thursday Library

Friday Music PE

Lunch is at 11:00 every day.

What is Pathways? Pathways is a balanced and comprehensive

literacy program. There are 6 components that make up 2 ½

hours each day. Shared ReadingRead AloudWord StudyWriting WorkshopGuided ReadingIndependent Reading

Guided MathWhat is Guided Math?

Guided Math is a way to make sure I am meeting all students needs in the area of math.

Students are assessed at the beginning of each unit to determine what their strengths are in that particular skill.

Every group is seen by the teacher daily. Example:

Group 1- ComputersGroup 2- Manipulatives/ Math GamesGroup 3- Direct Instruction

Classroom Rules & PBISOur classroom rules will be developed together. They

will follow the guidelines of PBIS.What is PBIS?

Researched based framework to promote positive behaviorResearch has found that positive behavior=academic

successIt is school wide common behavior expectationsBy promoting respect and responsibility, we are teaching

students skills that can be carried in to all aspects of their daily life (at home, sports and clubs)

Our motto is PRIDE- Practice Respect and Responsibility in Daily Environments.

Respect Responsibility

Classroom

Playground •Encourage and include others

•Be aware of surroundings

•Wipe feet when entering

•Return equipment

•Show good sportsmanship

Hallway •Quiet voices

•Maintain personal space

•Keep hands and feet to self

•Walk to right

•Single file lines

Cafeteria •Quiet voices

•Eat your own lunch

•Use polite table manners

•Keep hands and feet to self

•Leave it better than you found it

•Be prepared to eat before sitting down

•Raise your hand for permission

Bus •Speak Softly

•Listen to directions

•Back to Back; Seat to Seat

•Keep hands and feet to self

Restroom •Quiet voices

•Maintain personal space

•Clean up after self

•Flush, Wash and Go

How is my student encouraged?The reward system in our class is called is based on

striving for positive behavior. Every students starts on green.Positive behavior moves up the scale and negative

behavior moves down. Students can move up and down the scale throughout

the day. At the end of the day, you will receive their calendar with

the color they ended up for the day. Lucketts Loot is also given to students displaying their

PRIDE in school. Loot may be used to purchase items during lunch on

Monday.

Is there Homework?RAH- Read at Home: Your child should be reading

daily. Each night they will bring home a book on their reading level. They will also bring home a reading log.

Word Study- Your child will have a word sort each week. There are nightly activities and an assessment given on Friday.

Weekly homework- Each week, your child’s homework will alternate between math, language arts and content.

All homework will begin in October, after all reading assessments have been given.

How will my child be assessed?Assessments are done daily both formally and

informally. The PALS and DRA tests are given at the

beginning of the year. This information will help form instruction and ensure that your child is being taught at their individual learning pace.

An LPS (Learning Progression Scale) is a set of criteria that helps in assessing a child's performance on individual tasks.

What are E, M, P, and B?The assessment scale for first grade is base don

how your child meets the expectations of an SOL. E= Consistently exceeds mastery of a skill above a

first grade expectation. They can not only show they know how to do something but also why it is done and other ways to do it.

M= Consistently meets and demonstrates mastery of first grade expectations.

P= The student is progressing towards meeting the first grade standard.

B= The student is performing below the standard.

Learning Progression

Advanced Proficient

I can count to 100 starting at any number. I can create a picture or set of objects to show how I can count from any number to 100.**(i.e. If starting from 91 counting to 100, a student can draw a set to represent 91 objects and then draw the remaining 9 objects to create a set of 100 objects. This begins to develop students’ ability to create general representations.)

ProficientI can count from 0 to 100, write the numbers, and read the numbers. I can explain that the number name is equal to the written number and equal to the number of objects I counted in the set.

Intermediate I can identify and verify the number of objects in a set by counting (i.e. one-to-one correspondence or other counting strategies). I can create a set of objects that matches a written numeral or number name.

BeginnerI understand that numbers I count can be use to tell how many objects are in a set.

Standard: SOL 1.1a : The student will count from 0 to 100 and write the corresponding numerals.Learning Target: I can count from 0 to 100, write the numbers, and read the numbers. I can explain that the number name is equal to the written number and equal to the number of objects I counted in the set.

Communication is keyI am available through email, phone and

handwritten notesWe will have a conference to discuss your

child's adjustment to first grade at the end of the first quarter.

Our website is also a great source of information.

Every day you will see their calendar with events and notes home.