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Welcome to FIRST GRADE Congressional Schools of Virginia. A Bit About Ourselves…. Teachers College August 2013. Mrs. Ursani?. Life of a First Grader. 8:00 Put belongings in lockers, take down chair, morning choices, get ready for day 8:10 Morning Meeting 8:30 PE 9:15 Math
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Welcome to FIRST GRADE Congressional Schools of Virginia
A Bit About Ourselves… Teachers College August 2013 Mrs. Ursani?
Life of a First Grader • 8:00 Put belongings in lockers, take down chair, morning choices, get ready for day • 8:10 Morning Meeting • 8:30 PE • 9:15 Math • 10:15 Outside • 10:45 Writers Workshop • 11:30 Lunch • 12:00 Readers Workshop • 12:45 Social Studies / Science • 1:15 Library • 2:00 Outside • 2:30 Word Study • 3:00 Closing Circle • 3:15 Dismissal
Specials • Five times a week: • PE (Coach B) • Three times a week: • Spanish / French (Mdm. Starfield & Sra. Ochoa) • One and a half times a week: • Art (Ms. Phillips) • Music (Dr. Haywood ) • Once a week: • Library (Ms. Samowitz)
Responsive Classroom • Morning Meeting (daily) • Closing Circle (daily) • Interactive Modelling • Logical Consequences
Readers Workshop • Teachers College • Mini-lesson • Various Units • Finding ‘Just Right’ Books • Authors as Mentors • Tackling Tricky Words • Informational • Poetry • “Just right” reading levels
Writers Workshop • Teachers College at Columbia • Mini-Lesson • Various Units throughout year • Direct instruction for each child
Word Study • Words Their Way • Based on teaching students skills rather than memorizing words • Every student working on a specific skill
MATH is FUN!!! • Singapore Math • Hands-on activities • Data based & Differentiated instruction
Science • Student Interest Driven • Units • Weather • Seasons • Water Cycle • Environment • Living vs. Non-living • STEM
Social Studies • Communities • Geography, Maps, Graphs, Charts • Exploration of various cultures • Africa, Italy
Technology • Tech Center visits • Ipad opportunities • Smart Board
Lunch & Recess • Lunch • Begins approximately 11:30 • 30 minutes • Grades 1-4 are in Cafeteria • Lunch Moderators are in Cafeteria to supervise students • Pizza Friday • Recess • On the “BIG” playground • Twice a day • Both 1st grades typically go out together, depending on schedules
Homework • READ, BABY, READ! • Math enrichment, support, and review • We encourage parents to work on Word Study skills as needed at home. The extra work, which we will provide, will help skills transfer in reading and writing. • Go outside and be ACTIVE!
Field Trips • A minimum of 4 per year • Tie into Curriculum (Language Arts, Music, Science, etc.) • These trips are designed as cross-curriculum to integrate various subjects of learning • A few examples: • Hidden Pond Nature Center (science) • National Building Museum (social studies) • Seussical the Musical at George Mason University (literacy) • Discovery Theater – Garbage to Gardens (science) • Local Library (literacy and community helpers)
Buddy Classes • Sixth Grader Buddy Class • Fun activities for the children to do with another class at Congressional. • Get together at least 4 times a year. • Making signs asking students to respect the gardens. • Playing Responsive Classroom community building games • Making Valentine’s Days cards for Maintenance staff • Helping “fancy-up” first grade authors celebration pieces
Celebrate Your Student • Star Student • Author Celebrations • Poetry Slam • Birthday Celebration CSOV
Parents in the Classroom Holiday Celebrations Diversity Exchange Mystery Readers • Come and share! • Students love it! • All are welcome!
Similar but Different • Lockers • Sneakers & Extra Set of Clothes • “just in case” • Snack • No longer provided by school • Daily snack time
Similar but Different • Parent Pick-Up • Escorted to the front of school • Seated on front steps for car to pull forward • Side Pick-Up • Only for student with siblings in ECP • Bus • Escorted across street to board the buses • EHP • Cafeteria with counselors • Students are provided a snack and various enriching activities
To Sum up First Grade… First grade is a big transition year for students. They are in a new building, surrounded by new faces and places that they are unsure of. We, as teachers, will do our best to ensure that this transition goes as smoothly as possible. While at times there are challenges, your children are our number one priority. We look forward to next year and are eager to get to know you and your children.
Any questions? bboyer@csov.org sphillips@csov.org