First Grade Curriculum Night 2016-2017

1. First GradeCurriculum Night 2016-2017

2. Mrs. Howell and Mrs. Demas Class Rocks!

3. About the Teachers Mrs. Howell: I have been married to my wonderful husband, Josh, for nearly six years. We have a cat (Leopold) and a chocolate lab (Watson). We are expecting our first human baby in October. I have a business degree from Campbell University, a K-6 Teaching License from UNC-Asheville, and an AIG Teaching License from UNC-Pembroke. This is my second year teaching at Thomas Jefferson and I am looking forward to an exciting year, fun-filled year of growing, learning, and changing!!

4. About the Teachers Mrs. Demas: I am a mom of five and a grandmother to a beautiful, little girl. Two of my children have graduated from TJ. I have been an assistant for 18 years and I am starting my 8th year in first grade at TJ. I love to travel, read, spend time with my family and friends, and LOVE Tar Heel basketball. I am so excited about our upcoming year.

5. Our Mission Statement Building upon the foundation of the Core Knowledge Sequence, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy: A Challenge Foundation Academy partners with families to educate students in grades K-12 in the trivium of grammar, logic, and rhetoric, thus graduating thoughtful, articulate young adults who are prepared for college and for a lifetime of citizenship and active intellectual inquiry.

6. Our School’s Mission • Thomas Jefferson Classical Grammar School-A Challenge Foundation is a college preparatory school. • Our aim is to broaden your child’s learning experiences to include many topics that are not currently taught in most public schools. • As a result of our challenging curriculum, this may entail more homework and extra study time than you are used to. • Also, your child is now in the process of getting closer to the middle school age where organization is key to their success. • While this may take extra time and effort from all of us, we are confident that the rewards will far outweigh the hard work it will require!

7. POLICY CHANGES!!! • Lunch: One or All- you can bring lunch/birthday snack for your child or for the whole class • Lunch Out: You may only take OTHER children out for lunch with written permission from their parents. This is to be OCCASSIONAL treat (not everyday or weekly)! • Appointments: You MUST make an appointment to come into the classroom for EVERYTHING (except lunch)- this includes volunteering, observing, conferences, etc. It is important to note that even during lunch we are still learning. We will watch movies that relate to the units we are studying. Additionally, this is the students time to foster and build relationships with their classmates through conversation. This is difficult to do if the student(s) is/are being pulled out constantly.

8. Signature Page • Please be reminded that the white signature page states you have read the policies and agree to abide by ALL of them. This page is in your folder. You may turn this in today or bring it back on the first day of school.

9. Medicine Info • Remember students are NOT allowed to have medicine on their person (this includes COUGH DROPS!). • ALL medicine MUST be administered through the office and CAN’T be given unless we have completed white medicine form on hand. Please see Mrs. Demas for this before you leave. • Please note any allergies and medicines on the yellow emergency form.This page is also in your folder (There are some left over from last year you can use as a reference if necessary). • Please turn these in today in case we need them when school starts back.

10. Transportation • If your child is a car rider, put their name on the green paper. This tells us who you are here to pick up in the afternoon. • If your child plans to go home a different way than usual, you MUST notify the office of this change. Send you a written note or contact the office by lunchtime. We cannot change transportation just because a child says so. • An email to me is also recommended but not required.

11. Attendance and Tardies • School begins promptly at 8:00 and ends at 3:00. • To have a successful year, it is vital that your child be at school each day. It is also crucial that they arrive on time and remain the entire day. • If a student is frequently tardy, a parent-teacher conference will be scheduled. • Students missing over 20 days (excused or unexcused) will receive an automatic fail for the school year.

12. Attendance and Tardies Students who are consistently here have an advantage over their fellow students. They will gain more knowledge and be able to understand the subject matter being taught, since they were present for the entire lesson. When your child is not at school, we have to rush through lessons and the student is overwhelmed with make up work. Please make every effort to give your child a successful year!

13. Absences and Late Work • We understand that children will inherently miss some school due to illness or injury. (Please plan vacations around holidays and/or days where we are already out of school or tell me in advance so I can have their work ready). • In the event of an absence, students have 2 days per absence to make up work. Please remember to send a written excuse for the office. • All missing assignments will have to be made up. Due to lack of time throughout the day, recess may be used as time for students to complete make-up work.

14. Uniforms • Please be sure to read the Uniform Policy in the Parent Handbook (3400). • A note will be sent home if your child is not in the correct uniform clothing and shoes and they may be sent to change. • Please remember to write your child’s name in each item. We do not want your child to lose their jacket or sweatshirt. • FYI: The “old” gryphon logo has been phased out. Students will not be allowed to wear these logos during the 2015-2016 school year! • All new uniform items must be purchased from Casper's Closet at the Tri-City Mall in Forest City.  We have had several reports of families purchasing items from other vendors, and then going to non-approved sources to copy the TJ logo onto these items. • Their hours are Tuesday-Friday from 10AM-6PM • Extended hours are August 17-August22 from 10-6PM.

15. Lunch • Our lunch time is 11:45-12:15. Please review the Parent Handbook regarding the lunch policy . • You are welcome to come eat lunch with your child only. We must have written permission from another parent if you plan to eat lunch with their child as well. • We will have hot lunches again for $3.00 per meal. Your child may order a lunch or bring one from home. • If you are ordering hot lunch, please either set up a lunch account online or send your child’s lunch money in an envelope with your child’s first and last name on it. • Please keep up with your child’s account.

16. Lunch • If you are sending a lunch from home, please make sure it does not need to be refrigerated or heated. Include a napkin, fork, and spoon if necessary. Also remember that it is a school rule that we have no soda. • Please refrain from dropping off lunch DAILY during lunch time. • The front office will not allow students to call requesting lunch for that day. Students need to come prepared for lunch.

17. Water Bottles • Students are allowed to have a personal water bottle. To avoid spills in the backpack and on the gym floor, you will want to send the snack and water bottle in a small insulated baggie or in the lunchbox. • Water purchased at lunch will be poured into personal water bottles (the plastic crinkles).

18. Snack Options • First grade will have a snack this year. Please send a nutritious snack. We will be working while we are eating so the simpler the better (nothing that requires spoons)! • Fruits: Oranges (if peeled) sliced apples, raisins, bananas, pears, etc. • Gogurt, granola bars, breakfast bars, crackers, pretzels, goldfish, dry cereal • No candy bars, chips, cookies, or cake, etc. • Causes sugar rush and can’t focus for the afternoon

19. Schedule 8:00-8:10 Assembly 8:10-8:20 Unpack/Attendance/ Lunch Count 8:20-9:05 Specials 9:05-9:20 Restrooms/ Snack 9:20-10:30 Calendar/ Math 10:30-11:45 Skills (11:30 Restrooms) 11:45-12:15 Lunch 12:15-12:30 Restrooms/ Clean Up 12:30-1:45 Listening and Learning 1:45-2:15 Recess 2:15-2:40 Homework and Daily Extensions 2:40-2:50 Pack *This schedule is tentative.

20. Schedule Specials: Monday: Art Tuesday: PE Wednesday: Music Thursday: Computer Friday: Library

21. Core Knowledge Listening and Learning Topics Fables and Stories Mexico Human Body Early American Civilizations Geography Astronomy Electricity History of the Earth Habitats Different Lands, Similar Stories World Religions Fairy Tales Matter Birth of Our Nation Frontier Explorers Early World Civilizations

22. Core Knowledge Language Arts • We will begin the year with a review of letter sounds and tricky words and then move into a continuation of learning sounds throughout the year. • As new sounds are introduced we will begin reinforcing those sounds with the use of a reader. Your child will be asked to read a story from the reader for homework. Our first reader will be called Snap Shots. • This year your child’s reading comprehension sheets will be graded. Please make sure they have a good understanding of the story. By the end of 1st grade, students should be able to read with fluency, accuracy, and comprehension, stories and texts which are first grade appropriate.

23. Singapore Math • Singapore Math takes a slightly different mathematical approach than what you may be used to.It provides your child the opportunity to become a true problem solver. • Word problems are solved using model drawing. This helps students visualize what a word problem is saying so they can understand the meaning and thus how to solve the problem. • Singapore is a different math program in that Each of our lessons will be hands on. Your child will be using items to help them solve our math problems. • You will find helpful websites on my webpage to use at home to support classroom learning. • Another good resource for parents is What Your First Grader Needs to Know by E.D. Hirsch, • Importance of knowing addition and subtraction facts: • Students will have timed speed drills throughout the year

24. Homework • Homework is very important. Look at homework as a chance for your child to show you what they are learning at school. • Homework will always be a review of what we have learned in class, if for some reason your child is struggling please make every effort to help them, without doing it for them. Please let me know if your child has struggled to complete a homework assignment! • Along with the review sheet for the night, your child will be asked to read each night. This is a great time to cuddle up with your child and read together. Once you have read, please fill out the reading log that will be kept in your child’s homework folder. • Homework must be completed daily. If your child is absent, the homework is due the day he or she returns. • Incomplete homework or homework not completed by the student will result in the student walking laps and completing the assignments during recess.

25. School Work • Please look in your child’s folder each day. We will send school information by way of your child. • We will send home all classwork in a folder on Wednesdays. Please look over all of the papers with your child. The papers on the side labeled “Return to School” need to be sent back on the following day with your initials at the top of the stapled set of papers. This will make sure you are aware of important grades your child is currently making. The other side that reads “Keep at Home” should be left at home to be looked over at leisure with your child. Please make sure that you sign the log on the back cover of the folder. This assures me that you have seen your child’s weekly work and gone over it with them. This system is vital to keep you up-to-date with your child’s progress. • Please remember to check your child's grades periodically in PowerSchool. No midterm progress reports will be sent home since parents can always access the Gradebook. • Students will be graded on a ten point scale. A 100-90, B 89-80, C 79-70, D 69-60, F below 59. • Math tests, Listening and Learning Domain Tests, Graded Comprehension Assignments, Grammar Tests on Comprehension, and Projects will count 70%. All quizzes, Spelling tests, Calendar check ups, and graded problems of the day will count 30%.

26. Power School • We use Power School for grades. You will need to sign your information out with Mrs. Demas. You cannot get your login information until you do so. • If parents do not live in the same household, you will need to contact the office at a later date to receive a login. • If you have more than one child, you only need one account. You may sign multiple children up under one name. • You may check your child’s grades at any time; however, my posting day is Tuesday. Please hold off on emailing me regarding grades until after the paper copy has been sent home on Wednesday.

27. Classroom Management • PURPLE (4 Tickets) • PINK (3 Tickets) • GREEN (2 Tickets) • READY TO ROCK (1 Ticket) • BLUE-BEHAVIOR IS OFF KEY (1 Lap) • YELLOW- YOUR NEXT SHOW IS CANCELED (5 Laps) • RED- CONTACT OUR AGENTS (NOTE HOME, Mr. Cole/Mrs. Waldrep) • ** Tickets can be used to purchase items from the “Souvenir Shop”

28. Class Rules- How to be a ROCKSTAR • Be prepared • Bring materials to school EVERY day • BE SAFE! • Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself • Be RESPECTFUL! • Say “Please” and “Thank You” • Be your BEST! • Follow directions at ALL times • Be RESPONSIBLE • Be in the “listening position” during class

29. BIRTHDAYS!!! • Birthdays are wonderful!! Simple treats may be brought by you (or sent to school) on the first Friday of each month. (If school is canceled that day, it would be moved to the next Friday). • Sending a birthday treat is optional. Please let us know ahead of time if you plan on doing something special so we can account for any allergies. • There will be a sign-up sheet/emails exchanged so you can coordinate what to bring with other parents. • We would prefer that these treats take place after recess (2:15). • We will also have a small celebration for each child on their Special Day. • Summer birthdays?... NO WORRIES! We will celebrate all of those at once at the end of the year.

30. Volunteering We love help from our parents! *You will see a parent volunteer form being passed around. Please fill it out if you are interested in helping. *Volunteers must have an appointment. I need to know in advance if you are coming. *All work completed by volunteers should be done at the hall tables. *Please check my website for volunteering opportunities *A board change this year limits parents to one day to sit in in and view inside the classrooms. *The forum also needs volunteers. If you are interested in helping out with different forum activities, please email Christie Herndon at tjgrammarforum@gmail.com.

31. Communication • Communication is a key factor in the success of your student….emailing the teacher is also a quick connection! Please feel free to contact me at any time at ahowell@tjca.org. However, I will be teaching your child during the day so I will only be able to check my email at select times during the day. • Please make sure we have your current e-mail address. • Check your e-mail and my website frequently. • We send a weekly update so you know what to expect. • If you have a major concern, please call rather than e-mail. You can reach me at school 828-245-9526 in the mornings by 7:30 or from 3:00 until 4:00 in the afternoon. • Sensitive matters • Transportation changes • If you need to talk with me in person, we must schedule a meeting as impromptu meetings are no longer allowed per the school handbook.

32. Teacher Webpage • School Website • www.tjca.teamcfa.org • Homework • Calendar • Attachments • Reminders of Important Dates and School Events • Examples and Pictures • Weekly Update and Content Info • Important Dates and School Events • Volunteering Opportunities

33. Student Supply List • Book bag • Glue sticks - 10+ • Block Erasers – 4 (No pencil top erasers) • Crayons - 2 packs of 24 count • Black dry erase markers – 8 count (skinny, fine tip) • 2 marbled composition books • Highlighters – 2 • Cloth pencil pouch with zipper (labeled with student name, no pencil boxes) • Student scissors – 1 pair (labeled with student name) • 1 spiral bound composition notebook • Clorox wipes • Folders with pockets and prongs – 1 red, 1 blue, 1 orange, and 1 green (no plastic folders) • **All supplies will be shared expect pencil pouch and scissors. There is no need to label each item.

34. Optional Supplies • Tissues • Plastic spoons and forks • Paper towels • Band aids • Ziploc bags-gallon and quart • Liquid hand soap Wish List Items • Colored computer paper • Recess equipment(kick balls, soccer ball, basketballs, jump ropes, etc.) • Items for prize box/store

35. Important Dates and Notes • Scholastic- Please take advantage of the Scholastic orders that usually come home once a month. No order is too small!! The more you order, the bigger the benefits for the classroom! • Box Tops are collected the first school day of each month, but can be brought to the classroom any time. These are any easy way for our school to make money. • August 18th: First Day • August 26th: Ident-A-Kid • August 29th: MAP testing begins? • September 2nd: Noon Release • September 5th: Holiday • September 9th: Scholastic Order • September 19th -23rd : Book Fair • October 9th: Baby Howell Due!! • October 12th: Fall Pictures

36. Preparing for Baby- Books“My Body” by Andrea Pinnington and Penny Lamprell“Does a Kangaroo have a Mother, Too?” by Eric Carle“Our Teacher’s Having a Baby” by Eve Bunting Preparing for Baby- Websites http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-talk-to-your-grade-schooler-about-how-babies-are-made_10310070.bc http://www.parenting.com/article/ask-dr-sears-mommy-where-do-babies-come-from http://www.themotherco.com/2011/04/where-do-babies-come-from/

37. Allison Wilson • Mrs. Wilson will be covering my duties during my leave. • She has two children: a son in 6th grade and a son in 10th grade.

38. THANK YOU for taking the time to attend Orientation! I look forward to working with you and your child this year. It is going to be a wonderful year filled with exciting learning activities!Contact Information Amberly Howell ahowell@tjca.org 828-245-9526 ext. 2183