GREG TANG IS COMING!!!

1. GREG TANG IS COMING!!! Puckett’s Mill Literacy/Math Night 2011 October 17th

2. to First Grade Puckett’s Mill Elementary

3. First Grade is a year of changes • Cognitive • Physical • Social • Emotional

4. Who’s Who? Key school staff: Principal – Michelle Farmer Asst. Principals – Leslie Pendelton and Stephanie Stewart Media Specialist – Lisa Mays Counselor – Ginna Smith

5. Meet Mrs. Warren • I graduated from University of Georgia with a double major in Child development and Early Childhood Education • Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education • Specialist Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision • I’ve taught 16 years in PreK-second grade • I am married with two daughters, Abigail and Emma, and one son, Jacob

6. Teaching Philosophy • Each child has the ability to learn and reach their highest potential! • Each child is unique, with individual learning styles and abilities. • Active, hands-on activities will foster student learning. • Your child’s education is a collaborative effort between teacher, student, and parent and is important to the success of a child.

7. Schedule • 7:45-8:15 Arrival/Morning Work • 8:15-10:00 Guided Reading/Reader's Workshop/Language Arts • 10:00-11:00 Math Workshop • 11:03-11:33 Lunch • 11:40-12:48 Writer's Workshop/Mentor Sentences • 12:50-1:35 Specials • 1:35-2:05 Social Studies and Science • 2:05-2:35 Recess • 2:40-2:45 Recap • 2:45-3:15 Bus Call/Dismissal ** We love lunchtime visitors! If you wish to join your child for lunch, please sign in at the front office and meet us at the cafeteria. (When lunch is over, I ask that parents say their goodbyes in the cafeteria.) We will go every Friday to check out library books unless the media center is in use for other school wide events.

8. Specials The following is our Specials schedule. It is on an 6-day rotation near the end of every day from 12:50-1:35. Please keep this in mind for any possible early checkouts you may need during the school year. I will include this schedule in all of my newsletters. Please remember sneakers on PE days. • Day 1 iThink • Day 2 Art • Day 3 & 4 PE • Day 5 RRT • Day 6 Music

9. Positive Reinforcement Table Group Tallies (treasure box) Thank you for good behavior cards (stuffed animal with journal) Class Compliments (class chosen reward) Students will move their stars if they don’t follow the class rules. BlueExcellent GreenSatisfactory Yellow Needs improvement RedUnsatisfactory Classroom Management

10. First Grade Curriculum • Literacy - Grammar/Writing - Spelling (begins in Jan) - Reading - Comprehension - Phonics • Mathematics • Social Studies/Science /Health • Special Areas - Music -iThink - Art -Physical Education - RRT

12. Literacy atPuckett’s Mill • Guided Reading: students meet with the teacher in small homogeneous groups to practice reading skills. • Writer’s Workshop: students begin to use the writing process to plan and produce their writing, expand their sentences, and share their writing with peers. • Mentor Sentences- allows students to participate in activities using sentences correctly while using specific conventions and grammar skills . Mentor texts are used to model appropriate conventions and writing. • Reading Workshop: begins with a mini lesson and allows students to partner read and read alone. Teacher conferences with students to discuss their books and various reading strategies that will enhance their reading ability.

13. Mathematics in First Grade

14. Mathematics First Grade Math Concepts: • Addition and Subtraction • Time • Money • Measurement • Geometry • Fractions • Place Value Currently students should be able to recognize the number, number word, and count items in a set. Students will be engaged in hands-on activities and math games daily. Assessments given at end of each unit, mid term and end of term.

15. Math Workshop

16. Social Studies • *Our Earth and Our Country • *Map Skills • *American Folktales • *Personal Finance • *Life and Times of Historical Figures • George Washington Carver, Benjamin Franklin, • Harriet Tubman, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, • William Clark, Sacagawaea, and Meriwether Lewis

17. Science Earth’s Land and Water Weather Seasons Shadows Keeping Fit and Healthy Magnets Sound Living Things

18. Grading E= Exceeds Expectations 90-100 Goes above and beyond!! S= Satisfactory 74-89 N= Needs Improvement 70 -73 U= Unsatisfactory Below 70

19. Reading Levels Determined By • Accuracy in reading text • Fluency Level (not too fast or too slow) • Comprehension • Inferences • Why do you think… • Have you ever… • Connection between characters…

20. Reading Grades • Based on periodic Benchmark tests and running records. 50% of student’s grade is based upon their reading level.50% of your student’s grade is based upon reading assessments and class work.

21. First Nine Weeks E= Level F+ S= Levels D-E N= Below Level A-C U= Non Readers Second Nine Weeks E=Level G+ S=Level E-F N=Level A-D U=Non Readers Third Nine Weeks E=Level J+ S=Level G-I N=Level E-F U=Level A-D Fourth Nine Weeks E=Level K+ S=Level I-J N=Level G-H U=Level A-F Reading GradesBased on periodic Benchmark tests and running records. 50% of Student’s grade is based upon their reading level.

22. Writing Grade • Based on formal writing samples and other AKS writing skills • Each graded piece of writing will be given grades for ideas, organization, style, and conventions • Rubrics will reflect each of these writing domains

23. Math Grade • Based on daily grades and Unit tests • Formal and Informal assessments

24. Science, Health, & Social Studies Grade • Five grades each per nine weeks • Classwork, assessments, and projects

25. Forms of Assessment • Cogat (Cognitive Abilites Test) • Gwinnett Comprehensive Accountability and Assessment System(GCAASS) will be given four times throughout the year to assess progress • Mid Term and End of Term Assessments – given in Math, Language Arts and Reading each nine weeks to ensure progress • Tests- math and spelling tests will be given to assess skills taught in a unit (spelling grades will be taken after winter break) • Rubrics- rubrics will be used to assess student’s writing and Math Exemplars

26. Homework • Each child will be given a Math Workbook & a Language Arts Workbook. Homework pages will be assigned in the weekly newsletter. Complete each week’s homework as assigned. • Homework is due on Friday. • Reading is extremely important! Part of your child’s daily homework is to read each night. A book on your child’s level will be sent home Monday –Thursday.

27. 100 Book Club • Students who read 100 books by the 100th day of school will participate in a big celebration!

28. Home Learning Projects • 100 Book Club • Animal Habitat • Pumpkin Project • 100th Day • Famous American • Valentine Box

29. Lunch • LUNCH I suggest prepaying for your child’s lunch at www.mypaymentsplus.com. You may also find this link on the Puckett’s Mill web page. Parents may send in lunch money as needed daily, weekly, or monthly. Checks should be written to Puckett’s Mill Elementary School. Please put all cash or checks in a sealed envelope with the child’s name, teacher, and amount written on the outside. • SNACK We will have snack every afternoon. Send in a healthy snack everyday. Please do not send in candy, juice boxes, or other “colored” drinks. WATER ONLY! Sharing snacks is discouraged, as surprising as that seems! • ICE CREAM Ice cream will only be sold on Wednesday and Friday.

30. Change in End Of Day Routine • I must have a written note in my hands if you are changing the way your child will get home. It is a good idea to remind your child about the note, send me an email or call. It is very difficult when your child thinks there is a change, but does not have a note. • Please understand that without a note, I MUST send your child home the way he/she normally goes home.

31. Safety Precautions • Parents should always sign-in and get a visitor’s badge at the FRONT OFFICE. • ONLY the people listed on the locator card are allowed to check out a child. • Students mustbe in the classroom at 8:15am or be counted tardy.

32. PTA Thank you to PTA for directly making an impact in our first grade classrooms. We appreciate your continued support. • Kindle Fire • Scholastic Non-Fiction Magazine • National Geographic Young Explorer • Raz Kids • Reading Folders Please consider joining PTA this evening.

33. Shoot for the stars in First Grade!!!! Thank You for coming. Your attendance signifies the importance of parental involvement in your child’s education.