Mrs. Reynolds’s First Grade

1. Mrs. Reynolds’sFirst Grade Curriculum Night Haddam Elementary September 2013

2. RSD 17 MISSION STATEMENT The Mission of Regional School District 17 is to engage our students in an educational community that challenges students with high standards and builds their capacity to succeed and their aspiration to improve themselves and their society.

3. Goals • Nurture the whole child • Improve academic skills • Increase confidence • Develop social skills • Instill responsibility • Create self-directed, life-long learners …in a caring, nurturing environment

4. Specials • Monday – Spanish • Tuesday – Music • Wednesday – PE (plus extra PE every 3 weeks) • Thursday – Art • Friday – Library

5. Readers Workshop • Your child will participate in many reading related activities each day: - Mini-lesson with accountable talk - Independent reading (book boxes) - Individual reading conferences - Reading groups / Strategy groups - Word Work/ Phonics (Reading Rotation) - Class Read Alouds - The more opportunities your child has to experience text, the stronger the reader he/she will become

6. Raz-Kids • www.raz-kids.com • Your child will be able to log on to this site both at home and school. • Allows for independent reading / listening/ comprehension at your child’s reading level • Progress will be monitored by the classroom teacher

7. Lexia • Builds reading / phonics skills • Site can be used both at home and at school • Program will automatically move your child up as they complete levels

8. Math • Number Sense (involving counting & writing numbers to 120, addition/subtraction to 10 with fluency, place value) • Problem solving (children learn to explain/show their thinking) • Measurement with non-standard units • Time to the hour & half-hour • Geometry (discovering fractions of a whole in shapes) • Math facts: The value of learning math facts cannot be underestimated!

9. Symphony Math • A math website to enhance your child’s understanding of math number sense and computations. • It is very important not to help your child solve the exercises as it will cause them to be moved up to levels that they are not developmentally ready for.

10. Writers Workshop • Mini-lesson with teacher modeling of skills followed by independent practice • Narrative writing • Nonfiction writing • Persuasive writing • Fiction writing • Use authors as mentors • Making books • Use writing process: plan, write, revise, edit, publish, share (Culminating in an Author’s Tea)

11. Homework • Students will usually be assigned homework every night except Fridays • Students will be bringing home independent books on their level • Students are expected to complete the homework sheet, practice spelling words nightly, and READ every night.

12. Homework Folders • Should be checked every night including Fridays • Homework and forms should be put in as soon as they are completed • Tell your child when you are putting in a note • Homework folders need to be returned every day – even if the homework isn’t completed

13. Behavior Management and Expectations • Show self-control • Cooperate • Respect others • Listen and follow directions • Work independently and stay on task • Sign and follow our Social Contract • Use of the Rainbow Chart

14. Changes in Transportation • Please send a note on the day of the event • Please do NOT email changes • One note for changes that will be in place for the whole year will suffice • If your child’s weekly schedule varies, be sure to remind him/her of the plan each morning • We can NOT make changes in transportation based solely on your child’s word

15. LUNCH • Students no longer buy tickets in the cafeteria. To help make the mornings in the classroom a little smoother, please send lunch money in an envelope/bag with the student’s and teacher’s name. • Students are encouraged to prepay for lunches. • Milk alone is 50 cents but is included in paid lunches. • Please remind your child if and what they are buying

16. IMPORTANT!! • Morning snacks cannot contain nuts (peanuts AND tree nuts) or be manufactured in a facility that processes nut products • Please label your child’s morning snack. • Safe snacks include: • Goldfish • Pretzels • Popcorn • Pirate’s Booty • Smart Food • Tortilla Chips • Veggie Chips • Graham Crackers • Applesuace • Fruit Roll-up

17. Volunteers • Room Parents : organize celebrations for our holiday party, Valentine’s Day, our author celebration, and an end of year party. • Work at home on projects • Sharing special interests/talents with class • Mystery Reader

18. Book Club • We participate in Scholastic book clubs. • Order online or send forms into school. • We earn bonus points that are used to build our classroom library.

19. Report Card/Conferences • October – conferences • December – first report card • March – report card • April – conferences • June – report card • Any time you have a question/concern about your child’s progress, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

20. As sugar and flour come together to makeA wonderful cookie creation that you bake,Parents and teachers join as oneTo create an educated daughter or son. It takes lots of love, caring and understandingBut an individual will emerge who is special notwithstanding.We will work together to help each child bloomSo they can grow and prosper as they learn in this room. So I share this little confection with you as I sayI am committed to helping your child grow each and every day. Yes, the road is long, but the journey's begun As we strive to educate your daughter or your son.