Welcome to 1K September 14, 2011

1. Welcome to 1K September 14, 2011

2. Contact Info Please feel free to contact me via email, notes, or phone calls. I will always respond promptly! • Email- kerick@havsd.net • Phone - 610- 853-5900 ext. 4145 • Notes can be placed in your child’s communication folder ** I must receive a note if your child’s mode of transportation changes! **

3. Classroom Information • Please visit the classroom website for current information on special announcements, word wall words, and other valuable information. • Go to Lynnewood’s Website • http://www.haverford.k12.pa.us/lynnewood/site/default.asp, click on “e-faculty” and then click on my name.

4. Our Day • Morning Meeting • Math • Language Arts • Specials • Language Arts • Lunch • Science/Social Studies • Dismissal

5. Curriculum Overview The Everyday Math Program • Number sense, geometry, measurement, and problem solving are some of the main skills we will work on. We will also focus on addition and subtraction facts. • Games, manipulatives, and hands-on activities are an important part of the program. We also play math games in the Computer Lab! • Each child uses a “tool kit”, which contains a ruler, calculator, clock, and pattern block template for tracing shapes. • Unit Tests will be sent home for you to review. Sample problems will be posted on our class website so the children can practice problems that were difficult or incorrect.

6. Math Home- Links Your child will be assigned a Home Link page to complete nightly. It will reinforce what was taught for that day’s lesson. Please do not complete it before the designated night so that your child can develop the skill in class first. Please complete the Home Link nightly and return the book on Friday!

7. Language Arts- (Four Blocks) • Whole Group Reading Block • Small Group Guided Reading Block • Phonics/Working with Words Block • Writing Block • Homework: Nightly Baggy Books, Reading Log, Spelling

8. Writing and Spelling • Kid Writing in Journals • Students use the Word Wall and Phonics skills (sounding out) to write stories. Eventually we will learn how to include story elements (characters, setting, problem, and solution). On Mondays we usually write about our weekends! • The Writing Process • Brainstorming, Rough Draft, Revising, Editing, Good Draft/Publishing • Special writing pieces include: Personal Narrative, Friendly Letter, Descriptive Writing, A Story (with story elements), and a Research Report • Focus/Grammar Skills • Punctuation at the end of sentences, capital letters at the beginning of sentences, and recognition of the need to capitalize proper nouns • Spelling Word Lists are typically based on the phonics skills we are working on. We will take a pre-test on Monday and a post-test on Friday. Each night your child will complete a spelling page for homework to help him/her learn the words.

9. Handwriting Without Tears • This is a developmentally appropriate program that begins with the letters that are easiest for children to form. • We review capital letter formation and then focus on lower case letters. • Manipulatives and songs are used to learn about handwriting. • The use of double lines helps students to use correct letter placement and transition to notebook paper later.

10. Social Studies • Students explore and learn about themselves, their neighborhood, and their community. They will discover their self-worth and how they belong to a community. • They will also learn about needs and wants, how to make choices, and the responsibilities of jobs. The importance of the environment is explored, as well as the geography of our country and our natural resources. • Students will learn about the cultural diversity in America and the contributions of the various cultures to America.

11. Science • First graders are encouraged to observe objects, materials and organisms in their environment, note their properties, and develop explanations. • As children become more familiar with their world they can be guided to observe changes and make predictions. • First grade science consists of three units: Balls and Ramps, Weather, and Organisms

12. Homework Routine Every Monday a Homework Sheet will come home with the entire week’s homework posted. Please do the assignments nightly, but return them to school on Friday!

13. Daily Snack / Lunch Info We will have a snack at 11:00, please send in a snack (from the Safe Food List) for your child everyday! If your child is buying a lunch, please make sure he/she knows what to order before arriving to school. Children should memorize lunch account numbers. Your child can practice putting in the number at home on a calculator!

14. Birthdays • We will celebrate birthdays during Morning Meeting. On your child's special day, we will sing and your child will select a prize from the Prize Box. • Summer birthdays will celebrated at the end of the year or on their half birthday. • If you child would like to do something special, he/she may bring in a school supply item that we will donate to a school or organization in need. • No food please! 

15. We are a Nut Free Classroom! When sending food into school for snack, parties, or other classroom activities, please only select ones from the Safe Food List. If you need a new list, please let me know!

16. Absence Notes • In order for your child’s absence to be marked “Excused”, please send in a note within three days. • Absence Notes are available in the Back to School night folder.

17. Questions / Comments ? • Thank you for attending Back To School Night tonight! I look forward to working with you and your child this year!! • Questions for the common good??