Welcome…

1. Welcome… to the First Grade Curriculum Presentation September 5, 2012 Please pick up a First Grade Curriculum Night Pre-Test as you enter the gymnasium.

2. 2012-2013 First Grade Team • Mrs. Kelly Boebel • Mrs. Michelle Bzdafka • Mrs. Amy Mix • Miss Shelby Mottern (who is filling in for Mrs. Erin Wilson until she returns from maternity leave at the end of November)

3. Ohio Department of Education • Ohio is in the process of transitioning to National Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics which are called the Common Core State Standards. • Ohio has also changed and deepened their standards for Social Studies and Science. • At Nordonia Hills City Schools, grades Kindergarten through Second have made a complete transition to the new standards. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7j7tLymkT4&feature=plcp

4. Reading • GOAL: to learn various decoding and comprehension strategies needed to become a fluent, independent reader • Shared Reading with Houghton Mifflin Reading Series helps us share a common language to become better readers. • Guided Reading allows students to read increasingly challenging books over time based on their own progressing reading levels.

5. Reading Focus Skills • Decoding words using a variety of strategies • Reading fluently with expression • Indentifying the main idea and author’s message in a selection • Retelling the selection that was read • Answering literal, inferential and evaluative questions about the selection that was read • Making connections between what was read and the reader’s life experiences • Indentifying a selection as fiction or non-fiction

6. Word Work • GOALS: • to read (decode) and write (spell) high frequency and unfamiliar words with ease • to learn and apply vocabulary • Students learn and implement basic word rules, word families and decoding strategies. • Students have an individualized spelling list most weeks. • Students are introduced to and practice basic vocabulary terms.

7. Word Work Focus Skills • Short Vowel Words (cat, net, etc.) • Long Vowel Words with Silent E (bike, hose, etc.) • Long Vowel Words with Vowel Teams (read, day, etc.) • Consonant Blends (bl, cr, etc.) • Diagraphs (ch, sh, etc.) • Antonyms and Synonyms • Homophones • Nouns, Verbs and Adjectives • Basic Contractions

8. Writing • GOAL: to write for a variety of reasons and audiences in all content areas • Students share written work with their classmates, family and school. • Students write on relevant and interesting topics for real purposes.

9. Writing Focus Skills • Complete sentences • Proper capitalization and punctuation • Simple stories with a main idea, beginning, middle and end • Friendly letters • Proofreading to improve grammar, spelling and punctuation • Writing as a process (brainstorm, write, proofread, rewrite and share)

10. Mathematics • GOAL: to develop an understanding of basic math concepts and to use that understanding in problem solving situations • The Everyday Math series provides a spiraling curriculum. • Students learn multiple methods and strategies for problem solving. • Students gain an understanding of mathematical concepts and how to apply them to everyday situations.

11. Mathematics Focus Skills • Read, write and compare numbers to 100 • Use math fact strategies for addition and subtraction facts to 18 • Solve number stories • Tell time to the nearest hour and half hour • Count small collections of coins • Measure to the nearest inch and centimeter • Identify and draw two-dimensional shapes

12. Science and Social Studies • GOAL: to make connections between new knowledge and real world situations • Students participate in class discussions. • Students use reading, writing and mathematics skills to investigate topics.

13. Science Topics • Sun, Energy and Weather – focuses on the sun as a source of energy that can change the land, air and water • Basic Needs of Living Things – focuses on the physical needs of living things in Ohio • Motion and Materials – focuses on the changes in properties that occur in objects and materials

14. Social Studies Topics • Families Now and Long Ago, Near and Far – focuses on comparing the way families met basic needs in the past with the way they are met today • Geography – focuses on comparing physical and human characteristics of different places in the local community • Government – focuses on collaborating in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights and opinions of others • Economics – focuses on why people must make economic choices

15. Physical Education Areas of Focus • mastery of loco motor (jump, leap, skip, gallop, hop) and introduction to non loco motor (running, twist, stretch, sway, turning, and rolling) movements • throwing with opposition • proper kicking form and execution • fitness (mile run, shuttle run, flexibility testing, pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups) as well as some understanding what muscular fitness and cardio fitness is • other units include: Throwing, catching, striking, soccer, floor hockey, gymnastics, jump roping, volleyball, and bowling

16. Music Areas of Focus • Fun in 1st grade music at Rushwood includes many different ways of making music: • Playing instruments • Moving to music • Playing singing games • Learning songs and music of our country • Learning songs and music from the seven continents • Learning to read simple rhythms and melodies using songs and music of the world • Two live concerts this year: • Music of India, September 10, 2012, an assembly supported by the Rushwood PTA. • Woodwind Quintet from The University of Akron, March 15, 2013, an assembly provided by The Children’s Concert Society featuring a WOODWIND QUINTET.

17. Art Areas of Focus Besides making messes and learning how to clean them up, your art teacher teaches your child the specific standards that the State of Ohio has mandated. • For Perceiving and Knowing about art, we look at artists from many time periods including ourselves and peers. Then we learn how to question and articulate what we see using descriptive language, by discussing and writing. • For Producing and Performing about art, we use techniques, technologies and materials artists from the past have used to create our own works of art as well as coming up with our own inventions through experimentation. • For Responding and Reflecting about art, we journal, discuss, take quizzes and tests about the experiences we have seen and made in art as a way of generating new ideas and remembering what we have learned.

18. Progress Reports • Progress Reports go home every quarter and Interim Reports will go home as needed • Overall Academic Marks for Each Subject Area 4 = achieves advanced grade level expectations 3 = achieves independent grade level expectations 2 = achieves supported grade level expectations 1 = achieves limited grade level expectations • Specific Skill Marks + = consistently over and above expectations  = meets expectations - = needs to show improvement

19. How do I know what my child is learning? • Home/School Journal Discussions • Classroom Work Discussions • Home Links and Family Letters • Tic Tac Toe Homework

20. Ask, “What did you do today?” When you ask me what I’ve done at school today, and I say that “I just played,” please don’t misunderstand me. For, you see, I’m learning as I play. I’m learning to enjoy & be successful in my work. I’m preparing for tomorrow. Today, I am a child and my work is my play.

21. First Grade Quiz Results • TRUE First Grade in Nordonia Hills City Schools has already integrated the new Common Core State Standards. • TRUE In Guided Reading, each student will read books based on their reading level. • FALSE Once a student is placed in a guided reading group, they will remain in the same group for the remainder of the school year. • FALSE There are no spelling tests in First Grade. • TRUE Students will not be expected to write in complete sentences in First Grade.

22. Quiz Results Continued • TRUE In Math, the students will continuously practice concepts that were taught in previous lessons to reinforce understanding. • FALSE Students will use math fact strategies for addition and subtraction facts to 30. • TRUE The basic needs of plants and animals are taught in First Grade. • FALSE Letter grades are used on the Progress Reports to reflect understanding in subject areas. • FALSE The only way parents will know what their child is learning in the classroom is by calling their child’s teacher.

23. Question and Answer Session