Welcome to Back to School Night!

1. Welcome to Back to School Night! Mrs. Amanda Koekemoer’s First-Grade Classroom As you wait… Sign in by the sink. Check out volunteer opportunities at the back table. 3. Write your child a letter on the green paper.

2. Important Information • This presentation is to give an overview of classroom procedures—if you would like to discuss your child’s individual progress, please email me to make a conference date. • We will have a student teacher from January to May.

3. Behavior Management • Dr. Marvin Marshall’s Discipline without Stress • Responsive Classroom approach • DWS: Students are taught levels of responsibility • RC: Healthy classroom community and relationships are the goal, not external rewards • Negative behavior is immediately evaluated with child individually; consequence is related to action

4. Evaluating and Reporting • Math evaluations: pretests and post-tests • Writing: writing prompts scored with rubric • Reading: running records, anecdotal notes, checklists • Spelling: spelling tests, writing prompts • Science, social studies, health: projects • Reporting: evaluations sent home after grading, mid-marking period progress reports, monthly phone calls, report cards

5. Typical Daily Schedule

6. Reading tips How will my child learn to read? • According to Richard Allington*, the 3 most important factors in becoming a successful reader are • time on task reading • reading books at your just-right level, and • the ability to choose your own reading material.  *Reading Researcher, author, former President of International Reading Association

7. Reading tips Readers’ Workshop • Teacher meets with Guided Reading groups during this time (each group meets 3-5 times per week) • Partner and independent reading around classroom to practice skills

8. Reading tips How Can I Help my Child at Home? • Reading: Read to AND with your child (see brochure) • Comprehension: discuss what you read • Word Study: “Hunt” for words your child is studying everywhere you go! **TIP: Read the weekly newsletter to find out which comprehension strategy we’re working on**

9. Word Study—Like Speaking, Spelling is Developmental Words Their Way: Students are given words on their level In class, words are sorted, students search for words with similar patterns, spelling games are played

10. How Will my Child Learn to Write? • Writers’ Workshop • Writing Process is taught: draft, revise, edit, publish • Writing Conventions • Taught in the context of real writing • Students held accountable for spelling as they learn it (not for ALL spelling!)

11. What Will my Child Learn to Write? • Genres • Personal Narratives • Friendly Letters • Informative Paragraphs • Descriptive Paragraphs • How-to books • Nonfiction books • Poetry • At home • Draft first, edit later • Demonstrate real reasons for writing (lists, letters)

12. Math tips How Will my Child Learn Math? • Math Workshop Format • Students are grouped into “Math Clubs” for each topic based on pretests • Small-group practice with teacher and partners • At home… • Use manipulatives to complete problems • Focus on understanding rather than memorizing • Read newsletters to see what we’ve learned, what’s coming up

13. Science, Health, and Social Studies • Big Ideas for science: Earth, moon, and sun; Land, water, and air; Weather; Animal life cycles and food chains; Plant life cycles and adaptations • Big ideas for social studies: Families; Schools of the Past; Cultures; Native Americans; Good Citizens; USA Symbols; Economics • Big ideas for health: Friendship; Safety; The Body; Basic Drugs and Alcohol; Teeth; Nutrition Assessments: in-class projects with rubrics

14. Homework • Weekly Packets • Time: 10 minutes or less (contact me if child is struggling—do not go beyond this time limit!) • Unfinished school work may be completed during recess or sent home for homework • (Morning work is not graded)

15. MONEY • Lunch, parties, school store, etc.: • Must be in labeled envelope to be accepted (name, purpose)! • Example: • Johnny Appleseed, Lunch Money

16. Birthdays • Birthdays are welcome in the classroom • One treat only! • Party invitations—I will be glad to distribute them through mailboxes, but only if they are for the entire class (school policy). Use the “Friend Finder”!

17. Thank you for coming! Feel free to look around the classroom. Don’t forget to finish writing your child a letter! Individual conferences will not be held at this time.