Welcome to Curriculum Night Lindsey Petrillo 1 st Grade

1. Welcome to Curriculum Night Lindsey Petrillo 1st Grade The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn. ~John Lubbock

2. Ish emphasizes the power of believing in our abilities despite other’s reactions and despite our fear of failure. “We can do anything ISH as long as we try!”

3. About Mrs. Petrillo“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”Maya Angelou I have lived in Arizona since 1992 and attended Mountain Pointe. I currently live in Chandler with my family and 2 dogs. I have a 3 year old daughter named Kari Morgan. I’m also in love with my 5 year old “tank” of a nephew, Brody. Graduated from Arizona State University with a BA in Early Childhood Education This is my 11th year teaching and my 10th here at Cerritos! I’ve taught Kindergarten, 1st grade and a 1/2 Multi-Age Class.

4. Classroom Schedule P.E. Thursdays – Wear tennis shoes Music Tuesdays Art Wednesdays Library Fridays (Please return books each week!) Computer Lab Mondays Snack Break Healthy snacks, please! Lunch 11:00-11:40 Kids eat from 11:20 – 11:40 School Hours 7:45-2:35 - we start learning at 7:45! Wednesday until 12:35

5. Classroom Policies Birthdays We will celebrate! Please do not send treats. Transportation PLEASE EMAIL ME if there are any changes! If I do NOT respond before the end of the day, please call the office at (480) 541-2200 Lunch Money Online or sent in Take Home Folders.

6. Communication • Website: Mrs. Petrillo’s Home Page • Newsletters – posted on the website • Listserv – all school communications, PLEASE sign up! • Email address – lpetrillo@kyrene.org • Phone number -480-541-2354 • Notes to and from school should be put in the Take-Home Folder (Blue Folder)

7. Math Now Alligned with New Math Common Core Standards • Calendar math • IFG Groups to differentiate!!! • Math Investigations • Hands-on math • Problem solving and learned algorithms • Math journal for problem solving • On-going assessments and a district test in the spring • Grades based on observations, classwork, and assessments

9. Reading Balanced Literacy Program • Increases student desire to read through choice opportunities • IFG Groups to differentiate!!! • One-on-One conferences • Students set reading goals with the teacher • Flexible small group instruction for decoding and reading instruction • Fluency Reading Workshop Harcourt • Phonics instruction (letter-sound connections) • Phonemic awareness activities (manipulation of sounds) • Sight word practice (high-frequency words) • Structured instruction on elements of literacy (i.e. characters, plot, genres, etc.) • Comprehension

10. Writing Balanced Literacy Program Continued Writing Workshop • Increases student desire to write through choice opportunities • One-on-One Conferences • Student and teacher work together to set writing goals • Allows for flexible small group instruction • Writing becomes “Study Driven” and students and teacher research what certain writers do and then follow in those authors’ footsteps • We will be authors!! The rest of it all • Integrated throughout the core subjects • Handwriting • Spelling • Letters to Leader of the Week

11. Spelling • Harcourt – 10 spelling words/week • Spelling lists will be sent home weekly once we begin homework. Tests on Fridays. • Apply spelling to daily writing • Phonics/word families

12. Science • Sky and Weather • Rocks, Earth Materials, and Conservation • Living Things and Their Habitats • Balance and Movement • The Scientific Process • hands-on and inquiry based

13. Social Studies • Our self, family, and community • Mapping skills • Geography and mapping • Arizona History and Pilgrims, farming • Customs and traditions • US historical figures • Ancient Egypt • Thematic units integrated across the curriculum • Leadership and the 7 Habits!

14. Homework Sent home Monday and due Friday, take weekend if needed. Spelling, writing, reading, and math Extensions and reviews of what we are doing in class Math games are often sent as the math homework Reading at least 15 minutes a night Please sign the homework so I know you checked it 

15. Data Passports • School-wide • Individualized • Goal oriented (attainable and measureable) • Monitoring of goals and progress • Intrinsic motivation for personal best • Allows for REFLECTION • Will be used for Student Led Conferences in Spring

16. Volunteers • A volunteer sign up requesting your availability will be sent home soon. • Please sign-up for days and times you are available to volunteer in the classroom. • Classroom volunteers will help with things like; reading one on one with a student, or helping the teacher with various activities. Some special activities will require volunteers over the year. • Volunteer Confidentiality • Volunteering will begin in September • Art Masterpiece and Jr. Achievement volunteers will be contacted by the appropriate person with further information. • Class Parties: Please sign-up if you are interested in helping out or leading class parties. I would like to have a lead party parent for each party. • Anything else you can contribute? Thank You for all of your support!!!!!

17. Clifford is HERE!!! • He arrived as a puppy Today! • He grows each day as if by MAGIC! • We will lose him on Friday. • The next week is spent looking for Clifford and getting a tour of the school! • Clifford’s birthday will be the Friday we “find” him. He is 6. Again! (August 23rd) • Clifford comes home! Clifford will come and spend the night at your house for an evening! I send home his backpack with a journal and some of his favorite books. This is REAL! 

18. Leader of the Week Every student will be the “Leader” for a week. I will let you know the week prior to your child’s “Leader of the Week” debut! Each child will given a special “All About Me” page and are asked to make a poster with pictures of what is important to them. Every student will receive a book of special letters from the class at the end of their week!

19. Housekeeping • Please get start of year paperwork in as soon as possible. • If you have not signed up for Listserv please do so soon to get all school and district communications • BOOK ORDERS • Leadership Tickets • Our Mission Statements • One final note….

20. I dreamed I stood in a studio And watched two sculptors there, The clay they used was a young child’s mind And they fashioned it with care. One was a teacher The tools she used were books and music and art, One was a parent With a guiding hand and a gentle loving heart. And when at last their work was done They were proud at what they had wrought, For the things they had worked into the child Can never be sold or bought. And each agreed she would have failedIf she had worked alone. For behind the parent stood the school, And behind the teacher stood the home.

21. Good Night! Thank you for coming to Curriculum Night! I look forward to helping your children to find adventure in learning! We are going to have a great year! ~Lindsey Petrillo