1. Do Now • Please look for your child’s chair and your folder. • Write your name on the name tag provided. • Please write your child a note using the “pants” paper on your child’s desk. Please include your hopes and dreams for your child for first grade. • Fill out the paper on your child’s desk. Please print neatly. 

2. Welcome to Back to School Night! September 11, 2013

3. What are the purposes of this evening? • Experience your child’s learning environment. • Gain an understanding of our mutual expectations as partners in your child’s education. • To meet one another in a non-conference atmosphere.

4. Building Our Classroom Community • Morning Meeting • Greeting • Share • Activity • News and Announcements Your Turn… Please join us in one component of our morning meeting. 

5. Taking Care of Business • Please always contact both of us : • jsantoro@mtsd.us • jdavison@mtsd.us • Parent pick-up notes • After School Activities • Early Dismissal

6. Birthday Books! • Preferably a new book • Whole class signs it • Return at the end of the year • Summer Birthdays • We do not celebrate with food

7. Related Arts Schedule • Day 1   Gym/Health with Mr. Sullivan • Day 2  Library with Mrs. Share & Spanish with Mrs. Stuart • Day 3   Art with Mrs. Diatlo • Day 4   Music with Mr. Violette & Spanish with Mrs. Stuart • Day 5 Gym/Health with Mr. Sullivan    • Day 6   Gym/Health with Mr. Sullivan & Technology with Mrs. Magalio

8. Web Site • Go to:http://www.mtsd.k12.nj.us/montgomerytsd/site/default.asp • Click on ‘Select a school’ • Choose ‘Orchard Hill’ • Click on ‘Faculty Webpages’ • Find ‘Santoro/Davison’ • Click and enjoy!

9. Co-Teaching • Dual planning, instruction, & assessment • Student- Teacher ratio is lower • Differentiated instruction even more! • Dual communication with students and parents • 2 pairs of extra hands

10. A Day in First Grade • 9:30-9:40 Morning Routine/ Do Now • 9:40-10:10 Morning Meeting/ Calendar • 10:10-11:00 Writer’s Workshop • 11:00-11:10 Snack • 11:10-11:55 Math • 12:00-12:40 Special • 12:45-1:00 Talk Time • 1:00-1:50 Lunch/Recess • 1:50-2:00 Word Work • 2:00-3:00 Guided Reading • 3:00-3:40 Science/SS/Special • 3:40 Pack up/Dismissal

11. Balanced Language Arts Program Writing • Focus on writing instruction at all grade levels through Writing Workshop • Writing Workshop Daily Format • Mini-lesson (Whole Class Direct Instruction) • Independent Writing • Individual Writing Conferences • Strategy Groups • Share • Partnership with Teachers College Reading • Reading Workshop Daily Format • Mini-lesson (Whole Class Direct Instruction) • Independent Reading • Individual Reading Conferences • Reading Partnerships/Daily 5 • Guided Reading • Word Journeys (Developmental Spelling Program)

12. Math in Focus: Math Workshop Approach Mini-lesson - Whole Class Direct Instruction using Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract progression Practice -Games, Activities, & Written Practice Small Group Instruction Infused Technology Goal Based Fact Fluency Practice Problem Solving Experiences COME TO OUR FAMILY INFORMATION SESSION ON SEPTEMBER 30th at 7:00 PM at OHES. Read the e-blast for more information!

13. K-4 Science and Social Studies Students will learn about their communities and the world around them through: Social Studies • Culture and Diversity • Geography and map skills • American symbols and history Science • Scientific investigations in Life, Earth, and Physical Sciences • Developing Science Process Skills, such as Observation, Hypothesis, Scientific Drawing, Measurement and Collecting Data • Engineering projects embedded within units of study At all grade levels, there is an increased focus on non-fiction and informational texts in both Science and Social Studies.

14. Promoting Responsibility & Creating a Learning Environment Elements of a Responsive Classroom • Caring for ourselves, each other, & our materials • Logical Consequences • Reflective Questioning • Think Time Form

15. Conferences and Report Cards • Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled twice a year. (Fall and Spring) - Fall Conferences: November 21st, 22nd, 25th, 26th • Morning conferences are available as well • Report cards are issued twice a year

16. Parent Volunteers • VIP guests…send in forms • Many Other Opportunities • Our room parents this year are… * The district is obligated to provide all necessary items for student learning. If you would like to supply “nice to haves” for our classroom, then it would be greatly appreciated , but completely voluntary. 

17. Interactive Read Aloud! • The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

38. Before Ending the Evening Please take a few minutes to write your child a note using the “pants” paper in your folder. Please tell them your hopes and dreams for them for this year. Thank you for coming and have a great night! “We have one very important thing in common…your child”