Welcome to BMSA Back to school night!

Welcome to BMSA Back to school night! Session 1: 6:00 – 6:25 Session 2: 6:30 – 7:00

The foundations of bmsa“A quality Stem education” • Inquiry Approach to Teaching and Learning • Teacher facilitates a line of questioning that allows students to learn through a process of discovery. This approach develops critical thinking and problem solving skills. • At BMSA we explore our world the W.I.S.E Way! Wonder, Investigate, Share, Extend! • Classroom Examples • Integrated Instruction – • Incorporating math, reading and writing skills into the instruction of science concepts. This is often done through Project Based Learning activities. These projects provide opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills to “real-world” situations. • Weekly STEM class. Hands on learning to reinforce science curriculum. Specials integrate science concepts when possible. • Instructional Alignment • Embracing Common Instructional language, processes and strategies K-5. • The W.I.S.E Way taught K-5; Common Science Units K-5; Science Journals K-5; Common Math and Writing Instruction K-5

Bmsa & Title 1 What is Title 1?: • Title 1 is a federal program that offers additional funds to qualifying schools to support additional learning opportunities and resources for students in need. Schools qualify based on the socio-economic make-up of the student population. What will Title 1 funds provide BMSA? • An additional Teacher, who will help organize our Zone Time, interventions and additional classroom support. • Additional classified staff to assist with tutoring and interventions. • Additional professional development opportunities for all teachers. • Support for parent and community involvement activities. • Additional materials to extend learning opportunities for students. • Extended day learning opportunities. We encourage parents to join our Leadership Team. We want your input regarding our school-wide decisions. If interested email our Title 1 Teacher, Christi Arnold: Arnold.Christi@meridianschools.org

Welcome to 1stGrade!! Mrs. Miller 2013-2014

Language Arts - Reading This year we will be working on: Small Reading Groups Songs and Movement Literature Groups Comprehension Strategies Phonics Building Vocabulary Fluency and Expression

Importance of Reading at Home

Fluency Expectations Fluency is important because it is a significant piece of the foundation on which we build our comprehension. Grade level minimum expectation is to read 54 words per minute at the end of the year to meet IRI requirement.

Our Reading Challenge Meeting the needs of all of the students at their academic level during Zone time. All Students: Phonics & Comprehension Strategies

Language Arts - Written Language Spelling Each week there are 10 words for your child to study. We are working on the words in class as part of the story vocabulary, and as word patterns. Studying the words at home helps both writing and reading!

Spelling • Make sure your child can read the words first before you start practicing how to spell them. • Practice a few at a time • Test on Fridays or the last day of the week • We practice every day in class

Spelling • Students will also be tested over some new words on Friday that they did not study. These are words that follow the same spelling pattern as the rest of the list. • We want to see if they can apply their new skill to unknown words with the same word pattern.

Language Arts - Written Language Spelling Capitals Grammar Punctuation (. ? ! ) Narrative, Persuasive, and Informational Writing

Math Basic Facts Addition and Subtraction Facts to 18 Place Value & Number Sense Measurement & Geometry Time to Hour and Half Hour Counting Forward and Back Strategies and Problem Solving

Math Read through the Parent Letters on the website – Homework ideas for ways to practice Also play the games that are linked on our website.

1st Grade Science Social Studies • Seasons, Matter, Plant and Animal Life Cycles, Inquiry Process, WISE way • Honesty & Responsibility, Friendship, • Cooperation, Respect, Families • Map Skills, Holidays and Customs • Major US History events, beginning Economics

Grading & Report Cards There are no % or E, M, N grades. Practice is not graded. For all subjects: 4 = extreme, above grade level 3 – at grade level 2 – near grade level 1 – below grade level

Grading & Report Cards What will the new system look like: Most papers in take-home folders will not contain grades – they are practice pages. Benchmarks are taken regularly to assess your child’s progress – some of these are sent home and some are not. If it has a 4,3,2 or 1 score – it was a benchmark assessment.

Birthdays! We will honor individual birthdays in our classroom by spending 10 minutes before last recess having a store bought treat or doing a fun activity or game of their choice.

Homework! Reading - Daily Spelling – Daily Math – 2 or 3 times a week Sheet goes home on Monday and it is due on Friday

Homework! What is the point?? *Responsibility* Please do not bring in the homework for your child or drop it off in the office. Let your child be responsible! *Scheduling/Time Management/Priorities* *Practice for Concepts Covered in Class*

School Policies Items brought to school are the responsibility of the student. As a school we will not spend time looking for items or solving disputes between students over items. It is BMSA policy that no toys or objects from home be brought to school.

School Policies Tardiesand Absences interfere with learning. No makeup work is given ahead of time for family vacations. 2 days for every day you are sick to makeup work. Going home plans should not be changed after 3:00, and must be in written form.

Technology Students are allowed to bring electronic devices to school and use them with permission and during designated times. Electronic devices are not allowed on the playground during recess time. Our school follows and enforces the Meridian School District Technology Policy.

Technology Many forms of technology will be utilized this year, including: Internet iPads/iPods Podcasting Digital Presentations Discovery Education, IXL Math, MyOn Reading, & RaZ Kids

Technology Newsletters and classroom information will be sent to your email address. Our class web site is a major source of information. It will contain all classroom updates, calendars, forms and learning links for students. Students will also be posting their projects, and I will post pictures throughout the year.

Love & Logic Problem Solving 1. As your child reports the problem to you, listen. Then ask if the problem was solved. 2. If it was not solved, ask your child what they did to try to solve it. 3. If they cannot come up with any strategies, help them talk through a couple of ways to handle the problem or possible solutions.

Love & Logic Problem Solving 4. Follow up - did they try the strategies? 5. If there still is not a solution to the problem, call the teacher to get more information. Discuss possible solutions. 6. Follow up with your child - was the problem solved?

Ways You Can Help At Home Be supportive of your child’s efforts. Encourage responsibility for their actions - let them learn through their failures as well as their successes. Reasonable, early bedtimes & good nutrition. Be a role model. Make school a priority - No Mike Teevees! :) Participate in your child’s education. Communicate.

Communication! Setup a conference time to discuss academic or social concerns before they are big problems. Notes in Monday Folders or send with your child. Leave messages with the office. Web Site www.mrsmiller.org Email miller.kim@meridianschools.org School 855-4430

Welcome to BMSA Back to school night!