J.C. Thompson Elementary The Best S chool in the Universe

1. J.C. Thompson ElementaryThe Best School in the Universe NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP A Character Counts! School Curriculum Night September 10, 2013

2. Blazing Trails of Success Our Team Andrea Buckner Laura Musgrove abuckner02@nisdtx.orglmusgrove@nisdtx.org 817.698.3846 817.698.3847 Brooke Ohlen Cindy Pool johlen@nisdtx.orgcpool@nisdtx.org 817.698.3845 817.698.3848

3. Tonight, we will… • experience a snapshot of a day in the life of a trailblazer • learn ways that you can be involved with your child’s classroom and school • Develop understanding of the expectations of second graders at J.C. Thompson

4. Vision of JCT • Empowered to learn, motivated to lead! Mission of JCT • At Thompson Elementary we are dedicated to preparing our students to become responsible citizens who are ready for a competitive future with the desire and skills for life-long learning, in a nurturing and trusting environment which is student centered and dependent on family and community involvement.

5. J.C. Thompson is a Northwest ISD Title 1 Campus: • More than 35% of our students are considered low income • We receive federal funds to assist all students • Title 1 funds are flexible and are used for additional personnel, professional development, improve curriculum, enhance parental involvement, extend learning time for students, and provide other activities that are tied to student achievement.

7. AT JCT, we will… • Take care of ourselves, • Take care of each other, • Take care of this place!

8. Attendance • We want your child to have every opportunity to learn. Doors open at 7:20 and school starts promptly at 7:45. We encourage and recognize perfect attendance each six weeks. • Whenever your child must be absent, please call the front office at 817-698-3800 to report the absence. When your child returns, please send a note or doctor’s excuse to explain your child’s absence. • Attendance is taken each day at 9:30.

9. Communication • T.R.A.I.L. Guide Folders • Tuesday Newsday • Email Blasts • Call blasts • Progress reports are available online the 3rd Monday of each six weeks. If your child is failing in a content area, a progress report will be printed and sent home to be signed and returned. • Report Cards sent out electronically the Thursday following the end of each six weeks.

10. Volunteers • Volunteers are welcome at Thompson Elementary and in our classroom!! • You may volunteer services, time or supplies. • You may volunteer here at school or in the comfort of your own home. • Watch D.O.G.S.-Dads, Uncles, Grandpas (Kick-Off will be September 24that 6:00 PM) • Background check

11. Student Birthdays • Birthday celebrations may take place the last part of the day on the playground or in the classroom only. Please provide individual servings for the celebrations (cupcakes, cookies, napkins, etc. • The treat should be dropped off in the office and office staff will deliver at the end of the day. • The district specifies that birthday invitations may not be passed out during the day; however, the child can pass them out as students leave for the day outside the classroom door.

12. Daily Schedule 7:20-7:50 Welcome and preparation 7:50-8:45 AMP Mon., Wed. and Fri. P.E.—Ohlen/Pool Tues., Thurs. and Fri. P.E.—Musgrove/Buckner 8:45-9:00 Morning Meeting 9:00-10:15 Reader’s Workshop 10:15-10:45 Science 10:45-11:15 Recess and Bathroom Break 11:15-11:45 Lunch 11:45-1:00 Writer’s Workshop 1:00-2:45 Math Workshop

13. Snack • “Elementary classrooms may allow one nutritious snack per day under the teacher’s supervision. The snack may be in the morning or afternoon but may not be at the same time as the regular meal periods for that class. The snack may be provided by the school food service, the teacher, parents or other groups and should be at no cost to students.” • Healthy snacks choices: • Cheese bits Goldfish • Teddy Grahams Pretzels • Dried Cereal Granola Bars • Animal Crackers String cheese

14. Dress Code • Shorts and skirts must be mid-thigh (we recommend shorts under all skirts) • Leggings must be covered with a skirt or shorts that are mid-thigh • Straps on shirts and dresses must be three fingers across • Boys’ shirts must cover their shoulders • Shoes must have a strap for recess and tennis shoes (rubber sole) for P.E.

15. Getting to Know the Curriculum

16. Speeding to Read

17. Why read ONE MILLION WORDS? Students should read ONE MILLION WORDS to gain new vocabulary and increase their reading skill. Reading extensively increases the vocabulary students need to improve comprehension of increasingly difficult materials that they encounter as they move through their educational careers (25 Books Campaign; America’s Choice, 2005). Students who read ONE MILLION WORDS a year encounter between 15,000 and 30,000 new words. “Incidental learning of words from context while reading is, or can be, the major mode of vocabulary growth once students have begun to really read” (Nagy, and Herman, 1987). Additionally, when students read widely and deeply in elementary school, they acquire the necessary background knowledge that helps them construct meaning, which is critical to becoming a successful reader.

18. Speeding to Read School Reading vs. Home Reading

19. What do we want your children to know?Reading Workshop Second Graders will read both independently and in small groups EVERYDAY! More Text and Fewer Pictures Increase Fluency (80 WPM-100 WPM) Independent Reading Stamina (20 minutes or longer) Determine Setting, Characters, Figurative Language & Symbolism Variety of Genres Comprehension Reading Reflection and Reading Log Integration of Social Studies

20. What do we want your children to know?Writing Workshop Second Graders will write independently EVERYDAY! Personal Experiences Respond to learning in Math, Science and Social Studies Write with a Purpose Proofread what they Write Use Correct Conventions (Punctuation, Grammar and Spelling) Increase Sentence Fluency

21. How will we know what your children know? • Read Aloud • Guided Reading • Reader’s Workshop • Writing Workshop • Reading Reflection Notebook • Writer’s Notebook • Author Studies • Journey’s (Reading Series) • Clubs • Student/Teacher Conferences • Before/After School Tutoring • Mystery Reader • Tier Time (Targeted Focused Instruction)

22. What do we want your children to know? • Math • Understand the overlying concepts of math. Learn that they can be mathematical thinkers. Math is not just skill and practice. • Focus on computational fluency. • “Is that the most efficient way to solve that problem?” • Provide lots of experience in geometry, measurement, data and early algebra. Provide connections between all parts of math. • Students know a variety of strategies to solve a wide range of problems. • Emphasize reasoning of mathematical ideas. • Engage the range of learners in understanding math.

23. 5E Lesson Design Template - Directions 1. Engagement: (the “catch”) ♦ Describe how the teacher will capture students’ interest. ♦ What kind of questions should the students ask themselves after the engagement? 2. Exploration: (the “do”) ♦ Describe what hands-on/minds-on activities students will be doing. ♦ List at least 2 questions the teacher may use to encourage and/or focus students’ exploration. 3. Explanation: (the “lesson”) ♦ List at least 2 higher order thinking questions which teachers may use to solicit STUDENT explanations and help them to justify their explanations ♦ Student explanations should precede introduction of scientific terms or explanations by the teacher. What questions or techniques will the teacher use to help students connect their exploration to the scientific concept under examination? 4. Elaboration: (“the enrich”) ♦ Describe how students will develop a more sophisticated understanding of the concept. ♦ What scientific terminology will be introduced and how will it connect to students’ observations? ♦ How is this knowledge applied in science or in our daily lives? 5. Evaluation: (the “evaluation”) ♦ How will students demonstrate that they have achieved the lesson objective? ♦ This may be done throughout the lesson as well as at the end of the lesson. Science Inquiry

24. What do we want your children to know?Science • Asking questions • Using science tools Physical Science • Force is a push or a pull • Matter has physical properties Earth Science • Nature can cause change • Patterns of change in weather, metamorphosis and objects in sky • Cycles and simple systems Life Science • Habitats of animals • Needs of living creatures • Environmental changes • How living creatures adapt and change environment

25. STAAR • State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness • Given in grades 3-5 • Test is now timed • More difficult than previous test because it will require higher level thinking and multiple step problems. • Builds on previously learned knowledge.

26. Extra Curricular Activities • Battle of the Books- • Spring- 3rd-5th grades • U.I.L- 2nd-5th grades • Leadership Club- 4th and 5th grade • Choir and District Honor Choir • Art Club

27. Conferences • Our Fall conferences will be at the beginning of October. • Please look for a note home in the next couple of weeks.

28. Questions What questions do you have for us?