Welcome to

1st GradeBack to School Night 2019

Tonight we will discuss…● Philosophy

○ Parent-teacher partnership○ Success and growth for all

students● Curriculum● Snack and lunch● Dress code● Homework● Volunteers

Sound familiar?

1st graders go through many behavioral changes throughout the year…all of these are normal!

● Want to be “best” and “first”● Have boundless energy● May be oppositional, critical, and silly● May have difficulty being flexible● Cry easily

They learn to...● Develop positive, realistic self-concepts● Respect themselves● Gain awareness of their feelings● Express feelings● Participate in groups● Learn from their mistakes

*From the American School Counselor Association

STAR at Vista VerdeSafe School Community

Thoughtful Communication

Act with Integrity and Respect

Responsible Risk-taking

Thinking Maps

● To enhance our thinking and learning in all curricular areas we use Thinking Maps school wide.

● Provides a visual representation of a student’s knowledge of a concept.

GROW (Reading Groups)

● Differentiated reading instruction will be provided based on reading assessments completed 5 times throughout the year. Students will be grouped according to the level of support or enrichment they need.

● Flexible groups remain fluid throughout the year, allowing children to participate in activities focusing on the skills they need.

1.

○ Please consider volunteering for this time if you are comfortable leading a small group.

○ Commitments are weekly for 1 hour 15 minutes.

Writing

● Intentional penmanship practice with Handwriting Without TearS○ CONTINUATION FROM kINDER CURRICULUM

● Exposure to writing strategies● Writing fluency & clarity● Ability to write a complete sentence using a noun and verb.● With support, students will write Narrative, Informative, and Opinion

pieces.

Spelling● Please encourage your child to write the

sounds they hear rather than spelling the words correctly for them.○ Phonetic spelling helps the flow of ideas for

writing. ● Students are taught to be resourceful by

using their room environment and other resources to spell grade level appropriate words.

● Conventional spelling typically develops by the end of first grade.

● Weekly spelling lists will be included in homework and practiced in daily work at school.

Math● Curriculum

○ McGraw Hill My Math○ Irvine Math Project○ Engage New York

● Concepts include:○ number sense○ algebra and functions○ measurement and

geometry○ statistics & data analysis,

through the use of graphs○ mathematical reasoning

● Hands-on learning● Problem solving strategies● Enrichment

○ Marcy Cook Math Tiles (volunteers needed)

○ ST Math○ IXL math

Extra Activities● Computers & Library

○ Weekly opportunities

● Music○ Taught by a music specialist, Ms. Schultz (Provided by IPSF)○ Every other Wednesday afternoon.

● Art○ Art Masters: The life and style of art masters

(provided by your generous donations to PTA)○ IUSD Art: Artistic composition, use of space and color (6 lessons

provided by IUSD)

PE

● Physical Education○ Coach Dave: hand-eye coordination, ball skills, aerobic movement,

gross-motor skills, and games that encourage cooperation○ Club Viking: additional program taught by selected middle school

students○ Jogathon: March 20th ○ Field Day: June 1st

Curriculum Rotations● Science

○ Animals & Plants○ Objects in the Sky○ Light & Sound

● Social Studies○ Citizenship○ Locations & Maps○ Cultural Literacy○ Times Long Ago○ American Symbols○ Goods & Services

● Health○ Great Body Shop

● Technology/Computers○ Digital Citizenship○ Username & password○ Keyboarding skills

Sending a pair of headphones with your child, although optional, would be highly beneficial.

Procedures● Snack and Lunch

○ Put your snack in a separate bag and label it.○ Label all items with your child’s name○ Water bottle (attached lid/top only)○ Emergency account lunch money

● Dress Code○ Close toed shoes○ Label all removable clothing items with your child’s name○ Please keep an extra sweater in backpack

Billy’s

snack

Homework● Homework will be sent home each Monday. ● It will also be available on our 1st grade website:

vistaverde1stgrade.weebly.com

● Completed homework should be returned to your teacher on Friday in the provided Homework Folders.

● Homework is intended to be a review of lessons taught in class. Please complete pages of homework according to the weekly pacing guide.

● Homework will consist of math review, spelling practice, and reading.

*20 minutes of daily reading is strongly recommended*

We can’t forget...Absences● Please call the attendance line● Excused/unexcused absences

○ Excused: illness, Dr. appointment, death in immediate family, religious holiday

Volunteers always welcome!● Please register with Help Desk

in the front office before you begin volunteering. ○ You will be required to check in

and out each time you come to school to volunteer or visit the campus.

● New volunteers will need to submit a copy of their drivers license.

Donations are always

appreciated!

We use many tissues and baby

wipes throughout the

year...please feel free to send in

throughout the year

Donations are always

appreciated!

We use many tissues and baby

wipes throughout the

year...please feel free to send in

throughout the year

Thank you for being here! We look forward to a

wonderful year!