1st GradeAllen

Elementary

 

7:40-8:00 Arrival, Announcements & Morning Warm Up

8:00-9:30 Calendar & Math Workshop 9:30-10:30 Reader’s Workshop & Guided Reading 10:30-11:00 Word Work/Spelling/Handwriting 11:00-11:30 Lunch 11:30-12:00 Recess 12:00-12:20 DEAR Time 12:20-12:50 Science 12:50-1:50 Writer’s Workshop (snack) 1:50-2:40 Specials 2:40-2:50 Reflection Time & Pack 2:50 Dismissal

Music Art

Computers P.E.- 2X a week

Don’t forget to wear or bring tennis shoes on P.E. day!

Class library visits are also regularly scheduled, but not considered a “specials” class.

Reader’s Workshop Model

Shared Reading • Concepts of print• High frequency words• Punctuation• Oral expression• Letter-sound links and basic

story structure• Beginning Comprehension

Strategies

Comprehension Strategies• Retelling• Making Connections• Visualizing• Wondering/Questioning• Making Inferences• Determining Important

Ideas• Understanding Text

Structure• Summarizing• Synthesizing

• Flexible grouping based on strengths, using leveled books

• Decoding text• Fluency/Comprehension Strategies using a

variety of text• Guided reading books will be sent home

every night. • Often, the same book is sent home for

multiple nights, as students are working on improving a specific skill such as fluency.

• The cost for a lost guided reading book is $10.

Writer’s Workshop• Six Traits of Writing• Writing Process: Pre-writing,

drafting, revising, editing & publishing

• Reading & writing connection

Handwriting Curriculum• Handwriting Without Tears• How to help at home: Stress top to

bottom formation & neatness

Dear Parents,

Welcome to first grade! This year we are using the state approved Handwriting Without Tears® (HWT) first grade program for printing. This developmentally appropriate program uses hands-on, multisensory techniques to teach letter formation, legibility, and proper sentence spacing. Automaticity (fluency) in handwriting is critically important. Just as fluency in reading positively impacts reading comprehension, fluency in writing positively impacts writing composition. (Steve Graham, Vanderbilt University,1996) Your child will be using My Printing Book workbook to develop letter, word, and sentence skills. Lessons invite active participation and address diverse learning styles. Starting with simple skills and concepts the program builds on what children already know before moving on to more challenging concepts. This progression allows children to master skills one step at a time and develop confidence and writing fluency. As we transition from the D’Nealian model of handwriting instruction to the HWT model your child may utilize letter formations from both styles. Research supports that as children advance in their handwriting development they personalize their style. Thus mixing of approaches may occur and is not problematic. The attached charts will provide an overview of the HWT model. To facilitate involvement in your child’s learning, please visit hwtears.com to watch how-to videos that will show you what your child will be learning this year. You are welcome to download activities and try them at home.

Sincerely,The Elementary Curriculum Department

Goal: to develop independence, fluency, and accuracy in writing.

• Students in 1st grade do not begin taking formal spelling tests until the 2nd nine weeks.

• Regular spelling lists vs. challenge spelling lists will be based on Pre-test on Mondays. The “Challenge List” is given if a students does not miss any on the Monday Pre-test.

• Spelling strategies using at least two word families per week along with sight words.

• Spiraling Curriculum

• Manipulative Based

• Building Vocabulary

• Problem Solving Strategies

• Skip Counting

• Measurement• Money• Place Value• Fractions• Geometry• Time• AML

• Science Investigation & Reasoning

• Journaling Observations

• Matter & Energy• Force, Motion, &

Energy• Earth & Space• Organisms &

Environments

(Integrated into Reader’s Workshop)

• Community & Citizenship Skills

• State symbols• Holidays, Goods

and Services• Maps/Landforms• Cardinal

Directions

• Cultures/Beliefs/

Customs/Folktales• Historical figures• Economics (needs

and wants)• Building

Vocabulary

Integration of Computers:

Work Stations, iStation, video conferencing, distance learning,

fluency practice, publishing writing, and United Streaming

(just to name a few examples)

*3 Mac laptops in every classroom*3 Dell computer labs

Homework is an integral part of the learning process to support, enrich, or reinforce topics

covered in class.

Please use the whole page before beginning a new one. Add a

subject heading and date for each entry.

1. Reading 2. Spelling3. Math 4. Science 5. Social Studies

• Academic checklists will reflect a child’s academic performance and mastery of the TEKS.

• Academic Checklist Dates: – Oct. 27, Jan. 19, Mar. 29, Jun. 1

What Will My Child Be Graded On?

Non-Graded Items Graded Items

• Literacy assessments (DRA)

• Reading logs• Daily Language Workout

Sentences• Grades from other districts• ISIP (iStation)

• CBAs after cluster units• Problem Solving• Journal entries• 5E activities• Research projects• Spelling tests• Word Work activities• Activities from Reader’s &

Writer’s Workshop• Science PBAs• Written compositions

FISD Truancy Policies and Procedures

You can locate this information on the FISD Website athttp://www.friscoisd.org/ly/parentsStudents/AttendanceInfo.htm

What do I do if my child has to be absent due to family emergency, illness, etc.?

• When sickness or other obligation necessitates an absence, a note signed by the parent/guardian explaining the reason for the absence is required the day the student returns to school.

• If a student fails to submit a note, the absence will be considered unexcused. The student will be allowed three (3) days to submit a written note excusing an absence (an email is acceptable as a note). Visit our Allen campus website for instructions and contact information for our data clerk, Brenda Williams. It is very important to send a note because the absence will be unexcused if a parent/guardian fails to provide a note within the specified time.

• Unexcused absences are what triggers the warning letters regarding violation of truancy laws and can lead to filing of failure to attend school charges.

FISD Truancy Policies & Procedures Continued…

What do I do if my child has to be absent due to family emergency,

illness, etc.?• When a student’s absence for personal illness

exceeds four (4) successive days, the student shall provide a statement from a physician or health clinic verifying the illness or other condition requiring the student’s extended absence from school.

• Documented healthcare visits are excused as long as a student returns with a doctor’s note.

FISD Truancy Policies & Procedures Continued…

FISD Truancy Letters

• Unexcused absences, tardies, and missing school for a part of the day (without returning with a doctor’s note) are what triggers the warning letters regarding violation of truancy laws and can lead to filing of failure to attend school charges.

• Letters will be sent after the 5th, 8th , and 10th issue of truancy.• Absences such as non-school related vacations and trips,

babysitting, working (including modeling), and non-school sponsored athletic events and programs shall be considered unexcused.

FISD Truancy Policies & Procedures Continued…

Exemptions to Compulsory Attendance

• State law allows exemptions to the compulsory attendance requirements for several types of absences. These include the following activities and events:

• Religious holy days;• Required court appearances;• Activities related to obtaining United States citizenship;• Service as an election clerk; and• Documented healthcare appointments, including absences for

recognized services for students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.

FISD Truancy Policies & Procedures Continued…

• Take good care of yourself.

• Take good care of others.

• Take good care of this place.

Empowered and Responsible Students!

• Our Allen discipline philosophy is grounded in building and maintaining positive relationships with students.

• Teachers use “Teaching Principles” for how they will manage the class. There are nine principles shared with students and posted in each classroom.

• Each student will be treated with respect, caring, empathy and dignity.

Empowered and Responsible Students! • Equal isn’t always fair and fair isn’t always equal;

teachers will be fair in discipline situations taking into account each student and each unique situation.

• When a student makes a choice that becomes a problem for someone else, he or she has an opportunity to think about that choice to solve the problem.

• We view problems as learning opportunities. More emphasis is on learning from mistakes or problems – or better choices to make - than on the problem.

• Home problems are solved at home. School problems are solved at school.

Empowered and Responsible Students! • Sometimes we may need your support with your child

needing an opportunity at home to think and solve a problem they are causing at school. Thank you for working with us to build responsibility in kids.

• Role models are powerful! Parents and teachers model and encourage positive choices every day – our children are always watching and listening.

• Thank you for your trust and sharing your children with us! We look forward to a great partnership!

• For more information, please see www.loveandlogic.com

Bullying can take many shapes and forms. In addition to being physical, bullying can also be verbal and psychological in nature. Bullies may: taunt, ridicule, make offensive comments to their classmates, spread rumors, play mean jokes on peers, intentionally leave other children out of activities, write nasty things about classmates, persuade peers to reject other children, intimidate or threaten others, take or damage others property, hit, push, trip, kick, or pinch other children.

• Level 1 – Verbal reprimand and warning of future consequences by teacher in the building accompanied by a phone call . The third level 1 classroom offense will result in a level 2 consequence and a referral to the Assistant Principal for discipline and the Counselor for counseling.

• Level 2 – Time out and a removal from some privilege, referred to the Assistant Principal, name given to the Bully Prevention Task Force and teachers are notified (on a need to know basis), counseling session and parents contacted.

• Level 3 – ISS,OSS, refer to law enforcement officials (when necessary) and ongoing counseling

Consequences for Violation of School Bullying/Harassment

Communication

Conference: 1:55-2:35

After School: 3:05- 3:30

School Phone #: 469-633-3800

Communication• Daily Folder: Check and return daily

Check the behavior calendar, as well as look for other notes and student work.

Please empty and return each day.Please initial at the END of the week.

• Thursday Folders: Red folder sent home on Thursdays School & community information Please empty and return the next day.Please return all necessary papers in daily folders.

Communication• First Grade News will be available online each

Thursday!

• Newsletters include important dates & weekly news.

So, please look for it and read it each week!

• First Grade also has a website you can refer to for up to date information.

http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/Allen_First/