All About First Grade at McAnnulty

Ms. Petrice UssiaUssia’s Ultimates

“A person’s a person no matter how small.” -Seuss

Ms. Petrice Ussia

ExperienceI have been teaching in the Baldwin Whitehall School District for 23 years. Primary grades K-2 have been my focus here.

Teaching PhilosophyI am a constructivist teacher. I believe the only way for young learners to learn at this age is through active engagement and motivation. Data drives my instruction so that I can monitor and adjust it when necessary. I utilize differentiated instruction suitable for any learner and create a positive workshop classroom culture.

Ms. Petrice Ussia

I have two daughters.Angie is a sophomore at Duquesne University.

Bella is in 8th grade in Bethel Park.

We enjoy shopping and watching movies together.

Classroom Website

www.ussiasultimates.weebly.comPLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE WEEKLY !

•Weekly Newsletters•Weekly Encore Classes Schedule•Weekly Homework •Class Photos, Parent and Student Links•MES Information, Events

Classroom Rules

• I will challenge myself to be a super learner today.• I am responsible because I listen and stay to task.• I will raise my hand, or wait with manners.• I will get along by using kind words and manners.• I will act in a caring way to my teacher and my friends.• I will make good choices today, but if I don’t I will learn

from it.

Behavior Management

Stoplight Model Behavior Cards•green, yellow, red

•Encourage making good choices throughout the day.•Record the color they ended up on at the end of the day on their Daily Behavior Chart.

Treasure chest rewards:•1 coin for every green day•5 coins = prizes on Fridays

Storytown Grade 1 Reading

Research BasedStorytown Instructional Focus:•Phonics•Vocabulary •Fluency•Comprehension•Language Skills

Weekly Lesson Design (Stories):•Focus Skills, Strategies •Robust Vocabulary •Core Literature story, Companion story•Connections: Text to Text, Text To Self, Text to World

Storytown Grade 1 Reading

Phonics Instruction

Phonics PHONEMIC Awareness Components:•Connect Letter to Sounds•Word Blending •Word Building•Letter Sound Correspondences•Spelling words•Decodable Text practice

Storytown Reading Grade 1

Robust Vocabulary Instruction:Research BasedIntroductionStudent friendly explanationsWord associationsUse of new words in context orally

Storytown Reading Grade 1

Fluency (Reading) Instruction:•Phrasing, Accuracy•Pace, Rate•Expression, Intonation

Fluency is Modeled and Practiced Using:•Read-Alouds, Leveled Readers•Partner Reading, Echo Reading•Choral, Repeated Readings•Readers’ Theatre, Taped Readings •ORF Assessments Oral Reading Fluency

Storytown Reading Grade 1

Comprehension Instruction:Understand, Remember, Communicate about what they read…

Before, During, After reading strategies…•Comprehension Focus Strategy ex.“Retelling”•Genre Study ex.“Fantasy”•Graphic Organizers ex. Main Idea•Think Critically Questions•Connect, Compare Texts Connect to Text, Self, World strategies•Monitor Comprehension•Think Alouds•Writing Connection Writing Process

Storytown Reading Grade 1

5-6 Days Reading Language Arts Instruction Each Story has a Set of Literacy Skills

Assessed on 6th Day: Reading , Spelling Tests

“Gradual Release Model”•Whole Group: Core skills Phonics, Comprehension, Robust Vocabulary, FluencyAll students

•Small Group: Fluency practiceLeveled Readers, Reader’s WorkshopFlexibly grouped

LITERACY CENTER ACTIVITIES•TEXTBOOK ONLINE at WEBSITE.

Differentiated Spelling CurriculumWeekly Procedure:

1.Given a Spelling Pretest 2.Assigned a Word List Based on their “Pretest Score” that day Score: -0 ,100% Spell all words correctly = Challenge List (Above) Score: -1, -2^ Spell 1 or more incorrectly = Core List (On)

3. Practice Assigned List in school and at home.4. Given Spelling PosttestGrading:Core List : Only Posttest grade is recorded; not Pretest.Challenge: Posttest recorded as Extra points.

Already received 100% on Pretest…

Spelling

Language Arts Assessments

Weekly Storytown Reading, Spelling Tests: Given on same day

* Date for TESTS announced in Newsletter *

1. Spelling Tests: •10 assigned list words are orally dictated to the students.•Two Spelling sentences are orally dictated, graded. Punctuation counts.

2. Language Arts Test: Grammar, Phonics, Robust, Comprehension, Writing Sections

Writing: Illustrate a picture, write a sentence with a capital, period.•Fall: Entire Test is read to the students .•Winter: Robust Vocabulary, Comprehension sections only.•Spring: Robust Vocabulary section only.

*Adaptations may be given as needed.

Pearson SF Math

Units Of Study In Grade 1 Investigations :

•Addition, Subtraction and Number System Pt. 1•Combining, Separating Problems•Solving Story Problems Data Analysis Pt. 2•Geometry 2D•Measurement, Patterns•Geometry 3D

•Number Games Pt. 3

Pearson SF Math

Grade 1 Investigations Instructional Procedure :Research Based

•A mathematical concept is introduced to the class at a Math meeting as a Whole group. The concept is presented as an activity requiring further exploration.•Partners explore concept using the Investigation Activity.•Partners then debrief, share meeting again as a Whole group by engaging in a “Math Talk” session about the activity. Teacher teaches concept.

Quizzes, Performance Based AssessmentsRocketship Math Facts Practice Booklets will be used in class and at home for mastery of Addition, Subtraction facts this year.Math Manipulative Games “Tens Go Fish”

Writer’s Workshop

Phonetic Writing Model:Requiring that students write phonetically enhances their

reading ability as well as their writing skills.

•Encourages and promotes the use of phonics skills to print and write words. •Teacher engages learners in discussion about the concept they will be writing about. Then learners participate in a “Writer’s Workshop Activity”.•Then learners debrief and share their “writings of the day” in the “WRITER’S CHAIR”.

ASSET Science

Unit Modules: Weather and Engineering Study Of Weather Tools

Living Organisms: Beetles, Goldfish, Pill Bugs, Snails

Instructional Procedure: F.E.R.A. ModelFocus Focus on concept with new vocabulary.

Explore Use kit materials for activity to explore concept.

Reflect Debrief to discuss, reflect on learning outcomes.

Apply Use SCIENCE NOTEBOOKS to apply new learning.

ASSET Science

Weather Engineering Activities •Projects: Wind Flags, Wind Mills, Rain Gauges•Observation/Exploration Activities: Evaporation, Anemometers, Thermometers, Wind Walk Recording daily weather data using Math tallies and graphs.

Living Organisms •Projects: Design habitats for goldfish, beetles, pill bugs and snails. •Observation/Exploration Activities: Illustrate and learn about body structures of these organisms and how they use them to live in habitats constructed by the students.

Life Studies: TCI

Units of Study:

•About Me• Families, Communities• Families of Other Cultures• School Long Ago• Holidays, Traditions

Daily Schedule

9:05-9:15 Homeroom, Storytime9:15-10:00 Calendar Math, Investigations Math10:00 Bathroom10:15-11:30 Intervention Time/ CENTERS11:30-12:40 Science or Social Studies

12:40-1:30 Lunch/Recess, Bathroom

1:30-2:00 Storytown Language Arts Core Skills2:00-2:55 Storytown Practice / Guided Reading 2:55 Encore Special Class 3:35 Dismissal

Our Special Classes Days 1-6

9:20 – 10:00•On P.E. days please make sure your child wears tennis shoes and dresses appropriately. If not, they will sit out. This could affect their participation grade. •Please return borrowed Library books and our Storytown textbook also. Money for unreturned books are collected at the end of the year.

Field Trips

Please return Permission slips.I draw names for volunteers.Please be on time for school that morning.Children don’t need money or a camera.Please wear comfy clothes, bring a jacket.

Grade 1 Report Card Indicators

Homeroom: Citizenship BehaviorsEE EM MP NI

•Completes assignments•Age appropriate behavior•Demonstrates effort•Follows directions•Organizes materials•Participates •Shows respect •Speaks appropriately •Uses time effectively

Grade 1 Report Card Indicators

Integrated Language Arts: Reading, Spelling, Grammar, Fluency, Writing, Comprehension

ADV PROF SAT NI•Identifies, Applies Grammar skills, strategies•Reads with Understanding•Applies Phonics skills•Applies Phonics strategies•Recognizes High frequency words, Recognizes High frequency words, Reads with Accuracy, Comprehension•Applies weekly Reading skills, strategies •Learns Robust vocabulary•Applies Language mechanics •Expresses ideas clearly in written tasks•Identifies, Applies Assigned words

Grade 1 Report Card Indicators

Math: ADV PROF SAT NI

•Applies Concepts•Solving Problems using basic operations•Demonstrates Math orally and in writing•Works accurately

RUBRICS with actual/possible points used this year forgrades taken from quizzes, tests.

Grade 1 Report Card Indicators

ADV PROF SAT NILife Studies: •Applies Concepts in daily work•Applies knowledge on Assessments

Science:•Applies basic Science concepts•Demonstrates understanding of concepts through Notebooking process•Notebooks graded using a RUBRIC with actual/possible points expectations for completion. ( Table Of Contents, Neatness )

Grade 1 Report Card Indicators

ADV PROF SAT NIHandwriting: •Uses proper size and spacing•Forms letters accurately and correctly

Writing:•Conveys meaning through writing•Meets grade level expectations in assigned tasks•Applies language mechanics (punctuation, capitalization)

Parent Involvement

I will announce Monthly classroom events in our Newsletter with a “deadline” that you are welcome to volunteer for

by email.

(Example:) Apple DayApple Day Sept. 25th from 1:30-2:30Please respond by Sept 25th with yes or no to pussia@bwschools.net

Ultimate of the Week: You can volunteer to be Mystery Reader any Friday during your child’s Ultimate STAR of the Week at 2:30 pm. (From 2:30-2:55) PLEASE email me to let me know.

Holiday EOY Parties: Our head HR Mother will send home PTO info and contact you.

Homework

1. Story Study Guides will be our weekly homework this year. They contain Spelling list words, Phonics and Comprehension focus skils and Grammar skills on a practice sheet called a “STORY STUDY GUIDE” posted on the Parent’s page at our classroom website: http://ussiasultimates.weebly.com for convenient weekly review at home.

2. Math skills games and Rocketship Math facts booklets will be sent home also.

Stay Connected!

Weekly Homework, Class News:

http://ussiasultimates.weebly.comhttp://ussiasultimates.weebly.com

Ms. Ussia:pussia@bwschools.netpussia@bwschools.net(412) 714-2020 (412) 714-2020 voicemail 6020voicemail 6020

Best time to reach me Best time to reach me when I can talk privatelywhen I can talk privately: : 8:30am 8:30am or or 3:00pm3:00pm

Birthdays

NO Invitations will be passed out in classNO Invitations will be passed out in class..Classroom DirectoryClassroom Directory::

Names and addresses can be added voluntarily to our “Ultimates Ultimates Class Directory” Class Directory” that will be available for you to record your that will be available for you to record your personal info on atpersonal info on at Open House. If you join the directory that night you will receive a copy of it.

Birthday Celebrations:Birthday Celebrations:Send erasers or pencils instead of food treats this year.Please drop off your birthday treat in the Office by 9:30am the day of.We need plates and napkins please. Please No drinks.

Reminders:•End Of Day Pick Ups: If there is EVER a change in your child’s normal daily going home routine, PLEASE SEND IN A NOTE. Remind your child to give me their note AND please EMAIL ME that morning just to make sure I receive it. •Don’t forget to send in your Absentee Excuse. Excuses not sent in past 3 days become “Unexcused”. Excuses available on website.Consider paying for your child’s Cafeteria Account online. Sending in monthly checks or cash in large amounts with this age group do get misplaced.•Please do not send in toys from home. We have toys here! I don’t want your child’s toys getting broken or lost. When it is your child’s turn for “Ultimate of the Week” they may bring in items that wont break to show.•Please let your child know if they are allowed to go to breakfast or not.•Please order Scholastic books online at our website. Or use McAnnulty’s Book Fair.•Grade 1 Orientation to Grade 2 at Whitehall is in May. We just visit a class.

•I’m sorry but only parents that signed up to volunteer for particular parties with our Head Homeroom PTO Parent are allowed to come in now due to security. You will be checked in on the day of the party.•Please USE our ClASSROOM WEBSITE. http://ussiasultimates.weebly.com•Don’t hesitate to call me and leave a message or email me this year at pussia@bwschools.net 412 714 2020 ex. 6020 My emails back will be short though. If your email is extremely long and important, I will want to call or meet with you.

Thank you so much for your cooperation and support!

Please visit our classroom website for Homework and Classroom Info.

This will be a great year!

Ms. Ussia