"Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind." (Albert Einstein)
What's new in Room 11
A weekly update will be sent home via email. It will inform you of what's been happening in our classroom and what's coming up soon. Most communication is done through email. If you prefer a paper copy of school correspondence please let me know.
Take home folder
Each day your child will bring home his/her take home folder with important work and school notes inside. Please create a habit of checking the folder with your child every night, discussing its contents, and sending it back to school the next day.
Snack, birthday treats, and parties
We have children with severe allergies in our classroom. Please choose snacks and read labels carefully. Nothing with peanuts or tree nuts will be allowed in our classroom. Each day we will have snack time. Please send your child with a healthy snack each day. Water bottles are acceptable to keep on the corner of desks; however, they are not necessary since we have a classroom drinking fountain. If you would like to send a birthday trinket to school to celebrate your child’s birthday, please send me an email a day or two in advance. Please note, we will not celebrate birthdays with food. Trinket ideas are: pencils, erasers, bubbles, and other inexpensive items. If your child has a summer birthday, s/he is welcome to bring a treat to school in the spring.
Reading
Reading instruction will consist of whole group, small group (guided reading), and independent lessons. Reading instruction will include decoding skills, reading comprehension strategies, introduction to new vocabulary, and story structure. Students will participate in reader’s workshop daily in their 1st grade classrooms.
During Reader’s Workshop children will participate in:
·Mini lessons: whole group lessons with a specific teaching point.
·Independent reading time: children will choose and read “just right” books while teachers conference individually or with small groups of children.
·Share time: Children will share with a buddy or the whole class.
Please encourage your child to read 15-20 minutes each night for homework.
Power Block
All 1st graders will also participate in additional instructional reading time by participating in our Power Block. During Power Block, students from all three 1st grade classes will be placed in flexible groups based on their reading needs. During this Power Block, children may work with their general education teacher or they may work with a different Creekside staff member.
Take home book bags
Each Friday, your child will bring home a bag full of "just right" books. These are books that your child has been reading all week. Books may be memorized; books may have become easy after working on them all week. This is the goal! We do not want at-home reading to be frustrating, but instead, it should be celebrated, encouraged and successful. Book bags are due every Friday.
A weekly update will be sent home via email. It will inform you of what's been happening in our classroom and what's coming up soon. Most communication is done through email. If you prefer a paper copy of school correspondence please let me know.
Take home folder
Each day your child will bring home his/her take home folder with important work and school notes inside. Please create a habit of checking the folder with your child every night, discussing its contents, and sending it back to school the next day.
Snack, birthday treats, and parties
We have children with severe allergies in our classroom. Please choose snacks and read labels carefully. Nothing with peanuts or tree nuts will be allowed in our classroom. Each day we will have snack time. Please send your child with a healthy snack each day. Water bottles are acceptable to keep on the corner of desks; however, they are not necessary since we have a classroom drinking fountain. If you would like to send a birthday trinket to school to celebrate your child’s birthday, please send me an email a day or two in advance. Please note, we will not celebrate birthdays with food. Trinket ideas are: pencils, erasers, bubbles, and other inexpensive items. If your child has a summer birthday, s/he is welcome to bring a treat to school in the spring.
Reading
Reading instruction will consist of whole group, small group (guided reading), and independent lessons. Reading instruction will include decoding skills, reading comprehension strategies, introduction to new vocabulary, and story structure. Students will participate in reader’s workshop daily in their 1st grade classrooms.
During Reader’s Workshop children will participate in:
·Mini lessons: whole group lessons with a specific teaching point.
·Independent reading time: children will choose and read “just right” books while teachers conference individually or with small groups of children.
·Share time: Children will share with a buddy or the whole class.
Please encourage your child to read 15-20 minutes each night for homework.
Power Block
All 1st graders will also participate in additional instructional reading time by participating in our Power Block. During Power Block, students from all three 1st grade classes will be placed in flexible groups based on their reading needs. During this Power Block, children may work with their general education teacher or they may work with a different Creekside staff member.
Take home book bags
Each Friday, your child will bring home a bag full of "just right" books. These are books that your child has been reading all week. Books may be memorized; books may have become easy after working on them all week. This is the goal! We do not want at-home reading to be frustrating, but instead, it should be celebrated, encouraged and successful. Book bags are due every Friday.
Writing
First graders will develop good writing skills this year by participating in Writer’s Workshop. Children will write narrative pieces, opinion pieces, and informational pieces.
During Writer’s Workshop children will participate in:
·Mini lessons: whole group lessons that focus on a specific writing skill/concept.
·Independent writing time: children work on writing and the teacher conferences individually or with small groups of children.
·Share time: Children share portions of their writing piece in small or large groups.
First graders will develop good writing skills this year by participating in Writer’s Workshop. Children will write narrative pieces, opinion pieces, and informational pieces.
During Writer’s Workshop children will participate in:
·Mini lessons: whole group lessons that focus on a specific writing skill/concept.
·Independent writing time: children work on writing and the teacher conferences individually or with small groups of children.
·Share time: Children share portions of their writing piece in small or large groups.
Mathematics
Our math block will consist of whole group, small group, and independent learning. Some of the units we will cover in math this year are: addition & subtraction, math vocabulary, place value, measurement, solving math word problems, shapes & telling time.
Our math block will consist of whole group, small group, and independent learning. Some of the units we will cover in math this year are: addition & subtraction, math vocabulary, place value, measurement, solving math word problems, shapes & telling time.
Social Studies and Science
We will study science topics including matter, magnets, life cycles, and weather. In social studies, we will focus on people and events in history, maps, and goods and services.
Room 11 Detective of the Week
Each child will have the opportunity to be the Detective of the Week this year. Prior to your child’s turn, a letter will
be sent home with directions regarding this special time.
Drew the Detective Bear
We have a class friend! He is a teddy bear named Drew, the Detective bear. Drew will go home with each child on a rotating basis. Along with Drew and his case, books and games will come home too. Please help your child enjoy special time reading and playing with Drew and then remember he is due back the very next school day so another child can have a turn. Drew will visit each child's home about 4-6 times this year.
Classroom Management
My philosophy is based on clear communication and consistent expectations. Children in Room 11 quickly
learn what is acceptable and learn to predict the results of their choices. I spend a lot of time highlighting positive student behavior, which inspires not only that child, but also other children, to make similar positive choices. For children who struggle making appropriate choices, discipline will be dealt with on an individual basis.
Individual Marble Jars
In Room 11, each child has an individual marble jar on the corner of his/her desk. When children are “caught” making a good choice, s/he earns a marble for his/her personal jar. Conversely, when a child makes a poor choice,
s/he will lose a marble from his/her jar. When a child earns 25 marbles, the child may choose a reward from a class-generated list. A reward may be lunch with the teacher, teacher helper for the day, no shoes pass, hat day, etc.
We will study science topics including matter, magnets, life cycles, and weather. In social studies, we will focus on people and events in history, maps, and goods and services.
Room 11 Detective of the Week
Each child will have the opportunity to be the Detective of the Week this year. Prior to your child’s turn, a letter will
be sent home with directions regarding this special time.
Drew the Detective Bear
We have a class friend! He is a teddy bear named Drew, the Detective bear. Drew will go home with each child on a rotating basis. Along with Drew and his case, books and games will come home too. Please help your child enjoy special time reading and playing with Drew and then remember he is due back the very next school day so another child can have a turn. Drew will visit each child's home about 4-6 times this year.
Classroom Management
My philosophy is based on clear communication and consistent expectations. Children in Room 11 quickly
learn what is acceptable and learn to predict the results of their choices. I spend a lot of time highlighting positive student behavior, which inspires not only that child, but also other children, to make similar positive choices. For children who struggle making appropriate choices, discipline will be dealt with on an individual basis.
Individual Marble Jars
In Room 11, each child has an individual marble jar on the corner of his/her desk. When children are “caught” making a good choice, s/he earns a marble for his/her personal jar. Conversely, when a child makes a poor choice,
s/he will lose a marble from his/her jar. When a child earns 25 marbles, the child may choose a reward from a class-generated list. A reward may be lunch with the teacher, teacher helper for the day, no shoes pass, hat day, etc.
Homework
Daily homework for our classroom will consist of the following –
·Reading: Your child may choose any/all of the following: Read to self, read to/with someone, listen to reading.
·Every Thursday, your child will bring home a homework packet. This packet should be completed and returned to school.