Welcome to First Grade

1. Welcome to First Grade Room 12 2013-2014

2. Art in Action & Room Parents • Art in Action • Room Parents

3. Meet Mrs. Mattress Family Now there are 3! Dominic Beach Volunteer Travel Fun

4. Meet Miss Pollock

5. Our Goals This Year • Challenge - We have high expectations for every student, and we will encourage each student to meet and exceed his/her potential with everything he or she works on this year. • Support - We understand students learn in different ways and we will design lessons to reach each student’s strengths and needs, while providing each student with an inclusive and respectful learning environment. • Grow - We will stimulate each student to grow academically, socially, personally, and culturally. We will inspire each student to be a lifelong learner and to be the best person they can be in our classroom community and in our world.

6. Whole Brain Teaching • As the year progresses, you may notice that our classroom runs in a unique way. We will be learning through Whole Brain Teaching, a research based system that utilizes all areas of the brain, keeps children engaged throughout their lessons, and helps them retain much more information than the standard lecture-discussion model. • Whole Brain Teaching is a highly interactive form of instruction that delivers information to students in short “chunks.” Kids then teach what they have just learned to their partners, using hand-gestures to help remember specific vocabulary.   • Research shows that children retain more information when they have an opportunity to put it into their own words and use gestures to emphasize key instructional units …plus, it’s amazingly fun!

7. Whole Brain Teaching • Whole Brain Teaching and Classroom rules • Rule #1: Follow directions quickly. • Rule #2: Raise your hand for permission to speak. • Rule #3: Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat. • Rule #4: Make smart choices. • Rule #5: Keep your dear teacher happy. • Golden Rule: Be Responsible. Be Safe. Be Respectful. • Behavior Card System & Coins • Monthly Character Traits - Cooperation • Classroom Jobs • Bucket Filling

8. Daily Schedule • 8:30 - First Graders Come In • 8:35 – Second Bell Rings / Morning Business • 8:40 – Calendar & Weekly Poem • 9:00 – Phonics • 9:25 – Reader’s Workshop/Guided Reading (Small Groups)/PMT • 10:15 – Recess/Snack • 10:35 – Math • 11:40– Writer's Workshop • 12:15 – Lunch • 1:45 – Daily 5/Reading Conferences • 1:45– Science / Social Studies / Art (on Fridays) • 2:55 – Dismissal from Playground Side Door

9. Extras • Reading Buddies – Twice a month with Mrs. Stepp’s 3rd Grade students • Library – Every Thursday - 11:10-11:40 • Computer – Every Wednesday - 11:10-11:40 • Music – Every Tuesday – 11:15-11:45 • P.M.T. – 9:25-9:50 or 9:50-10:15 (Monday, (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday) • Art in Action – Once a Month

10. Procedures • Lunch Money - $2.50, $.50 (milk) – Please remind your child! • HEALTHY Snacks!! • Snack can be purchased for $1.50 (no pre-order) • Wednesdays – 12:50 dismissal • After School Pick Up • Names in Clothes • Bedtime and Breakfast • Water Bottle with Name

11. Laurel Tardy & Drop Off Procedures • Drop Off Procedures • Supervision on the large playground begins at 8:00 am. If you bring your child to school before then, you will need to stay with your child, until supervision begins. • Children will proceed to the back door of their classroom after the 5 minute bell, and wait for their teacher to greet them at the door. • No Parking in the white zone in front of the school or the Staff Parking Lot. • Bell to Bell Instruction • 5 minutes per day of lost time adds up 15 hours of instruction over the year • Tardy policy • After the second bell rings (8:35), anyone not in the room is considered tardy.

12. First Grade Curriculum • Reading • Daily 5 & CAFE • Levels (4-16/ D-I) • AR • Writer’s Workshop • Lucy Calkins • Math • Everyday Math • Gumball Math • Home Links

13. Science and Social Studies • Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons • Flat Stanley Project! • Foss Kits and many other sources • Life Science (plants and animals), Earth Science (weather), Physical Science (solids, liquids, & gases) • Habitats

14. Weekly Homework • READING AT HOME • Writing Prompt • Everyday Math • Sight Words • Phonics/Spelling • Extensions • CORRECT HW

15. Sailor of the Week • Monday – About Me Poster and Sharing Sack • Wednesday - Favorite Book & Book Talk • Friday - In class letter writing to Sailor of the Week The Sailor of the Week scheduled dates are listed in your folder. Please note that each year we have taught so far these dates have altered slightly if someone forgets to bring in the poster on time or if an unexpected illness or trip comes up and the Sailor needs to change weeks. Please use it as a rough guide. Thanks!

16. Birthdays • We love to celebrate birthdays at school! For summer birthdays, we will celebrate it on the half birthday! • Birthday snacks are handed out before snack at 10:15. You can send in the birthday snacks with your child that morning. • This year we are trying to limit the sugar filled treats, which means no cupcakes or cake. It’s amazing the negative effect having a cupcake at snack has on the students’ academic performance during reading and math. Please be creative thinking of healthy alternatives to send in for your child’s birthday. Some ideas are fruit popsicles, yogurt cups, popcorn (must be popped already), bananas and strawberries, apple slices, tortilla chips, graham crackers, or berries with whipped cream. • Please make sure the snacks are easy to pass out and all items necessary for hand out are included (bowls, napkins, baggies, etc) • Birthday invitations should be sent to the children’s homes, not given out at school.

17. Technology • Interactive Whiteboard • Document Camera • Amplification Device • Computer • Projector • Weather Videos & Mother’s Day Treat

18. Field Trips and Parties • Halloween Costume Parade and Class Party – Thursday, October 31st • Parade after recess around 10:30 AM – Party following parade in classroom • International Thanksgiving Feast – Wednesday, November 27, 2013 • Feast will begin at 12:00 PM • Gingerbread Houses – Wednesday, December 18, 2013 • Academy of Sciences – January 30, 2014 • San Francisco Symphony – May, 2014 • San Francisco Zoo– TBD • Valentine’s Day Friday, February 14, 2014 • Muffins for Moms – Friday, May 11, 2014 at 9:00 AM • Open House – Laurel Classrooms – Tuesday, May 20, 2014 from 6:30 PM- 8:00 PM • Walking Field Trip for End of the Year Picnic – June 2014

19. Volunteers – Sign Up Tonight • Reading Small Group Word Work • Tuesday or Thursday- 9:25 AM -10:15 AM • Homework Helper – Every Friday either morning or afternoon for about 30 minutes • Mystery Readers – Tuesday and Thursday Mornings • Sign up tonight • Field Trip Drivers and Chaperones • Drivers and/or adults who will be alone with a child are required to be fingerprinted, according to state law. • Take Home Projects • Laminator

20. Parent/Teacher Conferences • Signup Tonight • Conferences will be October 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, and 30 • PLEASE SIGN UP TONIGHT! • A sheet will be posted in the classroom for anyone unavailable to sign up during Back to School Night.

21. Communication • Friday Homework Folder • Laurel Thursday Blue Folder • Electronic Only This Year • Room 12 Website • Weekly Newsletter • Our contact information: • cmattress@smfc.k12.ca.us • apollock@smfc.k12.ca.us • Phone Number – 650-312-7359

22. Thank You! Thank you for joining us in Room 12 tonight! We are looking very forward to working with you this year to help your child grow academically, socially, personally, and culturally. We’re excited for an incredible year! Before You Leave Tonight: • Write a note for your child and leave it on his/her desk • Sign up for a conference • Leave with me your Volunteer Sign Up page • Look around the room at your child’s work • Enjoy a moment to chat with other Room 12 parents