2015 Parent Orientation

First GradeFirst Gradeis a “magical” is a “magical”

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Welcome to First Grade Welcome to First Grade as a Kuentz Coyoteas a Kuentz Coyote

A little Humor

A little Humor

A Little about Myself

A Little about Myself

A Little more about Myself

My Teaching Style• I am motherly and loving - but firm.• I have high expectations for your child

with a growth mindset. I look for progress to measure success.

• I strive for learning to be fun and exciting taking into consideration your child’s opinions, interests, and learning styles.

My Teaching Style• My ultimate end in mind is for students

to develop the skills that will allow them to be leaders of their own lives and make meaningful contributions wherever they go – at home, at work, at school or at play.

Requirements for promotion to 2nd grade:

• Read and comprehend unseen text at an ending first grade level (Level I).

Students must…

Required Reading Levels for the End of Each 9 Week Grading Period

• 1st nine weeks – Level C• 2nd nine weeks – Level E• 3rd nine weeks – Level G• 4th nine weeks – Level I

Students must also…• Work on grade level in mathematics

and • Demonstrate most of the first grade

TEKS in reading and math or be expected to do so early in the next year. http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=6148

Requirements for promotion to 2nd grade:

Spelling• A spelling pattern will be introduced each week.• 10 words will be given to study; 6 will follow the

spelling pattern. The other 4 will be sight words. • Two “Bonus Words” will be given that will be more

challenging. Your child can score 1 bonus point for each Bonus Word.

• Students will also be given a dictated sentence where they can earn 3 more bonus points.

• After the 5th week of school, students will have the option of an accelerated list.

Math Units Covered• Place Value to 120

• Money

• Addition and Subtraction to 20

• Geometry and Measurement

• Financial Literacy

Science and Social Studies Units

CoveredIntegrated Science and Social Studies• What is an Investigator?• Geography and Natural Resources in our Community• Family Fun and the Science of Recreation• Jobs, Technology, and Energy• Patterns and Symbols of Texas• The Gulf Coast of Texas• Mountains and Basins• Geography of our Nation• Transportation: Technology and Economics• Being an American

Grading System• Letter and Number grades are given. The letter grade scale is

averaged as follows:

E – 95% S – 82% N – 72% U – 69%-below

• A grade below 50% will not be given.• Per each 9 week period, a minimum of 9 grades will be given

in each of the following subjects: Language Arts, Reading and Math, and 9 grades in Science and Social Studies combined.

• Progress reports will be issued every 6 weeks as needed.• Guided Reading Levels will be recorded on the report card.• Report cards will be issued every 9 weeks.

Grading System• Grades will be entered in the system weekly. • Graded work will be returned in your child’s

Daily Folder on Mondays. • If your child receives less than a 60 on an

assignment, I will re-teach the concept to your child. We will correct the assignment together and they can raise their grade.

Homework• Homework should be a pleasant experience.• The purpose of homework is to help your child develop

independent work habits, not to cause them stress. • A homework grid will stay in your child’s Daily Coyote folder.

Homework pages to complete the grid will go home every week. Please have your child complete it and return it by each Friday.

• The best thing your child can do every night is read and discuss what they are reading.

• Books read for homework can be logged for the school-wide reading program. Logs will be in your child’s Daily Coyote Folder.

Conduct Grading ScaleDo not hurt anyone physically (with hands, feet, body or

objects) or emotionally (with your words.)

Grades for each 9 Week Period • E 0-3 marks in folder• S 4-6 marks in folder• N 7-9 marks in folder

• U 10 + marks in folder

Love and Logic

Birthday CelebrationsStudents may bring treats (cupcakes, donuts or cookies) to share with the class on birthdays. Treats will be served the last 15 minutes of class time. Please let me know ahead of time to arrange the date. Please send napkins or paper towels along with the treats.

Parent Communication

• Parent Connection – available at www.nisd.net

• Team webpage and Teacher’s webpage• Group email blasts• Remind texts – to join my Remind

group, text to 81010. In the message box type in @c8f42.

Attendance• Students are considered absent if they are not

at school by 9:00 am or leave school before 9:00 am.

• Please send a written excuse within 5 days of your child’s absence. There will be some standard excuse forms in your child’s daily coyote folder. Please attach any doctors notes to the form.

• An absence is considered excused with a note if it is due to illness, medical appointments, death in the family or family emergencies.

First Grade Field Trip• We will be going on at least one

field trip this year.

More information to come later.

Conferences• Our conference time is daily from 12:50-1:35.• Please let me know if you ever want to schedule a

conference for whatever reason. • Fall conferences will begin on early release day October

23rd. I will send an electronic sign up sheet using SignUp Genius over the weekend.

• Student-led conferences will be held towards the end of the year.

Safety• Please remind students not to bring toys or other personal items

to school. Sports balls are permitted to use at recess.

• Students may not be dropped of before 7:00 am. Students who come to school before 7:15 should report to the cafeteria since a teacher will not be on duty yet. At 7:15, students can sit in the 1st grade hallway and quietly read a book.

• Please send a note in your child’s folder if he/she is going home a different way than usual. Please be aware that I might not be able to read my emails during the day. You can call the office and they will deliver a message.

• Dismissal is at 2:45 pm.

Don’t forget, if you haven’t already

• Join the PTA• Go online and fill out a criminal

background check.