to First Grade · to First Grade in Room 106 Parent Orientation Fall, 2013 Mrs. Barb Tarka 440.995.7396 [email protected]

to

First Grade in

Room 106

Parent Orientation Fall, 2013

Mrs. Barb Tarka 440.995.7396

[email protected]

Classroom information

• Classroom phone: 995-7396

• Email: [email protected]

• Weekly Newsletter

School-Wide Information

• School Calendar

• Web Site: www.mayfieldschools.org

Mrs. Tarka Weekly Schedule

2013-2014

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

8:00 - 8:05 a.m.

Morning Message

8:00 - 8:05 a.m.

Morning Message

8:00 - 8:05 a.m.

Morning Message

8:00 - 8:05 a.m.

Morning Message

8:00 - 8:05 a.m.

Morning Message

8:05 - 8:20 a.m.

Calendar, Number Talk

8:05 - 8:20 a.m.

Calendar, Number Talk

8:05 - 8:20 a.m.

Calendar, Number Talk

8:05 - 8:20 a.m.

Calendar, Number Talk

8:05 - 8:20 a.m.

Calendar, Number Talk

8:20 - 9:20 a.m.

Math

8:20 - 9:20 a.m.

Math

8:20 - 9:20 a.m.

Math

8:20 - 9:20 a.m.

Math

8:20 - 9:20 a.m.

Math

9:20 - 11:00 a.m.

Reading & Phonics

9:20 - 11:00 a.m.

Reading & Phonics

9:20 - 11:00 a.m.

Reading & Phonics

9:20 - 11:00 a.m.

Reading & Phonics

9:20 - 11:00 a.m.

Reading & Phonics

11:00 - 11:50 a.m.

Recess & Lunch

11:00 - 11:50 a.m.

Recess & Lunch

11:00 - 11:50 a.m.

Recess & Lunch

11:00 - 11:50 a.m.

Recess & Lunch

11:00 - 11:50 a.m.

Recess & Lunch

11:50 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Read Aloud

11:50 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Read Aloud

11:50 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Read Aloud

11:50 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Read Aloud

11:50 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Read Aloud

12:00 - 12:45 p.m.

Handwriting & Writing

12:00 - 12:45 p.m.

Handwriting & Writing

12:00 - 12:45 p.m.

Handwriting & Writing

12:00 - 12:45 p.m.

Handwriting & Writing

12:00 - 12:45 p.m.

Handwriting & Writing

12:45 - 1:30

P.E.

12:45 - 1:30 p.m.

1-PE, 2-M, 3-L, 4-A

12:45 - 1:30

Library

12:45 - 1:30

Music

12:45 - 1:30

Art

1:30 - 2:15 p.m.

S/SS/PATHS

1:35 – 1:50 – Guidance

1:50 - 2:15 p.m.

S/SS/PATHS 1:30 - 2:15 p.m.

S/SS/PATHS/Computer Lab

1:30 - 2:15 p.m.

S/SS/PATHS

1:30 - 2:15 p.m.

S/SS/PATHS

2:15 - 2:30 p.m.

Dismissal

2:15 - 2:30 p.m.

Dismissal

2:15 - 2:30 p.m.

Dismissal

2:15 - 2:30 p.m.

Dismissal

2:15 - 2:30 p.m.

Dismissal

The State of Ohio establishes the standards for what your child will learn this year. You can view these via the Internet Reading, Writing

http://www.cgcs.org/cms/lib/DC00001581/Centricity/Domain/36/ParentGuide_ELA_1_v1r3_newfont.pdf

Mathematics http://www.cgcs.org/cms/lib/DC00001581/Centricity/Domain/36/ParentGuide_Math_1.pdf

READING

• Guided Reading � We use the term Guided Reading to help children develop their individual

reading abilities with books chosen by the teacher. The books are chosen at the child’s reading level and vary in type between fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Guided Reading develops your child’s reading skills with the goal of improving the understanding of individual words and the message of the book being read. Our goal is for students to read fluently at a level that is slightly challenging.

• Self-Selected Reading (Bag of Books) � This activity provides time during the day for children to read at their level

and practice the skills taught during Guided Reading. These books are kept in school but can come home.

• Handwriting � Handwriting instruction is 10-15 minutes each day. Our goal is for neat,

properly formed letters. The children are expected to use spaces in between words and use upper and lower case in their printing.

MATHEMATICS The focus in First Grade is to develop number sense, when children see patterns or relationships between numbers. Number sense is important to learning math so the children understand what it means when they add or subtract.

The Daily 5The Daily 5The Daily 5The Daily 5

Read To SelfRead To SelfRead To SelfRead To Self

This activity provides students with an opportunity to see themselves as readers and

will build their fluency as they practice skills taught during Guided Reading. The students

have book boxes for their Self-selected reading. We have been working on building our

read to self stamina since the start of school.

Read To SomeoneRead To SomeoneRead To SomeoneRead To Someone

This choice during Daily 5 is a popular one. Children will sit EEKK (Elbow to Elbow,

Knee to Knee) with another student and take turns reading, read to each other and ask their

partner about the book. Read to Someone helps children develop fluency as well as

listening comprehension.

Listen To ReadingListen To ReadingListen To ReadingListen To Reading

Children thrive in all areas of literacy when they listen to good reading. Children will

listen and look at books in a listening center as well as on the computer using the

TumbleBooks website.

Work On Work On Work On Work On WritingWritingWritingWriting

The goal in writing is for the children to be able to write several complete sentences

which follow grammar rules. At the beginning of the year writing includes handwriting

instruction and teacher modeling of proper writing techniques. We are using a writing

program written by Lucy Calkins that empowers the students to look at writing as a whole

process. The students are already enjoying being authors of their own work.

Working with WordsWorking with WordsWorking with WordsWorking with Words

The goal of this section of Daily 5 is to develop the children’s understanding of the

alphabet, letter sounds, word patterns, and rhyming words. This section goes above and

beyond Phonics. It helps children to decode or read words they don’t know. The lists of

the words your child will need to read and know how to spell are attached. Spelling tests

will begin around January. Children will use dry-erase boards, stamps, magnetic letters

and beans to create letters and words.

Math Homework Examples

Count forward from 1 to 20: Ask your child to count forward from the designated number (first #). Ask him/her to continue until you say stop (second #). The goal is for your child to count forwards from any number in the range of 1 to 100. Often children can count from 1, but struggle counting forwards from different starting points. Number After: Ask your child to figure out what number comes just after the given numbers. You will be given a range of numbers to use. For example, you may be asked to work with your child on the number after in the range of 1-20. You will say “Tell me the number just after 7”. The goal is for your child to answer is 8 without counting to find the answer. Continue with several examples. If this is difficult for your child, use your number cards in that range. You can place the cards face down in order from left to right. You can turn over 7. Instruct the student to say the number after 7, and allow the child to turn the next card over to check. BNWS Count backward from 20 to 1: Ask your child to count backward from the designated number (first #). Ask him/her to continue until you say stop (second #). The goal is for your child to count backward from any number in the range of 1 to 100. Often children can count backwards from 10, but struggle counting backward from different starting points. Number Before: Ask your child to figure out what number comes just before the given numbers. You will be given a range of numbers to use. For example, you may be asked to work with your child on the number before in the range of 10-20. You will say, “Tell me the number just before 13.” The goal is for your child to name the number just before (12) without counting. Continue with several examples. If this is difficult for your child, use your number cards in that range. You can place the cards face down in order from left to right. You can turn over 13. Instruct the student to say the number before 13, and allow the child to turn the previous card over to check.

Your child will attend these subjects with a specialist. The days

and times are listed below.

Note: On weeks with a day off of school we have “Replacement” days.

For example, the Tuesday after Labor Day was Replacement Monday,

meaning we follow a Monday schedule rather than a Tuesday schedule.

This ensures your child experiences all specials evenly throughout the

school year.

The students have a double special each quarter. For example, this

Quarter the students have P.E. on Monday and Health/P.E. on

Tuesday. The Tuesday special rotates through all specials.

FYI – Library books can be returned at any time—not just on

Wednesdays.

Art

Friday + 4th Quarter

Library

Wednesday + 3rd Quarter

Music

Thursday + 2nd Quarter

Physical Education

Monday + 1st Quarter

First Grade Spelling List (Words to read and spell)

the a is

you to and

we in not

for at with

it can will

this have he

me up I

my see go

am get said

look old play

of was on

as his be

or by had

an boy oh

do man no

fast run can

got tell she

big saw if

so has call

say yes cut

hold off her

us did put

First Grade Sight Word List (Words to read)

that are on of your

as but be they one

good about had if her

some do when so very

all would any been out

there from day then us

him by was come or

two man little has them

how like our what know

make which much his who

an their she new did

boy three down work put

were before just long here

other old take again give

after many eat call help

stop ran big around ask

away fast into let may

now run saw say show

soon too went yes am

another began better black bring

came cold could cut didn’t

does don’t far find first

five found four gave going

gone got hard hold its

kind last light made more

must never next off oh

over own read right should

still tell than these think

those told took try under

walk where white why friend

ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY Attendance and punctuality are extremely important. The children can be dropped off at

school at 7:30 a.m.. The school day begins at 8:00 a.m. I highly recommend your child is

at school by 7:45 a.m.

TAKE HOME FOLDERS Your child’s red Take Home folder should come home every night. There are two pockets

inside: HOMEWORK and STAY AT HOME. Things in the HOMEWORK pocket must be

completed and returned to school. Things in the STAY AT HOME pocket are for your

information. If you are ever sending something back to school (like writing a note to

anyone at school, returning a tear off form, returning a field trip form, sending in money

or returning a Market Day form), please place it in the HOMEWORK pocket. Your child

will check this pocket every morning for papers. All information from school will go home

in the Take Home folders.

PARENT TIP… Designate a place where your child should put papers each day for you to

review.

RECESS See the school handbook for complete rules. Dress your child appropriately. Boots, hats

and gloves should be sent in everyday as soon as the weather dictates. Please make sure

your child’s name is on all items of clothing.

HOMEWORK Homework comes home in the HOMEWORK pocket of your child’s Take Home

folder. Homework is usually due the next day unless otherwise indicated. All First

Grade homework is to be done in pencil (never pen.) Set aside a time and place for

your child to complete their homework.

PROGRESS REPORTS Progress Reports are issued four times a year.

REPORT CARDS Report Cards are issued four times a year. First graders do not receive letter

grades.

Our classroom behavior policy is on the next page.

The School-Wide Discipline Policy is included in the Parent Handbook for

your information.

August, 2013

Dear Families,

In our classroom we use a behavior board. This board has the following headings:

Outstanding

Role Model

Showing Pride

Ready to Learn

Think About It

Teacher’s Choice

Parent Contact

The definition of each of these terms is:

Outstanding – Excellent choices that follow our class and school rules. Student did not

need any reminders.

Role Model – Good choices, follows class and school rules for about 90% of the day with no

reminders.

Showing Pride – Good choices, following class and school rules for 70% of the day with

minimal reminders.

Ready to Learn – All students begin the day here. Good choices, following class and school

rules. Reminders to maintain good choices.

Think About It – Student has made choices that do not respect themselves or others. The

choices disrupt learning of the student or classmates.

Teacher’s Choice – Teacher chooses an intervention to help the student get back on track.

Interventions could mean a different seat, manipulatives to complete work.

Parent Contact – In spite of interventions, the student did not change his/her choices.

The parents will be contacted about student’s behavior choices and

interventions attempted.

Each level has a color code. A monthly calendar is located in your child’s Take Home

folder. It is colored daily so you can be aware of your child’s choices each day.

The classroom chart gives daily feedback to all students…rewarding good choices and

supporting the improvement of poor choices.

Mrs. Barb Tarka

Take Home Folders

Look at and empty nightly. Return to school daily. Put anything coming back

to school in the Homework pocket.

Behavior Calendar (in the middle of the Take Home Folder)

Please review each day with your child. Celebrate good choices and discuss

how to improve poor choices.

Call the School Office (995-7350) to report absences or changes in

transportation.

Organize the night before.

Put a snack, the Take Home folder and library books in your child’s

bookbag in the evening so the morning isn’t a rush.

Put all notes for me or the Office in your child’s Take Home Folder in

the Homework pocket.

Your role in your child’s education is more important than mine!

You will follow your child through his/her 12+ years of education. Being

involved means being aware of your child’s strengths and weaknesses. We all

have them. We work to our strengths as adults. Help your child to learn

his/her individual talents by exposing them to many experiences and ideas.

Enjoy your child through this year.

They will grow and change probably more than during any other grade in

school!

Any questions or concerns..

Call (995.7396) or email ([email protected])

If any families (parents, older siblings, grandparents) have time to help our classroom, we’d appreciate the help! Volunteering is as often as you wish--usually once a week or once every two weeks or once a month. There are many ways you can help our classroom and not all of them require that you come in during the school day. Some volunteer jobs include: ☺ Coloring and gluing classroom activities ☺ Assembling book order packets ☺ Practicing skills with students (sight words, flash cards, handwriting)

Our volunteer program will begin in October. The first volunteer calendar will run from October to January. I’ll send another note home after the holidays about volunteering in case anyone’s availability changes. If you are able to volunteer for this first calendar period, please fill out the rip off slip below and return it with your child by FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 so I can coordinate a schedule and contact the interested families. Thanks!

�------------------------------------------------------------ Volunteer Sign-Up

Name____________________________________________________________

� I can help at home.

� Days I can help at school: Day Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Time ______ _______ _________ _______ ______

(AM/PM or a specific time)