First Grade Orientation

2015-2016 School YearMs. Ruiz, Ms. Mariela, Ms. McCormick

Welcome & Contact InformationWelcome, Families! We’re looking forward to working with you to make sure your children succeed in 1st grade!

You may email us or send a note with your child.Ms. Ruiz: eruiz4@schools.nyc.gov Ms. Mariela: mmarrero6@schools.nyc.govMs. McCormick: nathalie.g.mccormick@gmail.com

Arrival & DismissalArrival: Please be inside by 8:15 a.m.

Students may read a book in the morning.

Dismissal: 2:40 p.m.1st grade dismisses at the Security Desk entrance (Exit 1)During inclement weather, we dismiss from the lunchroom (enter through the morning drop-off door)

Please note: Our doors now have alarms. When you visit the school, please leave out of Exit 1 (Security Desk).

Daily Schedule May Include: Morning Meeting Reading Writing Snack & Lunch Math Read Aloud Word Work Program: FUNdations Social Studies

Snack

Mid-morningHealthyPlease label all items with initials (including water bottles/juice boxes)

Please send a water bottle every day!

How to support your child’s reading True reading is more than just saying the words. It is UNDERSTANDING what you read. Please talk to your child about his/her reading and check for understanding.

Some simple questions that apply to many fiction books include: Who is the main character? What does he want? If you were that character, what would you do? What is the problem in the story? How does it get solved? How would you solve the problem yourself? Did you like the story? Why or why not? How would you change the ending?

Read nonfiction texts at home as well! In addition to reading nonfiction books, share the newspaper and

magazines. Discuss the format and talk about the purpose of each type of nonfiction.

Literacy CurriculumWe design our units based on Common Core State Standards.Students practice skills such as:

identifying fiction v. nonfictionretellingdescribing characters and settings identifying problem and solutionidentifying text featuresorganizing writing into fact webs, Venn diagrams, and notessequencing eventswriting to inform, persuade, or entertainsentence structure and punctuation

In our literacy units, students read texts independently and with partners and participate in read alouds.

We hold class discussions about critical thinking topics. Our discussions are run by the students. Discussions may be whole-class or in smaller groups.

Writing Portfolio PiecesNonfiction Question & Answer (Informational)

Personal Narrative (About a short event)

Procedural (How To)Opinion (Persuasive)

Math CurriculumGO Math! programWe send letters home to introduce each unit of

studyoVocabulary flashcards attached

Work includes Journal (workbook work), games, and use of manipulatives (hands-on tools)

Unit assessment following each unit. Smaller, informal assessments throughout the

unit.Performance Tasks follow some units. They

assess the skills from that unit.

Math SkillsDaily “real world” word problems challenge students’ critical

thinking ability.Adding and subtracting up to 20 automatically"Adding on" with larger numbersAddition and subtraction relationships (10 + 4 = 14; 14 – 4 = 10)Two-digit addition and subtractionPlace value (ones, tens, hundreds)Skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s to 100 and back down to 0Comparing numbers with symbols (<, >, =)MeasurementData and GraphingShapesTime to the hour and half hourPlease note: Identifying and counting coins is not addressed by the

GO Math! Program. We will work on this skill separately.

Social Studies CurriculumFamilies and CommunitiesFour Themes:1. Families are Important2. Families Now and Long Ago3. Families in Communities4. The Community

Curriculum ResourcesGO Math! Think Central: https://www-

k6.thinkcentral.com/ePC/start.do (Receive your personalized log in from the school)

i-Ready (literacy and math): www.i-ready.com (Receive your personalized log in from the school)

Scholastic News Weekly Reader: http://sni.scholastic.com/SN1 1st grade student sign-in code: mariela205

Discovery Education: www.discoveryeducation.comPBS Kids (spelling and reading games):

www.pbskids.orgSchoolTube (educational videos): www.schooltube.comStoryline Online (celebrities read children’s books):

www.storylineonline.net

Homework Policy1 page of Reading/Writing Monday through Thursday (from a packet

or workbook)Students must color their Reading/Writing homework every night.

This helps with fine motor skills and allows them to take pride in their work.

1 page of Math on most nights (from the GO Math! curriculum)Students should show their work with a picture or a number

sentence (4+5=9)

Please sign the homework sheets after you have reviewed them with your child. It is a time for you to work with your child on his/her learning.

Homework completion counts toward a portion of your child’s grade.

Grading PolicyReading:Formal Assessments (Fountas & Pinnell, Diagnostic Tests): 65%Classwork, Participation & Discussion: 25%Homework: 10%

Writing:Published Portfolio Pieces: 65%Classwork, Participation & Discussion: 25%Homework: 10%

MathUnit Assessments: 45%Performance Tasks: 20%Classwork, Participation & Discussion: 25%Homework: 10%

Cluster Teachers Mr. Jennings: Music

Mr. Diaz: Physical Education

Ms. Neidish: Library

Ms. Schranz: Science

Additional Student ServicesEnglish as a Second Language (ESL): Ms.

BurleyEarly Intervention Pull-Out Reading: Ms.

HirschService Providers:

oSpeech Services: Ms. Rose, Mr. ReidoSETSS: Ms. BrownoCounseling: Ms. McCullough, Dr. OscaroOccupational Therapy: Ms. PinkertonoPhysical Therapy: Ms. Daar (on maternity

leave)

ArtWe will have Donetta Riley return for Art

Masters. Schedules to be determinedWe also do seasonal art activities, as well

as Literacy and Social Studies enrichment

Formal AssessmentsECLAS-2: Decoding (sounding out) Real and

Made-Up Words and Spelling)Fountas & Pinnell Reading Level Assessments

(read a text, then answer comprehension questions)

Go Math! Unit TestsMath Performance TasksWriting Portfolio Pieces i-Ready: Literacy and Math assessments and

instructionWe will post some assessment scores on

Engrade, as well as notify you in writing.

i-Ready Students will complete a diagnostic

assessment at the beginning of the year. The assessment provides teachers with information regarding the students’ current levels of achievement in math and literacy. It helps teachers plan their instruction and form small groups for enrichment and extra practice.

i-Ready uses the results of the diagnostic assessments to create personalized lessons for students based on their levels of achievement.

Students have the opportunity to log in to i-Ready in school for extra practice lessons, as well as at home.

ScholasticScholastic Book Clubs: Seesaw & Lucky

magazineswww.scholastic.com/bookclubsOnline access code for our classes:Ms. McCormick: JGT6LMs. Mariela: MGQLR

Scholastic News Weekly Reader: $6 per subscriptionCheck it out at home:

http://sni.scholastic.com/SN1 Student sign-in code: mariela205

Field Trips Lehman Center for the Performing Arts:

Spring 2016 Museum of Modern Art: November 2015 Additional field trips enrich our Literacy

and Social Studies curriculums and take place in the spring. They vary from year to year. Examples of past trips: Wave Hill,

Police Station, Little Red Lighthouse, American Museum of Natural History

First Grade Picnic: June 2016

SuppliesThank you!Most important: 5 folders, scissors, markers,

headphones, a box of crayonsMake sure your child’s belongings are labeled

(water bottle, lunch box, backpack, jacket, sweatshirts)

Please check folders daily for any notes, bulletins, or forms from the school.

Birthday PartiesPlease send a note or an email at least one week in advance so we can plan accordingly.

Typically after LunchSnacks should be easy to pass out (Cupcakes, brownies, etc.) Please, no cakes.

Drinks should be spill-proof (juice boxes or water bottles). No soda, please.

No nut products!

Medical ConditionsAllergies: Please let us know if your child has any allergies. Contact Nurse Joy Hamilton regarding EpiPens.

Asthma: Please let us know if your child has asthma. Contact Nurse Joy Hamilton regarding pumps. Please send in your “home” pump for field trips.

Special Events Families are welcomed into our classrooms to

share about their cultures Mystery Readers (Family members read a

book to the class) Cultural Potluck Publishing Celebrations Making Gingerbread Houses (December) First Grade Picnic (June) Science Day Other celebrations throughout the year