Welcome Parents!

     Hello again!  Here are just a few of the many activities we will be involved in during this wonderful, new school year at Peters Elementary.

1.  Daily Folders:  Your child will bring home a blue folder each night.  It will contain any homework that needs to be completed or any important papers that must be signed and returned to me the following school day.  These papers will be located in the “Return to School” side of the folder.  All other papers that don’t need to be returned to school should be in the “Keep at Home” side.  Please check both sides of your child’s folder each night.  At times, some important papers can end up in the wrong side of the folder.  I generally correct and send home assignments and tests the day after they are returned to me.  Please take time to look at all of your child’s work and review any areas that may need further attention.  Stress to your child the importance of being neat and careful when completing school work!

 2.  Plan books:  Each day the students and I will collectively complete the plan book. All homework assignments will be written down, as well as, any important reminders for the evening or next day of school, such as PTO events or sneakers for gym class.  The information in this plan book is extremely important.  Please read it so you don’t miss any events or notices! In addition if you need to jot me a message regarding your child this can serve as a daily form of communication.

3. Classroom rules:  Our class will create our own “family” rules.  They will support the following guidelines.

Rules:
1.  Raise your hand when you want to speak.
2.  Walk in the classroom and hallway.
3.  Listen to the teacher when she is talking, and RESPECT all adults.
4.  Never shout in school.
5.  Never push, touch, or hit anyone.
6.  Smile

Consequences:
1.  First time rule is broken…  (= warning)
2.  Second time rule is broken… cookie bite is taken (= lose 5 minutes recess)
3.  Third time rules is broken… cookie bite is taken (= lose 10 minutes recess)
4.  Fourth time rule is broken…  cookie bite is taken (= lose 15 minutes recess)            5.  Fifth time rule is broken…    cookie bite is taken (=lose all recess/call home) 

4.  Reading Curriculum:  We will be using the Scott Foresman Reading Street series again this year, continuing what your child learned in Kindergarten. It incorporates research-based reading instructions in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.  There are activities that take the children through the writing process to become fluent writers.  Differentiated instruction is addressed with guided reading.
     What is Guided Reading?
The teacher works with a small group of children who use similar reading processes and are able to read similar levels of text with support.  The first grade program is leveled through the Reading Street and Wright Group series.  The goal is to help children learn how to use independent reading strategies successfully. Several times a week, your child will bring home a legal-sized envelope containing the book we worked on in our guided reading group that day.  Please let your child read this story to you.  Sign and return the paper inside the envelope stating that you listened to your child read.  Promptly return the envelope containing the book on the next school day.

Students may be going to another teacher for this time period as well as Title I services. Thankfully our school has now become a school wide Title I program which means that the reading services provided by the Title I teachers will be available to all students' regardless of reading level. Although struggling readers will receive priority in terms of meeting with one of the reading specialists on a daily basis. Please sign the sheet so the school can be sure I made you aware of this change in the Title I services available.

5. Weekly Vocabulary/Spelling Words:  Every day 1, you will find a list of sight words AND spelling words we will be discussing in the upcoming week.  The sight words and spelling words go along with things learned in our Phonics program. Your child should practice reading them quickly and accurately.  At the end of each six day cycle, your child will be tested on the spelling word list.  

 6. Phonics:  We will usually have Phonics homework 3-4 times a week.  Please do not feel that you need to learn the coding marks for words.  It is your child's responsibility to listen well during class and be able to code words on his/her own. We will practice coding daily and I will model and help correct mistakes as they arise. Do not get frustrated and feel you can’t help your child with his/her homework.  Just by allowing your child to read the words or sentences on the homework sheet to you each night will be the best help you could give him/her.  If you are interested in learning more about coding marks, I will provide a guide folder later in the year.  Remember… coding is just a strategy the children can use to help them break apart unknown words. Coding is not graded on the report card but by applying these skills your child's overall reading and spelling level will improve.

7. Little Readers:  Your child will soon start to bring home one or two "little readers" each week.  These are books that we have read together in class. When your child has read these "little readers" to you, please sign your name on the front of the little reader and have your child bring them back to school.  We will reread them and then either file them in your child’s little library box where they will be kept until the end of the school year or send them home stamped.

8. Math Curriculum:  Here are the concepts we will be covering in first grade math this year.
     Unit 1 – Adding and Subtracting Concepts
     Unit 2 – Adding and Subtracting with Facts to 10
     Unit 3 – Adding and Subtracting to 12.  Numbers to 100.
     Unit 4 – Money, Time, and Graph Concepts
     Unit 5 – Geometry, Measurement, and Fractions
     Unit 6 – Addition and Subtraction to 20 with 2-Digit Numbers
In addition, it is required that first grade students master addition and subtraction facts to 10. Time tests will be given to practice number fact fluency. The computer program Fast math with also be utilized for fact practice at school. An extra review that can be done at home is greatly appreciated.

9. Science Curriculum:  We have do have a Science series.  Here are some of the topics we will try to cover this year, as time allows…
     Unit A – Plants
     Unit B – Animals
     Unit C – Sky and Weather (sun, moon, stars, planets, and seasons)
     Unit D – Caring for Earth (rocks, soil, water, air, and pollution)
     Unit E – Matter (solids, liquids, and gasses)
     Unit F – Force and Motion (magnets and sound)

10. Science and Social Studies Grading:  Science and Social Studies concepts are integrated into our Language Arts curriculum.  Therefore, your child will not receive a letter grade in these two subject areas.  However, he/she will earn a participation grade on his/her report card.

11.  Report Cards:  This year we will again be using PowerGrade to record your child's progress.  You will be able to access your child's grades online (after conferences).  Slatington Elementary uses this same program.