Welcome to First Grade

Mr. Tiller 1D
Thursday September 4
th
2014

Daily Schedule
Our day in a nutshell
! Attendance/lunch selection/ Morning Meeting
! Calendar/ letter writing/ word study
! Literacy block 1
! Snack/ author study- read aloud
! Morning Special
! Literacy block 2
! Lunch/Recess
! Afternoon Special
! Math
! Snack while working (as needed)
! Social Studies/Science
! Time to Go Home!
The Responsive Classroom

! The Responsive Classroom is an approach to learning that has grown through
the work of the Northeast Foundation for Children (NEFC). The following are
the seven beliefs of this teaching practice:
! The social curriculum is as important as the academic curriculum.
! How children learn is as important as what they learn.
! The greatest cognitive growth occurs through social interaction.
! There is a set of social skills that children need in order to be successful
academically and socially.
! Knowing the children we teach is as important as knowing the content we teach.
! Knowing the parents of the children we teach is as important as knowing the
children.
! Teachers and administrators must model the social and academic skills which
they wish to teach their students.
The Responsive Classroom
! Morning Meeting
! Hopes & Dreams (goals for year)
! Rules & Logical Consequences
! Guided Discovery
! Academic Choice

The Daily 5 Activities

! Read to self
! Read to someone
! Listen to reading
! Engage Word Study
! Write about reading
! Conduct small group work (guided reading/writing
conferences)
! Work one-to-one: conferences & assessments
Reading
Reading is Much More Then
Simply Recognizing Words

! Children only become fluent readers when
they understand the meaning of what they
read
! Often, young readers hurry along with
their reading and end up choosing books at
higher levels.
! Sometimes children are able to read each
word but are unable to extract the main
idea nor can they sequence events/ retell.
! Comprehension is often very difficult for
young readers.
! Talk about what happened in a book you
read with your child. Can they retell the
events of the story in a clear organized
way?
Comprehension
I understand what I
hear and what I read

Accuracy
I can read letters,
sounds and words.

Fluency
I use all my skills to
read.

Expand
Vocabulary
I learn and use new
words
SPELLING
! Helen Arkell spelling assessment and the
WTW assessment children were placed into
like-ability groups.

! Introduce new spelling patterns weekly to
learn the rules associated with each new
pattern and practice spelling with Word Work
activities.

! Introduce 5 or 6 of the 100 High Frequency
Words for First Graders weekly. They are
learned by doing Look, See,Write & Check.
Writing Workshop Units
Small Moment Stories
Writing like our Favorite Authors
Non Fiction How-to Books
Non Fiction All About Books
Realistic Fiction

Everyday Math
! Background
Developed by the University of Chicago
School Mathematics Project
Based on research about children learn
and develop mathematical power

Everyday Math Practices.
! A problem-solving approach based on
everyday situations
! An instructional approach that revisits
concepts regularly
! Frequent practice of basic skills, often
through games
! Lessons based on activities and
discussion, not textbooks



Homelinks
! Homelinks (homework) books go
home with you tonight

! Homework assigned on Monday for
the week
! Your child will need help from you to
tear out the homework page for the
evening/week
! Return Homelinks to me on Friday
mornings with their homework packet.
Social Studies
Mapping skills




A Childs Life in Britain
and Africa
Exploring British
and African Wildlife



Science (every Monday with Mr Anthony Artist)
-Scientific Process
-Germs/Teeth
-


-Sound and Light
-Plants
-African/British Wildlife
Forest Schools
! Forest schools is a special that I will teach our class each
week. It usually takes place outside and allows us to access
our beautiful campus. We will hold our school on Thursday
or Friday afternoons.
! There are great benefits to learning in the natural
environment. Children need to play, to experience space and
movement and sensory stimulation for healthy development.
Outdoor learning has been found to increase student
motivation, deepen concentration, develop cooperation and
teamwork skills, and improve selfesteem and confidence.
! All students must have a permission slip on file with their
teacher.





iPads
! 1 to 2 basis

! Math games, spelling, photography, Art,
PuppetPals, reading, and more . . .

! iPads do not go home with students until 3
rd

Grade

! Teaches the children responsibility, ownership and independence
! Offers parents a window on your childs school day

! Reinforces what is taught at school.
! Sent home on Mondays with activities for Monday - Thursday
! Return on Friday
! Work for no more than 25 minutes each night. This includes time for
nightly reading
! Example: Monday- Word Sort, Tuesday- Math, Wednesday- Teacher
Choice/ Math, Thursday-Science
LUNCH
! Look over daily menu

! Discuss healthy food
selection
! Children should have
either a packed lunch
or hot/cold school
lunch. This decision is
best made the day
before at home.

! Food allergies i.e.
eggs, nuts, etc.
How to Find Us On FORUM

FORUM is a wonderful tool for up to date Lower School Newsletters/Special Events and
Dates/ Classroom Information

What the kids are saying.
! What I loved about our year is 1D was....
! I had lots of friends.
! We played games and learned a lot too.
! I am a reader now!
! Forest schools
! Morning meeting games and the message.
! I loved this class because we always worked together
! I will remember that we work as a team
! It was so fun coming to school this year
! I liked doing projects with everyone in the class
REQUESTS
! Children dressed appropriately for weather

! Extra clothes at school
! Easy to manage clothes/shoes for PE and swim
days: elastic waist, Velcro shoes, no leggings
! Indoor PE shoes on Wednesday.
FINAL ITEMS
! Birthday Treats . . . Lower School suggests that
you bring in a book for the class to keep, a
plant, or flowers. See me for ideas if you need
help.

! Fruit kebab treat

! Postcard project- send us a postcard from your
travels all year long! We will put them up on a
board and read them together.
THANK YOU!!!
! I look forward to a GREAT first grade year at ACS
International School!
! Thank you for your time this evening and for
working hard to make this year a positive and
rewarding experience for your child!
! I recognize that a massive amount of your childs
success in school is based upon your support!
! Please visit the specialist teachers (computer, art,
music, dance/movement, PE, French) on your
way out.
Questions

Thank you all for coming!
Email
ptiller@acs-schools.com