Welcome to First Grade Orientation Welcome to First

Welcome to First Grade Orientation

Welcome to First Grade I am very excited to start a new year in first grade!

Miss Susan Gurley • • • year at Wren Elementary School Taught second – 1. 5 years (looped with class) third - 1 year first - 9 years Masters in Education Plus 30 hours in Reading Certified in Early Childhood, Elementary and Reading National Board Certification – 2006 Distinguished Teacher of Reading - 2006 Teacher of the Year - 2007 11 th

B. E. A. R. Notebook • • B – Bring E – Everything A – Always R – Ready • Zipper Pouch – Notes to me and lunch money. Please put money in an envelope with your child’s first and last name on it. • Newsletter • Daily Work • Homework

We Are W. R. E. N. • • We We Work Responsibly. Respect All. Expect Excellence. Notice Others. • Matrix of Expectations in Notebook • School-wide, Class, and Individual Rewards • Classroom Star Behavior Sheet – I stamp stars in each area of W. R. E. N.

B. E. A. R. Notebook • Zipper Pouch – Send me a note or put lunch money inside. • Class Schedule • Reading Log • Homework and Daily Work Folder • Guided Reading Pocket Folder • Spelling and Sight Words sheets • Bring to school each day!

Behavior Plan • Miss Gurley’s All Star Behavior • Weekly Prize Box/Treats ● We earn classroom tickets for good behavior throughout the school. We earn prizes and recognition with the number of tickets.

Reading & Writing • • • Weekly Reading Story Phonics Sight Words Spelling Words Handwriting & Journal Writing Projects

Reading and Writing -Reader’s Workshop Whole Group Instruction – Reading Basal Independent Reading Guided Reading-small group instruction literacy centers - Language Arts/Writing Workshop

Reading Levels • A student reading below grade level needs to work on sight words, fluency, and strategies for decoding unknown words (phonics). These strategies should include rereading the sentence, sounding out the word, using picture clues, looking for chunks, and reading on for clues. As always, comprehension of what is read is our goal for all reading.

Reading • If you have questions or concerns about your child’s level or progress please contact me for a conference time to discuss your concerns. • Question: What if my child is already on level E ? What is my child is on level L ? Answer: Each student will be challenged on his/her level. I have chapter books in my classroom that will build fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

Guided Reading • Each day students are working in self paced learning centers. Students are assigned a center to complete and move to another center upon completion. • Students that are not in a center for that day are working with me on guided reading assignments. We work one on one with a story. Lessons go with the stories and activities. This work is not graded. It is for building phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension.

Guided Reading Student Centers • Each student will be given a center folder. Students are accountable for their work. I check over their work for completion and to see if they understand the assignment. This work is not graded. • The centers the students are working on go along with our weekly spelling words, Family Times poem, and building sentences.

Student Centers • The student centers are: Spelling Poetry Glue a sentence Build a sentence Writing – sticker story and stamp story Listening Computer Independent Reading Partner Reading

Will my child be challenged in first grade? • Yes • I know many ways to challenge students that are comfortable with the curriculum. In addition, I want each student to read at least 10 books a week and write them on their reading log. Students can take home the reading logs and write down the books they read or that you read with them.

Reading Program • You can count the stories that are in our reading textbook (2 per week) and our take home phonics booklet. • If you read these stories more than once you can write them down again. This builds fluency in your child. If you need extra reading logs, please send me a note or you can print them off of my website.

Reading Program Our in class reading program is called “Teddy Bear Reading Program”. Each student is given a construction paper teddy bear. Student teddy bears are moved when they complete a reading log. There are 50 books per reading log. Student teddy bears are then moved and students earn reading points to attend our “First Grade Reading” Celebrations. We have four this year.

Math • Math Expressions • Students will have a math practice sheet in their Daily Work folder most days. • Parent letters explaining the methods we are teaching in class. • Math Quiz – Every Friday

Social Studies • School • Community • Service Learning Project • Family • Christopher Columbus • When I Grow Up… • Thanksgiving • Christmas Traditions • • • My Country Presidents Our Land My World Weekly Reader – Each Friday we read and discuss.

Science • Scientific Process Skills • Motion • The Sun & Moon • Plants • Earth Materials • Weekly Reader Science Spin

Homework Monday – Reading worksheet Tuesday – Math worksheet Wednesday – No Homework Thursday – Spelling Worksheet

Weekly Tests Friday – Spelling and Sight Words Reading – Weekly Story Guided Reading – Read aloud 2 - 4 pages to me. This is not graded. It gives each student practice reading aloud on his/her level. I will send home a new booklet each Friday. Math Quiz Science and Social Studies – I will send home a study guide one week before the test.

Report Cards & Parent Communication • Students do not receive an official district report card first nine weeks • Grades will be taken on work and reported to parents at a first nine weeks teacher conferences. • Second, Third, and Fourth nine weeks parents will receive a district issued report card. Grades will be displayed as A, B, C, D, or F. • If there is a concern I will contact parents to arrange other conferences as needed. • Parents may request a conference at any time by phone, letter, or e-mail.

Socks Community Service Project • • • Sharing Offering help Compassion Kindness Smiling

SOCKS Community Service Project • Socks – We collect socks throughout the year for our community service project. This will be our 7 th year to collect socks and donate to our community. • Donated to: Hurricane Katrina – 2005; Hospice of Anderson County – 2006; AIMS – Anderson Interfaith Ministries 2007 – 2008 – Shriner’s Children’s Hospital 2008 – 2009 – Shriner’s Children’s Hospital 2009 – 2010 – Shriner’s Children’s Hospital 2010 – 2011 - Shriner’s Children’s Hospital/Wren Elementary 2011 - 2012 - Shriner’s Children’s Hospital/Wren Elementary (School nurse-Mrs. Summer Wilson)

Water Bottles & Snack • Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle to school. • Water Bottles • Students will have a morning snack each day, if they choose to bring one. • Snacks should be easy for the student to open and healthy.

Field Trip Information • Students will have two field trips this school year. This is the number of field trips allowed by our school administration. • Due to seating and other space restrictions we may have to limit the number of chaperones. • If so, teachers will send out a form to be completed by parents. When signed and returned teachers will draw names for the parents to chaperone. • All chaperones must follow buses in their own vehicle.

EIEI Oops! • Our First Grade play is scheduled for March 15 th at 6: 30 pm. • The play is about a farm with a cow that will not moo. Our class has the part of the Lost Sheep. I will provide headbands and students wear t-shirts and jeans. • Mr. Rhodes, with Creative Video Productions will be present at every grade level play including K 5 morning thanksgiving program and 5 th grade graduation.

School Supplies – Always need quart/gallon Ziploc bags and liquid soap, and Kleenex. – Throughout the year, we will need to replenish our glue sticks, pencils, and hand cleaner. – Special requests for items during the year.

Volunteering ●Classroom parties – Christmas – Par-Tea • • • Valentine’s Day Treat Bags – Fall and Christmas Easter Egg Hunt --------------------------------Share about careers during our When I Grow Up Unit in October. • Garden Day, Field Day, and other Special School Events • SLED form

Exciting Year Planned for First Grade • I am very excited to begin the new school year and look forward to working with you and your child! Let’s start reading!