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Curriculum

Monday, August 25, 2008

Life in Room 127
Curriculum Night September 2008
First Grade
Mrs. Boggs

Welcome to all! The following is a brief guide to curriculum and policies in room 127. Now, and throughout the year, let me know if you have any questions.

Classroom phone: 253-945-3236
Classroom E-mail: bboggs@fwps.org

Volunteers
Volunteers are welcome and VERY much appreciated. A sign up sheet will be available at the back table on Curriculum Night. Common tasks might be: Reading Counts assistant, writing process assistant, computer lab tech, reading fluency assistant, etc.

Homework Policy
Homework goes home on Monday and is due on Friday. During short weeks, homework is due on the last school day of that week. Most homework packets will include spelling, a math activity, 5 minutes math facts practice and 10 minutes nightly reading to an adult. Optional reading activities for eager beavers are also included, and parents may request a challenge second grade spelling list in lieu of first grade spelling. Two social studies projects will be offered during the year. Regular homework will be limited to spelling and reading during the week before a project is due.

Homework Folders
There is only one folder coming home regularly. One pocket will contain those things that need to return to school. The other will contain those things that should remain at home.

Snack
Please use good judgment and keep nutrition in mind when choosing snacks. Send small quantities as we have fewer than ten minutes to eat our goodies. Many a HUGE apple has been thrown into the trash half-eaten by a 6 year old with a small tummy! Small sizes are just right!

NO
No candy, cookies or other sweets!
No snacks that require forks, spoons or other tools.
No sandwiches.
No plastic containers that must be saved!
No fruit drinks or punches.
No frozen bottled water (These sweat and leak onto paperwork.)

YES
Please consider bottled water, nutrition bars, trail mix, graham crackers, peanut butter crackers, fresh fruit and vegetables, fruit leather (Fruit Roll-Ups, etc.), raisins, crackers, cheese or any other nutritious snack that you can think of.

Classroom Share Time
Children will be invited to share thoughts, ideas, events and special objects with their classmates on Friday afternoons between 3:20 and 3:40.

Be sure that your child has some of the following information about his/her “share”: 1) origin/age 2) use or purpose 3) special meaning/personal attachment/reason for interest 4) comments or facts.

Toy parades are discouraged. An occasional fascinating toy is fine! Encouraged are: travel souvenirs, pictures, objects from nature, family treasures, verbal experiences, etc.

Scholastic Book Club
K/1 and 2/3 order forms are sent home once a month. Scholastic is a good source of nightly reading materials at your child’s reading level. Cash or checks made out to the book club should be sent in an envelope with your child’s name on it.

Birthdays/Celebrations
Birthday treats are welcome! All birthdays will be celebrated during Friday Share time, 3:20-3:40. Give me a day’s notice so that I am prepared to set up the treats. All treats must be store-bought items. Please limit treats to cupcakes or cookies. Juice drink boxes or pouches are fine too. (Obviously our snack rules don’t apply for birthday celebrations!) Please send napkins to help keep our desks and fingers from getting too sticky.

Classroom Instruction

Reading
• Phonics Instruction: Flexible small group and independent setting.
• Guided Reading: Small flexible ability groups to reinforce reading strategies and skills using adopted texts or chapter books..
• Whole Group Reading: Grade level materials focusing on reading standards. (adopted reading texts, shared literature, National Geographic, Social Studies and Science)
• Literature Circles: Individual ability groups assigned chapter books or other appropriate materials based upon reading levels.

• Reading Counts: Personal choice reading followed by a computer quiz.
• Word Work: Word Wall and Making Words.
• Poetry Folders: Reinforces shared reading, grammar instruction and teacher modeling.
• Independent Reading: Chapter books, buddy baskets, Reading Counts, partner reading.
• Read and Lead: Home reading supported and rewarded by PTA.

Writing Process
• Quick Writes: Short topic writing, rarely using graphic organizers
• Squiggle Books: “Doodles” with three to six supporting detail sentences
• Writing Process: First and final draft writing using the Four Square Writing Guide and very focused upon the WA State writing standards.
• Highlighter Poetry: Reinforces grammar and conventions lessons.

Language Arts and Grammar Skills
• DLR: Daily Language Review.
• Poetry: Enjoyment and comprehension of poetry.
• Highlighter Poetry: Use of poetry and a highlighter to study the grammatical make-up of the English language.
• English Structure, Conventions and Grammar: Weekly step-by-step study.

Math
• SF District Adoption.
• Investigations: Used to introduce concepts.
• Teacher to Teacher: Problem Solving using manipulatives, pictures, words and numbers.
• ADD: Daily Math Practice Program.
• Facts: Daily timed practice and periodic timed testing (+,-).
• Origa Mathementals Program: Focuses on mental math processes.

Science
Fall: Balance and Motion
Winter: Weather
Spring: Organisms

Social Studies
• New Social Studies Adoption: TBA Areas of focus are: TBA
• Map, globe and geography skills.
• National Geographic
This magazine supports our Social Studies curriculum and keeps
us informed about current events. This is funded by your $2.50
contribution. Thank you!!!

Art
Art will be a part of the classroom activities as it relates to topics explored. The PTA Art Docent Program will teach specific artists and their styles.

PE and Music
There are two half hour periods of each during the school week. Remember to wear appropriate shoes on PE days.

Schedules:
PE TBA
Music TBA

Computer Lab
We will work weekly in the computer lab. The schedule TBA.

? Reading and math games
? All the Right Type
? Word processing quick writes and inserting clip art toward end of year

Classroom Expectations

? Classroom rules are agreed upon by the class and posted on the wall.
? We track daily behavior with our frog pockets. I report behavior to parents weekly on the homework coversheet!
? Self-managers are rewarded: stickers, visits to class store with a full sticker card, invitation to Wednesday classroom lunch and a video, recess game days, read around the room privileges, “no permission” bathroom visits and desk-top water bottles.
? Consequences for breaking our rules are:
? Warning
? 5 minute time-out
? 10 minute time-out
? Lose Self-manager Badge for three days
? Conference