First Grade is a place that provides a positive and safe learning environment. It is a place where students are free to explore and discover new things. Students are engaged in learning about themselves and their relationships with their peers, school, family, and community. Students will be encouraged and challenged in each curriculum area to express their thoughts and ideas creatively to promote higher order thinking.
Language Arts and Mathematics are the main focus in first grade. However, Science, Social Studies, Health Education, Physical Education, Art, and Technology are also a priority and are integrated throughout their learning to help develop a strong learning foundation.
The goal in my class is for the students to learn how to be:
GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS:
We will be following the Utah Common Core curriculum for math, language arts, science, social studies, physical education, and health. These curriculums outline standards of learning and are essential for all students at each elementary grade level. The Core Curriculum for each grade level can be accessed through the Utah State Office of Education Website at: http://www.uen.org/core/
First graders are tested on their skills using state, national, and school tests. The main tests each student will be tested with include; Dibbels, Fountus and Pinnell, AIMS fluency, AIMS M-Comp, and My Math benchmarks.
CURRICULUM
Throughout the year other supplemental materials will be used to enhance student learning. If you would like to see the 1st Grade Scope and Sequence (Plan of When everything is taught) please let me know and I will email a copy.
GRADING
For grading we will be using Aspire to record grades. Grades will be broken down into different categories, so that you will be able to see where your student might be struggling. The grading scale will be as follows:
A=Exceeds first grade expectations/works independently/has mastered the standard taught and can apply it in multiple situations
A=90-100%
B=Meets first grade expectations/works independently most of the time/has mastered the standard taught and can apply it in one or two other situations
B=80-90%
C=Meets first grade expectations/still needs help/working towards being independent/is approaching mastery of standard
C=70-80% ****Most first graders earn the letter grade C, because they are still practicing these new skills and have not yet mastered them. The goal is to show mastery by the end of the year, so expect growth throughout the year.
D=Approaching first grade expectations/needs lots of assistance to complete assignments/is working towards mastery of standard
D=60-70%
F=Needs a significant amount of assistance to complete assignments/practicing skills to work towards mastery of standards
F=50-60% *Students receive 50% on all assignments even if no work has been completed
ATTENDANCE
It is important that your child is there and on time each day as we begin instruction immediately. Frequent tardies and absences will restrict your student’s ability to stay caught up. We will test every Tuesday morning, so please avoid missing Tuesdays if possible. If your child misses days I will do my best to catch them up on missed assignments. If I am not notified of the absence before and it is not due to sickness the student will receive a 0 on any assignments missed, unless the parent comes in to complete the assignment or test with them during recess time or after school. Due to the rigor of instruction it is very difficult to test one student during instruction time, so it is the responsibility of the student’s parent to ensure that missing tests are completed. If the absence is excused I will send home a ketchup folder for students to “catch up” on missed assignments. I cannot send home tests, those must be made up at school.
HOMEWORK/BINDER
First graders in my class will be required to read 15-20 minutes at home each day. Research shows that at the age of 6-7 students should not do more than 20 minutes of homework a day. It has been proven that there is little to no benefit in doing more than 20 minutes of homework a night at this age. My goal is to respect and protect family time and play time. Other skills to practice might be sight words, comprehension, writing, and math fact fluency. If you choose to practice these nightly please cut reading time down or make them a part of nightly reading. You can create a response journal for students to work on writing and comprehension, which can also be included as part of their reading time.
There will be one IB project sent home every six weeks. Students will be given 1-2 weeks to complete these projects. These projects are designed to promote family participation and learning. They are also a way to participate in the IB action cycle and deepen understanding of concepts taught in our IB units. These projects are a big portion of students IB grades.
On the first day of school students will receive a binder. This binder is an essential part of how I communicate. Each month students will place a calendar in their binders. This calendar should be used to record nightly reading. I will check calendars on Fridays and will collect the calendars at the end of each month. Please write what book your child is currently reading and sign each day to show me that your student has read. The binder will also contain login information for websites we use in class. I will give students weekly poems and word lists to place in their binders. I will also place other supplemental material in the binder such as sight word lists, math facts, and IB information. Occasionally I will send home worksheets in the binder. These are to support learning at home and inform you of things we are working on in class. They are not required to be finished and will not be a grade. They are to give you ideas and help your student if you choose to use them. We will also include papers we have completed in class. You can review any material in the binder with your student. The binder is a way for parents to see what students are doing in class. Students are responsible for bringing their binder to school everyday. All paper communication will go inside the binder, so please teach your student to show it to you nightly. The binder will also include a section of completed work that your student is proud of and scores that they have received on standards tests. When papers are 3 whole punched, please do not remove them from the binder. We will periodically clear out binders as a class during the year. Binders are a great resource to use with your students and stay connected with what is happening in the classroom.
BEHAVIOR
Students are expected to be respectful to one another in the class, to be responsible, and to be happy! All students should feel safe and respected in my classroom. Hawthorn Academy teaches and practices IB Learner profile traits and attitudes. Students will be learning how to have integrity, show kindness, be respectful, and responsible. To learn more about the learner profile and IB attitudes visit: http://www.ibo.org/globalassets/publications/recognition/learnerprofile-en.pdf
And
http://www.whatisib.com/pyp-attitudes.html
Techniques such as consistent routines, warning of upcoming changes, specific directions, etc are used to help with smooth transitions, stopping misbehavior before it gets out of hand, and planning around specific interests so that students are engaged in activities.
Our classroom will use a variety of techniques to help students be accountable for their behavior and to reward them for their choices. Consequences of misbehavior will include things like think sheets, loss of classroom money, time missed from rewarded activities, a note/call home. The school policy on any inappropriate behavior (such as punching, fighting, using inappropriate language for school) may lead to a discipline note and possibly in-school suspension and/or out-of-school suspension.
CONFERENCES
An important part of IB learning is student led conferences. These conferences will be held twice a year. Students will be responsible to explain learning experiences and growth. Student led conferences are school policy and an integral part of the IB curriculum. If you would also like to participate in a more traditional conference experience these will need to be scheduled on a different day after school.
CLOTHING
Please send your child dressed appropriately for the weather. Every child will go out to recess except during heavy snow or rain, and severe air pollution. The only exception to students going outside is if they bring a doctor’s note stating that they cannot go outside. In the classroom we will be doing many hands-on (potentially messy) activities. Please make sure that your child is dressed so that they can fully participate in all school activities. I will make every effort to keep them clean, but it is amazing what can happen when least expected. Please also ensure that your child is dressed in appropriate uniform attire each day or they will have to telephone home for a change of clothes causing them to miss instruction time.
SUPPLIES/TOYS
Our classroom is a community based learning environment, which means we share everything. All supplies are shared among the entire class. If a student brings any supplies to class it is expected that they will be sharing them with the entire class including special pencils. Toys of any kind are not allowed at school. If a student brings toys to school they will be taken away and you will have to come claim them for the student.
BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays are always a special time for the student. We take time to celebrate during the day by singing to the birthday student and by wearing a birthday hat. You are welcome but not obligated to send with your child a simple birthday favor. Due to our health policy no treats are allowed. In the past students have brought pencils, bubbles, playdoh, bouncy balls, coloring pages, etc. If the birthday falls during the school year, we will celebrate on the closest school day. If the birthday falls in summer, we will celebrate the last month of school. If you would like to request a specific date to celebrate your child’s summer birthday, please let me know. To avoid hurt feelings please do not send birthday party invitations to school to be distributed unless the entire class is invited. I cannot give any personal information out, but I use an app for communication that allows parent to parent communication.
SCHOLASTIC
One of the cheaper ways to build your child’s at home library is through scholastic. Throughout the year I will send home scholastic book orders. The easiest way to order is by going to: http://www.scholastic.com/readingclubsshingle/2017.htm
You can order books at anytime during the school year by imputing my classroom code: P8NKW. I will receive an email that you placed an order and get it sent to the school. By ordering books through scholastic our classroom receives great deals on books and often receives free classroom books. This is just one option for books.
VOLUNTEERS
Each week I will send out a google document through email where you will be able to sign up for specific volunteer times and tasks. Volunteer tasks might include: testing sight words, phonograms, and fluency, reading with students, grading papers, practicing math facts with students, laminating papers, making copies, etc. This will be how I coordinate volunteers and provide volunteering opportunities. I do not send work home with students.
COMMUNICATION
My primary concern is ensuring students are learning and enjoying school. This focus can create a lack of communication between myself and parents. When things can be handled in the classroom, I handle them. When parental support is needed with an issue I will contact you via email or phone. If you don’t hear from me you can be reassured that your student is behaving and progressing. I will send home a newsletter every six weeks with important information about the upcoming six weeks. I will also use the app REMIND. It will allow for immediate communication and will also allow parents to contact each other. If there are any questions or concerns you need to address with me you can email at anytime, and I am always willing to schedule a time for an appointment to discuss issues in person. I am required by the school to have a website, but I rarely if ever update it. The best way to know what we are doing in class is by reading the newsletter and looking in your student’s binder. I am always open to answering questions, so if you need more direct communication please contact me and let me know.
I am excited for a great year!
Thanks,
Ms. Erlebach
First Grade is a place that provides a positive and safe learning environment. It is a place where students are free to explore and discover new things. Students are engaged in learning about themselves and their relationships with their peers, school, family, and community. Students will be encouraged and challenged in each curriculum area to express their thoughts and ideas creatively to promote higher order thinking.
Language Arts and Mathematics are the main focus in first grade. However, Science, Social Studies, Health Education, Physical Education, Art, and Technology are also a priority and are integrated throughout their learning to help develop a strong learning foundation.
The goal in my class is for the students to learn how to be:
- A complex thinker and problem solver
- An effective communicator
- A cooperative group participant and leader
- A contributor to the community
- A quality worker and producer
- A self-directed learner
GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS:
We will be following the Utah Common Core curriculum for math, language arts, science, social studies, physical education, and health. These curriculums outline standards of learning and are essential for all students at each elementary grade level. The Core Curriculum for each grade level can be accessed through the Utah State Office of Education Website at: http://www.uen.org/core/
First graders are tested on their skills using state, national, and school tests. The main tests each student will be tested with include; Dibbels, Fountus and Pinnell, AIMS fluency, AIMS M-Comp, and My Math benchmarks.
- Dibels is a reading test that focuses on fluency and comprehension. The state requires this test.
- Fountus and Pinnell is also a reading test that focuses on fluency and comprehension. At the beginning of the year students should be at a level C and by the end of the year students should be reading and comprehending at a level I at 50wpm with 90% accuracy with a retell score of 15. Students will be tested 3 times a year.
- AIMS Fluency is a reading test I give once a month to test students reading rate. The students read a passage for 1 minute and I count the words read correctly and incorrectly. At the beginning of the year students should be reading 12 words per minute and by the end of the year the expectation is 67 words per minute.
- AIMS M-Comp is a math test. I give this test once a month to test math fact fluency. It is a mix of addition and subtraction problems. The test lasts 8 minutes. At the beginning of the school year students should score 7 out of 48 and a 36 out of 48 by the end of the year.
- My Math benchmark tests come at the end of each chapter taught in math. Students should score an 80% or higher on each of these tests.
CURRICULUM
- Language Arts:
- Spelling:
- Math:
- International Baccalaureate:
- Scholastic News:
Throughout the year other supplemental materials will be used to enhance student learning. If you would like to see the 1st Grade Scope and Sequence (Plan of When everything is taught) please let me know and I will email a copy.
GRADING
For grading we will be using Aspire to record grades. Grades will be broken down into different categories, so that you will be able to see where your student might be struggling. The grading scale will be as follows:
A=Exceeds first grade expectations/works independently/has mastered the standard taught and can apply it in multiple situations
A=90-100%
B=Meets first grade expectations/works independently most of the time/has mastered the standard taught and can apply it in one or two other situations
B=80-90%
C=Meets first grade expectations/still needs help/working towards being independent/is approaching mastery of standard
C=70-80% ****Most first graders earn the letter grade C, because they are still practicing these new skills and have not yet mastered them. The goal is to show mastery by the end of the year, so expect growth throughout the year.
D=Approaching first grade expectations/needs lots of assistance to complete assignments/is working towards mastery of standard
D=60-70%
F=Needs a significant amount of assistance to complete assignments/practicing skills to work towards mastery of standards
F=50-60% *Students receive 50% on all assignments even if no work has been completed
ATTENDANCE
It is important that your child is there and on time each day as we begin instruction immediately. Frequent tardies and absences will restrict your student’s ability to stay caught up. We will test every Tuesday morning, so please avoid missing Tuesdays if possible. If your child misses days I will do my best to catch them up on missed assignments. If I am not notified of the absence before and it is not due to sickness the student will receive a 0 on any assignments missed, unless the parent comes in to complete the assignment or test with them during recess time or after school. Due to the rigor of instruction it is very difficult to test one student during instruction time, so it is the responsibility of the student’s parent to ensure that missing tests are completed. If the absence is excused I will send home a ketchup folder for students to “catch up” on missed assignments. I cannot send home tests, those must be made up at school.
HOMEWORK/BINDER
First graders in my class will be required to read 15-20 minutes at home each day. Research shows that at the age of 6-7 students should not do more than 20 minutes of homework a day. It has been proven that there is little to no benefit in doing more than 20 minutes of homework a night at this age. My goal is to respect and protect family time and play time. Other skills to practice might be sight words, comprehension, writing, and math fact fluency. If you choose to practice these nightly please cut reading time down or make them a part of nightly reading. You can create a response journal for students to work on writing and comprehension, which can also be included as part of their reading time.
There will be one IB project sent home every six weeks. Students will be given 1-2 weeks to complete these projects. These projects are designed to promote family participation and learning. They are also a way to participate in the IB action cycle and deepen understanding of concepts taught in our IB units. These projects are a big portion of students IB grades.
On the first day of school students will receive a binder. This binder is an essential part of how I communicate. Each month students will place a calendar in their binders. This calendar should be used to record nightly reading. I will check calendars on Fridays and will collect the calendars at the end of each month. Please write what book your child is currently reading and sign each day to show me that your student has read. The binder will also contain login information for websites we use in class. I will give students weekly poems and word lists to place in their binders. I will also place other supplemental material in the binder such as sight word lists, math facts, and IB information. Occasionally I will send home worksheets in the binder. These are to support learning at home and inform you of things we are working on in class. They are not required to be finished and will not be a grade. They are to give you ideas and help your student if you choose to use them. We will also include papers we have completed in class. You can review any material in the binder with your student. The binder is a way for parents to see what students are doing in class. Students are responsible for bringing their binder to school everyday. All paper communication will go inside the binder, so please teach your student to show it to you nightly. The binder will also include a section of completed work that your student is proud of and scores that they have received on standards tests. When papers are 3 whole punched, please do not remove them from the binder. We will periodically clear out binders as a class during the year. Binders are a great resource to use with your students and stay connected with what is happening in the classroom.
BEHAVIOR
Students are expected to be respectful to one another in the class, to be responsible, and to be happy! All students should feel safe and respected in my classroom. Hawthorn Academy teaches and practices IB Learner profile traits and attitudes. Students will be learning how to have integrity, show kindness, be respectful, and responsible. To learn more about the learner profile and IB attitudes visit: http://www.ibo.org/globalassets/publications/recognition/learnerprofile-en.pdf
And
http://www.whatisib.com/pyp-attitudes.html
Techniques such as consistent routines, warning of upcoming changes, specific directions, etc are used to help with smooth transitions, stopping misbehavior before it gets out of hand, and planning around specific interests so that students are engaged in activities.
Our classroom will use a variety of techniques to help students be accountable for their behavior and to reward them for their choices. Consequences of misbehavior will include things like think sheets, loss of classroom money, time missed from rewarded activities, a note/call home. The school policy on any inappropriate behavior (such as punching, fighting, using inappropriate language for school) may lead to a discipline note and possibly in-school suspension and/or out-of-school suspension.
CONFERENCES
An important part of IB learning is student led conferences. These conferences will be held twice a year. Students will be responsible to explain learning experiences and growth. Student led conferences are school policy and an integral part of the IB curriculum. If you would also like to participate in a more traditional conference experience these will need to be scheduled on a different day after school.
CLOTHING
Please send your child dressed appropriately for the weather. Every child will go out to recess except during heavy snow or rain, and severe air pollution. The only exception to students going outside is if they bring a doctor’s note stating that they cannot go outside. In the classroom we will be doing many hands-on (potentially messy) activities. Please make sure that your child is dressed so that they can fully participate in all school activities. I will make every effort to keep them clean, but it is amazing what can happen when least expected. Please also ensure that your child is dressed in appropriate uniform attire each day or they will have to telephone home for a change of clothes causing them to miss instruction time.
SUPPLIES/TOYS
Our classroom is a community based learning environment, which means we share everything. All supplies are shared among the entire class. If a student brings any supplies to class it is expected that they will be sharing them with the entire class including special pencils. Toys of any kind are not allowed at school. If a student brings toys to school they will be taken away and you will have to come claim them for the student.
BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays are always a special time for the student. We take time to celebrate during the day by singing to the birthday student and by wearing a birthday hat. You are welcome but not obligated to send with your child a simple birthday favor. Due to our health policy no treats are allowed. In the past students have brought pencils, bubbles, playdoh, bouncy balls, coloring pages, etc. If the birthday falls during the school year, we will celebrate on the closest school day. If the birthday falls in summer, we will celebrate the last month of school. If you would like to request a specific date to celebrate your child’s summer birthday, please let me know. To avoid hurt feelings please do not send birthday party invitations to school to be distributed unless the entire class is invited. I cannot give any personal information out, but I use an app for communication that allows parent to parent communication.
SCHOLASTIC
One of the cheaper ways to build your child’s at home library is through scholastic. Throughout the year I will send home scholastic book orders. The easiest way to order is by going to: http://www.scholastic.com/readingclubsshingle/2017.htm
You can order books at anytime during the school year by imputing my classroom code: P8NKW. I will receive an email that you placed an order and get it sent to the school. By ordering books through scholastic our classroom receives great deals on books and often receives free classroom books. This is just one option for books.
VOLUNTEERS
Each week I will send out a google document through email where you will be able to sign up for specific volunteer times and tasks. Volunteer tasks might include: testing sight words, phonograms, and fluency, reading with students, grading papers, practicing math facts with students, laminating papers, making copies, etc. This will be how I coordinate volunteers and provide volunteering opportunities. I do not send work home with students.
COMMUNICATION
My primary concern is ensuring students are learning and enjoying school. This focus can create a lack of communication between myself and parents. When things can be handled in the classroom, I handle them. When parental support is needed with an issue I will contact you via email or phone. If you don’t hear from me you can be reassured that your student is behaving and progressing. I will send home a newsletter every six weeks with important information about the upcoming six weeks. I will also use the app REMIND. It will allow for immediate communication and will also allow parents to contact each other. If there are any questions or concerns you need to address with me you can email at anytime, and I am always willing to schedule a time for an appointment to discuss issues in person. I am required by the school to have a website, but I rarely if ever update it. The best way to know what we are doing in class is by reading the newsletter and looking in your student’s binder. I am always open to answering questions, so if you need more direct communication please contact me and let me know.
I am excited for a great year!
Thanks,
Ms. Erlebach