Welcome to Patterson First Grade

Patterson Positive Pillars·Be Safe

·Be Responsible ·Be Respectful

School wide Positive Based Intervention System

1. Positive reinforcement given 2. Student behavior recorded on Responsibility Log3. Three Tallies on Log in ONE day will result in a Patterson Communication & Behavior Intervention Report.4. Three Intervention Reports sent home within a month, may constitute a visit to the office.

First Grade Reward System

·Every staff member will carry tickets to reward students who demonstrate the Patterson Positive Pillars.·Tickets will be turned into the office for the monthly drawing.·In the classroom, we will be working toward a group reward: ·Every 10 tickets earned in the classroom, Pete moves one paw print.·A Golden Ticket earned by the whole class helps Pete move two paw prints.·At the end, students decide on a class reward.

P.A.T.H.S.Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies

A curriculum used to facilitate learning of self-control, emotional understanding and problem solving skills.

·Teamwork·Sharing

·Anger Management·Feelings

·Friendships

PATHS Kid of the Day!·Each student will have an opportunity to assist teacher during PATHS lesson·Students will practice giving and receiving compliments

Morning Routines

·Students check their home folder. ·Organize for the day: sharpen pencils, turn in LMC books, etc.·Hot lunch count: students should be aware if they are getting hot lunch or cold lunch.·If your child forgets something, Please place it in the First Grade Oops! Bin by the front door.

ReadingCore Curriculum: Illinois Learning Standards

Word Study (Sight Words, Phonemic Awareness, Self-correcting, Vocabulary)Decoding Strategies (Picture Clues, Context clues, Previous experience, Word

patterns)Literature Study (Identify and Compare elements of a story, Interpretation of

text, Identify Genre, Using various text features in non-fiction)Comprehension (Monitor comprehension using strategies, Identify main idea,

Infer)

We use a variety of resources to meet the Core Standards.

Guided Reading Groups: Flexible based on needs of small group/individual needs

Intervention Groups: Research based Interventions for students who need additional reinforcement(reading fluency, phonemic awareness, math skills, enrichment)

SpellingHarcourt Series: Focuses on spelling patterns

·Daily practice using a variety of materials

·Spell checks every Friday (please check weekly Homework to find the spelling pattern for the week...lists are NOT sent home)

·Every week, two to three words will not follow the pattern but will be on the weekly Homework for students to memorize.

Writing* Writing Strategy and Skill Instruction (prewriting, details, purpose)• Grammar (write simple sentences,

capitalization/ punctuation, parts of speech)• Written Response (respond accurately to

questions about characters and events, retell story, evaluate the text)• Genre Study (experiment with different forms of

writing)• Writer's Workshop

Units of Study:·Predictable Pattern Books

·Launching Writer's Workshop·Personal Narrative

·Revising and Editing·Poetry

·Expository/Non-Fiction

Word WorkWord Wall·Five words each week·Practice sheet sent home at the end of the week·Variety of activities to learn to write, spell and read these words

Sight Words·Three lists of 150 First Grade Sight Words·Assessed each quarter·Must know the words quickly and accurately by sight...do not have to spell·Lists and flashcards can be found on the Patterson Web site

Handwriting·D'Nealian·Practice at home the correct letter formation

MathEveryday Math Curriculum·Spiraling approach·Revisiting concepts throughout the year·Hands-on, Minds-on! Use a variety of manipulatives for true understanding·Two journals during the year...not a lot of worksheets·Games reinforce concepts and skills·Homelinks: due the following day

Otter Creek:·Starts second semester·Recall of addition facts·Practice with flashcards·Written practice tests on the Patterson website

Social StudiesCurriculum: Scott ForesmanUnits of Study:

·Decision Making·Self Awareness·Maps and Globes·Customs in the US·Influential Americans·Holidays

ScienceCurriculum: Scott ForesmanHands on approachUnits of Study:·Air and Weather·Human Body·Solar System·Earth ad Rocks·Bugs BOTH SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES ARE A PARTICIPATION GRADE!

Star Student·Every student will be assigned a week·Poster sent home the week before·Please bring poster, pictures, favorite items to share·No pets allowed due to allergies

Reading Buddies·Meet to do a variety of reading and or seasonal activities

Physical and Fine Arts·PE-3 times per week·Music- 2 times per week·Art-1 time per week·Computer Lab-1 time per week

Homework·Weekly sheet sent home every Monday and returned the following Monday·Spelling pattern for the week is on the Phonics part of the Homework·Words practiced on the back of the Homework will be on the Spell Check·Please have your child complete ALL Homework in pencil

Odds and EndsRead In·Monthly ·Students bring 6 books, blanket/stuffed animal

Accelerated Reader/ "AR"·Students read books from LMC with red dot on the spine to indicate it is an AR book·First Grade will be starting this with ALL students in the next couple of weeks·Students take 5-10 comprehension questions on the book on a computer·Weekly updates sent home to monitor progress·Prizes given courtesy of the LMC prize cart

Snack·Please have your child bring a healthy easy to eat snack each day·Water bottles are recommended everyday·No red/purple juice please

Things to know·DT= Did Together

·CT= Corrected Together

·Birthdays- Recognize full and half birthdays- No Food or Goodie Bags allowed

·If your dismissal changes, please send a note or an email

·Please help your child learn to tie his/her shoes (if shoes have laces)

·Never hesitate to contact us with any concern or question...Together we can make this a successful year for your first grader!