Classroom Schedule:
Daily 5 & Cafe
Cafe Board
Our English Language Arts Curriculum will be delivered through a FABULOUS classroom structure called The Daily 5. This is a time of day where our students choose from 5 options to independently work while we deliver instruction to small groups. Our small group instruction is vital to all of our students' growth as these lessons are planned specifically to meet each group's needs. During this time, ALL needs are met for our diverse group of learners. While we are working with these small groups, the rest of the class will be busily working at these 5 options: Read to Self, Read to Someone, Word Work (working with phonics and sight words in a tactile manner), Work on Writing, and Big Book Reading. In between choices, we will have Cafe lessons which are based on the Common Core Standards. These lessons will focus on phonemic awareness, high frequency words, and reading strategies. Strategies will be posted on our Cafe Board as they are taught so that the children can always refer to them when needed.
I/A (Intervention & Acceleration)
I/A or Intervention and Acceleration happens during one, half-hour block for the entire first grade. During this time, our students receive intense, direct, small group instruction in reading skills. This kind of prescriptive instruction also happens during our Daily 5 block so we are able to meet with almost every student EVERY day. Groups are flexible (meaning they can change as needed.) and group activities are planned for the specific needs of each group. Careful observations and assessments are done during this time to keep us informed with the needs of all of our students. During small group time, students can be found playing games with teachers to reinforce phonics work, reading comprehension and word attack skills. Children also read books at their independent reading levels and often write responses to the books they have read. More information will come from our school office regarding this program later this fall.
Writer's Workshop
Focus Lessons are 10-15 minute kick-offs to Writing Workshop. During these lessons, we introduce skills and concepts to the children as they are needed. For the beginning of the year, we will work a lot with inventive spelling (KidSpell). These lessons are done to ensure your child’s confidence as a writer. It is VERY important for your child to know that s/he CAN write! KidSpell is sometimes unfamiliar and frightening territoryfor those of us who were taught in a completely different way, but we PROMISE you that with encouragement, experience, and patience, your child’s spelling will progress (especially once we start our formal spelling program!). We will also be building our lessons around three genres of writing: narrative, expository, and opinion. Other focus lessons will deal with matters such as word spacing, punctuation, handwriting, phonics, story organization, brainstorming, and much more!
Writing Time will be shorter in the beginning of the year and gradually grow as the children are able to handle more focused writing time. The children will be able to talk quietly with their seat mates about their work. Often, the topics will be of your child’s choosing, therefore furthering her/his feelings of ownership over her/his writing. While the children write, we will conduct individual writing conferences and writing groups. This gives us insight to your child’s progress and what needs must be addressed. The children will also be working on editing pieces of their choosing for publication. The children will choose pieces from their writing folders for their portfolios from time to time. Once our formal spelling program begins, all words which have been tested will be posted in the room and MUST be spelled correctly. Other than those words, all others will be sounded out using KidSpell.
Sharing Time will be a time for the children to share their work with the class. The children will follow a schedule for sharing to be sure that everyone participates. The audience will be learning how to listen respectfully, ask appropriate questions of the author, and give constructive criticism. This turns out to be a hi-light of the day for all of the children.
Writing Time will be shorter in the beginning of the year and gradually grow as the children are able to handle more focused writing time. The children will be able to talk quietly with their seat mates about their work. Often, the topics will be of your child’s choosing, therefore furthering her/his feelings of ownership over her/his writing. While the children write, we will conduct individual writing conferences and writing groups. This gives us insight to your child’s progress and what needs must be addressed. The children will also be working on editing pieces of their choosing for publication. The children will choose pieces from their writing folders for their portfolios from time to time. Once our formal spelling program begins, all words which have been tested will be posted in the room and MUST be spelled correctly. Other than those words, all others will be sounded out using KidSpell.
Sharing Time will be a time for the children to share their work with the class. The children will follow a schedule for sharing to be sure that everyone participates. The audience will be learning how to listen respectfully, ask appropriate questions of the author, and give constructive criticism. This turns out to be a hi-light of the day for all of the children.
Letter Style
Handwriting Without Tears® teaches a simple, clean, vertical style of printing and cursive that is easy for everyone to learn. We teach the easiest style so that all children can be successful in handwriting.
The continuous stroke print looks like the letters and words children read every day. It follows developmental principles, prevents reversals, and prepares children for a smooth transition to cursive.
Handwriting Without Tears® teaches a simple, clean, vertical style of printing and cursive that is easy for everyone to learn. We teach the easiest style so that all children can be successful in handwriting.
The continuous stroke print looks like the letters and words children read every day. It follows developmental principles, prevents reversals, and prepares children for a smooth transition to cursive.
Teaching Order
The Handwriting Without Tears® developmental teaching order is planned to help children learn handwriting skills in the easiest, most efficient way. As a result, children can transition quickly from learning the mechanics of handwriting to focusing on content and meaning—in all subjects. We teach printing first. After printing is mastered, we add the cursive connections.
The Handwriting Without Tears® developmental teaching order is planned to help children learn handwriting skills in the easiest, most efficient way. As a result, children can transition quickly from learning the mechanics of handwriting to focusing on content and meaning—in all subjects. We teach printing first. After printing is mastered, we add the cursive connections.
Capitals to Lowercase
Developmentally, capitals are easier so we teach them first. The capital teaching order helps teach correct formation and orientation while eliminating reversals. Learning capitals first makes learning lowercase letters easy. We teach lowercase c o s v w first because they are exactly the same as their capital partners, only smaller. By teaching capitals first, we have prepared children for nearly half of the lowercase letters that are similar in formation.
Developmentally, capitals are easier so we teach them first. The capital teaching order helps teach correct formation and orientation while eliminating reversals. Learning capitals first makes learning lowercase letters easy. We teach lowercase c o s v w first because they are exactly the same as their capital partners, only smaller. By teaching capitals first, we have prepared children for nearly half of the lowercase letters that are similar in formation.
Math
We are SUPER EXCITED to continue with the enVision Math Program this year! The lessons are engaging, interactive and based on the Common Core Standards. Much of what we teach for the first few topics will revolve around number sense, subtilizing (instant recognition of dot patterns such as on dice), and basic addition and subtraction facts. Look for parent letters and homework to be coming soon.....
Science & Social Studies
Science
Through our Harcourt and Foss Science programs and supplemental materials, we will be studying plants and seeds, force and energy, balance and motion, animals, and much more! We will use a great deal of literature and hands-on experiences to reinforce the science lessons.
Social Studies
We will have Open Circle twice a week this year. This is a FANTASTIC social competency program that yields amazing results. During Open Circle, we will meet as a class to discuss social behaviors and ways to deal with tough situations such as annoying behaviors, bullying, and teasing. It is truly amazing to see the children learn the terminology from our Open Circle lessons and later use it independently on the playground! You will be regularly receiving Open Circle newsletters to keep you up to speed with our lessons.
We will also be studying farms, presidents, Columbus, holidays, and Martin Luther King, Jr. through our Social Studies curriculum. These concepts, along with many others will be revisited and further taught through writing, reading, and art activities. We also have many songs to teach the children which will reinforce our learning.
Through our Harcourt and Foss Science programs and supplemental materials, we will be studying plants and seeds, force and energy, balance and motion, animals, and much more! We will use a great deal of literature and hands-on experiences to reinforce the science lessons.
Social Studies
We will have Open Circle twice a week this year. This is a FANTASTIC social competency program that yields amazing results. During Open Circle, we will meet as a class to discuss social behaviors and ways to deal with tough situations such as annoying behaviors, bullying, and teasing. It is truly amazing to see the children learn the terminology from our Open Circle lessons and later use it independently on the playground! You will be regularly receiving Open Circle newsletters to keep you up to speed with our lessons.
We will also be studying farms, presidents, Columbus, holidays, and Martin Luther King, Jr. through our Social Studies curriculum. These concepts, along with many others will be revisited and further taught through writing, reading, and art activities. We also have many songs to teach the children which will reinforce our learning.