Welcome to First Grade!

Thank you for coming and being involved in your child’s

learning.

Please make sure that you have signed your name on the

sign-in sheet!

Welcome and Introduction of the First Grade Teachers –

Ms. Snyder, Ms. Lee, Mrs. Steiner and Mrs. Dunn.

Questions: If you have any questions during the presentation,

please write them on an index card. We will answer them at the

end of our presentation.

Data NotebooksBeginning this month, each child will have a data notebook which will contain reading, writing, math, behavior and homework goals.

A few samples of your child’s work will also be kept in this notebook.

Your child will be able to discuss goals and share his or her data with you at Family Learning Nights.

The notebooks will not go home.

You will also be able to review the notebook during parent/teacher conferences.

This notebook will act as part of the “Baldrige” process – a model of continuous improvement that involves students, parents, teachers, and administrators.

Math The students will learn:

Patterns

Shapes (solids and flat)

Single-Digit and Double-Digit Addition and Subtraction

Measurement

The Value of Coins and the Counting of Coin Combinations

Time to the hour and half-hour

Skip Counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s

Problem Solving Skills

Students will also write in a math journal every week!

A math rubric for this journal writing can be found in your child’s data

notebook.

MCPS assessments will be given at the end of each unit. You will

receive a parent report shortly after the assessments are given.

Your child’s teacher will also give formative assessments throughout

the unit and chapter tests.

Reading Since Wheaton Woods is a Reading First School we follow the

Houghton Mifflin Nation’s Choice reading series.

The students will learn the following reading strategies:

Predict/Infer - Make a Good Guess

Question - Ask Yourself Questions As You Read

Monitor/Clarify – Re-read When Unsure

Summarize – Tell the important parts of the story or text

Evaluate – Do I like this part? Why or why not?

The children’s daily reading lessons will include:

Phonemic Awareness

Phonics

Word Work

Reading Comprehension and Strategies

Flexible Small Group Instruction on the Student’s Reading Level

Writing •The writing block will include the following components:

Shared Writing (teacher holds the pen and students give ideas)

Interactive Writing (students and teacher share the pen)

Journal Writing (students respond to a short writing prompt)

Free Writing (students write about a topic of their choice for five

minutes every day)

Independent Writing (letters, stories, paragraphs, and more)

The Writing Process (students pre-write, draft, revise, edit, and

publish a piece of writing over a one to three week period)

We will concentrate on a new writing purpose to create 3 writing pieces during each quarter:

Quarter 1-Writing for Personal Expression (A story with a

character, setting, beginning, middle, and end.)

Quarter 2-Writing to Inform

Quarter 3-Writing to Persuade

Quarter 4-Fantasy Writing

Science

We will learn about science through “real-world” opportunities! We will study the following topics:

Rocks, Sand, and Soil - Collecting and hunting for rocks! Live Earthworms!

Construction – Building structures with toothpicks and marshmallows!

Weather – Measuring the temperature of foil and water!

Social Studies

The students will learn about:

Making Rules: Making Decisions – Exploring

the Political System and Making Rules

Geography: Changes in the Way We Live –

Mapping Classroom and School and Exploring

Communities

Economics and Me: Economic Decision Making

Decisions in the Past: Telling About Ourselves:

Working as Historians

Homework First grade homework began last week! It will

be handed out on the first day of the week and

needs to be completed by the last day of the

week (usually Friday).

It will be reading, writing, and math practice

for your child to complete at home and then

return to school.

Please make sure to read with your child

each night, fill in the name of the book, and

sign your name on their reading log daily.

A reading log is always included in the

homework. It is on the 2nd page!

Behavior TowerOur school is following a school

wide behavior management plan. It has the following levels:

*Outstanding Behavior – Blue

*3 Verbal Warning – Orange

*Time Out - Pink

*Time Out 2 - Yellow

*Administrative Referral – Red

Wildcat PAWS for Good Character will be handed out when excellent

behavior is noted.

*They will be sent home for you to see and to sign and then will be

returned to school. Once returned, they will be read over the

announcements!

Miss Snyder’s Class

OB BLUE VW 1 ORANGE VW 2 ORANGE VW 3 ORANGE TO 1 PINK TO 2 YELLOW AR RED

OB BLUE VW 1 ORANGE VW 2 ORANGE VW 3 ORANGE TO 1 PINK TO 2 YELLOW AR RED

OB BLUE VW 1 ORANGE VW 2 ORANGE VW 3 ORANGE TO 1 PINK TO 2 YELLOW AR RED

OB BLUE VW 1 ORANGE VW 2 ORANGE VW 3 ORANGE TO 1 PINK TO 2 YELLOW AR RED

OB BLUE VW 1 ORANGE VW 2 ORANGE VW 3 ORANGE TO 1 PINK TO 2 YELLOW AR RED

CODE IN ENGLISH EN ESPANOL

OB Outstanding Behavior-BLUE Comportamento Excepcional-AZUL VW Verbal Warning-ORANGE Advertencia Verbal-ANARANJADO

TO 1 Time Out 1-PINK Tiempo Hacia Fuera-COLOR de ROSA TO 2 Time Out 2-YELLOW Tiempo Fuera de Dos-AMARILLO AR Administrative Referral-RED Remision Administrative-ROJO

Field TripsThe students will participate in 4 out-of-school field

trips this year and at least 1 Wheaton Woods’ learning

opportunities!

Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme In-School Show

(September)

Weather & Nature In-School Show (October)

Farm (Mid-October)

National Building Museum (January/February)

Air & Space Museum (March)

Recycling Center (May)

Firemen and Work Trucks (Spring)

We will be sending a letter about our trip to the farm

soon so please watch for the letter and permission

slip!

How Can You Help!Reading with you child!Making sure that they complete homework!Having your child speak in complete sentences at home!Practicing NumbersAddition and Subtraction at home or in stores!Patterns in everyday life!Having your child get enough sleep and healthy meals!

If you would like to volunteer in the first grade classrooms, please send a note to your child’s teacher identifying the days and times that work best for you!

Questions & Concerns?

Please let us help!!

Thank you!!!