First Grade
Orientation
West Cypress Hills
Elementary
2015-2016
Our
School
Day
First Grade schedule
2015-2016
7:45-8
Announcements, Morning Work
Class Meeting
8-9
The Daily Five
{Guided Reading}
9-9:20
The Phonics Dance
9:20-9:50
Writing
9:50-10:40
Math and Calendar
10:40-11
Recess
11:05-11:35
Lunch
11:35-12:35 Tiger Time
{Intervention/Enrichment}
12:35-12:55 Social Studies
1:00-1:50 Specials {Teacher Planning}
1:50-2:35
Science
2:35
Pack-Up/Clean-Up
2:40
Dismissal
Language Arts curriculum
The Daily Five
Journeys Books
The Phonics Dance
*spelling list derived from these resources
Literacy Library Leveled Books
{Book Bag & Guided Reading}
Benchmark Reading Tests {iStation}
*Our goal is for students to be at a DRA Level 16 by the end of First Grade!
Writer’s Workshop
{ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation}
Math curriculum
Go Math
Hands-On Math Games and Manipulatives
Science curriculum
Science Fusion
Social Studies curriculum
My World
Differentiated readers
*be on the look out for Question of the
Week
on my website
Tiger Time
Differentiated math and reading
instruction based on the needs of each
student across the grade level.
Technology
WCH is lucky to have technology at our fingertips.
First Graders will learn not only basic computer
skills, but will be introduced to different forms of
digital media. Students will be utilizing our school’s
laptops, iPads, as well as our amazing computer lab!
Specials classes
First Grade attends special classes each day from 1:00-1:50
p.m.
These classes include P.E., Music and Art.
Because our grade level has 5 classes, we are all split up
into different groups for specials.
library
Students will visit the library to listen to stories and learn
about authors. They will be allowed to check-out two
books during our visit. Our library days are Tuesdays!
Be sure your child brings back his/her library book on
library day!
Library cont.
and The Enormous Egg begin
Monday, September 14th.
School &
Classroom
Information
School wide Expectations
Practice Safety
Act Responsibly
Work Wisely and Do My Best
Show Respect to Myself and Others
• Tiger Tips
• Positive reinforcement
• Reward system
Daily Take-home binder
Every day, your child will bring home a binder containing
work, important papers from the school and/or your child’s
teacher. Please use this binder to transport notes for the
teacher as well.
Be sure to check the binder NIGHTLY! Review all work, take
out all papers, and return any papers the next day.
Daily take-home
Binder cont.
This binder will also contain your child’s communication calendar.
Everyday, we review the expectations and self-reflect on our behavior.
I will be putting stickers on each day if your child has demonstrated all
expectations. However, if there is any behavior that needs to be noted, I will
write it in that day’s box.
Please initial each day on that day and return the binder DAILY!
Tuesday Folder
Every Tuesday your child will bring home our blue Tuesday
folder. This folder will contain information from the office. The
papers will either need to be signed and returned, or kept at
home.
Please sign and return the folder on Wednesday.
Homework & Newsletter
A weekly newsletter will be distributed on Friday in the Daily Folder. Be sure to check the newsletter
for homework, upcoming events, and the skills we will be focusing on that week! Newsletters will
also be posted to each teacher’s webpage weekly.
A weekly homework tic-tac-toe will be distributed on Friday. Your child has a “Homework Spiral” in
order to record each activity. Have your child return his/her “Homework Spiral” EVERY Friday
morning.
Your child is also required to read for 15 minutes every night in addition to his/her daily task. Record
on The Wild About Reading log.
Snack & birthday celebrations
Please have your child bring an individual HEALTHY snack daily. Be
sure the snack can be finished in approximately 10 minutes.
Our classroom is a nut free classroom
Birthdays will be celebrated on Cupcake Friday. This will be the last
Friday of every month. On this day, we will celebrate all students
who had a birthday that month. I will send out an email to all
parents with birthdays that month to coordinate treats!
School
Attendance & tardy policy
The children will meet in our first grade pod starting al 7:20 a.m. The tardy bell rings
at 7:45. If your child is not in the classroom
at that time, he/she is tardy and will need to go to the office to get a tardy slip and to
be marked tardy.
Be sure to be here on time!
If your child is absent, please send in a note
{doctor’s note as well} to your child’s teacher immediately when your child returns to
school.
transportation
If there is a change in the way your child will get home from school, please send an email to
your child’s teacher as well as the secretary by 1:00 pm if possible.
If the teacher does not receive a note or email, the child will go home the way you have
indicated on the student information card.
The best way to make last minute changes is to inform the office and send an email to your
child’s teacher. If the change is permanent, please inform the office.
Car Pick-up
In order to keep car pick-up running smoothly, please follow the school wide
car rider procedure. All parents go through the pick up line.
Please hang your car rider number sign from your rear view mirror!
Parent volunteers
There are many ways to contribute to your child’s school. If you
are interested in helping out on our campus, please contact me!
Class parties
We will have class parties throughout the year. Teachers, in conjunction, with
parents will be coordinating the parties. Be on the look out for more information
as the time approaches!
Grading procedures
First Grade is graded on a performance based score.
First Grade report cards are based on a scale of 1-3. Students are assessed by their teacher
on each of the categories. Because a few of the categories are not taught until later in the
year, your child may be scored a 1 or 2. Don’t panic! This is completely normal!
Report cards are distributed every nine weeks. Please look over it, sign, and return it the
next day!
Websites for kids
tickettoread.com
funbrain.com
aaamath.com
coolmath.com
coolmath4kids.com
brainpopjr.com
starfall.com
tumblebooks.com
mathstories.com
mathplayground.com
aplusmath.com
iknowthat.com
scholastic.com
abcteach.com
gamequarium.com
spellingcity.com
mathfactcafe.com
for joining me today!
Mrs. Hughes
512-533-7516
hughesr@ltisdschools.org