Welcome to the First Grade!

First grade is a big step in the lives of children and I am so excited to be sharing this time with your child!  I feel that one of my main responsibilities as an educator is to create an atmosphere in my classroom that encourages a love of learning.  I want my students to be excited to come to school each day and discover new things. 

I feel that the way children learn best is with a hands-on approach and incorporating real experiences whenever possible to make the lessons come alive.  Studying the parts of plants is much more interesting when the students have an actual plant, roots, leaves, to look at with a magnifying glass.  Learning about a Southwestern state by sampling regional foods, listening to music and trying our hand at Indian weaving and sand painting adds so much color and interest.

Every child is a gift from God and has amazing potential.  It is exciting to help a student glimpse the world of possibilities!  In my classroom we are authors, illustrators, scientists, mathematicians and artists.  We learn that experiments do not always work, but even when they don’t there were valuable lessons learned by simply trying.  This will be an exciting and fun year full of new beginnings and discoveries!  I look forward to partnering with you and getting to know your child.

The First Grade Teacher

CURRICULUM LIST 

Bible    The Bible (NIV) 

Building on the Rock   Summit Ministries
   
Geography & History   My America   Judy Hall Moore, A Beka

Literature Across The Centuries (Level B. Vol.1)  L. Causey, D. Bible, Christian Academic
Pub. and Services, Inc.

Mathematics   Mathematics   Scott-Foresman

Phonics    Off  We Go, Level 1   Sing, Spell, Read and Write
        Sing, Spell, Read and Write

Reading    Raceway Book, Level 1  Sing, Spell, Read and Write
        Sing, Spell, Read and Write  

Science    Science I for Christian Schools  Scott-Foresman

Spelling    Spelling 1    Sing, Spell, Read and Write

Writing    Write Source   Houghton Mifflin Co.

SCOPE AND SEQUENCE       

BIBLE

Every week students memorize scripture that is complimentary to the daily Bible lessons.  We will be learning how to develop our Christian character and applying Biblical truths by building our lives with God as our rock and foundation. 

We will also be learning important Old Testament events and key points in the life of Jesus and His disciples.  Each Wednesday we attend Chapel with the preschool through 2nd grade classes for an uplifting and FUN worship and study time.  This is a highlight of the week!

SOCIAL STUDIES AND HISTORY

Students obtain an overview of the United States during our present day and a short synopsis of the U.S. during certain historical moments.   One of the things that the students really get excited about is a state study called, “Ginger Friends”.  We start by mailing off paper gingerbread dolls decorated with information about Klamath County and Oregon to friends or family all over the United States.  After the Ginger Friends return via mail, each represented state is studied.  At the end of the project each student will have created a book with interesting facts about each of the states we studied.

Students are introduced to many famous historical figures including the Pilgrims, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  We will also be learning about some of our country’s natural wonders.

SCIENCE

Science is studied with a hands-on approach, incorporating several labs and activities into each chapter.  The two main units studied are Life Science and Earth Science.  Life Science includes habitats, living and nonliving things, life cycles, and food chains.   Earth science includes the study of natural resources, rocks, soil, recycling and conservation, and weather.

MATHEMATICS

The class reviews recognition of numbers, simple addition and subtraction to and from 18, skip counting by 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s to 100, place value, money, graphs, measurement, telling time to the half-hour and introduction of 15 minutes, shapes, fractions, probability, geometric shapes, and story problems.  Timed tests will be introduced to help students learn their addition and subtraction facts. 

PHONICS/READING

Students review and learn short vowel and two vowel words, special phonics sounds, rhyming words, contractions, compound words, syllables, prefixes, suffixes, and alphabetical order to the third letter.  Students will be taught to write sentences with capitals and correct punctuation.

At the beginning of the year our focus is mainly on applying phonics so students will be able to sound out words, phrases, and sentences.  As the year progresses, our goal is for students to move from fundamental word attack to reading fluently with expression.  Not only do we desire students to read to obtain information, but we hope to instill a love for reading that will last a lifetime.

SPELLING

Spelling lists are assigned weekly in homework beginning after Christmas Break with an emphasis on phonics sounds.  We will focus on spelling daily and a test will be given each Friday.

WRITING

Students begin with an introduction that writing is putting thoughts on paper.  Students move from dictating stories to writing stories in groups and finally writing by themselves.  Students learn what a rough draft is like and how to take it to a final copy. Journaling is introduced and students write and draw entries in their own journal.

LITERATURE        

Read Aloud:  Every day the students will be read to from good literature. 

Possible Titles:
A Bear Called Paddington   Michael Bond
A Toad for Tuesday   Russell E. Erickson
Aesop's Fables    Aesop
Boxcar Children    Gertrude Chandler Warner
Brer Rabbit    
Crow Boy    Taro Yashuma
Mrs. Piggle Wiggle   Betty MacDonald
My Father's Dragon   Ruth Syiles Gannett
Raggedy Ann Stories   Johnny Gruelle
Sarah Plain and Tall (Newberry)  Patricia MacLachlan
St. George and the Dragon  Margaret Hodges
The Courage of Sarah Noble  Alice Dalgliesh
Charlotte’s Web (Oct.)   E. B. White
The Moffets or The Moffet Museum  Eleanor Estes
The Mouse and the Motorcycle (Sept) Beverly Cleary
Warton and Morton   Russell E. Erickson
Little House in the Big Woods  Laura Ingalls Wilder
Winnie the Pooh    A. A. Milne

Author Study: Beatrix Potter

ART         

Art is an important and valued subject and the students will be doing a variety of projects throughout the year.    

CLASSROOM RULES         

1. No talking when teacher is talking.

2. Be respectful and kind to others.

3. Be safe at all times: In the classroom and on the playground.

REFOCUS PROCEDURE         

ELEMENTARY REFOCUS SHEETS
Refocus sheets are a way of informing you of the opportunities your child has during the week to “refocus” or change an inappropriate behavior.  After a student has been given a reminder of the appropriate behavior that is not being exhibited (e.g. being quiet during study times, keeping hands and feet to self, etc), s/he is given the opportunity to think about his/her actions and make the decision to change his/her behavior to reflect more positive conduct.  In order to encourage the student to change his/her behavior, s/he is asked to go to a designated place and complete a refocus sheet.  The student will be allowed to return to his/her schoolwork when s/he is ready.

Each refocus sheet given will be matched with a progressive consequence at the teacher’s discretion.

Please do not be overly upset if your child receives a refocus sheet.  This does not mean that your child has been “bad.”  It merely means that your child has needed an opportunity to work on improving behavior.  Please sign any refocus sheets your child receives and return them the following morning.

Students who accumulate multiple refocus sheets for the same behavior during a grading period will have an appointment scheduled to discuss a plan of action.

Obscene, vulgar or profane language will be dealt with following the Refocus Procedure.  A copy of the Refocus sheet will be submitted to the Administration that day.  At the Administration’s discretion, additional consequences may be imposed depending on the severity of the language.  Continued violations will result in a conference with the parent(s), and Administration.

OFFICE REFERRAL PROCEDURE

Office referral must occur for significant unacceptable behavior, such as: 
1.  Rebellion:  Outright disobedience in response to instruction.
2.  Fighting:  Striking someone in anger with the intent to harm.

If these significant behaviors occur, the following actions will result:
1.  The student will be removed from classroom or activity.
2.  The school will contact the parent.

The following statement gives our focus for coming to school:
I came to school to learn and I will learn.  I will act in such a way that I will be proud of myself and others will be proud of me too.  Because God is my helper, I will have a great day!

HOMEWORK         

15 minutes of homework will be assigned on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.  A homework packet will be sent home each Monday.  A parent needs to sign the top sheet of the homework packet when the work has been satisfactorily completed.  The signed completed homework packet will be turned in on Friday, unless otherwise stated.

LABELING ITEMS         

Please label all items that your child will be bringing to school such as: individual crayons, pencils, scissors, ruler, erasers, pencil box, and ALL CLOTHING.  If it can drop on the floor or be laid down somewhere, label it.  Initials work well on small items.  If they are labeled we will be able to return them to the owner.

SNACKS           

Every day we will have a morning snack and an afternoon snack.  Morning snack will be provided and I would appreciate any donations.  The kids love crackers and pretzels, but no peanut butter please.  Afternoon snacks are from home and are packed in your child’s lunch box.  Please remind your child to save the snack from lunch to eat later.  Good snack choices are nutritious, non-sugary items.

BOOK ORDERS          

Periodically a book order will be sent home.  The books are fairly inexpensive and our class receives free books with each order.  These are secular book clubs, so there may be some books that do not measure up to your standard.  For the most part, the selections are fun and age appropriate.  If you choose to order, please return the order form to the teacher with a check payable to Book Order.  Do not write the check to me, Hosanna, or send cash.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS         

I love to have extra help in the classroom!  It is such a blessing to have parents and grandparents helping.  A sign up sheet will be sent home at the beginning of the school year.

SERVICE PROJECTS

Our classroom service project this year will be “adopting” the seniors at Klamath Regional Rehabilitation Center, a local nursing home.  We will make cards and pictures to be delivered, bake cookies for residents and hopefully schedule one or two visits during the year.

Revised 3-6-07