Contact Information

Susan Carter

314-854-6240

susancarter@claytonschools.net

Welcome to First Welcome to First Grade!Grade!

Welcome to First Welcome to First Grade!Grade!

Reader’s Workshop

• Read Aloud• Independent Reading• Partner Reading• Guided Reading/ Strategy

Groups• Response to Reading• Word Work• Shared Reading• Listen to Reading

Independent Reading During Independent Reading, each child reads “just right” books from his or her own book box.

Read Aloud

Through listening to and discussing stories, students develop comprehension skills and higher level thinking skills.

Guided Reading/ Strategy Groups

• Provides small group, direct instruction of reading strategies in carefully selected texts.

• Provides guided practice in applying reading strategies.

Spelling• We use the developmentally

driven Words Their Way instructional approach.

• This approach provides a practical way to study words and spelling patterns.

• Based on developmental spelling level, students study words and then take a test to see if they have mastered a particular spelling pattern.

• Students will not have spelling words to study at home.

LUNCH!!• We have recess

and lunch from 10:50 – 11:30.

• You are welcome to have lunch with your child any day.

Writer’s Workshop

Throughout the year, the children learn the craft of writing by creating personal narratives as well as expository pieces based on topic research.

•Music 1 hour/week•Art 1 hour/week

Specialist Classes:

•Spanish 90 min./week

•Library 30 min./week

•PE everyday 30 min.

MathMath in Focus: The Singapore

Approach is a math curriculum from

Singapore adapted for U.S. classrooms

based on updated math standards.

This year, your first grader will focus on:

• Building problem-solving skills and

strategies

• Counting, comparing, and writing

numbers to 100

• Adding and subtracting 1-digit and

2-digit numbers

• Classifying and sorting shapes and

patterns

• Measuring length and weight

• Using calendars, time and money

Sample Workbook Pages

Number Bonds Lesson

Number Bonds Lesson

Number Bonds Homework

Social StudiesIn our social studies units, we explore:

• Strategies for resolving conflicts

• Community, citizenship, rules and laws

• Geography: city, state, country

• Economic literacy: goods, services, wants and needs

• History: comparing past, present and future

Science Units• FOSS - Full Option

Science System (Univ. of CA at Berkley)

• This science curriculum actively engages students in asking questions, exploring ideas, gathering data, and drawing conclusions.

• www.FOSSweb.com

Solids and LiquidsAir and Weather

Plants and Insects

Homework• A book bag with “just right”

books will come home daily and must be returned to school each day.

• Read with your child for 10-15 minutes 4 evenings per week and fill out the reading log that is in your child’s book bag.

• Math homework will be sent home on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Classroom Expectations for Behavior

The CLAYMO PromiseI will take good care of myself,

all the people around me,and all the things around me.

Care LotsAbout Yourself andManyOthers

Classroom Expectations for Behavior

• I will treat you with respect, so you will know how to treat me.

• Feel free to do anything that doesn’t cause a problem for anyone else.

• If you cause a problem, I will ask you to solve it.

• If you can’t solve the problem, or choose not to, I will do something.

• What I do, will depend on the special person, and the special situation.

• If you feel something is unfair, whisper to me, “I’m not sure that’s fair,” and we will talk.

Love and Logic Philosophy

Classroom Expectations for Behavior Behavior Intervention Support Team (B.I.S.T.)

• For those students who are having a problem that they need help resolving, I will ask the student to move to the “safe seat” until I have time to help them solve their problem.

• If a student is unable to sit quietly in the safe seat, I will ask the student to move to the “buddy room” (a second grade classroom). Usually this change in environment helps a child to get refocused.

• I will talk to the student as soon as I can to discuss how he/she plans to address his/her problem. Sometimes a “Think Sheet” is used as a tool to help the child process the problem and solution.

• If the student is able to take responsibility for the behavior and comes up with a solution to the problem, he/she is invited to come back to the classroom to try the “safe seat” again before returning to his/her spot at the table or on the rug.

Goals for My Life 

I can be angry, upset, or overwhelmed by my feelings and not get in trouble.

 

I can be okay even if others are not okay.

 

I can do something even if I don’t want to (even if it’s difficult)

 

First Grade Web Page

To keep your child energized and hydrated. . .

Put a water bottle and a nutritious, nut-free

snack in your child’s backpack everyday.

Birthday Celebrations• Mrs. Scott acknowledges

birthdays during morning announcements.

• Please keep birthday treats for your celebration at home.

No Nuts, Please! * No peanuts or tree nuts or products containing peanuts or tree nuts

may be brought into classrooms for any purpose, such as snacks, classroom parties, birthdays, etc.

* No peanuts or tree nuts or products containing peanuts or tree nuts will be served in the school cafeterias.

Students may not have nuts in their lunches or classrooms. The restrictions apply, but are not limited, to:

* Lunches

* Snacks, including snacks for events such as classroom parties, etc.

* Any other items brought into the school by students, parents, patrons, vendors or others.

Mrs. Carter’s Class Schedule• 8:30 Bell rings and Line up• 8:40-9:40 Writer’s Workshop• 9:40-10:50 Reader’s Workshop• 10:50-11:30 Recess and Lunch• 11:30-12:20 Reader’s Workshop• Library every D-day• 12:20-1:20 Specials• 1:20-2:20 Math• 2:20-3:20-Science/Social

Studies/ART on every B-day• 3:20-3:30-Closing and Dismissal

Specialist ClassesA - PE/MusicB - Spanish/PE (Art 2:20- 3:20)C - PE/Music D - (Library 11:40-12:20) PE/Spanish E - PE/Spanish 

THANK YOU FOR COMING!