Welcome Back to School!

Maestra ZavatskyFirst Grade

Dual Language Immersion Program2014-15

Introduction• Sign in• Conference sign-ups• About me

– Born in Managua, Nicaragua– Teaching-B.A.in Psychology with an emphasis in cross-

culture/multicultural Studies. Master’s of Science Degree in Education.

– Taught 3 years in Washington State and 2 years in Canoga Park in a dual-immersion program.

– I have been married 8 years and have a 1 year old daughter named Annalise!

Daily ScheduleMorning• PE (Tuesday-Thursday)• Morning Meeting, Spanish Language Arts• Workshop-teacher works with small groups while students work

independently on syllables, reading fluency, forming words, writing journal, grammar, and vocabulary

9:20-9:35 Recess• Writing/Project-based learning• Math

Afternoon

11:30-12:15  Lunch• English• Social Studies, Science, Art

Units of Study-Language Arts

• Back to School• Where do Animals Live?• Our Neighborhood in Action• Weather• North, South, East and West• We All Grow (Plants)• Homes

Math Standards• Count, read and write numbers to 120• Addition and subtraction to 20• Show meaning of addition/subtraction• 1 more, 1 less, 10 more, 10 less • Organize and compare data on simple graphs and charts• Represent data using tally charts, picture graphs bar graphs;

ask and answer questions about data• Understand meaning of signs/symbols• Compare whole numbers• Find the sum of 3 one-digit numbers• Create problems that lead to + and – equations

• Know value of coins in different combinations• Count by 2’s, 5’s, 10’s• Count/group objects in tens and ones• Compare length, weight, volume• Geometric figures-identify and classify• Shapes-identify, describe, attributes, compare, and compose• Tell time to hour and half hour on analog and digital clocks• Fractions using halves and quarters

English

• 65 minutes (approximately) , Tuesday-Friday• listening and speaking skills• spelling patterns (long/short vowels)• high frequency words• sounds/decoding• reading comprehension• writing 

Assessments• English and Spanish Language Arts and Math

– District trimester benchmarks-(SLA, ELA, and Math)– Performance tasks between trimester assessments

(3 times/year in SLA and Math)

• Dictations– Each Friday – Includes words using learned syllables– Sent home Mondays/Thursday– Please sign and return to school each

Tuesday/Friday

• Regular student observation– Informal teacher observation will guide instruction in

all subject areas

Homework • PUSD Policy for first grade-30 minutes per day– Packets sent home Mondays and due Fridays

Daily:– reading-3 days Spanish, 1 day English (once students are

reading independently; until then parents may read to students in their native language)

– Math– Language arts (vocabulary help on sheet provided)– POPs (to be explained next)

Weekly:– Poem of the week– Words of the week (sight words, vocabulary)– Syllable game

POP’sPowerful Oral Presentations

Students will present three topics related toour units of study:• Animals• Place, Country, Culture• Homes

Within each topic, students will choose to present a song/poem, give a demonstration (how-to), or share information about the topic.

POP’s

• Presentations must be in Spanish• Length-2-4 minutes• Bring/include visuals• Don’t read your presentation. Speak like you are

talking to a friend• Guiding questions will be provided (It is not

necessary to answer all of them, and additional information can be included.)

• Presentation months will be scheduled 3-4 students per day during 3 months throughout the school year (October, January, and April)

Classroom Rulesfor the “stars” of Room 3

• I shine.• I respect.• I make good decisions.• I solve my problems.

Our Rainbow • Visual reminder of behavior• Significance:

– Bottom-”We all want to shine”-students start their clothespin here daily and move up by following the rules

• Blue-1 point• Green-2 points• Yellow-3 points• Orange-4 points• Red-5 points

– Top-”I reached the sky”-automatic prize or privilege, plus points

20 points=pencil 30 points=lunch with the teacher

• Students may also receive: praise, smiles, high fives, positive feedback for parents, “marble minutes”, Student of the Month awards

Potential consequences1. A reminder of the rule that needs to be followed2. Removal from the situation (a "time-out"/"cool-down"/"reflection" area)3. Loss of privilege4. Student choice consequence5. Communication with parents and/or principal

*Notes:• Severe actions (fighting, dangerous behaviors, or disruptive

behaviors that keep others from learning or being safe) will be referred directly to the principal, who will then handle communication with parents.

• PUSD discipline policy handbook will be followed.• Whenever possible, consequences will relate to the behavior.

• When another child is affected or hurt by the rule-breaking, we will help the students through conflict resolution and apologies where appropriate.

• If something is broken or damaged, the child will be expected to replace it, fix it, clean it, etc. 

Field Trips

• Autry Museum• October7 –McAllister/Silk• October 15-Parra/Zavatsky

• Huntington Museum-TBD

• Descanso Gardens-TBD

Special EventsSchool-wide• Room 13• PE Clinics• Student of the Month/Attendance assemblies• Winter Performances • Talent Show• Picture Days-fall and spring• Fall Festival• Halloween/Costume Parade• Sweetheart Lunch• Open House

First Grade• Pumpkin Extravaganza• Animal Project• Thankful Project• Valentine’s Day Bag-making• Literacy Cafes

• Lights of Winter• Global Literacy Café• Plants Literacy Café• Homes Literacy Cafe

• Birthdays• Last Monday of each month at 12pm• Party invitation distribution not allowed during school hours• Healthy foods only

VolunteersThank you for respecting the first 5-6 weeks for

establishing routines, bonding with a new teacher and classmates, and becoming comfortable and independent.

Room Parent Coordinator: Maribel GarcianoBirthday Coordinator: Homework Folders:Thursday Folders:Classroom historian/yearbook:

Volunteers, cont.Helping in the Classroom• Workshop/Centers• Field trips• Literacy cafes and special events

Miscellaneous• Photocopying• Prepping for projects• Cleaning• Donations! (Thank you for the many given so far!)

Volunteer Requirements• TB Test and volunteer form (in office)• Sign in at the front office and get volunteer badge• Confidentiality of students• Coordinate with teachers at least 24 hours before

coming• Use adult restrooms• Younger siblings are not allowed as they can

distract classroom instruction and learning

How else can you help?

• Daily student attendance and punctuality• Early bedtime (10-12 hours of sleep)• Healthy breakfast and snacks for recess• Ask your child specific questions about

what they are learning at school• Hand-washing

School AttendanceAbsences• Call the school’s message line 626-396-5790• Provide the office with an excuse note  • Provide a note if your child is not feeling well but is not ill enough to

stay home, so I know to give some extra care to your child that day.• Keep your child home if he/she has a fever!Tardies• First bell is at 7:45. School starts promptly at 7:50. After 7:50

students are late.• Late students must get tardy slips from the office.• Tardies are extremely disruptive and affect instructional minutesTransportation• Parent pick-up is on the playground (rainy days- at classroom door)• Provide a written note (not email) for a last minute change of plans

(i.e. if your child is going home with someone different or is not going to an after school program on a particular day)

• Provide written permission to carpool regularly with other families

Miscellaneous Reminders 

Uniforms• no jeans/open-toed shoes• free dress/spirit days TBA• Please clearly label EVERYTHING with your student’s first and last

name with a black Sharpie

Bathroom• before school, recess, lunch, and after school • instructional time• remind your child daily• medical exceptions

Miscellaneous Reminders cont.Birthdays• Last Monday of month at 12:00• Parent coordinator• 1 healthy, 1 small sweet, water• parents invited

Minimum Days• Open House, Last day of school, • December 19 and March 13

Pupil Free Days• October 17-Parent Conference Day• January 5-Staff Development• March 31-Staff Development

Change of Clothes• For emergencies• Pack in ziploc bag with child’s name • Include: shirt, shorts, pants, underwear, socks, sweater, etc.

Medication• Medicine must have physician’s prescription and instructions

as well as note from parents.• All medication will be administered in the office, even cough

drops.

Snacks-send daily• no sweets-difficult to focus • peanut free• high protein/healthy snacks best—cheese,

yogurt, edamame, fruit• label containers

Lunch• scheduled even on minimum days• pay cash or check for school lunches in

cafeteria• check account balances-can be filled in

advance• label containers

Communication– With Teachers: website, email, conferences,

handwritten notes, in person scheduled appointments, Thursday folders

– Among Parents: shutterfly websites (for volunteer signups and communication among parents—created and run by parents

– From school: School Messenger phone calls. Principal’s Newsletters, Miscellaneous fliers in Thursday folders, San Rafael website, eblast (sign up), Facebook

– From district: PUSD Monday Message

Important Addresseswww.sanrafael.pasadenausd.org

www.sanrafaelfirstgrade.weebly.com(updated most Monday nights, sign up for notifications)

mcallister.xenia@pusd.usparralizama.maria@pusd.us

silk.julie@pusd.uszavatsky.katia@pusd.us

*Note: E-Mail is only checked before and after school. Please do not e-mail important information during school

hours as it will not be read

• No official lists since we receive a budget through PTA to purchase needs and wishes

• We always need reams of paper.• Scholastic Book Fair book wish lists.• Buy books through Club Leo and Scholastic

Book Fairs so teachers can earn bonus points and grow classroom libraries

• Support PTA and Annual Fund so we can continue to have field trips and special activities in the classroom

Wish Lists

Questions and Goals

1. Please use the post-its on the desks to post a goal for your child for this year

at the “Goal Post”

2. “Please post classroom questions, comments,

suggestions, or concerns at the “parking lot”