First Grade Parent
Orientation
Thursday, September 12, 2013
6:00-7:30
Schedules
We’ve provided you with a schedule of
our day.
 Although we try to be consistent,
sometimes our schedule changes.
 We must be flexible in first grade!
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Planner / Binder
Homework will be written in the planner
daily.
 Parents are asked to initial the planner
daily.
 The binder must be brought back to
school daily.
 The green and yellow homework sheets
will be in the inserted pockets of the
binder each week.
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Ticket System /
rewards
Students receive ‘tickets’ for behavior
such as returning homework, signing
papers, following directions, etc.
On Thursdays we will exchange our
tickets for passes Example. No track
pass, Stuffed animal pass, Eat lunch
with the teacher on Fridays).
Behavior Folder
The orange behavior folder is kept in
the binder.
 The STOP BOX is used after 3 warnings.
 A check will be marked if behavior
continues.
 Please initial beside each check received
daily.
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Detention Lab
Tuesday and Thursday 4:00 to 4:30
 3 checks in one day = detention
 5 checks in one week = detention
 Please sign and return detention forms.
 Teachers reserve the right to give
additional detentions for severe
behaviors occurred at school.
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Social Studies
Math/Science teachers will teach Social
studies.
 Social Studies is 5 days a week for 30
minutes.
 Students will be graded in Social
Studies based on a S, N, or U.
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Junior Achievement
Please help us in our classrooms
Volunteers Needed for ONE DAY ONLY to teach Junior Achievement Lessons
This opportunity is for Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles too!
We are seeking parents who would like to be involved with the kids for ONE
full day (9am-3:00pm).
Each volunteer will teach/share one hands-on activity to five separate class groups
during the scheduled times. Lunch/snacks will be served to all volunteers and you are
welcome to have lunch with your student. You will be supported by the teachers
throughout this experience.
All materials, lesson plans and activities are provided and will be available for
pick up and preparation from the front office.
Spaces will fill fast. JA classes are forming now and each class will be taught by a
parent volunteer.
If you would like to volunteer and spend time with your child in the classroom setting,
then this opportunity is for you!
Make sure to get your name and info on the sign-up sheet from your teacher.
Junior Achievement
Friday, October 17th
 Students will learn about family and
how we use math and reading in the
real world.
 Parent volunteers will lead us in Junior
Achievement.
 We will need VOLUNTEERS!
 Please sign up today!
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Handwriting
Zaner - Bloser
 Students are expected to write in
correct formation neatly on the line.
 Students are expected to write legibly.
 Students will receive a grade for
handwriting.
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Readers Workshop
45 minutes to an hour
 Begins with a mini-lesson that teaches a
reading skill or strategy
 Independent reading time in Book
Nooks with own Just Right books
 Teacher meets with small groups
 Conferences
 Rubric grades
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Fountas and Pinnell
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Every child will be assessed on their reading
levels.
Beginning of the year – Level D
End of the year goal – Level J
Students must pass the accuracy and
comprehension sections of the assessment in
order to be on that independent level.
Scores will be discussed during Parent
Teacher conferences
Science / Science Labs
We will have Science 5 days a week for
30 minutes.
 We will visit the Science lab for
experiments.
 Students will receive a grade of E, S, N,
or U in science.
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After School Program
12 Weeks
Starting 9/22
Monday’s from 3:454:45
Exemplars
Exemplars is a math problem solving
program.
 We will be working on problem solving
questions daily in first grade.
 Students will be asked to record
information in their Math Exemplar
Journals.
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Math / Math Stations
5 days a week for 60 minutes
 Students will receive a numerical grade
in math.
 Students will complete math, science,
and social studies homework during the
week.
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Pattison Elementary
Mighty Mathematicians Reward Program
• Each month, your child’s teacher will send home a menu of
math activities that helps to build his/her number sense.
• Your child will have the opportunity to earn a mighty
mathematician tag in grades K-2 or for completing 4 out 6 of
the activities each month.
• If your child completes the activities each month throughout
the school year, he/she will be rewarded with an extra recess
and treat in May.
• The activities and recording sheets can be downloaded from
www.pemathematicians.pbworks.com
Computer lab
Students will visit the Computer lab
once a week.
 Students will complete activities and
visit websites in the computer lab.
 We will vary our activities between
reading, writing, math, science, and
social studies.
 Students will be expected to navigate
the folders independently on the
computer.
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Technology
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In first grade, we will participate in the BYOD
(Bring Your Own Device) program.
We are lucky to have four “classroom” iPads
this year for the students to use.
There are various apps that are assisting the
students with reading, writing, creative
thinking, math, and much more.
There will be more information to come about
when your child can start brining their own
device to school. We are still learning digital
citizenship rules and how to use iPads
appropriately.
Challenge Screenings
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Our Challenge teacher is Mrs. Virginia
Schreiner – Neville
First Grade challenge days are Mondays.
Students are expected to complete
assignments that are missed that day.
Challenge screenings occur later in the school
year (Spring) for new first grade students.
Paperwork for the challenge screenings is due
sometime in November – more info to come.
Writer’s Workshop
5 days a week
 45 minutes to an hour
 Students are expected to write
independently during that time.
 Students will receive grades on writing
pieces.
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Reteach/Retest
Students will receive grades in math,
science, reading, writing, and social
studies.
 If a student scores below a 70 on a x2
grade they are eligible to retake the
test.
 Highest score on a retest = 70%
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Report Cards
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Report cards are sent home the following
week after the end of each grading period.
A progress report is just a snapshot and
students have time to improve their grade.
Teachers will contact the parent when grades
are below 70.
Report Cards need to be signed and returned
each grading period with the envelope.
Grades can be viewed online in the Home
Access Center (HAC).
I-Station
All children will be given a Beginning of
the year I-station assessment and end
of the year.
 Students with scores in the TIER 2 or 3
range will receive additional I-station
time in the morning 4 times a week.
 I-Station is a computer program that
assesses students in reading skills.
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Word Study
Students will practice creating words
from different word families.
 Students will receive grades in word
study.
 The Green Word Study booklet must be
kept in the binder.
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Homework
Goes home MONDAY and is due
THURSDAY
 For each day that homework is late, 10
points will be taken off.
 Homework sheets will be graded.
 Please allow your child to complete
their homework independently.
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Change of
Transportation
All changes in transportation must be
written or typed, signed and dated.
 We can NOT receive changes of
transportation via email or phone call.
 Students without a change of
transportation note will be sent home
the regular way.
 No changes of transportation after
3:15pm.
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Lunch money
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Send your cash or check in an envelope to
school with your child’s name, grade, and
teacher’s name.
You can send in a large sum of money to be
deposited to your child’s meal account.
Children are allowed to purchase snacks. If
you do not want them to purchase snacks,
please let them know.
You can pay for your account online at
Katyisd.org
Scholastic book orders
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Students/Families will have the option to
purchase books through Scholastic.
This helps us build our classroom libraries.
This is completely optional.
Purchases will be made online only.
In the weekly email, I will let you know
that the catalogs have been selected
online as well as the closing date.
You will use our class code and view the
catalogs on the website
Conferences
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Parents will set up conferences with both teachers
at the same time.
We will send home a web-based sign up via email.
We have two conference days: Friday Oct. 3 and
Monday Oct. 13 in the afternoon (no school for
students). Conferences will last 20 minutes.
We will be as thorough as possible.
Please complete and return the Parent
questionnaire prior to our conference day, if you
have not done this yet.
Star of the Week
One student will be the Star of the
Week
 He/She will take home a poster to fill
out
 The Star of the Week is our line
leader, takes down the morning
envelopes, passes out materials, etc.
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Peanut Free Rooms
All classrooms are Peanut Free!
 No peanut products for birthday treats,
or parties.
 In the cafeteria we have PEANUT free
tables for students.
 You are allowed to bring peanut
products at lunch but we ask that they
do not sit at the Peanut free side of the
table.
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Birthday treats
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Please bring in birthday treats in the morning.
We will enjoy our birthday snacks after our
lunch.
No peanut products please.
Please send napkins with your birthday treats.
Birthday treats need to be individual packaged
(such as cupcakes, brownies muffins, rice
krispy treats, glazed donuts)
We can not pass out birthday invitations.
 ALL TREATS MUST BE DELIVERED BY
10AM
Parent readers
Parents are invited to sign up for a
time each Friday to read to our
students.
 We do NOT have Parent Readers on
early dismissal days.
 We will provide the books for Parent
Readers.
 Please visit our sign-up genius website
to select a time.
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Weebly News
Every week we will send home an email
with the latest Weebly First Grade
News.
 Please make sure your teacher has a
valid email address.
 We will use email as a primary form of
contact with parents.
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Letter to your student
Please take a moment to write a quick
note to your child.
 We will use these letters at the end of
the year.
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