Please read the note your child has left you

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Welcome!

• Please read the note your child has left you!
• Please write them a note on the heart provided.
  They will be so excited tomorrow!

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Welcome toBack to- School Night

• Ms. Nicole Salles
• September 11, 2008

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Ms. Salles

• Has worked in Montgomery Township Schools for 10
  years
• 2007 Teacher of the Year
• Received both her Bachelors Degree and Masters
  Degree from Rutgers University
• Is dual certified in Elementary and Special
  Education
• Has attended both Rutgers University and The
  College of New Jersey for Post-Graduate work.

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• Grew up at the Jersey Shore and loves the beach.
  Even in the winter! When she is not in her
  heels, you can find her in her flip flops!
• Enjoys spending time with her family and friends
• Loves to spend time outdoors every season
• Often vacations in the Florida Keys
• Some of her interests include kayaking/canoeing,
  skiing, snow shoeing, bird watching, golfing and
  visiting lighthouses
• Loves teaching young children, laughter, music
  and relaxation!

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Ms. Colicchio

• Student Teacher
• TCNJ-The College of New Jersey
• September December 12th
• Elementary, Math, Science, Technology
  Certifications

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What is the purpose of this evening?

• Learn about curriculum and programs
• Familiarize you with routines, procedures and our
  daily schedule
• Learn about volunteer opportunities and needed
  supplies
• Sign-up for parent-teacher conferences
• Parent-Teacher Communication
• Handouts/Home-School Support

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Our Classroom Activities

• Morning Meeting
• Language Arts
• Social Studies/Spanish
• Science
• Related Arts-Art, Physical Education, Health,
  Music, Technology, Media Center
• Writers Workshop
• Math

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Morning Meeting

• Part of The Responsive Classroom
• www.responsiveclassroom.org
• Greeting
• Activity, game or song
• Sharing
• Morning Message-news announcements

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Morning Meeting continued

• Calendar-Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
• Days of the Week (song)
• Numeration/ Skip Counting
• Patterning
• Place Value
• Counting to 100 by 2s, 5s and 10s
• Weather
• Tallying

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Language Arts A Balanced Literacy Program

• Read Aloud
• Interactive Writing
• Independent Reading
• Guided Reading/Centers
• Shared Writing (Authors Chair)
• Class Books
• Word Work
• Handwriting
• Spelling (February)

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Word Work

• September Getting to Know You-King/Queen of the
  Day
• Word Wall
• Chants Cheers
• Tongue Twisters
• Guess the Covered Word
• Making Words
• Rounding Up the Rhyme (strategies)
• Mystery Word
• Observing Spelling Patterns

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Writers Workshop

• Purpose To create a community of fluent writers
  who accurately practice the written expression of
  language while enjoying the experience of being a
  writer
• Empowers students to develop a written voice
• Develops a sense of community among young writers
• Above all, it makes them feel like a real
  writer!

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Writers Workshop

• Lifebooks
• Writing Binders (Work in Progress, Finished,
  Published Pieces)
• Students self-select a topic for Writers
  Workshop.
• Mini Lesson (5-10 min.)
• Writers Wheel (30min. January)
• Writing
• Conferencing
• Publishing
• Illustrating
• Authors Chair (5 min.)
• Handwriting Without Tears

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Guided Reading

• What is Guided Reading?
• Guided Reading is a context in which a
  teacher supports each readers development of
  effective strategies for processing novel texts
  at increasingly challenging levels of
  difficulty. The ultimate goal in guided reading
  is to help children learn how to use independent
  reading strategies successfully.
• Fountas Pinnell

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What does Guided Reading look like in the
classroom?

• Teacher works with dynamic small groups of
  students who use similar reading strategies
  and/or read similar levels of text with teacher
  support
• Teacher introduces the book
• Students then read the book simultaneously while
  the teacher listens in, provides support and
  takes anecdotal notes/running records
• Teacher then conducts a brief mini-lesson after
  the reading
• Extension activities sometimes may take place
• Other students are working independently at
  various classroom centers while the teacher is
  meeting with guided reading groups
• On days when the teacher meets with your childs
  group, a book will be sent home to be read at
  home and returned the following day

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Guided Reading

• Students participate in a variety of literacy
  centers while I read with dynamic leveled reading
  groups.
• Students will progress through levels as the year
  goes on. Sometimes I may drop them down a level
  in order to help them move forward.
• Reading is more than decoding-students must be
  able to comprehend, retell and predict stories as
  well as read fluently.
• When students are displaying ALL of these
  behaviors for me in school, I will move them
  forward.

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Centers

• Structured Center Chart aids rotation during
  Guided Reading
• Centers include Writing Center, Independent
  Buddy Reading, Special Center, Listening Center,
  ABC Center and more to come!

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Spelling

• Kathy Ganskes Spelling Program
• Comprehensive assessments place children into
  groups based upon their knowledge of various
  spelling patterns and conventions
• Letter Name/Within Word/Syllable Juncture
• Sorting and practicing according to spelling
  patterns
• Begins in February
• Children will have nightly homework and a
  spelling test on Friday

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Math

• The Everyday Math Program is a spiral and
  hands-on curriculum.
• Please do not be concerned if your child has not
  mastered a concept the first time it is
  introduced. It will be covered again throughout
  the year.
• Everyday Math Website http//everydaymath.uchicag
  o.edu

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• First Grade Math Curriculum Overview
• Numeration
• Operations and Computation
• Data and Chance
• Geometry
• Measurement and Reference Frames
• Patterns, Functions, and Algebra

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Science

• Science is taught through three inquiry
  based science kits.
• Sunshine Shadows
• Organisms
• Air Weather
• The children will also record their
  scientific observations and responses in their
  interactive science journal.

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Social Studies

• We will discuss the following topics
  throughout the school year
• Character Education
• Holidays Traditions Around the World
• Basic Needs
• Some Important People/Events in American History
  (Mr. Meurers program)
• Relation of Self and Community

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Related Arts
Art
Music
Physical Education
Health
Media Center
Technology
Spanish
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• Without PLAY-without that child still alive in
  all of us-we will always be incomplete. And not
  only physically, but creatively, intellectually,
  and spiritually as well. -George Sheehan

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Important Information

• Emergency Closings
• Delayed Openings
• Tremendous Tickets
• Discipline Without Stress
• Lunch with Your Teacher
• Birthdays
• Homework
• Snack
• Label Items
• Dismissal Policy
• Report Cards
• Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Parent Volunteers

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Emergency Closings / Delayed Openings

• The following radio/TV stations will be advised
  of emergency closings
• Channel 14
• WKXW 101.5FM Trenton
• Channel 12 or Channel 14 (Local Access Cable)
• You may also call the Message Line (609-466-7610)
  for a taped announcement
• If conditions indicate necessity, the school
  opening may be delayed 1 ½ hours. If this
  occurs, an announcement will be made over the
  radio stations. Orchard Hill will then open at
  1040am for students.

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Tremendous Tickets!!!

• Positive classroom reinforcement system
• Tickets earned for working as a team walking
  quietly in the hall, helping one another, working
  hard during an activity
• 30 ticketsa celebration to be determined by the
  students
• Parent Volunteers needed

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Promoting Responsibility Learning

• Discipline Without Stress by Marvin Marshall
• Levels of Behavior A, B, C, D
• C (cooperation) D (democracy) behavior is the
  goal
• A (anarchy) B (bothering/bullying) behavior is
  unacceptable
• Levels of Behavior taught through literature,
  discussion and illustrations of examples
• Logical Consequences for A B behavior

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Lunch with my Teacher

• Every child will have Lunch with my Teacher
  this school year
• Once school is into full swing and the children
  have all adjusted to first grade, I will begin to
  give out one coupon per week on Friday. Your
  child will eat lunch with me one day the
  following week.
• The children love this, clap for one another and
  cannot wait to earn their coupon! I buy them a
  special treat for our lunch together. It is a
  special time, as we sit and talk learning more
  about one another.
• We can do no great things only small things
  with great love.
• Mother Teresa

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Birthdays

• Birthdays are an exciting time in first grade!
  Many of the children like to celebrate it in
  school with their friends and teachers. If you
  would like to send in a special treat, you are
  more than welcome to. Please make sure to send
  all of the same treats. I ask that you send in a
  note or email me AT LEAST A WEEK IN ADVANCE of
  your plan. Birthday celebrations are only meant
  to be a quick activity (10 minutes.) We pass out
  the treat and sing to our special student. You
  are welcome to stay for the celebration and read
  a short story to the class.

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Homework

• Research indicates that 10-15 minutes a
  night of homework is ideal for First Grade. The
  students will begin to develop good working
  habits.

• Please have your child read every night for about
  10 minutes. READING is new, fun and exciting
  for them!
• Our SPELLING program will begin around late
  January/early February. Each child will have to
  learn spelling words each week.
• Everyday MATH Home Links will come home regularly
  after each lesson is taught in class. They are
  to be completed and returned to school the
  following day.

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Snack

• Your child will need a small healthy snack and
  water (no juice boxes please ?) each day, packed
  separately from lunch in a bag or sack with
  his/her name on it.
• Our snack will be an afternoon snack this year.
  We have lunch at 1150. Please be sure your
  child eats a large breakfast!

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• I do not allow sharing of snacks due to food
  allergies. We have a tree nut allergy that is
  life threatening in our room. Please be sure to
  speak to your children about keeping each other
  safe.
• Lunches should be in a lunch box or bag with the
  name outside.
• Students may bring a labeled water bottle to keep
  at their seats during the school day

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Dismissal Policy

• If you are picking your child up from
  school, or if someone else is, please do the
  following
• ALWAYS send in a signed, dated note with your
  childs full name written on it.

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• If your child will be staying for after-school
  activities on a continuing basis, a note EACH
  TIME is truly appreciated. Thank you!
• If I do not have a note (or a phone call from the
  MAIN OFFICE from you) indicating a change in your
  childs normal dismissal plan, I will send them
  where they typically would dismiss.

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Parent-Teacher Conferences/Report Cards

• Fifteen minute conferences will be held in early
  November and again in the spring. There will be
  morning, afternoon and evening times. Make sure
  that you have signed up for a time convenient for
  you tonight outside in the hallway.
  Confirmations will be sent home at a later date.
  Half day dismissal for students will occur at
  110pm.

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• Report Cards will be sent home in January and
  June.
• Please do not wait until report cards or
  conferences if you have any questions or
  concerns. I am always here for you and willing
  to set up a conference by phone or in person
  should it be necessary.

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Parent-Teacher Communication

• Please check your childs folder daily for
  important notices or homework assignments.
• Please do not send notes in on homework
  assignments. Send them separately to be sure I
  do read them the same day.

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• School Wires website Class newsletters will be
  posted. Sign-up for e-elerts on our homepage
  www.mtsd.k12.nj.us
• Please send me an e-mail, note or voicemail with
  any questions, concerns or pleasant thoughts?!

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Parent-Teacher Communication

• E-mail is my preferred method of communication
  (unless it is a change in your childs
  schedule-ALWAYS CALL THE MAIN OFFICE.)
• I check my email voicemail at least once a day,
  usually before or after school. I will respond as
  soon as possible ?. It is often difficult to
  find spare time in the day to do so.
• nsalles_at_mtsd.k12.nj.us
• 609-466-7605 x1805

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Parent Volunteer Opportunities

• Math Homelinks-Yearlong Commitment (1-2 parents
  needed)
• Mystery Readers February-May 15-20 minute time
  slots
• Tremendous Tickets Parents needed to help send
  in supplies when we reach our 30 tickets!

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• Class Parents-Interested parents should return
  the volunteer form. I will then be choosing
  two parents out of a hat.

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• Class Librarians-Parents needed to help keep our
  classroom library organized 1x per month during
  the school day

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• Donations Parents needed to donate items over
  the course of the year to help keep our classroom
  running smoothly (tissues, snacks, wipes, etc.)
  please take a helping hand tonight and watch
  our newsletter for needed items in the future
• Classroom Seamstress To help create over the
  chair storage sleeves. I will provide the
  material.

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• Field Trips Watch for further information on
  permission slips. Please be aware that while we
  would love to bring along all parents who
  volunteer for the trips, we are given guidelines
  limits by the destinations we visit. I will
  try to accommodate you, but I thank you in
  advance for your understanding should I not be
  able to do so.

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How do I sign-up to volunteer?

• Please take a form and return it by Tuesday,
  September 16th
• No need to sign-up for field trips until the
  permission slips come home
• I will be in touch after receiving your forms.
• Thank you in advance!

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Thank you for coming!

• Reminders
• Take all hand-outs
• Sign-up for e-lerts on Schoolwires at home
• Sign-up for conferences in the hall
• If you are interested in volunteering, please
  take a form and return it by Tuesday!
• Leave your child a note!
• Take home your cookies!

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• No one has yet fully realized the wealth of
  sympathy, kindness, and generosity hidden in the
  soul of a child.  The effort of every true
  education should be to unlock that treasure.
• - Emma Golmam