Welcome to Back to School Night with Ms. Wurth

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Welcome to Back to School Nightwith Ms. Wurth!

• 2007-2008

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First Month of School

• Designed as an assessment month to find
• placement that is just right for your child.
• NEW-District Math and Reading Inventory
• Leveled reading passages-one-on-one
• Writing assessment-scored with a rubric
• DIBELS rate, fluency, letter and vowel
  sounds, segmentation, etc.
• Designed to allow me and the students to focus on
  the procedures and appropriate behavior without
  overwhelming students with difficult curriculum.
• The following assessments
  guide my instruction.

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Daily ScheduleThe school day begins at 835.
Students are tardy after 840 and will miss
important announcements and instructions. Please
make sure your child is on time every day.

• Morning Schedule
• Morning work/jobs
• Spelling
• Shared Reading
• Individual Literature
• Guided Reading

• Afternoon Schedule
• Writers Workshop
• Specials
• Math
• Science/Social Studies

LUNCH is at 1050-1100. The students go outside
to play the last
10 minutes of their lunch period.
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Specials Classes

• Monday Music/P.E.
• Tuesday- Computer/R.E.A.L.
• Wednesday-Art
• Thursday- P.E./Spanish
• Friday- Spanish/Music
• Library is every Monday

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Lunch

• Lunch begins at 1050
• The students go to recess at 1110
• Students may only eat at our lunch time.

Snack

• Please pack ONE snack for your
• your child that can be easily opened.
• If your child forgets his/her snack,
• they will not have one for that day.

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Recess

• Recess will be everyday even if it feels very
  cold
• Please send your child dressed appropriately for
  the weather.
• Layers work well in transitional seasons.

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Handwriting

• We use ball and stick letters.
• We practice daily
• Students who need additional practice will
  receive practice pages to do at home.
• Students with reversals will also receive
  practice pages that focus on the letters and
  numbers that are currently being reversed.
• Handwriting practice is work!

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Spelling(Please see examples)

• Spelling words are chosen from Rebecca Sitton no
  excuse word list (which are the most commonly
  used words in the students writing), additional
  high frequency words, word family and vocabulary
  words from our HM reading series
• On Monday the students will take a preview to see
  which words they already know. We will grade them
  together in class and the students will
  automatically transfer any missed words on the
  preview onto the actual spelling list for the
  week.
• Each week there will be a worksheet located on
  the back of their spelling list that the students
  are responsible for doing and turning in on
  Friday. I also encourage you to find other ways
  to practice throughout the week.
• On the class website you will find a list of
  additional practice ideas
• On Friday the students will take a final
  assessment to see how well they know their
  spelling words
• In addition the students will be required to
  spell the Rebecca Sitton no excuse words
  correctly in their daily writing.
• Beginning in late January/February challenge
  words will become an option for those who do well
  on the preview.
• REMEMBER STUDENTS SHOULD FIRST KNOW HOW TO READ
  THE WORD, THEN PRACTICE SPELLING THE WORD.

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Guided Reading

• Students read literature that is at their level
  in small groups while the other students are
  participating in individual work.
• Individual Literature
• (Volunteers needed on Wednesdays)
• Once the students have enough words in their
  vocabulary, they begin this individualized
  reading program. It is designed to meet each
  childs needs and to move at their own pace. This
  is a program designed to encourage children to
  find books at their level, build fluency,
  comprehension and a love for reading.
• Shared Reading
• The students participate in whole group reading
  activity and then follow up with reading
  comprehension or skill related work.

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Other Curricular Areas

• Math
• A hands-on program that spirals throughout the
  school year. Specific skills are located in the
  first grade manual.
• Math Practice Pages
• See 3-ring binder in desk
• Science/Social Studies
• We focus on many skills throughout the year. For
  a specific outline look in the first grade manual
  or visit the Blue Valley website for curriculum
  objectives.

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Student Folders

• Purple V.I.P.-comes home every night with
  homework, notes and weekly assignment sheet. I
  will not be able to check the folder everyday, so
  all notes and important message need to be on
  individual paper that your child can hand
  directly to me.
• Green LOOK folder-comes home on Friday with
  papers from the week. Please empty the folder and
  look them over with your child.
• Red Portfolio folder-comes home on Friday and
  contains a piece of work either I picked out or
  your child picked out. This will have a
  reflection paper on it. Let your child share it
  with you and RETURN it to school on MONDAY.

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Differentiation

• Individual Literature
• Guided Reading
• Reading Incentives
• Rereads
• Spelling
• Deep Thinking
• Math Challengers

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Reading Incentives

• Monthly reading goal
• Sent home on the first of the month and due on
  the last day of the month or as directed by
  teacher
• Note on front details the incentive
• Attachment can be found on the website if sheets
  are lost or additional sheets are needed
• Nightly reading homework helps student meet the
  goal
• Students who complete the incentive take part in
  a fun activity/party

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What does it mean?

• Some of the markings that you might see on your
  childs paper could include the following
• Triple lines capitalization
• Circle error, misspelling, missing punctuation
• Nothingdone in class together
• Book sticker done in reading groups
• Dot under letter asked to re-do handwriting
  (i.e. reversal or messy)
• WWword wall word misspelled

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Homework

• For most weeks homework will be assigned for
  Monday-Thursday.
• Homework page comes home every Monday with the
  exception of short weeks.
• Students will have about 10-20 min. of homework
  each evening depending on the student.
• Please sit with your child while they do their
  work. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to
  gain insight of what we do daily and also for
  one-on-one help if needed.
• Check the work for errors.
• Homework should ALWAYS be done in pencil.

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Late Work

• It is best to do the assignments on the night
  they are sent home as most homework might be used
  in the next days lesson.
• However, students may turn in homework any time
  during the week.
• Come Friday, homework/unfinished work from the
  week not turned in, will be completed during Free
  Friday OR Snack and Read.
• Depending on productivity of day, some homework
  outlined in the assignment sheet may come on
  another day of the week.

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Cubes

• Each student starts the day without any cubes on
  his/her desk. I place a set of 6 cubes on desk
  when the student needs to be reminded to get back
  on track and follow the rules. Then the following
  happens
• If one cube is lost- reminds student again to get
  back on track and a stamp is still given at the
  end of the day
• If two cubes lost- no stamp
• If three cubes lost- 5 min. off recess and think
  sheet goes home
• If four cubes lost- All of recess is lost
• If five cubes lost -call home
• All cubes lost - Dr. Bakke

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Other Positive Behavior Management Plans

• STARS whole group
• Lucky Tickets individual
• Individual plans if needed

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Communication

• Website-weekly
• Voice mail-weekly (Thursdays)
• Notes home-as needed
• Notes in VIP folder
• Assignment page (Mondays)
• Personal calls

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Birthdays

• Small treats please
• Notify me of the day you would like to celebrate
• Drinks are not necessary
• Treat bags must be easy to distribute
• Pre-cut to be easily served
• Send plates and napkins if needed
• Summer birthdays are celebrated on students half
  birthday and must be arranged with me ahead of
  time
• Invitations should not be passed out at school.
• Birthdays are celebrated at 310 p.m. after being
  arranged between teacher and parent
• If your child has any allergies please
  contact me for special instructions

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Sign-Ups

• Conferences
• Mystery Reader
• Star of the Week
• Donations List (food, crafts,
• supplies, etc.)
• Room Mother/PTA Sign up list
• Voicemail list
• Field Trip Volunteers

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Final Thoughts

• Car riders- please put sign with childrens
  names on the outside of your passenger side door.
  Fill out paper and sign before you leave tonight!
• This power point will be attached to my link if
  you need to refer back for any information
• Please look for your childs Self Portrait
  located outside the classroom door. (check your
  guess with the answer key?)
• Sign-up sheets located at the front and back of
  the room)

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• Looking forward to a wonderful year!