This document provides information from a back to school curriculum night presentation for parents. It introduces the teachers, describes the inquiry-based education approach, essential agreements, and academics including language, math, units of inquiry, and ICT. It also discusses assessment, reflections, portfolios, student-led conferences, differentiated small group work, and the purpose of homework and reading at home. Communication methods and nuts and bolts logistics are also covered.

1. Can you recognize yourCan you recognize your
child just by their toes?child just by their toes?
• See if you can find your child’s paperSee if you can find your child’s paper
by looking at the toes and reading theirby looking at the toes and reading their
answers!answers!
• Flip over the paper to see if you’reFlip over the paper to see if you’re
correct!correct!
• Once you find your child’s paper, youOnce you find your child’s paper, you
can keep it!can keep it!

2. Welcome to 1DG Back toWelcome to 1DG Back to
School Curriculum Night!School Curriculum Night!

3. What’s tonight all about?What’s tonight all about?
• IntroductionIntroduction
• GWA approach to educationGWA approach to education
• Essential AgreementsEssential Agreements
• AcademicsAcademics
• ICT in Our ClassICT in Our Class
• CommunicationCommunication
• HomeworkHomework
Wonderings?
Wonderings?

4. Who are these peopleWho are these people
teaching my child?!?teaching my child?!?
• MrMr.. DaveDave (Gerber)(Gerber)
– BackgroundBackground
– Educational interestsEducational interests
• Mrs. RenuMrs. Renu JacobJacob

5. GWA Approach to EducationGWA Approach to Education
• Inquiry basedInquiry based
• DifferentiatedDifferentiated
• Small group or Individual basedSmall group or Individual based

6. How do we know what ourHow do we know what our
students have learned?students have learned?
• Assessment (formative and summative)Assessment (formative and summative)
• Reflections on learningReflections on learning
• PortfoliosPortfolios
• Student Led ConferencesStudent Led Conferences

7. Class Essential AgreementsClass Essential Agreements
• Created by teacher AND studentsCreated by teacher AND students
• What we are encouraging and how youWhat we are encouraging and how you
can help at home (consistency)can help at home (consistency)
– No more ‘I can’t’… ‘I can’t yet…’No more ‘I can’t’… ‘I can’t yet…’

8. Academics: LanguageAcademics: Language
• Reading:Reading:
– ‘‘Read to’ models reading using read-aloudsRead to’ models reading using read-alouds
– ‘‘Read with’ supports reading through guided readingRead with’ supports reading through guided reading
– ‘‘Self read’ to practice independent reading abilitiesSelf read’ to practice independent reading abilities
– What is the purpose of at-home reading? (See handout)What is the purpose of at-home reading? (See handout)
• Spelling:Spelling:
– Word Sorts help students learn how language worksWord Sorts help students learn how language works
– Makes learning funMakes learning fun
• Writing:Writing:
– ‘‘Write to’ models traits of writingWrite to’ models traits of writing
– ‘‘Write with’ supports writing through shared and guided writingWrite with’ supports writing through shared and guided writing
– ‘‘Self write’ to practice writing strategiesSelf write’ to practice writing strategies

9. Academics: MathAcademics: Math
• Based on inquiry, discussions, and explicit teachingBased on inquiry, discussions, and explicit teaching
• Differentiated using small groupsDifferentiated using small groups
• Balanced approach to develop concepts and skillsBalanced approach to develop concepts and skills
about number, pattern and function, shape andabout number, pattern and function, shape and
space, measurement, chance and data.space, measurement, chance and data.
• What does all this look like in class?What does all this look like in class?
– I do, we do, you do—I wonder?I do, we do, you do—I wonder?

10. Academics: Unit of InquiryAcademics: Unit of Inquiry
ProgramProgram
Units of Inquiry
How we organize ourselves
Who we are
How we express ourselves
How the world works
Sharing the Planet
Where we are in place and time
• Integrated into all subjects and covers Science and Social
Studies topics

11. ICT in the ProgramICT in the Program
• What will ICT look like in the classroomWhat will ICT look like in the classroom
this year?this year?
– Laptops/Ipads in classLaptops/Ipads in class
– ICT instructionICT instruction

12. Supporting Learning at HomeSupporting Learning at Home
• Nightly homeworkNightly homework
– ReadingReading
– SpellingSpelling
• Optional math homework onlineOptional math homework online
• Unit of Inquiry HomeworkUnit of Inquiry Homework
– One per unitOne per unit
– Project basedProject based
• No Busy WorkNo Busy Work

13. CommunicationCommunication
• Open lines of communicationOpen lines of communication
• Best way to contactBest way to contact
– School Email-No responses during schoolSchool Email-No responses during school
– WeeblyWeebly-Please subscribe-Please subscribe
– Communication DiaryCommunication Diary
– Drop in before/after school or by appointmentDrop in before/after school or by appointment
– Emergencies=Contact elementary officeEmergencies=Contact elementary office

14. Nuts and BoltsNuts and Bolts
• Snack/Lunch- must be brought fromSnack/Lunch- must be brought from
home. Please keep it healthy…home. Please keep it healthy…
• Labels, Labels and more LabelsLabels, Labels and more Labels
• Class Parent?Class Parent?
• Pick-Up- doors will stay closed untilPick-Up- doors will stay closed until
3:303:30

15. Nuts and Bolts (Cont.)Nuts and Bolts (Cont.)
• Birthday parties-only on ThursdayBirthday parties-only on Thursday
– Singing celebration on the daySinging celebration on the day
– Optional snack and teacher directed gameOptional snack and teacher directed game
on Thursdayon Thursday