This document provides an overview of the first grade dual language immersion program taught by Maestra Silk at Jackson STEM Dual Language Magnet Academy. It summarizes the teacher's background and experience, classroom policies and procedures, curriculum including Spanish and English language arts and math, assessments, homework expectations, positive behavior system, field trips, volunteer opportunities, and important dates for the 2017-2018 school year.

1. Welcome Back to School!
2017-2018
Maestra Silk ~ First Grade
Jackson STEM Dual Language
Magnet Academy
Dual Language Immersion Program

2. Questions and Goals
Use post-its to:
 Write questions, comments, or concerns
 Write goal(s) you have for your child this year-
write his/her name on the back
 Leave questions/goals on your child’s desk
Sign in, Sign up
Folder – Take home

3. Introduction
• About me
– Born in Sacramento, CA
– Credentials
– BA and multiple subject
credential from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
– Master’s Degree from Cal State LA in curriculum and
instruction
– Bilingual credential
– 15 additional post-graduate units
– Love traveling, husband, cats Paz and Alegría, and of
course my new baby Mattias

5. Teaching Experience
•Founded, taught and administrated girls’ school in
Santa Maria de Jesus, Guatemala (3 years)
•Taught in Pasadena USD at 4 schools
over 13 years
•1 year-5th/6th grade-Webster
•4 years-4th grade-Jefferson
•1 year-1st/2nd grade dual language in Denver, CO
•6 years-1st grade dual language at San Rafael
•3 years-1st grade dual language at Jackson

6. Communication
Teacher (Please contact me first!)
– Website: maestrasilksclass.weebly.com
– Email: silk.julie@pusd.us
(before/after school, allow 24 hours to respond)
– Conferences-sign up-October 13
– Handwritten notes
-Scheduled appointments
– Thursday folders-student work/feedback
School/district
– Phone calls
– Fliers in Thursday folders
– Jackson/PUSD websites
– Facebook

7. Communication-Texts
To subscribe to reminder texts, enter
this number:
81010
Text this message: @maestrasil

8. What happens in first grade?
• STEM-Engineering Process
• Language development-English and Spanish
• Positive collaboration
• Developmentally appropriate instruction based on
Common Core State Standards
• Active engagement in learning
• Safe, supportive environment

9. What will my child learn?
Universal Themes/BIG Ideas
Structures-Structures are made up of parts that work together
for a purpose.
Relationships- Relationships are purposeful. Everything is
related in some way.
Patterns-Patterns repeat and help us make predictions.

10. Spanish Language Arts
•Balanced Literacy
•Guided reading groups-learn at their levels
•Read to self
•Work on writing
•Work with words
•Listen to reading
•Read to someone

11. Spanish Language Arts
•Literature (Narrative Text)
–Key details
–Story elements
–Retelling
–Compare and contrast
•Informational Text
–Main idea and details
–Compare texts
–Text features (headings, charts, glossaries, etc.)

12. Spanish Language Arts cont…
•Foundational Skills
–Isolating and blending syllables
–Read fluently
•Writing
–Narrative, informational, and opinion pieces
•Speaking & Listening
–Follow directions, take turns, complete sentences
–Presentations

13. Spanish Language Arts cont…
•Language
–Types of words (Nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.)
–Capitalization, punctuation, commas
•Vocabulary
–Determine meaning based on context
–Define and sort words

14. Can-Do Statements
•Show Spanish language proficiency
•Include specific skills in the following areas:
–Interpersonal communication
–Interpretive listening
–Presentational speaking
–Interpretive reading
–Presentational writing
•Scale: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced (low, medium, high within each
of those)
•Grade level targets & progress shared with report card

15. Math Standards
• Operations and algebraic thinking
– + and – to 20
– Relationship between addition and subtraction
– Add 3 numbers
– Find missing number in equations
– Solve word problems
• Number and Operations in Base Ten
– Count, read and write numbers to 120
– Place value
– Add within 100, 10 more/10 less
– Compare numbers

16. Math Standards continued…
• Measurement and Data
– Represent and compare data using tally charts, picture graphs,
bar graphs
– Tell time to hour and half hour
– Ask and answer questions about data
– Measure and compare lengths
• Geometry
– Distinguish, build, and draw shapes according to their attributes
– Compose shapes using other shapes
– Partition shapes into equal parts

17. Social Sciences
• Citizenship-rules & respect
• Maps and globes-making maps,
reading maps, where we live
• Our country-honoring our country and heroes,
national symbols, holidays
• Changes over time-compare & contrast past and present
• Cultures-similarities, diversity, traditions, immigrant influences
• Goods and services-how people use money,
how goods get to people

18. Natural Sciences
– Structure, Function, and Information Processing (How plants
and animals use parts to survive, grow, and meet their needs)
– Waves: Light and Sound (Effects of light on different materials;
causes and effects of sound)
– Space Systems: Patterns and Cycles (Seasonal patterns of
sunrise/sunset, patterns of sun, moon, and stars)
– Engineering Design (Define simple problems, draw/model
solution, compare 2 solutions)

19. English
• 20% of 1st grade dual language program (1 hr/day)
• spelling patterns (long/short vowels)
• high frequency words
• sounds/decoding
• reading comprehension
• writing
• ELD for English learners
• integrated-science, cooking, library

20. “Specials”
•Music-Friday mornings at 8am in the
auditorium
•Art-integrated, not on a schedule
•PE-usually Tuesday, Wednesday, and
Thursday mornings

21. STEM
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
•Science lab
•Cooking/Gardening
•Library
•Technology
–Lexia
–iReady
–ST Math

22. Formal Assessments
• Language Arts
– Informal Reading Inventory-3 times/year-to determine
independent and instructional reading levels
• Math-test each trimester-iready computer program
• Dictations
– Each Friday
– Includes words using learned syllables
– Sent home Mondays
– Sign and return to school Tuesdays

23. Homework
PUSD Policy-1st grade
• 20 minutes/day
• 15 minutes of reading
Daily:
• Reading-the most important part!-3 days Spanish, 1 day English
OR 80% Spanish/20%
• Math or Language Arts
Weekly:
• Packets sent Mondays and due Fridays
• Poem of the week
• Words of the week (sight words, vocabulary)
• Syllable game (optional, but very helpful!)

24. Classroom Rules
for the first grade “stars”
• I shine.
• I respect.
• I make good decisions.
• I solve my problems.

25. Positive Behavior Plan
– Rainbow: Students move up and earn points
– 20 points=pencil,
– 30 points=snack/recess with teacher OR show and tell
in class OR 1 day no homework
– Other positive recognition: praise, smiles, high fives,
positive feedback for parents, “marble minutes,” Student
of the Month awards

26. Positive Behavior Plan
– Consequences: rule reminder, reflection, loss of
privilege, conflict resolution, fix the problem, conference
with parents and/or principal, behavior contract
– Severe actions (disruptive and/or dangerous) and
incidents occurring outside of my direct supervision (at
lunch/recess, with subs) will be referred directly to the
principal/behavioral aide to be handled

27. Field Trips
• Zoo-Thursday, October 19
• California Science Center-Friday, December 1
• Descanso Gardens-Thursday, February 1 or 8
• Huntington Art Collections-January 31

28. Special Events
School-wide
• Move-a-thon
• Picture Days-fall and spring
• Halloween/Costume Parade
• Winter Performance
• Astronomy/STEM night
• Restaurant Nights
• Open House
• Valentine’s Day Bags
• Literacy Cafes
• Winter Lights
• Global?
• National Symbols?
• End of Year ice cream party

29. Parent Volunteer Team
Communication Liaison-remind.com, google calendar, sign-up
genius, google photos for photo sharing
Parent Information folders
Homework folders
Photographer/historian
Translations
During class: Special events, field trips
After class: Prepping for projects, displaying student work,
cleaning, sharpening pencils

30. Volunteer Requirements
• TB Test and volunteer form (in office)
• Sign in and wear badge
• Confidentiality of students
• No drop-ins
• Use office restroom
• No younger siblings
• Fingerprinting to be alone with students

31. Our Volunteers
Communication Liaisons:
Olishua McClain-Durham (Zymari) -reminders
Jenny Jakubiak (Jayden) –calendar, signups
Translation: Paula Gutierrez (Malena)
Photographer: Cynthia Ortiz (Makaio)
Desks & Pencils: Blanca Montes (Benjamin)/Eric
Stromvall (Siri)
Parent Folders: Margarita Mendoza (Isaac)
Homework Folders: Sandy Galassi (Mia)
Field Trips/Literacy Cafes: TBD

32. I don’t have time to come to school or
take home projects…
How else can I help?
• Join PTA/Fundraisers
• Daily student attendance (on time)
• Early bedtime (10-12 hours of sleep)
• Healthy breakfast and snacks for recess (wash hands)
• Talk to your child about their learning
• Read weekly updates
• Donations

33. Attendance
Absences
• Call school 626-396-5700
• Provide note for illness
• Keep your child home if he/she has a fever!
Tardies
• Students marked tardy after 7:50 am
• Get late slips in the office after 8:15
• Tardies disrupt & affect instruction
Transportation
• Parent drop off/pick-up-playground (rainy days-class)
• Provide written permission for pickup by non-parents

34. Miscellaneous
Uniforms
• Wear daily
• Close-toed shoes
• Label sweaters and jackets
Bathroom
• before school, recess, lunch, and after school
• medical exceptions
Snacks-send daily
• HEALTHY-no sweets, high protein
• NO NUTS
• NO SHARING (celiac)
• label containers and water bottles

35. Miscellaneous continued…
Lunch
• Daily (even minimum days)
• Free/reduced
• Check account balance
• Label containers
• NO NUTS/NO SHARING
Library Forms
• Needed for book checkout
Medication
• Prescription,
instructions, parent note
• Health office administers
Headphones
• Needed for Lexia and iready
Scholastic
• Order from catalogs sent home
every few months

36. Important Dates
Minimum Days
• 12/21
• 3/16
• 4/24 (Open House)
• 5/31 (Last Day)
Student Free Days
10/13-Parent Conferences
11/10-Veteran’s Day
11/20-11/24-Thanksgiving
12/22-1/5-Winter Recess
1/15-Martin Luther King
2/12-Lincoln
2/19-Presidents
3/19-3/23-Spring Recess
3/30-Staff Development
5/28-Memorial Day

37. Thank you for coming!
It’s going to be a fantastic year!