Maestra Silk welcomes students and parents back to the 2018-2019 school year at Jackson STEM Dual Language Magnet Academy. She provides an overview of her background and teaching experience, as well as details about the dual language immersion program, curriculum, assessments, homework, field trips, volunteer opportunities, attendance policies, and important dates for the school year. Parents are encouraged to contact Maestra Silk with any questions or concerns and sign up for reminder texts by texting @maestrasil to 81010.

1. Welcome Back to School!
2018-2019
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 16
month old son 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 16 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
•4 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 12, 8, 22
– Handwritten notes
-Scheduled appointments
– Thursday folders-student work/feedback
School/district
– Phone calls
– Fliers in Thursday folders
– Jackson/PUSD websites
– Facebook

7. 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.

8. 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

9. Spanish Language Arts
•Reading-narrative/informational
-Key details/retelling
-Comparing texts
-Text features
–Blending syllables/reading fluently
•Writing
–Narrative, informational, and opinion pieces
•Speaking & Listening
–Follow directions, take turns, complete sentences
–Presentations

10. 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

11. 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 on report card

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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)

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

17. “Specials”
•Music-Thursday mornings at 8am in
the auditorium
•Art-integrated, not on a schedule
•PE-usually Tuesday, Wednesday, and
Friday mornings (exceptions-
assemblies, field trips, rainy days)

18. STEM
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
•Science lab
•Cooking/Gardening
•Library
•Technology
–Lexia
–iReady
–ST Math
–Raz-kids

19. Formal Assessments
• Language Arts
– Informal Reading Inventory-3 x/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 by Friday

20. 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!)

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

22. Positive Behavior Plan
– Rainbow: Students move up and earn points
– 20 points=pencil
– 30 points=lunch 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, attendance-10 extra points per
perfect month

23. 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

24. Field Trips-$$$
• California Science Center-Thurs, 10/18
• Huntington Art Collections-TBD
• Beckmann Hall-Cal Tech-Play-Fri, 12/7
• Descanso Gardens?
• Autry Museum?
*May need $20-30 donation for buses

25. Special Events
School-wide
• Move-a-thon
• Picture Days
• Halloween/Costume Parade
• Winter Performance
• Winter Carnival
• Astronomy/STEM night
• Restaurant Nights
• Open House
• Pumpkin Extravaganza
• Valentine’s Day Bags
• 100th Day
• Literacy Cafes
• Winter Lights
• Global
• End of Year ice cream party

26. Parent Volunteer Team
Room Parent-networking, signup genius-Catherine Zlab
Parent Information folders-Catherine Zlab
Homework folders-Catherine Zlab
Photographer/historian-google photos-?
Translations-Glendy Orantes
During class: Special events, field trips
After class: Prepping for projects, displaying student work,
cleaning (Michelle Beilner), sharpening pencils, separating
Scholastic fliers

27. 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

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

29. 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)
• Notify office for pickup by non-parents

30. 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
• label containers and water bottles

31. Miscellaneous continued…
Medication
• Prescription,
instructions, parent note
• Health office administers
Headphones
• Needed for Lexia, iready, and Raz-
kids
Scholastic
• Order from catalogs sent home
every few months

32. Important Dates
Minimum Days
• 12/21
• 3/15
• 5/2 (Open House)
• 5/30 (Last Day)
Student Free Days
10/12-Parent Conferences
11/12-Veteran’s Day
11/19-11/23-Thanksgiving
12/21-1/7-Winter Recess
1/14-Martin Luther King
2/11-Lincoln
2/18-Presidents
3/18-3/22-Spring Recess
3/29-Staff Development
5/27-Memorial Day

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

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