This document provides an overview of the curriculum for first grade students for the 2011-2012 school year. It includes information about language arts, math, science, social studies, health, and important upcoming events. Parents are encouraged to visit the class blog regularly for updates and announcements. The ice cream social is scheduled for September 22nd from 6-8pm in the school cafeteria.

1. Welcome to First Grade!Back to School Night2011-2012

2. Visit our blog! Please visit the First Grade Blog regularly for important information!weekly curriculum updatesimportant upcoming eventsgrade level announcementswww.craddock1.blogspot.com

3. Language ArtsShared ReadingAnthology books (whole class) with “Story of the Week”

4. Mini skills are taught with each story

5. Weekly end-of-selection tests (sent home each week)

6. End-of-Unit benchmark tests (5 units)Guided ReadingIn guided reading, your child will work at their instructional reading level. Each teacher incorporates many different reading activities throughout the day to help your child become a successful reader! Incorporating phonemic awareness lessons

7. Book n’ Bags/Reading Bags

8. Weekly reading logs-please sign and return every MONDAY!

9. 5 Finger Strategies – see next slide for strategies

10. Nightly reading is critical to your child’s reading success!Sight Word Practice100 word list-automatic recognition

11. Helps with reading fluencyFive Finger StrategiesWhat are the 5 Finger Strategies?Look at the pictures!Get your lips ready to make the beginning sound of the word.Skip the word and go back to reread to see what would make sense.4.Is there a part of the word that you know (ex: and in candy)?Take a guess. Fill it in with something that makes sense!NOTE: Please reinforce these strategies at home while you read with your child every night. Thank you!

12. Sitton/Word Study ProgramThe Sitton Spelling program focuses on spelling features and incorporating correct spelling when writing. The focus is on strategies, not short-term memorization. First Grade No Excuse WordsBy the end of first grade, the children are expected to accurately spell the first grade list of 35 No Excuse Words. New words will be introduced throughout each unit and assessed as well. “Brave Spelling”When they are trying to spell a word they don’t know, rather than supplying the word for them (with the exception of no excuse words/sight words), we tell them to “be brave” and try it on their own writing all the sounds they hear. This encourages them to take risks with their writing and prevents them from developing a fear of writing because they don’t know how to spell every word correctly. Starting the second grading period, short word study tests will be administered-the children will NOT study these words at home! They will be applying the skills they have learned and take these tests independently. More info. to come before the start of the second grading period!- By the end of first grade, we expect the children to correctly spell the following word patterns:All short vowels: a, e, i, o, u