All About First Grade

Ms. Petrice UssiaUssia’s Ultimate Learners

“A person’s a person no matter how small.” -Seuss

Ms. Petrice Ussia

ExperienceI have been teaching in the Baldwin Whitehall School District for 26 years. Primary grades K-2 have been my focus here.

Teaching PhilosophyI am a constructivist teacher. I believe the only way for young learners to learn at this age is through active engagement and motivation. Data drives my instruction so that I can monitor and adjust it when necessary. I utilize differentiated instruction suitable for any learner and create a positive workshop classroom culture.

Parent Communication

•Weekly Newsletters, Classroom website•BWSD Email: pussia@bwschools.net•Phone: 412 714 2020 voicemail: 6020

BEST TIME to reach me whenever I can talk privately is from 9:30 -10:00am.FEEL free to phone me anytime so we can work through your specific concerns together.

•Website: www.ussiasultimates.weebly.com

Skyward System

• Please enter/update your email address ASAP.

• I send Skylert Email messages out about MES, and Classroom Events

• Interims, Report Cards

Classroom Rules

• I will challenge myself to be a super learner today.• I am responsible because I listen and stay to task.• I will raise my hand, or wait with manners.• I will get along by using kind words and manners.• I will act in a caring way to my teacher and my friends.• I will make good choices today, but if I don’t I will learn

from it.

Our Daily Schedule

9:05 - 9:15 Homeroom, Lunch Sign Up, Breakfast9:20 - 10:00 Encore Special Class10:00 - 10:30 Phonics Teacher Groups, CENTER TIME10:30 - 11:20 Storytown Whole Group Story Skills11:20 - 11:50 Reading Practice Teacher Groups, CENTER TIME11:50 - 12:35 Calendar Math, Investigations Math

12:40 - 1:30 Lunch/Recess

1:30-2:20 Storytown Language Arts Practice Pages2:20-2:50 Math Workshop2:50 - 3:20 Science or Social Studies3:35 Dismissal

Our Special Classes Days 1-6

DAY 1 ART MUSIC DAY 2 ART MUSIC DAY 3 COMPUTER LAB DAY 4 LIBRARY DAY 5 PE DAY 6 PE

Behavior Management

When students make great choices all week and end up on the OUTSTANDING STEP on our Behavior Ladder everyday during the week then they may take a prize pick from our treasure chest on Friday.

An alternative to a tangible rewards will be SEUSSTASTIC STUDENT TICKETS. If students choose this instead that Monday they can bring in a stuffed animal/toy from home to share, teach or show us something they know how to do, tell us jokes or sit a the teacher’s desk during our end of the FREE CHOICE TIME.

Storytown Grade 1 English, Language Arts

Storytown Instructional Domains:•Phonics•Vocabulary •Fluency•Comprehension•Language Skills

Weekly Story Lesson Design:•Focus Skills, Strategies •Robust Vocabulary •Core Literature story, Companion story•Metacognition Comprehension Strategies: Before, During, After Reading “TEACHER THINK ALOUDS”: Connections: Text to Text, Text To Self, Text to World Predictions, Retelling, Beginning, Middle, End story mapping

Storytown GRADE 1 ELA: Phonics, Vocabulary

Phonics PHONEMIC Awareness Components of Instruction:•Connect Letter to Sounds•Word Blending •Word Building•Letter Sound Correspondences•Spelling words•Decodable Text practice

Robust Vocabulary Components of Instruction:•Student friendly explanations•Word associations•Use of new words in context orally

Storytown Grade 1 ILA: READING FLUENCY

Fluency Instruction:•Phrasing, Accuracy•Pace, Rate•Expression, Intonation

Fluency is Modeled and Practiced Using:•Read-Alouds, Leveled Readers•Partner Reading, Echo Reading•Choral, Repeated Readings•Readers’ Theatre, Taped Readings

Oral Reading Fluency GRADE: Begins STORY 12GROWTH is a PROCESS throughout the year.•SCORED according to Scales for ORF Reading passages•Approx. 60 – 80 WPM END OF YEAR * Exceptions for Title 1 students

Storytown ILA Grade 1: Comprehension

Comprehension Instruction Components: Understand, Remember, Communicate: About what they read Before, During, After Reading Strategies

•Comprehension Focus Strategy ex. Retelling•Genre Study ex. Fantasy•Graphic Organizers ex. Main Idea•Think Critically Questions•Connect, Compare Texts •Monitor Comprehension•Think Alouds•Writing Connection Writing Process

Storytown ELA Grade 1: Daily Instruction

Gradual Release Language Arts Workshop Model

1. Whole Group: Core Skills all students

Core Story Skills: Phonics/Spelling, Comprehension, Robust Vocabulary, Fluency, Sight words 11:20

2. Small Flexible Reading Groups: Specific Skills some students

Exist during two Reading Intervention times throughout our day. 10:00, 11:50Skills focused on: STAR SKILLS, Leveled Oral Reading Fluency, Sight word Practice (4 groups pulled per day) This occurs during Center Time.

3. LITERACY WORKSHOP: CENTER ACTIVITIES 10:00, 11:50Word Work Center, Writing Center, Listening IPAD Center, Buddy Reading Center

Storytown ELA Grade 1: Assessment

Story Tests, Spelling Tests * TEST DATE given in Newsletter

1. Spelling: 10 Assigned list words are orally dictated to the students. 1 Spelling sentence is also orally dictated. Mechanics and Punctuation counts.

2. Language Arts Test: Fall: Entire Test is read to the students . Winter: Robust Vocabulary, Comprehension sections only.

Spring: Robust Vocabulary section only.

3. Handwriting Grade: ( Taken from Last page of Story TEST )

Required to give an illustration and sentence response to current story being tested, using correct mechanics. (capital and a period)

*Exceptions given to Title 1 Reading students. ONLINE TEXT is OPTIONAL

Differentiated Spelling Curriculum Weekly Procedure:

1.Spelling Pretest 2.Assigned a Word List based on PRETEST Score: -0 ,100% Spell all words correctly = Challenge List (Above)Score: -1, -2^ Spell 1 or more incorrectly = Core List (On)

3. Practice Assigned List in school and at home.4.Spelling Posttest

Grading:Core List Only Post Test grade is recorded; not Pretest.Challenge: Post Test recorded as Extra points, since

already received 100% on Pretest

Storytown ILA Grade 1: Spelling

Handwriting

Letter Formation, Line Control Grading begins with Story 5 !

Focus:•Neatness, Correctness (Letter Formation)•Size and Spacing (Line Control)

Grades: Individual•1. Samples•2. Written Response Section of Weekly Tests (Last page of the Story Test)

•Scoring: Rubric UP TO 1 - 4 points possible for Neatness, Correctness UP TO 1- 4 points possible for Size, Spacing

Handwriting Scoring Rubric

4 3 2 1

Letter Formation Each letter is formed correctly.

All but 1 letter is formed correctly.

80% of the letters are formed correctly.

50% of the letters are formed correctly.

Size All letters have a uniform size.

All letters have a uniform size with 1-3

exceptions.

All letters have a uniform size with 4-6

exceptions.

Size varies from letter to letter.

Relationship To Line and Spacing

All letters are located correctly in relationship to

the lines.

The size of 1-3 letters is slightly larger or smaller than the space allowed

by the line.

The size of 4-6 letters is slightly larger or

smaller than the space allowed by the line.

The size of more than 6 letters is slightly

larger or smaller than the space allowed by

the line.

Pearson ENVISION Math

TOPIC CHAPTERS•Addition, Subtraction To 10, 20 : Using Strategies and Equations That Develop Fluency•Representing and Interpreting Data•Extending Counting Sequences•Understanding Place Value•Comparing Two Digit Numbers•Use Models to Add, Subtract to Add, Subtract Tens, Ones•Measuring Lengths•Time•Reasoning With Shapes; Equal Shares of Shapes

•TECHNOLOGY: Assignments from website for HW

Pearson SF Math

Grade 1 MATH Investigations Instructional Procedure :

•Math meeting as a Whole group. •A Math strategy concept is presented as an activity requiring further practice with a partner.•Students debrief, meet again as a Whole group and engage in a “Math Talk” session about the activity. •Teacher teaches concept using textbook pages that are guided and independent.

Grades: Written and Performance Based Assessments

Rocketship Math Facts Practice will be used in class for mastery of Addition, Subtraction facts this year.

Math CENTER Games: during daily MATH Intervention Time

Writer’s Workshop

Phonetic Writing Model:Asks students to write phonetically called “inventive spellings” which

enhances their reading ability as well as their writing skills.

•Teacher engages learners in discussion about the concept they will be writing about. •Then learners participate in a “Writer’s Workshop Activity”.•Then learners debrief and share their “writings of the day” in the “AUTHOR’S CHAIR”.

ASSET Science

Instructional Procedure: F.E.R.A. Model

Focus Focus on Science concept with a QUESTION and new vocabulary.

Explore Use kit materials for activity to explore concept.

Reflect Debrief to discuss, reflect on learning outcomes.

Apply Use SCIENCE NOTEBOOKS to apply new learning.

ASSET Science

Weather Engineering Activities

•Projects: Wind Flags, Wind Mills, Rain Gauges•Observation/Exploration Activities: Evaporation, Anemometers, Thermometers, Wind Walk Record daily weather data using Math tallies and graphs.

Living Organisms

•Projects: Design habitats for goldfish, beetles, pill bugs and snails. •Observation/Exploration Activities: Illustrate and learn about body structures of these organisms and how they use them to live in habitats constructed by the students.

Life Studies: TCI

Social Studies Units of Study:

•About Me• Families, Communities• Families of Other Cultures• School Long Ago• Holidays, Traditions

•Activity based: Voting, Friendship Interviews

Grade 1 Report Card Indicators

Homeroom: Citizenship BehaviorsEE EM MP NI

•Completes assignments•Age appropriate behavior•Demonstrates effort•Follows directions•Organizes materials•Participates •Shows respect •Speaks appropriately •Uses time effectively

Grade 1 Report Card Indicators

Integrated Language Arts: Reading, Spelling, Grammar, Fluency, Writing, Comprehension

ADV PROF SAT NI•Identifies, Applies Grammar skills, strategies•Reads with Understanding•Applies Phonics skills•Applies Phonics strategies•Recognizes High frequency words, Recognizes High frequency words, Reads with Accuracy, Comprehension•Applies weekly Reading skills, strategies •Learns Robust vocabulary•Applies Language mechanics •Expresses ideas clearly in written tasks•Identifies, Applies Assigned words

Grade 1 Report Card Indicators

Math: ADV PROF SAT NI

•Applies Concepts•Solving Problems using basic operations•Demonstrates Math orally and in writing•Works accurately

RUBRICS with possible points are used this year forgrades taken from Performance Assessment pages.

Grade 1 Report Card Indicators

ADV PROF SAT NILife Studies: •Applies Concepts in daily work•Applies knowledge on Assessments

Science:•Applies basic Science concepts•Demonstrates understanding of concepts through Notebooking process•Notebooks graded using a RUBRIC with actual/possible points expectations for completion. ( Table Of Contents, Neatness )

Grade 1 Report Card Indicators

ADV PROF SAT NIHandwriting: •Uses proper size and spacing•Forms letters accurately and correctly

Writing:•Conveys meaning through writing•Meets grade level expectations in assigned tasks•Applies language mechanics (punctuation, capitalization)

Parent Involvement

MYSTERY READER

SPECIAL SEASONAL CENTER DAYS (Announce through SKYWARD)

Holiday PTO Parties: Our head HR Mother will send home PTO info and contact you.

Homework

1.Story Study Guides will be our weekly homework this year. The guides contain Spelling list words, Phonics, Comprehension Focus and Grammar skills on a practice sheet. Posted on the Parent’s page at our classroom website.

2. Math practice pages

No homework is graded.

Field Trips

Please return Permission slips.I draw names for volunteers.Please be on time for school that morning.Children don’t need money or a camera.Please wear comfy clothes, bring a jacket.

Classroom Contact Log

NO Invitations will be passed out in classNO Invitations will be passed out in class..

Classroom Contact LogClassroom Contact Log::Names and addresses can be added voluntarily to our “Ultimates Ultimates Class Directory” Class Directory” that will be sent home for you to jointhat will be sent home for you to join. If you join the directory, you will receive a copy of it.

Birthday Celebrations:Birthday Celebrations:Please send OPTIONAL erasers or pencils instead of food treats this year.

Reminders:•CHANGES to GOING HOME ROUTINE: Please email me and provide a note for me to send to our Office.

•NEW ATTENDANCE POLICY / EXCUSES: Excuse WITHIN 3 DAYS or it AUTOMATICALLY ABSENT. You could receive a HABITUAL TRUANCY LETTER if too many days are missed now.•Cafeteria Accounts now available online. •Sending in MONEY: Please only send in money on requested days, since I cannot be responsible if it is taken.•Please do not send in toys from home. Unless your child is STUDENT of the WEEK.•BREAKFAST: Please give permission if they are allowed to go or not.•Grade 2 Whitehall Orientation is in May. We just visit a Grade 2 class.

•PARTIES: Please sign up to volunteer for our PTO MES Parties with our Rm.143 Head Homeroom PTO Parent. Only those parents who are signed up can come in now that day due to security. Our 143 Head PTO Mom will email me the Parent Volunteer Names List the day before a party that I must forward to the Office so on Party day volunteers can be checked in.

Thank you so much for coming!

We will have a great year!

Thank you ! Ms. Ussia