What about reading?

Reading is a huge emphasis for us this year. Students are tracked in reading according to their guided reading level. Our goal is to be at levels 5-6 by November, 10 - 12 by January, and level 16 or higher by the end of the year.

PLEASE VISIT OUR SCHOOL WEBSITE AT WWW.ISD317.ORG

Stay up to date!
Weekly information can be found in your childs Tuesday folder and on our school/ class website. Please check your childs folder weekly and our website frequently. Special projects and student work will be posted onto our website. You will also nd helpful information and links for students and families. -------------------------------

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What are Dolch Sight Words?

These are the most frequently used words in our reading. There are 220 words students are expected to know by the end of rst grade. Lists will be sent home with your child to practice as they progress through each list.

King Pride - focuses

around building a positive school climate and the reduction of problem behavior. Safety, respect, responsibility, humility, honesty, love/friendship, wisdom, truth and courage will be modeled and taught throughout the year. As students are recognized for showing King Pride at school, it is an important concept that doesnt end at 3:00. Students are also encouraged to show pride at home and in the community. More information about King Pride can be found on the King Elementary website.

How about uency?

Your child should be able to read 25 words per minute by midyear and 55-60 by years end. To achieve this we need your help! Please read to or with your child for 15 - 20 minutes every night. Help them with their sounds, learning basic sight words, and any books they take home from school to read. One of the best strategies to help with this is for you to model to your child how a uent reader sounds and have them do several rereadings of the same text. This could be a sentence, paragraph or book.

WELCOME TO

FIRST GRADE
King Elementary School 2013-2014

Mrs. Georgia Bjerk First Grade Teacher 246-8860 Ext. 425

gbjerk@isd317.org

What school supplies do I need?

Backpack No. 2 pencils (1 package) Crayons-24 count (2 boxes) Markers (optional) Watercolor paints (optional) Glue sticks (6) Composition Notebook Pencil box Notebooks (3) Post-It notes (optional) Box of Kleenex (optional) Antibacterial Wipes (optional) 1 Pringles can with lid (for Christmas project Gym shoes (to be kept at school)

Progress Reports are sent home at conferences in Nov., Feb., and at the end of the year.

What about technology?

First Grade is part of an iPad initiative in the Deer River School District. Each rst grade classroom has an iPad for every two students. We also have an iPod cart and a COW (computer on wheels) we bring into the classroom for students to work with.

Reading Recovery, EIR and Americorps are 3 different types of reading interventions offered to rst graders in addition to their regular reading instruction. Reading Recovery is a one to one program that lasts 30 minutes every day for 12 - 20 weeks with a reading teacher. EIR (Early Interventions in Reading) is set up for a small group of students (2-4) to meet 20 - 25 minutes with the regular classroom teacher for additional reading instruction. Americorp is a one to one program that focuses on uency and decoding skills with a trained Americorps tutor.

Why use technology in the classroom? Our goals are to:

1. Raise student achievement through individualized learning experiences. 2. Increase student engagement and excitement for learning. 3. Equip students with collaboration, creativity and critical thinking skills 4. Encourage students to communicate locally and globally. ___________________________________________

What about math?

Welcome to First Grade! I am excited to be your childs teacher this year. This brochure is to help provide answers to questions you may have concerning our classroom, communication, and expectations. Please feel free to contact me for further information.
We use a variety of approaches and strategies to help students build solid foundational skills and problem solving strategies. In class you will see instruction taught whole group, small group, and one on one, To demonstrate knowledge and understanding students will use math manipulatives, technology, and some worksheets working independently and/or in small groups. Our goal is to help students make connections and see the relationship between numbers and concepts and empower them to see how they can use what they know and have learned to help them gure out what they dont know.

Is there homework in rst grade?

There is not a large amount of homework in rst grade, however, you can expect to see spelling words, word lists to practice reading, and books to read together. Students may also have an occasional math paper to complete and return the next day. As we study a unit in class, students are often asked to nd facts about that topic and bring that information back to class to share. Check your childs Tuesday folder, our class website, or feel free to contact me if you are ever uncertain what your child needs to do. As a general rule, if it is sent home they should do it. Reading to your child and listening to your child read 15-20 minutes a day is the most benecial form of homework. Thanks for your help and support.

School email: gbjerk@isd317.org School Phone: 246.8860 Ext. 425 Class website: See http:// www.isd317.org Scroll under King School to First Grade to Mrs. Bjerk