First Grade Syllabus
Mrs. Holtzclaw’s First Grade Syllabus 2017-2018
I. First Grade Program Goal
The first grade language arts program includes reading, writing, listening, speaking and research skills. The reading component includes phonics and comprehension skills. The writing program includes written comprehension, handwriting, grammar and spelling skills. Research skills help students use information from books, and technology.
Our focus in math is to learn and use basic facts and to understand math concepts. Students study patterns, relationships and functions, numbers and operations, probability and statistics, and geometry and measurements. Besides being proficient in basic skills, our goal is to have them become skillful problem-solvers.
Students complete inquiry-based units of instruction in science. Observing, classifying, measuring, inferring, predicting, and conducting investigations to learn science concepts is a major component of our program.
Students in first grade use a variety of process skills relating to history, government, geography, and economics. These include chronological thinking, organizing and explaining information, analyzing and interpreting data, conducting research, and communicating orally, graphically, socially, and in writing.
II. Grade Level Standards in Each Subject
See link http://www.scfriendlystandards.org/elementary1.htm
III. Units of Instruction Aligned with Standards
Writing
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
Write pieces that are:
-logical and edited for punctuation, spelling, and capitalization
Narrative Writing: (Small Moment Writing)
Opinion Writing: (Writing with what I know in mind)
Procedural Writing: (A How To Book )
Narrative Writing: (Fictional Stories)
Informational Writing (Writing books that teach)
Opinion Writing (Writing Persuasive Reviews)
English/Language Arts
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
Use language to write and speak effectively
-Listening
-Asking appropriate questions
-Following one and two step directions
-Matching pictures to words
-Matching spoken words to print
-Reading left to right, top to bottom
-Talking to express ideas clearly and purposefully
-Naming parts of a sentence
-Capitalization
-Punctuation
-Dictionary Skills
-ABC Order
-Base words with endings
-Verbs, nouns
-Giving directions
-Point of View
-Singing
-Role playing
-Comparing stories
-Rhyming Words
-Telling and retelling stories and a logical sequence
-Possessive pronouns
-Review 1st, 2nd, and 3rd nine weeks English skills
Reading
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
Journey’s Reading Series
Fountas and Pinnell Guided Reading Program
-Building Good Reading Habits
-Reading with What I Know in Mind
Reading to Compare and Contrast
-Becoming an Independent Reader
-Reading and Connecting Across Genres
Reading and Thinking About Authors
Math
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
Go Math! textbook by MacMillan McGraw Hill & Everyday Math Counts Calendar
-Getting Started Review
-Unit 1: Counting and Representing Numbers
-Unit 2: Addition to 20
-Unit 3: Measuring Length
-Unit 4: Subtraction to 20
-Unit 5:Digging into Data
-Unit 6: Equal Shares
-Unit 7: Relating addition to subtraction
-Unit 8: Place Value
-Unit 9: Time
-Unit 10: Adding 3 numbers
-Unit 11: Geometry
-Unit 12: Add and subtract with multiples of 10
-Unit 13: Adding within 100
-Unit 14: Money
Health
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
Harcourt Health and Fitness Series
Curriculum
-You Are Growing
-Being Safe at school
-Fire Safety
-Avoiding Danger
-Wonderful Food
-Keeping Active
-You Are Growing
-Being Safe
-Taking Care of Your Body
-Drug Awareness
-Your Teeth
-You Have Feelings
-Staying Well
-You Have Feelings
-Your Family
Social Studies
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
Houghton Mifflin Series
-Rules and Laws
-My Family Community and Me
-Families Here and Around the World
-Democracy Leaders at Work
-Map Skills and Natural Resources
-Making Economic Choices
Science
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
-Motion
-Sun and Moon
-Earth Materials
-Plants
IV. Instructional Materials and Resources
Language Arts:
Journeys Reading Series
Fountas and Pinnell Guided Reading
Project Read Handwriting
Writing Journals
Classroom Library
Title I books
Math: Macmillan Math Connects
Everyday Math Counts Calendar Math/Partner Games
Various Manipulatives
Science:
MacMillan/McGraw-Hill
District Science Kits
Social Studies:
Houghton-Mifflin Social Studies
Technology:
Promethean Boards
Dell Computers
Compass Learning
United Streamline Videos
Star Reading and Early Literacy Test
Guided Reading Benchmarks
Special Materials and Resources:
Materials such as videos, books, and CD’s that enhance a unit study will be obtained through the school media center or public library.
Curriculum guides/programs are obtained through the district and/or the instructional coach.
Additional materials are obtained through grant writing, Title I funds, a $275 stipend from the state, and personal funds.
V. Assessment/Evaluation of Student Progress
Math – Unit tests will be given upon completion of each unit along with teacher-made quizzes and quick checks Phonics – Weekly word wall tests Reading – reading benchmarks, running records and weekly student data checklist Science/Social Studies – quizzes and activities Homework: √ if complete – if incomplete
Portfolio: Per district requirement work samples will be used as a basis of each student’s evaluation. A portfolio containing work samples, anecdotal records, running records, checklists, etc. will be kept by the teacher. Many work samples will reflect curriculum integration and can be used when evaluating several content areas. The portfolio categories are as follows:
Reading
Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Grading System:
Teachers will have conferences with parents during the first quarter of the first grade to communicate the progress of the students.
Teacher will follow the district mandated report card system for first grade:
The following symbols are used to mark each standard on the report card. The report card is completed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters.
M
Exceeds Standard—independently uses/applies knowledge with little or no support; indicates unusually high achievement
P
Meets Standard—demonstrates grade expectations for concepts and skills; has achieved end-of-year goals for the grade level
P
Making Sufficient Progress—making progress toward achieving skills and learning end-of-year goals
N
Not Yet Making Progress—struggles to demonstrate progress; needs additional support/ extra review
Blank
Skill has not been assessed or introduced
VI. Home/School Connections
Parents are provided with suggestions and activities to support children’s learning in an on-going basis. Family members are invited to be part of our community of learners through a variety of ways that may include sharing special skills and talents relating to jobs or hobbies, serving as volunteers, assisting with field trips and special activities, collecting materials for classrooms, and attending school sponsored parent education workshops.
VII. Communication with Parents
Parents will have the opportunity to participate in parent conferences and are encouraged to call the school and/or send a note with questions and concerns. Each family receives:
- Classroom rules and procedures
- Student work samples
- Weekly newsletters describing class and school activities. This information is also included on the teacher’s website: https://sites.google.com/a/greenvilleschools.us/mrs-holtzclaw/home
VIII. Attendance and Tardy Policies
Every learning day is important. Regular prompt attendance helps students build a lifetime of good school habits. Families will be contacted when attendance or late arrival affects student learning.
IX. Building Responsible and Respectful Behavior
First grade goals include building self-discipline, respect for others, and developing individual responsibility. Clear and consistent expectations and routines provide a framework for responsible student behavior. Five simple classroom rules are developed with students in the first days of school. Individual and small group problem solving is used as the primary method for resolving conflicts. Students move their card: Green=All is Good Yellow=Warning Blue=5 minutes off recess Orange=Silent Lunch Red=Note Home.
A severe disruption will be a referral to the principal.
Rules:
- Respect others
- Keep hands and feet to self
- Raise your hand and wait to be called upon to talk
- Keep your desk and classroom clean
- Listen and follow directions
X. Procedures for Non-Instructional Routines
Homework Policy
Homework assignments will be given Monday – Thursday. Homework must be completed and given to the teacher at the beginning of each school day. Students who fail to complete homework assignments will not receive the incentive for showing responsibility. It is also your child’s responsibility to show you any notes from the school and bring back papers that need signed by the child’s parent/guardian. Please check your child’s homework folder every night. Parents are encouraged to supervise the completion of the child’s homework.
Procedures for Makeup Work
Provision for make-up of school work missed during excused absences will be worked out with the teacher at the earliest time possible, but should not exceed five school days after the student returns to school. Make up of schoolwork missed during unexcused absences may be approved only with permission of the principal after consultation with the teacher concerned.
1st Grade Morning Procedures
Arrival Time: 7:15 – 7:55 am (All students should be in class receiving instruction at 8:00am every day.)
Breakfast Students: Students eating breakfast should arrive between 7:15am and 7:40am.
Non-Breakfast Students: Students arriving before 7:45am wait in the designated first grade room until 7:45am. We ask that parents allow the children to gain a sense of independence and walk to class by themselves. We have adults in the hallways to make sure the children get to class safely.
Parent Communication
Parent will be contacted on a regular basis through notes, phone calls, and emails. Teachers will schedule a parent conference for the first nine weeks. First grade students will receive a report card the first, second, third, and fourth nine weeks of school.
Parents will receive a weekly newsletter from Mrs. Holtzclaw in the students’ Monday homework folder. Homework folders are to be returned daily.
Wednesday Green Folders will go home to be returned on Thursday with school wide important papers to be signed and returned or kept at home.
If you have any questions or concerns, you may send a note, email me, or call 355-2027. You will be contacted within 24 hours.
Procedure for Non-Instructional Routine
The class day will begin at 8:00a.m. Students entering class after 8:00 a.m. must have a tardy slip before being admitted to class. Students who have tardies will not be eligible for perfect attendance. Students must hang up their book bags and jackets, turn in homework, and sharpen pencils before class begins. Students will receive an early morning independent assignment to be completed before instruction begins at 8:00a.m. The class will listen to daily announcements on the intercom at 8:00. (Class attendance will be completed on the computer at this time.)
Students are allowed to use the bathroom at any time during the day. However, only one student is allowed in the bathroom at any given time.
At lunchtime, students are lined up according to their lunch choices. Students put in their own number as they go through the lunchroom line. Students are expected to have a silent lunch for the first ten minutes. Then they may talk quietly to friends around them.
Homework preparation and daily review is done at the end of the day. Dismissal is at 2:30 p.m. Students are lined up as follows: afterschool program in gym, bus riders, day care riders, walkers, and car riders. Designated faculty members take students to designated areas. Car riders wait in the cafeteria for their car numbers to be called then walk out to the front of the school to look for their car.
Parents are encouraged to join PTA for their child’s class. Membership is $5.00.