Ms. Keri Matus Room 104
Mrs. Kim Yablonski Room 106
Ms. Leah Senneway Room 105
First Graders visit Asbury Heights!
The first grade from Jefferson Elementary visited the "Grandfriends" at Asbury Heights on Wednesday, May 21st. They participated in helping the Grandfriends to plant flowers in pots which were painted and decorated to add cheer this Spring. The first grade from Jefferson does this annually and also participates in making Valentines for the Grandfriends on Valentine's Day.
 LANGUAGE ARTS
The reading series used in the first grade at Jefferson Elementary is Harcourt Trophies. The themes for the year follow:
1-1 Guess Who?
1-2 Catch a Dream
1-3 Here and There
1-4 Together Time
1-5 Gather Around
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Oral Language
--Sharing Literature
--Phonemic Awareness |
Word Work
--Phonics
--Spelling
--High Frequency Words
--Vocabulary |
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Reading
--Comprehension
--Fluency
--Independent Reading |
Language Arts
--Writing
--Grammar |
 WRITERS WORKSHOP
The Writers Workshop is for 60 minutes each day and the time is arranged as follows: -Mini-Lesson (7--10 minutes) -Work Time (35-45 minutes) Children work on planning, drafting, revising, editing, conferencing, and publishing. The teacher works on conferencing and ad hoc group needs. -Author chair (5-10 minutes)Selected students share their work and peers make comments about the work and its relationship to the elements of the standards.
 MATH HOUGHTON MIFFLIN MATH CENTRAL
First grade is using the Houghton Mifflin Math Central Series which includes one consumable text book and reteaching, practice and enrichment worksheets. We have a wonderful set of math manipulative for each child. Problem solving skills are explored in every chapter along with a group investigation. There is also a theme that runs through every chapter to help us connect what we learn about math with the real world.
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NUMBERS THROUGH TWELVE Theme: "Starting School"
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ADDITION FACTS THROUGH 6 Theme: "Places We Know Names for Numbers"
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SUBTRACTION FACTS THROUGH 6 Theme: "Outdoor Fun"
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ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION FACTS THROUGH 10 Theme: "Sea Creatures"
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PLACE VALUE THROUGH 100 Theme: "Our Favorite Things"
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TIME AND MONEY Theme: "Stores and Jobs."
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ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION FACTS THROUGH 12. Theme: "Good Things to Eat."
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GEOMETRY AND FRACTIONS Theme: "Shapes Around Us."
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ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION FACTS THROUGH 20 Theme: "Animals, Animals."
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MEASUREMENT Theme: "Our Environment."
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READINESS FOR MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION Theme: "Fun with Friends."
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ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF 2-DIGIT NUMBERS Theme: "Sports and Games."
At the end of each chapter there will be a test given to evaluate the student's understanding of the concepts taught.
 SOCIAL LIVING-SOCIAL STUDIES
Our social living is integrated throughout our curriculum. One part of it includes various seasonal activities. Another part is reading and discussing topics in the children-based publication, Scholastic News. However, the major component of social living is social studies.
Graphic Learning Integrated Social Studies or GLISS is Mt. Lebanon's social studies program. The GLISS program focuses content selection and instruction around seven conceptual themes for thinking about and studying human beings as they live in the social groups and carry out human activities. The following are the seven themes:
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Change
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Citizenship
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Conflict
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Culture
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Interdependence
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Scarcity
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Spatial Relations
The focus for the first grade is FAMILIES.
 HEARTWOOD--CHARACTER EDUCATION
Our character education program is a part of our social living curriculum. Children are given non-threatening, reflective opportunities to discuss appropriate behavior and a chance to strengthen their "character." Children's literature is used to illustrate the personal qualities of the following attributes:
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RESPECT
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HONESTY
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LOVE
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JUSTICE
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COURAGE
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LOYALTY
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HOPE
Each quality is presented through a book, many of which are Caldecott Award book and the best-loved tales from other cultures throughout the world. The quality literature addresses problems found in all cultures with solutions that children can respond to and understand.
The program's motto, Head-Heart-and Hand illustrates the three parts of important decision-making that students are encouraged to know. For example, the feeling in our hearts and knowledge in our heads, directs our actions (hands)to do the right thing.
 SCIENCE
The first grade science program is another part of social living. Science is an everyday occurrence--a process of study and observation. Students are encouraged to do the following:
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To think about what they already know
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To generate their own questions
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To observe
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To think about their observations
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To apply their observations to everyday situations
The two main components of the Science Curriculum...
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Addison-Wesley
The first grade uses a "big book" as one of the teaching tools in this program. The book is divided into four sections of science as described below:
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Life--plants and animals
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Physical--comparing, measuring, machines, and sound
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Earth--rocks, soil, sun, and stars
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Health--"You are Special," senses
2. ASSET PROGRAM (ALLEGHENY SCHOOLS SCIENCE EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY)
The ASSET program is developed with the help of the Bayer Corportation. It is based on the FERA learning concept (FOCUS-EXPLORE-REFLECT-APPLY). The following first grade modules are very hands-on.
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 LIFE CYCLE OF THE BUTTERFLY--Students observe the life cycle of the Painted Lady Butterfly (caterpillar to chrysalis)
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COMPARING AND MEASURING--Includes hands-on activities for expanding the students awareness of comparing and measuring.
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CLASSROOM INFORMATION
 TREATS
First graders love to have treats for birthdays. We ask that if you send in a treat of any kind for a birthday celebration or holiday party, that you only send in NUT FREE snacks. We need to be aware and careful of any allergies to nuts and all food allergies. Please be aware that some snack foods are cooked in peanut oil. Also, plain M&M's are coated in the same vat as peanut M&M's. It is a good idea to read the package labels. When possible, leave labels on the treat or let us know that your homemade treat is nut free. If you send in a treat that does have nuts in it, we will be unable to pass out that treat to the students.
Treats should remain as simple as possible. Cookies, brownies, and cupcakes are the easiest for simple and even portions. No drinks are needed.
We appreciate your cooperation on this matter!
 COLD WEATHER
It is a good idea to send in an extra sweater or sweatshirt to keep in your child's locker. Dressing in layers is also a good idea, especially when the difference in outdoor and indoor temperatures makes wardrobe selection difficult. An extra pair of socks tucked away in your child's locker or backpack can also come in handy when wet, slushy weather occurs.
Please dress your child appropriately on cold and snowy days. The children will be going out for recess in the morning and afternoon as well as thirty minutes at lunchtime. They will need to wear a warm coat, boots, hat, and gloves.
First Grade Special Schedule FOR 2008-09
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MONDAY |
MUSIC |
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TUESDAY |
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WEDNESDAY |
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THURSDAY |
LIBRARY |
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FRIDAY |
MUSIC |
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