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Homework Policy

Students will be given homework nightly.  Students are required to copy homework assignments in their agendas each day.  Please look in your child’s agenda for homework assignments and check to make sure they have completed each assignment!

Each student will also be given a Homework Folder and should bring homework home in the folder every day it is assigned.  Please look in your child’s Homework Folder each day for work that was completed at school and homework assignments.  Failure to turn in a homework assignment will result in completing the assignment at home the following night. Homework is a very important part of learning!  Encourage your child to do his/her best work every day!

Agenda Information

This year each student will have a Chukker Creek Elementary Agenda that will be brought back and forth each day to school.  This Agenda will allow for an open line of communication between school and home.  After you have checked both your child’s homework folder and his/her Agenda, please initial in on the right side of the agenda for that date.  I will be checking your child’s homework folder and Agenda daily.  Feel free to write comments or questions on the right side of the agenda. Any transportation changes please write a note in the agenda.  Any notes about behavior or discipline will be written or clipped to your child’s Agenda when needed.

Reading/Writing

This year we will be using the Aiken County Workshop model for reading and writing instruction in our classroom.  This allows for students to be taught reading at their independent reading level and allows for flexible small grouping instruction.  Students will work each week on reading and writing skills taught in class.  They will practice these skills independently and with a partner, while also meeting in small groups or one-on-one with the classroom teacher.  Students will be held accountable for their work by conferring with the teacher during the week.  Students are expected to practice skills they learn in class and apply that knowledge each week as they read and write texts designed to supplement the classroom instruction.  Using the workshop model, your student will be able to choose what they want to read and write, talk about what they read and write with other students, read and write a variety of texts and learn to make sure they understand what they are reading and writing.

These skills will be tested in a variety of ways.  At the beginning of the school year, oral tests will be given to assess weekly sight word lists and reading fluency.  Assessments will change over the course of the year as students gain sight word knowledge and fluency.  Our goal is to move towards a "cold comprehension" assessment that students will be required to read independently and answer questions for a test grade.  

We will be introducing sight words each week to increase your child’s sight word fluency.  Students will be responsible for five words each week that are taught and reviewed daily. Students will be tested on these words and are responsible for reading them not only in isolation, but in phrases and short stories. These words will be found in your child’s agenda or homework Folder/notebook.

Spelling

We use our Fundations phonics program to teach phonetic spelling patterns. Spelling tests or Fundations Unit tests will be given each week and count as a spelling grade. Information is sent home at the beginning of each new Fundations unit. Please look over this information each unit (most units are 2-3 weeks) for ways that you can help your child practice at home!

Math

We will be using Big Ideas Math this year for math instruction.  Math instruction will take place each day and your child will have homework from his/her math workbook each night.  Math skills will be tested weekly as needed.

In order to help your child succeed in first grade math, I request that they begin to memorize addition and subtraction facts to 20.  An easy way to help your child is to go buy a set of flashcards to use at home.  You can find them at any discount store (Wal-mart, Target, Dollar Tree, etc.) and they will be invaluable in helping your child learn his/her math facts.  There are also great apps for Smartphones that you can download to help your child practice.  

Science and Social Studies

We will be using the Aiken County Public School curriculum maps for Science and Social Studies instruction.  Science and Social Studies will be taught in units to address the first grade state standards.  Units will consist of hands-on activities and projects so that students are fully engaged in learning.