Welcome to 1st Grade at CBA
Mrs. Seabrook's Class
First Grade is Fantastic for so many reasons! Check out why below:
About the Teacher: Mrs. Seabrook
- I grew up in Cape May, New Jersey. I currently live in West Chester with my husband and my dog, Koby. We love cooking, exploring the area, traveling to new places and spending time at the beach in the summer.
- I graduated in 2011 with a degree in Elementary Education from Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and have taught Kindergarten in local public schools. I am so excited to start my first year at Chesterbrook Academy in First Grade!
A day in the life of a First Grader!
- Morning Meeting
- 2 hours of Language Arts (Reading, Phonics, Writing Workshop)
- 1 hour of Math
- Recess, Lunch
- Independent Reading, Read Aloud
- 1 hour of STEMScopes/Social Studies
- Specialty Classes
- End of day meeting, pack up
- Dismissal, After Care
Communication
- First in Math information
- Important dates
- Classroom updates
- Pictures and videos
- Checked daily during specials and after school
- Urgent matters should not be emailed. Please call the school
- Pictures, videos and school updates posted daily
- Weekly News email sent every Friday
How we keep safe in our school and classrooms:
We wear a mask to keep our ourselves, friends and teachers safe!
We wash our hands and use hand sanitizer at least 5 -10 times a day to stop spreading our germs!
We keep our distance from our friends to keep safe!
Class Dojo Program to promote our classroom community
- Focuses on positive qualities such as accountability, responsibility, effort and persistence
- Helps students grow by sharing regular positive feedback on a daily basis
- Allows goal setting as a class
Seesaw Digital Portfolio
- Seesaw is a digital portfolio where students can explain their thinking and then share collaboratively with their classmates, teachers, and parents.
- All parents should sign up to see their child's work.
- QR codes were sent home earlier this week please let us know if you need another copy.
Tadpoles
- Sign In/Out each day with personal pin
- Reminders and updates will be emailed out to you!
- Pictures may also be shared
What to Look Foward to This Year...
- 21st century learning
- Giving Without Walls community Outreach
- Stemscopes
- Daily Technology Integration
- Project Based Learning
- Experiential Learning
- Customization
- Writing Workshop
- Word Study
- Leading Lion
- Teacher for a Day
21st Century Learning
- Interactive projects
- Experiential learning
- Personal Learning Plans (PLP)
- Giving Without Walls and community service
- IReady as part of the Language Arts
- First in Math
- iPads utilized daily
- STEMscopes
Virtual Experiential Learning-Field Trips
- The National Liberty Museum and Liberty Bell
- Chester County Historical Society to learn about colonial life
- Science virtual trip
- Theater virtual trip
- Arboretum virtual trip
- Zoo virtual trip
Project Linus community service outreach program
Project Based Learning
If I was the president...
- American Symbols Project-October
- Colonial life / Pilgrim/ Native American Investigation-November
- Presidents Project-February
- Habitats, Plants/Animals-Spring
- Life Cycles, Chicks-April
History brought to life using the green screen and iMovie!
Life Cycles
- In April, first graders learn about different life cycles! One of the students favorite projects is getting to watch the life cycle of a chick!
As an Apple Distinguished school we:
- have DAILY use of 1 to 1 iPads across subjects
- 1st graders use iPads as a learning tool and to showcase their work
- Core apps include Seesaw, Pages, Keynote, Pic Collage, Sketches, Kahoot, and Popplet
- Student Driven/choice assignments
Technology
- Students will use different forms of technology in first grade!
- Students are 1-1 I-pads
- Students will have Technology class once a week for 50 minutes.
- Students will use our classroom iPads, as an instructional tool, individually and in small groups daily.
- Each classroom is equipped with Apple TV and a projection system.
- Every teacher is an Apple Certified teacher.
- Students will have opportunities to use the green screen.
i-Ready
- I-ready will be used in small group centers.
- I-ready helps determine reading levels.
- Students work on individualized activities and customized lessons.
- Students will be assessed quarterly.
Customization
- Each student will have a Personal Learning Plan (PLP) completed at the end of each quarter. Together, we will come up with a goal for Language Arts, Math and Life and Career Skills. The PLP will be reviewed throughout the quarter and will be modified as necessary.
Language Arts
- Differentiated small groups
- Students are assessed on sight word recognition, comprehension, phonics and fluency to determine groups.
- Different leveled books each week
- Weekly assessments on skills learned throughout the week
Envisions Math and Reading Street
- Aligned to the Common Core State Standards
- Supplemental workbooks that allow for teachers to create their own work as well
- Differentiated activities designed to meet all students' needs
- The online component allows students to access additional help or enrichment activities that correlate to the material being taught.
- All components of Envisions and Reading Street are interactive and are used on the projection screen.
First in Math
- Each student will have a user name and password that they can access at home.
- Students will work for at least an hour a week within the classroom. This will be done during math centers.
- Students will work on specfic skills that the teacher assigns. These skills will be based upon what each student needs.
- Students earn "stickers" when they complete games, gyms, and skill sets. Students should be earning 100 stickers a week to start.
- First in Math is fun, interactive and parents can even play with a family link!
Writing Workshop
- Students become true authors.
- Learn how to go through the Writing Process independently
- Become positive critics
- Use verbal skills during Author's Circle
- Students are writing their first story this week!!
Reading at home
- Students should read every night! Have them read to you to improve fluency.
- The 5 Finger Rule: How do you determine if a book is right for your child? We use the 5 finger rule. Have your child open to a page in the middle of the book and begin reading. If they come across a word they cannot read, they hold up a finger. If all 5 fingers come up at the end of the page, the book is too difficult and they should wave good-bye to it!
StemScopes
STEM is imbedded into our Curriculm! It's not just a separate project completed once a year!
Digital Curriculum
• Always up to date
• Flexible for 1:1, blended and traditional classrooms
• E-books & digital or print science journals
• Aligned to national standards
• Incorporates PBL
• Virtual investigations
• Assessments focus on students’ depth of knowledge
• Integrates literacy and math as well as other cross-curricular connections (music, art,
design)
• Supplemental print resources
• Digital experiences - simulations, videos
Hands-On Exploration Kits
• Investigations - nurture curiosity
• Inquiry-based - learn through exploring and discovering scientific models, concepts
and phenomenon
• Hands-on - students are doing science
• Designed to support students in developing deeper understanding of science
concepts so they can explain the world around them
• Students work like scientists and engineers to explore, discover and design solutions
• Develop real world understanding of science, engineering, technology & math
concepts
• Requires the development of explanations and design solutions
• Requires students to support their solutions and explanations with evidence-based
arguments and reasoning
• Supports the development of 21st century skills!
Leading Lion
- Each student will have the opportunity to be the Leading Lion!
- The Leading Lion will get to complete an "About Me" page to share with the class.
- They will also get to bring in a toy, book or snack to share with the class!
Teacher for a Day
Specialty Classes!
MUSIC:
- We will study various forms and styles of music from around the world including: the blues, jazz, opera, classical, and world music.
TECH:
Student will make use of our mobile technologies and environments. Students will continue to experience hands-on learning in their tech classes.
Students will have the opportunity to:
- focus on digital citizenship skills
- learn Apple iWork programs - pages, keynote, iMovie
- program Ozobots
- pair program with various coding apps with our iPads
- integrate with classroom teachers and stemscopes
PE/HEALTH:
- Students will continue to develop movement combinations and manipulative skills. iPads will be introduced to strengthen learning for Phys Ed and Health.
- Students will also be introduced to basic Health concepts.
- Some Skills: overhand & underhand throws, soccer skills, basketball skills, jump rope skills
- Game Concepts: significance of teamwork, group problem solving and communication, good sportsmanship
- Some Health Topics: hand washing, bones, safety
- Jump Rope Project: combining poems/rhymes with timing and jump rope skills
- Bones Puzzle Project: students learn about bones in their body by placing pictures of them in an outlined sketch of their body
ART:
First graders are eager artists! They have unstoppable enthusiasm and are always excited about the newest art project.
- The skills first graders will be working on in art class this year are:
- Repeating patterns in nature or works of art
- Identifying the elements of art in nature, the environment and works of art
- Using texture in 2-D and 3-D art
- Mixing secondary from primary colors
- Creating tints of paint colors
- Folding and cutting paper into symmetrical shapes
- Viewing and creating art from various cultures
- Identifying and creating various subject matter, such as landscapes, still life and portraits
SPANISH:
- Students will review their vocabulary from last year and take it to new levels this year.
- The iPad will be used to help reinforce their skills. They will be able to record themselves speaking sentences that they have written.
- Focus will be put on what they are learning in their core classes and how to integrate Spanish into those themes and ideas.
First Grade is Fun!
To contact Mrs. Seabrook
Email: Carly.Seabrook@chesterbrookacademy.com
Phone: 610 719-0240