Dear Parents,

 

As your child’s first grade teacher, I would like to introduce myself. My husband, Hal, daughter, Leah, and I lived in Greenland for eighteen years. We resided in The Week's Brick House. In 1995 we moved to Hampton Falls. As many of you know, my husband passed away in 2007.

 

I attended the University of Maine receiving a BS in Child Development/ Education. Throughout the years I have furthered my education on an annual basis, participating in educational courses and workshops. I have been employed by the Greenland Central School for thirty years and feel very fortunate to be a part of such a special community.

 

                   A brief synopsis of our curriculum follows:

Language Arts and Reading:  Reading and Language Arts instruction will follow the Four-Blocks model. All children learn differently. The Four-Block method of instruction reaches all children no matter what their strengths and weaknesses might be. Please see the attached explanation of the Four-Blocks program.

 Image- Making and Picturing Writing will also be incorporated into our program. These are the art-and-literature based approaches to writing.

 

Math:  Everyday Mathematics is used in grades K-5. The philosophy of the Everyday Mathematics program emphasizes conceptual understanding while building a mastery of basic skills. It also explores the full mathematics spectrum, not just basic arithmetic, and is based on how children learn and what they are interested in. Please refer to the attached explanation of the content for First Grade Everyday Mathematics.

 

Science: Experiential activities are the core of our science program. This curriculum covers four areas: Life Science (plants, animals, and ecology), Physical Science (energy-movement & sound, and machines), Earth Science (geology and weather), and Health Science (the senses and feelings). Many integrated thematic units will be incorporated into our science program.

 

This year the first grade will also be doing a unit on balance and motion as well as studying a variety of insects using The Foss Science System. The Foss system is being used throughout the grades at Greenland Central School.

 

 

Health:  Our health curriculum often overlaps other areas of study. The curriculum includes: safety, first aid, self-esteem, and how life begins (taught in conjunction with chicken embryology).

 

 

Social Studies: Our social studies curriculum is quite broad. It too, is often integrated into other subject areas. Areas covered include: families, needs and wants, neighborhoods, geography, famous people in history, and holidays.

 

Throughout the year we will also be doing Picturing Writing. This program includes painting and poetry writing

 

 

          The children understand that I expect them to do the best that they are capable of. Children develop at different rates and have different learning styles. They are assessed according to their own developmental levels and styles of learning.

 

My instructional methods include the writing process, The Responsive Classroom approach to developing community, cooperative learning, interdisciplinary thematic units, and experiential activities. I look forward to seeing you at Open House on September 20 and I’ll be glad to share more details at that time.

 

 

Classroom volunteers are always welcome. Please let me know if you’d like to join our class on a weekly basis (for about an hour), or if you have a special activity or interest you’d like to share with us.