Can I come to the classroom?
Absolutely! I am always looking for volunteers. Please make sure if you want to be able to volunteer that you stop by the office and fill out a background check with Karen. You may also contact our volunteer coordinator Angela Menjivar - Sanchez at slimangela@aol.com to find out other ways to volunteer at Carter Lake.Back to Top
What other ways can I help my child with academics at home?
There are many ways to help your child academically at home. Reading at least 20 minutes a night with your child is wonderful. Many studies have shown that the best way to improve literacy is to read to, and with your child. There are lots of great resources to help improve the reading you are doing with your child. On the scholastic website (www.scholastic.com) there is a great resource called the Teacher Book Wizard. Using the Book Wizard you can look up the books you are reading, and obtain valuable information such as the interest level and reading level for the book you are reading. There are even printable book conversations that can help build reading comprehension skills. Another great way to help your child academically is to integrate math into everything you do. Using regular activities such as baking, measuring, and even sports as math activities is a great way to build those math skills.If you have any other questions of how to help your student at home please feel free to email me.Back to Top
Where can I pick up and drop off my student?
Our day begins promptly at 8am every morning. Students will be picked up from the designated line up spot at 7:50am. Free breakfast is served in the cafeteria at 7:30am. Please have students at school in time to line up and arrive to class on time. School ends at 2:30pm. Parents who are walking can pick up their students on the basketball courts next to the Library. Students who are being picked up by car will be waiting with Mrs. Richards next to the parking lot. Back to Top
What will my child learn in 1st grade?
Curriculum:Math: This school year we are adopting a new math curriculum. Math Connects by Macmillan McGraw-Hill is a state recommended curriculum and has been adopted by Clover Park School District for grades 1-5. If you would like more information about Math Connects please visit… http://www.macmillanmh.com/math/mathconnects/grade1/sg1c1lesson1.htmlStarting September 28th, 2009 students will begin Walk to Math Interventions a few times a week. More specific information about Walk to Math Interventions will be sent home at a later date. Science: We have three FOSS science kits that we learn from throughout the year. In the fall we will be learning about Air and Weather. Starting in January we will learn about Balance and Motion. And in the spring we will study insects specifically Butterflies, and mealworms. For more information please visit http://www.fossweb.com. Writing: For writing we use the Step-Up to Writing program as well as other supplemental materials. Our goal for our students is they will be able to both master 1st grade appropriate conventions and develop age appropriate voice and sentence organization. Social Studies: In 1st grade we learn about our families and ourselves. Social studies will be closely tied to the Library this year. Each teacher will also have activities in their classroom that allow students to share about their families and themselves. More information will be sent home at a later date.Reading: At Carter Lake we practice Walk – to – Read. In 1st grade we group our students in homogeneous groups for reading. This means that students will be grouped based on their reading level. We have found that this benefits students on all levels. This also means that students may go to another classroom for reading. Reading groups will begin the second week of school Monday, September 14th, 2009. More information about specific reading programs will be sent home when reading groups begin.Back to Top
When is homework due?
Home –Learning: In 1st grade students will receive two kinds of homework, Reading homework that will be sent home by your students reading teacher, and Home – Learning. Home-Learning is meant to be an extension of the learning students are doing in class and will consist of a math and science or writing extension. Home – Learning will be sent home on Monday and is due on Friday. Students should also practice their basic addition and subtraction flash cards for 5-10 minutes a night. Because of the time needed to set up the routine in the classroom Home – Learning will begin the 1st week in October. Home learning packets are sent home every Monday and are due Friday of the same week.Back to Top