September 21, 2016
 Aishah
El Akkari–ELA/Social Studies
 Kara Bartkus–Math/Science
 Lynne
Gillie –ELA/Social Studies
 Shannaedi ElFadili –Math/Science
 Amanda
McGlothlin –ELA/Social Studies
 Laura Parker –Math/Science
 Michelle
White– Self Contained
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Alvin Website www.alvinisd.net
* Please visit this website for important information (student handbook, calendar and dress code).
* Please visit school and teacher webpages for current events.
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Alvin ISD Technology Connect
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*Download free Mobile APP for quick district communication.
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*Follow the District, Marek Elementary on Facebook & Twitter, Mrs. McGlothlin on Twitter
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Marlin Messenger (e-news)
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*Weekly updates for the district and Marek
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Teacher Email
* (first initial, full last [email protected])
* Limited information pertaining to child as teacher’s respect student confidentiality
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Mary Marek Phone: 281-245-3232
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Tuesday folders:
Conference time: 12:45-1:35pm
* Used to send important information home
* Used as “one-way” communication
* Send home on Tuesday and returned to school on Wednesday
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Student daily binder and academic planner
 Change of Transportation must be received by 2:30pm.
Please call the office, email me and/or send in a written note.
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All students will be expected to behave in a manner which does not prevent me
from teaching and/or other students from learning.
If a student makes poor choices, behaviors will be documented using the
academic planner. Examples of consequences are verbal warnings, think time,
Behavior Reflections, walking at recess, and office referral.
Capturing Kids’ Hearts
* Good Things/Affirmations
* Social Contract
* Hand Signs
* Home and School
* Flip Flippen – The Flippen Group
http://www.flippengroup.com/education/ckh.html
Mindset Moments
*learning ways to fulfill our potential through
growth-mindset instead of fixed-mindset
*mindset The New Psychology of Success
by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.
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Grades and attendance are posted on Skyward Family Access. This website is a resource for
parents/guardians to view their child's grades, attendance, discipline information and update
contact information. Phone, text, and email notifications can also be set to receive
notifications whenever an absence is posted or for low grades or missing assignments.
Register to activate the letter received via mail.
 Access through internet or download Skyward Mobile App
Alvin ISD Elementary Grading Guidelines:
 With the Reading/Language Arts K-2 report card being based on a continuum of learning
rather than based on a 0-100 grading scale, multiple opportunities should be given for a
student to master skill prior to documentation on the report card. This documentation will be
noted as 3, 2, 1. Math/Science/Social Studies is based on a 0-100 grading scale.
Evaluation Key for Reading and Language Arts
3 – Proficient
2 - Working on
1- Not Proficient
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Access AISD Elementary Grading Guidelines
http://www.alvinisd.net/cms/lib03/TX01001897/Centricity/Domain/2307/Elem%20Grading%
20Guidelines%20Update.pdf
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Homework is a reinforcement of skills learned in class.
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Math
ASTROS stands for Alvin Students Training Rigorously on Skills.
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Homework assigned Tuesday and Wednesday
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Grades 1 - 5 have 2 ASTROS assignments per week.
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The front 4 problems on ASTROS are a spiral review.
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The back 4 problems are based on a focus student expectation. For example the ASTROS will be titled with
Focus SE: 1.2E
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Math reviews will be sent home to prepare for CBA Tests
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Science/Social Studies
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Assignment over topic for the week – Wednesday-Friday -Social Studies, Thursday-Science
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Science reviews will be sent home to prepare for CBA Tests
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Reading
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Minimum of 20 minutes daily
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Homework/Reading Log is checked daily for parent signature, information about book correctly written, and
assignment complete.
Students will be expected to do the written work on their own and ask for help only after they have given it
their best effort.
Reading passages and comprehension questions will be sent home weekly and to prepare for CBA Tests.
***It is YOUR CHILD’S responsibility to complete daily homework assignments and
get their planner and reading log signed daily. ***
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Spiraling Curriculum-Each grading period students will revisit concepts learned from the
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Concepts Include
previous grading periods and build on those concepts.
◦ Represent, compare, and recognize relationships related to place value – to 999 Determine
whether a number up to 40 is odd or even
◦ Open number line/numbers positioned on a number line
◦ Add/Subtract up to 20
◦ Word problems
◦ Time - hour, half hour, to the minute, am, pm (analog and digital clocks)
◦ Length – nonstandard units, standard units
◦ Use concrete models of square units to find the area of a rectangle
◦ Graphing – interpreting and solving problems
◦ Fractions beyond one whole
◦ Addition/Subtraction (2 digit addends)
◦ Money and Financial Literacy
◦ Addition/Subtraction (within 1,000)
◦ Multiplication and division
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Working with your child at home
◦ Keep your child’s ASTROS homework that is sent in Tuesday Folders to review for CBA Tests.
◦ Encourage your child to show their work using the Problem Solving Process on their
homework, not just their answers. (Underline questions, circle important data, write if they
are adding or subtracting, draw pictures to check their answers).
 Concepts Include
* Intro. to Science Unit – What a scientist is and does, safe practices
* Objects in the Sky – Sun, Moon, Constellations
* Force and Motion
* Magnets
* Matter – physical properties
* Weather – types of weather, weather patterns, water cycle, seasons
* Organisms & Environments – animals(needs, physical characteristics
behaviors, life cycle) plants (basic needs of plants & animals, physical
characteristics of plant to meet needs), environments (environmental
factors, interdependency, food chains)
* Natural Resources – rocks, fresh water vs. saltwater, natural vs. manmade
resources, use, conservation, & disposal of natural resources
* Energy Unit - effects of increasing or decreasing the amount of light, heat,
and sound energy
* Science Careers Exploration Unit
Format:
60 minute block of time
Students are working independently, or in partners, in Literacy based work
stations
Teacher is working with small groups
Purpose:
Students are able to practice skills that were introduced in class or in small
groups
Teachers are able to work with small groups to enhance reading skills and
strategies
Goal:
To instill a love of reading in all children
For students to read with meaning
Build fluency and comprehension
To make at least one year’s growth based on the DRA
Guided Reading Levels
DRA
Goal
I/J
16/18
Beginning of Year
K
20
Middle of Year
L
24
Middle of Year
M/N
28/30
End of Year
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DRA Level 16/I 18/J
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Readers at Level I:
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Read short texts (8-16 pages) & easy chapter books (40-60 pages)
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Understand longer sentences of more than 10 words
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Read many texts silently, without pointing to words
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Automatically read a large amount of high frequency words (from all previous levels & more)
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Reads out loud & sounds like normal speaking (not like a robot)
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Reads out loud & sound like an actor (pauses, reads with expression)
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DRA Level 28/M 30/N
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Procedures
Personal Narratives
Small Moments
Genre writing -fiction, non-fiction, traditional literature, poetry/drama
Writing process
Brief stories with BME
Dialogue (brief)
Time order transition words
Letter writing
Reader’s response
Write brief comments on literary or informational texts
Expository and Procedural Texts
write brief compositions about topics of interest to the student
Write short letters
Types of sentences: declarative and interrogative
Write short poems that convey sensory details
Write persuasive statements about issues that are important
Begin cursive handwriting instruction
Weekly phonics lessons
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High Frequency Words & Schlegel Word Test
short and long a, e, i, o, u, review compound words
Review Syllables
open syllables
closed syllables
consonant clusters/blends with s
vowel-consonant silent e words
inflectional ending -ed
inflectional ending -ing
diagraphs - oo/ee
diphthongs - ou/ow/oi/oy
r controlled vowels - ar,er,ir,or,ur
- ight Spelling patterns
Consonant digraphs - sh/th/wh/ch
hard & soft c/g
inflectional endings er/est
inflectional endings ly/less/ful
Change y to i and add es
spell simple contractions - not/is/will
Common prefixes - un/re/dis
Abbreviations
ick/ack
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Weekly spelling tests of 10 words.
5 words are chosen from word study list using a specific
spelling concept
5 words are chosen by the student from their list of
High Frequency Words they need to work on.
Students have the opportunity to work on these spelling
words during the week during Buddy Study:
Build, Mix, Fix
Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check
Buddy Check
Making Connections
Buddy Test
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Nouns and Verbs - (Capital I and Names)
adjectives
punctuation marks
subject verb agreement
capitalization for proper nouns (review)
letter writing
apostrophes and possessives
prepositions and prepositional phrases
pronouns
adverbs
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Making connections through knowledge, strategies, skills, and vocabulary to other
learning area such as reading, writing, and math concepts.
Whole group discussions and lessons
Variety of Topics
My Community / My Country
Fall Season and Geography
Origins of America and American Traditions
Winter Season and Cultural Customs
Historical Figures
Texas Culture, Geography, & Natural Resources
Economics
State and National Government
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Working independently and building stamina
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Learning mouse control
Enhancing fine motor skills
Practicing basic computer functions
Learning how to manipulate and operate various computer programs and devices
Enhancing reading, math and phonemic awareness skills
 Each week students will be visiting the computer lab as well as using the
classroom computers to continue education.
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Some of the technology integration used in the classroom includes
Promethean Board
SMART Promethean Activslate
Promethean Activote
PC Computer/laptop computer
Flip Video camera
Samsung Galaxy Note, Apple iPad, and Kindle Fire devices
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Your child will be interacting with several of the websites listed below. Please feel free to
use the following online website resources at home. Click on the link and it will take you
directly to the webpage.
Book Adventure - http://www.bookadventure.com
Social Studies Weekly – www.studiesweekly.com
Storyline Online - http://www.storylineonline.net
Tumble Books – http://www.tumblebooks.com
Seussville - http://www.seussville.com/
Online Story time http://www.barnesandnoble.com
National Geographic for Kids - http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
NASA for Kids - http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html
PBS Kids - http://pbskids.org/
Starfall - http://www.starfall.com
Kids Spell - http://www.kidsspell.com
ABCya - http://www.abcya.com/
Dance Mat Typing - http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/
Internet Safety - http://www.netsmartz.org/Safety/SafetyTips
Thank you for attending tonight.
Please email any questions,
comments and concerns to your
child’s teacher.