This is a way for you to access your child’s grades at quarterly report card times. If you have any questions on how your child is doing please contact me and we can set up a time to meet. We do have one mandatory conference; however please do not hesitate to meet with me concerning your child’s progress in first grade.
Our Parent-Teacher conferences will be on: Thursday, Oct. 24 from 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. dismissal day) Friday, Oct. 25 from 8:00-12:00 a.m. (No School)
Take Home Folder
Please check your child’s yellow take home folder nightly. Important information comes home all the time. We will also have a monthly reading log coming home. Please be sure to initial this after reading 10-15 minutes a night with your child. They should be bringing home a book every day (except Friday).
High Frequency Words – do NOT take this sheet out of your child’s folder. They should practice these at home as they’ll continue to practice at school as well.
Expectations
Be Respectful Be Responsible Be Safe
School Wide Tiger Cards Golden Paw Pink Slip Discipline Referral
Classroom Incentives Verbal Praise I am a firm believer all children want to do well! Giving them verbal praise happens a lot in our classroom! Morning Meeting / Second Step We will begin each day with a morning meeting which is a great way to build community, set a positive tone, increase excitement about learning, and improve academic and social skills. Our social-emotional curriculum will be taught and discussed during this time. Logical Consequences In my classroom we stress logical consequences. In essence “the punishment fits the crime.” If you break something – you fix it or clean it up. If you upset a friend – you apologize. We will also discuss and understand that FAIR and EQUAL are not the same thing. The consequences won’t always be exactly the same for everyone but they will be appropriate for that student. Students will also have 3 clips on their desk every day to start. If they don’t follow expectations they will get one warning for that day and then if they repeat that action they’ll lose a clip. Students have a chance to earn clips back by going above and beyond with their behavior in the classroom as well as making a conscious effort to correct their behavior. If they lose all three clips in a day that will be a phone call or email home to you. Students will record the number of clips they end their day with on their monthly calendars in their Take Home Folders. If students keep all three clips for an entire week, they’ll get a coupon of their choice to use in the classroom! If needed students may visit (or be sent to) our “Take 5” corner. This is where they can practice some self-soothing strategies discussed in morning meeting and give themselves time to calm down and reflect. When they’re ready, they may rejoin the class.*If the student is sent to “Take 5”, they’ll fill out a reflection sheet which will come home to be signed. If there is a major issue at school – I WILL be in contact with you.
Rock Jar As a class students will work to follow our classroom expectations. If the entire class is doing a great job – they’ll earn a rock for their jar. If we are having a hard time following expectations, they’ll lose a rock. When the student rock jar is filled, they’ll earn the agreed upon reward!
Lunch
You may pay for your child's lunch online at TeacherEase or by sending money in a labeled envelope. You can have lunch with your child by signing in at the office and joining them in the cafeteria. Our lunch time is from 11:30-12:00.
Afternoon Snack
We will have a short milk time in the afternoon. We welcome a quick snack at that time too. Preferably something healthy, candy is NOT considered a snack in my classroom! If you would like your child to have a snack please send it with them in the morning! Students will not be sharing snack with their peers.
Birthday Celebrations
Birthdays are very special days and we'd love to celebrate them! If you'd like to send a treat for the class, you are invited to bring it down to the classroom or leave it in the office. Snack time is at 2:50pm. We will celebrate summer birthdays on their half birthday! We currently have 20 children in the classroom. Please make sure there is enough for everyone in our class along with a few extras in case we have any accidents.
Please see the sign up sheet if you're interested in helping out with a class party. (Supplying cups, plates/napkins, drinks, snack, or a small game/craft). I'll email to remind you when the party gets closer!
Specials
Art and Music every day: 30 minutes.
P.E. every other day: 40 minutes. If your child wears sandals to school, please have them bring P.E. shoes. We keep them in their lockers to be changed into at P.E. time.
Our library day is on Friday. Please have your child bring library books back weekly to exchange them. *At the beginning of the year, do not expect your child to bring home books from the library that are at their reading level. We're not all sure how to choose a "Just Right" book yet, but we will learn! In the meantime, we will continue to choose books for enjoyment! Being read to is just as important as reading!
Reader's Workshop
Common Core State Standards Driven
Group and individual reading opportunities focusing on reading for…
Comprehension
Accuracy
Fluency
Expanding vocabulary
Independence
A variety of reading strategies
Exposure to different genres and purpose
Additional Literacy
Phonics
Sight Words
Vocabulary
Author studies
Writer's Workshop
Common Core State Standards Driven
Autobiography (August/September)
Personal Narrative (October/November)
Letter Writing (December)
Functional – How-to Books (January/February)
Informational – All About Book (March)
Responsive – Book Reviews (April/May)
Writing about Reading (throughout the school year)
Math
Our math series is called "My Math" and it is aligned to the new Common Core State Standards with the most up-to-date technology for the students to use as well. In our new math book, we will learn new skills and have a test at the end of the chapter.
We will also be taking Timed Tests. These will be 1 minute addition and subtraction tests that will progressively move up to harder math skills upon passing each test.
Social Studies & Science
Science
What is science?
Waves: Light and Sound
Structure, function, and informational processing
Space Systems: Patterns and cycles
Social Studies
Christmas Around the World
Community Helpers
Second Step
Book Orders
During the school year, I will occasionally send home book orders. If you wish to purchase, please make checks payable to Scholastic. Please do not send cash or a check to myself or the school. If you have a conflict, let me know and we can work out something. If you would like to order online...
REGISTER at scholastic.com/readingclub ENTER the Class Activation Code: Q7232 CHOOSE from thousands of print titles, value packs, and eBooks SUBMIT the order to me by the due date listed on the website EARN FREE Books for our classroom too! If you would like to order books for your child as a gift for holidays, birthdays or special occasions, enclose a note and I will be sure not to send them home with your child. I will call you and arrange a way for you to pick them up.