Welcome to FIRST GRADE!!!
The school year is off and running. The children are working hard learning and remembering all the expectations and procedures of First Grade. We are doing a lot of procedural repetition so that when we jump into the academics, the children know exactly what they are expected to do every minute of the day so that focused, uniterrupted learning can take place without a lot of disruptions.
Please take a few moments to read over some of the reminders/procedures listed below.
Planners: Your child was given a school planner that is to go back and forth to school each day. This is a vital part of our communication to one another. Please look in your child’s planner EVERY day and initial on the line in each daily. This way, I will know that you have seen the planner. I will be checking each planner every morning as your child comes into the classroom. If there is something quick that I need to make you aware of or remind you of something, I will jot you a note in the planner. Your child’s daily behavior will also be recorded each day in the planner. If you have any questions or something that you need to share with me, feel free to jot it in the planner.
Brown Big Envelopes: These folders will be called “Monday folders” by your children. On Monday’s, your child will bring home the brown folder with all of the work that they have completed for the week. Please review the work with your child, sign the front of the empty brown envelope and return it to school on Tuesday. The papers in the folder may be kept at home after you have reviewed them.
Lunch Boxes/Lunch Money: Do not send a carbonated drink in a thermos, as it will leak throughout the day. Please, pack a healthy lunch. A healthy lunch makes a healthy brain! Also, please be sure your child’s name is on his/her lunch box. When sending in lunch money, please place it in a baggie or an envelope with your child’s name on the outside and their lunch number if possible. This way, I am able to make sure that the correct credit is given in your child’s lunch account.
Box Tops: Keep those Box top labels coming! Please cut and save those Box Top labels. They can add up very quickly and if everyone sends in at least one a week, the $$ adds up that we can use for supplies in our classroom.
Homework: Completion of homework is taken very seriously. You are a significant partner in your child’s education so help them to understand immediately the importance of homework and doing their best work at all times. Also, I cannot stress enough the difference between “helping” your child and just giving them the answers or doing it for them. Homework is designed to teach responsibility as well as to reinforce skills taught in school. Remember, on test days, you will not be here to do it for them or give them the answers so do not let them get used to relying on you for the answers. Help them to figure out the answers on their own.
Also, I realize that family emergencies can happen OCASSIONALLY. When this happens, jot me a note in the planner and your child can complete the missed homework on the following night. But, again, this is only to be used on an as needed basis, not on a regular basis. HOMEWORK IS TO BE COMPLETED DAILY AND RETURNED THE FOLLOWING MORNING.
Regular homework will consist of:
-Fluency
-Spelling
-Language Arts
-Math
Fluency Homework and Math Fact Homework
Please do this EVERY night. The fluency is to be timed for ONE minute. The Math fact is to be timed for TWO minutes. On the fluency sheet, please make a mark that indicates how far through the list they got each night. This helps me, as well as your child, to see the progress each day. On Fridays I will do a final fluency check on the list of words or phrases. If they are able to read the words on the sheet within the one minute time, they will get a new list on Monday. If they are struggling, they will work with the same list again. The goal is to have a new list each week.
AR: The children will be STAR tested the first few weeks of school. If they do well enough on the test to begin AR, I will send home an introductary letter and the children will begin as soon as they go to the library and get a book. Please remember to have you child practice reading the story THREE times, initial in their AR folder and ask them questions about the story. This way, when they take the test in class, they will already know some on the answers. :-) They should take at least 1-2 tests per week so that they can make their goals by the end of the marking period. Please note: Children will not be bringing the AR book to the computer with them.
Transportation: Anytime there is change in your child’s transportation, you must notify me in writing through the planner or call our school office (542-3551) by 1:00PM. I CANNOT go by a verbal statement from your child or from a sibling. This is for your child’s safety. I am not allowed to take your child’s verbal word on a change in procedure. If I do not have a written note or word from the office, your child will be sent home as they normally do.
Behavior: Positive classroom behavior is another area of importance. I expect the children to be kind, considerate and respectful at all times. We will be using a new "Behavior Ladder" behavior program which is used school wide. At the end of each day, I will record how your child’s day was in their planner. If your child exhibits behavior issues or disrespect on a daily basis, we will need to schedule a conference to figure out the best way that we can work together to correct the problem. Negative behavior not only interferes with your child’s learning but also the learning of all the children in the classroom. Your support in this area is greatly appreciated.