All About First Grade

All About 

First Grade

CONFERENCE TIMES

• Our conference period is from 8:30-9:20  when students are at Specials (P.E., Music, or Art).  Please feel free to contact us during that time if you have any questions or concerns. If you choose to leave a voicemail, please be aware that your call will be returned after the school day ends. You can reach us on our direct telephone lines or via email.

DAILY SCHEDULE

• Our schedules may vary slightly from day to day, but will always include Language Arts, Math, and Science/Social Studies as well as students attending P.E., Music, Art, or Spanish. Please dress your child appropriately for P.E. and recess (ex: tennis shoes - not sandals, shorts under skirts, etc.).

ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL PROCEDURES

• The instructional day begins at 7:35 and ends at 2:55. Students are able to enter classrooms at 7:15. If your child arrives before 7:35, he/she will wait in his/her classroom. If your child arrives after 7:35, he/she will be counted tardy. Please make sure your child's teacher always knows how your child will go home after school. If any changes arise, please call the front office at 512-704-1900. Children can often misunderstand a situation, so the front office must be contacted by you personally. If you need to pick your child up early, you must sign them out prior to 2:00 pm.

DAILY FOLDERS/GUIDED READING BOOKS

• Your child will take a “Daily Folder” home every day. Please review the information regarding your child’s day and have your child return the folder daily. Your child will also have a reading bag with books assigned to him/her that need to be read every night. Please make sure your child brings this folder and reading bag to school each day.

CLASSROOM RULES

• We will discuss our classroom rules and the importance of having rules as soon as school begins. We will send home a copy of our behavior management for you to review with your child. Each day, your child’s daily folder will notify you of his/her behavior.  Please discuss his/her day, initial on the line, and return the folder the following school day.

CURRICULUM

• You will receive a bi-weekly email highlighting topics your child will be learning and upcoming events. Here are some skills your first grader will be learning this year:

Reading

Writing

Math

Science

Social Studies

Spanish

Students will learn reading skills, including: phonics, rhyming, word building, blending, segmenting, sight words, sentence structure, comprehension skills, etc.

Students will use their writing skills to write stories, share ideas, and publish books.

Students will be learning developmentally appropriate math skills and problem solving.

Students will be learning about science safety, tools, life cycles of plants and animals, etc.

Students will be learning about citizenship, holidays/celebrations, mapping skills, historical figures, etc.

Spanish vocabulary will be incorporated in the classroom across subject areas to reinforce what they are learning in Spanish class.

SNACKS/TREATS

• Students will have an opportunity for a snack time each morning before lunch. Snacks should be non-perishable. The children have a very short amount of time for snack, so only one item is allowed. Snacks need to be ready to eat without utensils. Each child will need to bring a water bottle with a sport top DAILY! There are no water fountains in the classroom. Water will be the only beverage allowed in classrooms.

MEDICATION

• Teachers are not allowed to dispense any type of medication to students.  Please see the school nurse if your child needs to take medication.  Please notify your child’s teacher of any health changes. Cough drops are considered medication and must be given to the nurse with a note. Please remember that your child must be fever free (without Tylenol/Motrin) for 24 hours before he/she can return to school.

LIBRARY

• Each class will visit the library regularly for a lesson and check-out. Students will be able to check out two books every week. Please make sure your child’s library books are returned on his/her class library day so he/she is able to check out new books.

THE UNEXPECTED

• Please prepare an extra change of clothes conducive to the weather to remain in your child’s backpack. Accidents do arise.

REPORT CARDS

• Individual reading assessments will be conducted at the beginning and end of the year and as needed throughout the school year. Report cards will be sent at the end of every nine week period. You may request a conference with your child’s teacher as needed.

LUNCH

• Students are responsible for knowing what they are having for lunch each day. They are given three choices of meals every day, and they will be asked to choose first thing each morning. A lunch menu will be sent home; it’s also posted on the RRISD website. If you need to send lunch money to school with your child, please send it in a baggie or envelope with your child’s name clearly marked. You are also welcome to monitor your child’s lunch account on the district website and deposit funds as necessary. Please refer to the Round Rock ISD Food Services website for prices and menus. Extra items (such as chips, muffins, etc. are for sale). 

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We look forward to the new partnership we are creating to educate your child. Periodically, we will be sending letters to notify you of upcoming events that you may want to participate in and ways to enhance your child's learning process at home as well as the school environment.

Thank you!