Survival Guide

:)  Attendance and Arrival

       Regular attendance and arriving on time facilitates a smooth transition and successful skill development. We begin instruction on time and a late arrival is not only disruptive to the class but it tends to be very upsetting to the child. Learning takes place in many different ways within the first grade classroom, and only a portion of it can be "made up" through workbooks and homework. If, however, your child needs to miss school due to illness, please be sure that a note accompanies them upon their return. I will send missed assignments home and expect them to be completed in a reasonable amount of time. Even if you have told me ahead of time, a note or email on the day of the absence would be  helpful. Please make sure your child uses the restroom before coming to school.

:) Lunch Time Routines

     Please take some time to practice with your child to ensure they can independently open their lunchbox and any food containers. While help is available in the lunchroom, it is often limited and being able to open their own items can reduce the amount of time they might spend waiting for assistance.  Also, please be aware that the availability of utensils in the lunchroom is not guaranteed throughout the year. We recommend packing any necessary utensils/napkins with your child’s lunch from home. Students should have a small hand sanitizer in their lunchbox for use before they eat.

:) Water Bottles

Please make sure water bottles are of a manageable size and do not require a straw. Water bottles with straws can fall over and often leak onto their books and assignments. Water bottles should ONLY contain water.

:)  Your Email

     If you change your email during the school year, please make sure you alert the office. If you do not , you run the risk of missing information coming from me or the school. Please make sure your email is not blocked by a firewall. Also, please consider adding your contact information on our Class information document. This info is available to all families in our class to help with party invitations, holiday card writing, summer BD parties etc.  It is your choice if you'd like to be included. This document was linked in my welcome letter at the beginning of the school year and then will be on your child's Google Classroom.

:) Medications

     All prescribed medications should be given to Ms. Christine ( our nurse) directly. Please do not send into school in your child's backpack or lunchbox. Cough drops that are sent in with your child should be given to me to keep on my desk . Students may ask when needed.

:)  Uniform items and Labeling

     The used uniform sale is a truly wonderful thing, but can create a bit of a problem for labeling purposes. I have MANY articles of clothing that show up new to my room every year labeled with children's names from the past or who have left the school. You can imagine that it makes it hard to match up a child's clothes with the right person. Please be sure to label your child's clothing somehow clearly with their name. Often I have brand new items that are never claimed that end up in the lost and found in June. They really don't know what belongs to them when everything looks the same. If there is no room on the tag, an iron on label on the inside or even a small colored ribbon safety pinned on the inside could help. 

:)  Bully Free Zone

    SUS takes bullying very seriously as do I.  I have the best job in the world to be teaching these young ones and to be able to take advantage of the many teachable moments that come my way daily. It is part of our goal to help children see how their behaviors and words effect others and how empowering it is to be able to make a difference to someone who needs it. Lots of conversation can happen when you spend 7 hours a day together ;). 

:)  Monthly Book Project

     Usually, beginning in October, the students will complete a monthly book project. Details will follow each month. Don't worry...it's awesome!

:)   Homework/Homework Site

     This is my primary method of communication with you. Please see my homework policy on the homework page. When your child begins homework in their copybook each night, they should begin where they left off the night before. The date should be the first thing they write before they begin. Homework should not begin on a new page every evening. If your child forgets any book, please make sure you connect with a friend to complete the assignment(s) as much as possible. 

:) The Daily Review

     Once the "Daily Review" has been added to the homework site, please be sure to practice the recommended skills/concepts every night. This will make a HUGE difference in how well your child grasps the concepts/skills as we build on them moving forward.

:)    Yellow Clip Folder/ELA

      Inside the YCF you will find the ELA skills: spelling words, grammar skills, and vocabulary words that the children are responsible for for each story. Part of the homework and review work will be assigned from this folder. This folder will come home every night and needs to come back to school every day. We use it every day. I will send home inserts for you to place on the prongs in the folder as we approach each new book( if necessary). Although you are welcome to read over each section ahead of time, I will assign sections of each unit as I teach it. Each story and its accompanying skills is taught for 5-7 days. 

:)   School supplies etc.

    Please make sure your child has the school supplies they need to be successful in class. It is upsetting to a child to feel unprepared.  All books and assignments that come home the night before should be returned the next day unless otherwise stated.   I will indicate this on the HW site. Just a reminder that all pencils  should be sharpened at home and checked frequently. The children bring their pencil cases home at least once a week for you to take a look for sufficient pencils, crayons, erasers etc. Please make sure your child has his/her supplies, including the clip folders, on the first day of school.  Supplies can be brought to the Sneak Peek on Friday. No pencil sharpeners, rulers, pens, alternative folders, note books, or mechanical pencils are allowed in school. The SUS folder and copy books will be provided. Plastic folders ( red and yellow and blue clip folders)should be brought from home per the school supply list.

:)  Specials

     Your child's specials are listed on my welcome letter that I will send via email.. You can also find them on the Homework page. Specials will begin on Tuesday Aug. 26th.  Don't forget that students should wear their gym uniform to school on B Day, library books should come back to school on C Day, and Chromebook should be charged and ready for instruction on A Day.

:)  Math

    The children will have math  homework every night. Please make sure they have their addition and subtraction flashcards. They will not need to bring these to school but will be expected to use them at home when assigned. You will see this on their homework frequently. You can find the flashcards inexpensively at the Dollar Store or often in the dollar bins at Target.

:)  Technology

     The students will attend computer class on A Day but they may also be using technology within the classroom in many of their subjects throughout the week. Safety and proper use of the equipment will also be addressed. Please help your child charge their chrome book when it comes home and double check that they bring it back the next day. We use the chrome book every day as we move through the year. The children will rarely have HW using their Chromebook so if you see it come home, chances are it needs to be charged for the next day!

:)  Spelling

    The students are responsible for knowing  all spelling words as we progress through the year. They will be tested on current unit words and words from previous units each week. Assessments will be objective measures via sentence writing, creative writing, and tests/quizzes. Part of student practice is applying words they have had previously to their writing.

:)  Birthdays/cards/invitations. 

     Birthday food treats are no longer allowed to be brought in to school per our administration. Ms. Anderson has a plan in place to make sure that the children are celebrated for their birthday. She will detail this with parents on Back to School night. In order to prevent hurt feelings, any invitations or cards brought into the classroom will only be distributed if there is one for every child in the class. If not, the cards will be sent back home. A link to the class list is on my home page and on GC. (This will be active by Tuesday evening)

:)  Classroom Management Philosophy

     My philosophy is that natural consequences are the best and teach the skills the children will need for a lifetime. To that end, that is how I structure my classroom management. By mid year, you may hear your child saying " life skill" when referring to certain behaviors. That being said, however, there are times that those natural consequences, for various reasons, may not be effective. If your child brings home a demerit  given by me, you can be assured of the following: the child has been warned verbally many times over the course of a day or possibly days, the child has had one or more discussions with me on how to make necessary changes, and the child has been given a generous amount of time to make changes to his/her behavior. Demerits may also be given if a child's behavior is deemed a danger to self or another child. I appreciate support from parents as it is vital for successful behavior change in the classroom.

:)  Religion ( coming soon)

     Service is a large part of our faith and is stressed within our classroom and throughout the school. Our year-long service project (or Faith in Action project) is collecting non perishable food items for the SUS food pantry. We talk about this throughout the year and I encourage the students to do chores to "earn" the items they donate to the pantry. The children feel good about the change that they can make in someone's life. I also speak with them about the many ways that they may see Faith in Action in all areas of their life: at dance, in a restaurant, on the soccer field, in the grocery store, etc. I encourage you also to have these discussions with your child to increase awareness and self observation of the good around them.

:)  Yes/No slips

     Periodically throughout the year I will send home Highlights slips that give you the opportunity to subscribe to the various Highlights children's magazines. They are a wonderful resource and the children love them. However, even if you choose to not subscribe, I ask that you check "No" and sign it, and send it back in with your child. I can cash the slips in (even no slips) for free items for the classroom. I have MANY educational games and awesome stickers that I have been able to acquire this way.

:)  Scholastic Book Orders...accepted in person but on line is best!

     Often throughout the year I will send home the Scholastic Book orders. You may order online using my code (HLNPP) or you may fill out the form(s) and send them in to me in an envelope with payment labeled with your child's name. 

:)  Evaluations

      At the beginning of each school year, the children are evaluated in Math and Reading in order to develop appropriate and meaningful lessons going forward. Don't be alarmed if your child tells you he/she left the classroom with another teacher during reading or math. It is part of the evaluation process. If there is reason for concern, I will contact you to discuss your child's needs and propose appropriate intervention (s). Evaluations are ongoing and happen throughout the year as curriculum, skills, and pace change. 

:) Contact Paper

     Although initially it will feel like your nemesis, it is our friend, and the ONLY way your child's books will last the year. Please be sure that all books are covered by 9/13. I will send the books home a few at a time. The contact paper should be clear. If I send books home and you are not able to cover them that evening, please be sure to still send them back to school the next day. They can come home again the next night. All books should be covered, including the SUS folder and the copy book. 

:)  Independence

     Activities in first grade are designed to encourage and promote independence. This not only includes academics, but also play, life skills, and socialization. I am hopeful that you will help me achieve this goal by allowing them to complete homework and long term projects as independently as possible. But, this does not mean without you. You will help shape the study skills that they will carry through life...so they definitely need you involved to guide, check their homework, and encourage success. This means different things to different children at different times in the school year. Please remember it is a fluid, dynamic process that, with the right nurturance, will continue to change in a positive direction.

:)   Dismissal  

      If your dismissal plans change suddenly during the school day, you may send me an email, but please also notify Ms. Sampson in the office in case I do not receive your message in time, as I will most likely be teaching. My email can be found on the St. Ursula website under Faculty and Staff.

:)   Zippers, Buttons, Shoes 

      The children should be independent with bathroom activities and should know how to tie their shoes, zip, and button. This information was in the brochure sent home with your child at the end of Kindergarten. See the link below for a great hack!

New Shoe Tying Hack

:)  The Shoe Crew

      Each year we have a shoe crew in 1 Hope.  Members "earn" their way onto the crew by demonstrating that they can tie their shoes. As soon as they can show me,  they add their name to the Shoe Crew door.  These students are also available to help others as they are learning.

:)   and now....Relax! :)

     There is a learning curve in first grade for parents, students, and teachers. We have the same goal for your child and I want us to be available to each other for the good of your child's successful first grade experience. Please be sure to reach out if you feel stuck or have a question. Email is the best way to connect with me.