MRS. MEYER’S ABC’S OF FIRST GRADE
ABSENCES AND ATTENDANCE: Regular school attendance is very important. If your child is absent due to illness or any other reason please let the office know.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL: Children arrive to school between 7:45 and 8:10. Children are let into the room at 8:05. Dismissal is at 3:05.
ASSESSMENT: We do a classroom assessment with each child in the fall and spring which checks math and reading skills. We do ongoing assessment and intervention throughout the year. All children do the AIMS WEB assessment 3 times per year which checks letter naming, letter sound fluency, reading fluency, and math skills. Children can receive help through our Title 1 and reading enrichment programs to boost reading and math skills.
ASSISTANT: Our first grade para is Mrs. VanDam. Mrs. VanDam supervises students at recess, lunch and character hour. She enjoys helping students learn and listening to them read.
BACKPACKS: Your child will need one large backpack (bookbag) for use every day.
BIRTHDAYS: We celebrate each child’s birthday during the school year. We celebrate summer birthdays in May or halfway between. You’ll receive a note before your child’s school b-day celebration. You may send store bought treats for the occasion... please not peanut butter or nuts in the treats. Your child will also bring home the Birthday Activity Bag and receive a birthday pencil from the office. Please do not send birthday party invitations to school.
BOOK ORDERS: I will occasionally send home a Scholastic Book Club order. It is your choice to order books. We do receive free books for our classroom with any order. The Scholastic Book Fair will visit our school during parent/teacher conferences in the fall and spring.
BREAKFAST: It’s important for your child to eat a nutritional breakfast. You may choose to have your child eat breakfast at home before coming to school. However, we do have a breakfast/snack every morning at 8:20 provided free of charge for all students.
CALENDAR: There are school district calendars available for purchase in the office. We do a calendar activity every morning in our classroom. We say the date, day of week, etc. Each child makes their own calendar each month. Each child has their own calendar journal.
CLASS PARTIES: We have fun activities planned in our classroom for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter. In December we
COMPUTERS/Chromebooks:
COMMUNICATION: It’s very important to keep the lines of communication open between home and school. This will ensure a successful school year for your child. I can be reached through school email or text. We have a classroom webpage and private classroom Facebood page.
CONFERENCES: Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held twice per year. They are usually set for an evening in Oct. and an evening in Feb./March. It is very important that you attend your scheduled conference.
CURRICULUM: We have a varied and developmentally appropriate first grade curriculum. Our reading, math, science, and social studies curriculums are all current and consistent preschool through 6th grade.
DISCIPLINE: I will send a copy of our discipline plan home. Always encourage your child to use good behavior and manners in and out of school. We praise positive behavior and always promote good character.
DISTRICT TESTING: Grades K-6 students are given the Fastbridge reading and math assessment 3 times per year. Results are shared at parent teacher conferences.
DRESS FOR SCHOOL: Dress your child to play. Children are in phy.ed. class on alternating days and outside to play every day. Your child should wear tennis shoes for phy.ed. class. Please mark outdoor clothing with your child’s name. Your child may wear shorts on very hot days. We have scheduled bathroom breaks but wetting accidents or spills do occasionally occur. Any child may borrow pants from the school nurse which should be washed and returned to school. But please try to send a change of clothing to school to be kept in your child's locker.
E-LEARNING DAYS: Information on e-leanring will come home soon in your child's HOME folder. There will be a bingo sheet and task pages to complete for each snow day.
E-MAIL: Please feel free to e-mail me at any time. Meyers@tracy.k12.mn.us I would also like your email to communicate with you and add to our class website mailing list.
EMERGENCY CARD: Please make sure you have current and correct emergency contact information on your card that is kept in the office.
EMERGENCY CLOSINGS: School may be late, close early or cancelled due to inclement weather. Listen to local radio stations for announcements. Make sure the office has your emergency snow home information. You should also receive alerts via your JMC family account on your email/text/phone call.
FACEBOOK PAGE: We have a grade level Facebook page this year where we will post announcements, reminders and classroom photos and activites. (20+) TAES First Grade | Facebook
FIELD TRIPS: Frist graders take a number of field trips during the year including Valley Tree Farm, Shetek Environmental Center and The Children's Museum in Brookings, SD.
FIRE DRILLS AND LOCK DOWN DRILLS: Our school practices a number of fire safety drills and lock down drills during the school year.
GYM: Frist grade children visit the gym every day from 9:55 to 10:40 with Mr. Haberman. Please have your child wear tennis shoes.
HANDS ON LEARNING: Your first grader will participate in many hands on activities through out the year that will enhance their learning and retention of a skill. We play many partner and small group games to enhance all skills.
HEALTH: We always try to talk about preventing illness by good hand washing, getting plenty of sleep, and eating healthy foods. Remind your child to always wash hands, use a tissue, keep their fingers away from eyes, nose, and mouth, and cough or sneeze into their arm.
HOMEWORK/HELP AT HOME: Your child will bring occassional homework papers home and books to read. Please encourage your child to complete their reading and homework papers.
“I CAN”: We encourage each child to be an Independent Individual who always says.. “I can.” Team is also important in our classroom
ILLNESS: If your child has a fever, is throwing up, or simply does not feel well please keep him/her home. Call the school nurse if you have questions. Your child may become ill during school and need to go home. You will be contacted during the day if this happens.
JMC ALERTS: This option informs you of school closings, school information, etc. via phone call or email. Please ask for assistance in the office if you need help with this.
JOURNALS: Each child has his/her own writing journal. Children use sight words to write sentences. Later in the year children are encouraged to write words and sentences by using invented spelling.. listening for the sounds in words. Your child may like to keep a writing journal at home.
KIND KIDS: We always work on being kind to others. Our kindness rule is: Treat others the way you want to be treated.
LIBRARY: Frist grade children visit the library
LUNCH: Hot lunch and milk is served every day. First graders eat at 11:45. A monthly lunch menu will be sent home. Your child may choose to bring lunch. Breakfast and lunch this school year will be free to all students. If you'd like to eat lunch with your child anytime during the year, please check in at the office first.
MATH: We use the Bridges Math Curriculum in grades K-2. It is hands on and fosters problem solving. Please practice math facts (addition and subtraction) with your child. Your child will bring home occasional math practice pages.
MUSIC: Kindergarten children visit music class every day from 9:55 to 1040 with Mrs. Benson.
NEWSLETTERS: I will send monthly newsletters home to update you on dates and events and let you know what we’ve been up to in first grade.
NURSE: Mrs. Ashley Swan is our school nurse. Please contact her with questions regarding illness, medication, etc.
OFFICE: Our principal, Mr. Munson and school secretary, Mrs. DeSchepper are in the office to assist you. Make sure all forms, etc. are updated and sent to the office.
PANTHER WEAR: Our school mascot is the black panther. There are opportunities during the school year to purchase panther clothing for you and your child. Look for order forms to come home. We encourage panther wear on Fridays.
PARENT INVOLVEMENT: ..is important for your child to reach his/her fullest potential. Thank you for all your assistance in helping your child with home projects, etc.!
PLANNERS: Please check and sign your child's planner each evening. You may jot bus notes, etc. to me each day in your child's planner.
PLAYGROUND: We have a great playground for children to get plenty of play and exercise every day. Please provide tennis shoes in fall and spring and snowpants, boots, mittens, hat, warm coat in winter. We review often safety rules and manners on the playground. If rules are broken, a child may take a short time-out.
QUESTIONS: If you ever have a question about anything please don’t hesitate to contact me or the office.
QUICK GOODBYES LEAVE DRY EYES: Parents are always welcome to visit our classroom, but quick goodbyes can ease the transition for your child.
READING: Grades K-6 use the CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) curriculum. This program reinforces the science of reading and enhances students' knowledge of the world.
RECESS/OUTDOOR PLAY: First grade children have recess at 11:25-11:45 and 1:40 to 2:00 each day. Students are required to have snow pants and boots in the winter. If rain or too cold for outside recess, we have inside play time.
REPORT CARDS: First graders receive a report card at the end of each quarter.
RESTROOMS: There are boys/girls bathroom directly across the hall from our classroom. We do encourage children to use the bathroom during breaks. Remember to send a a change of clothing to school to be kept in your child's locker in case of spills or bathroom accidents.
RULES: We have classroom rules that are important to follow: follow directions quickly, wait your turn to talk, stay in your space, make smart choices, use kind words and actions.
SIGHT WORDS: Your child is expected to learn all sight words. They will be sent home throughout the year. Please help your child learn them.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS: First grade students participate in the Tracy Elementary Christmas program usually held the evening of the first week in December. First grade children invite parents/guests to decorate gingerbread houses at school sometime during the week prior to Christmas vacation. First graders participate in the Junior Achievement Program. This is led by a community volunteer. The students learn about citizenship life skills.
SUPPLIES: Your child will need one backpack/bookbag, one hard plastic pencil box, 12 glue sticks, two boxes of tissues, 4 boxes of standard size (not jumbo) 24 Crayola crayons, one watercolor paint set, 2 containers of Clorox or Lysol wipes, one 12 count box of Crayola colored pencils, one pointed tip Fiskars scissors for kids, 5 yellow #2 Ticonderoga regular size pencils, one 8 to 10 count box of Crayola washable markers
TRANSPORTATION: Please encourage your child to use good behavior on the school bus. Children are instructed on bus safety and good manners on the bus for the safety of all. Children can be removed from bus riding privilege after a number of warnings. If your child’s usual transportation to and from school should change for any reason please contact me or the school office by phone, e-mail or written note in the planner. If the change occurs toward the end of the day, please call the office as I don't always have time to check my text or email at that time of day.
UNIQUE: We try to communicate to each child that they have unique and special characteristics. This builds good self-esteem!
VISITORS: If you would like to visit our school or eat lunch with your child you should first check into the office and get a visitor’s pass.
WEBSITE: Check out our classroom website for information, practice ideas, updates, and pictures!
EXPECTATIONS: Together, let’s have high expectations for our children so that may reach their highest potential.
EXTRA SPECIAL: Each and every child is extra special and important to us!
YOUNGER SIBLINGS: Younger siblings have the benefit of learning from their first grade siblings. But, please do try to work with your first grader on homework activities without possible interference from a younger sibling or having an older sibling do everything for their first grade sibling. Try to foster independence in your first grade child.
ZZZZZ’S: Remember, it’s so important for your first grade child to get plenty of rest! Try to make a consistent early bedtime.