Parent Handbook 

 

 

Behavior plan

 

The behavior plan in my classroom is designed to help create a safe and peaceful environment that is conducive to learning.  The behavior plan is similar to the one used in Kindergarten.  Students will be expected to display respectful behaviors.  We voted on our class rules at the beginning of the school year.

 

    Class Rules:

    1.  Be kind! Don't hurt people.  (Respect Others)

    2.  Don't talk when an adult is talking.   (Respect Teachers)

    3.  Don't run or talk in halls.  (Respect other classrooms)

    4.  Don't destroy property.  (Respect Property)

 

When students display these types of behaviors, they will be rewarded with any of the following: verbal praise, BUG notes, and remain on "Green Card" for the day.  BUG notes (Being Unbelievably Great) notes are given to individual students for good behavior.  They are then given to the school counselor for a monthly drawing. 

 

Students who are having a difficult time following classroom rules will receive a verbal warning to please stop and make a better choice.  If the verbal cue does not solve the behavior then the student will be asked to change a card.

 

      Card System:

      Green card-Great day and a punch on their green card (when filled they can turn in for a reward)

      Yellow Card-Just a warning to make a change/ no punch on their green card

      Orange Card- 2nd Warning-Lose 5 min. recess and no punch on green card

      Blue Card- 3rd Warning-Lose 10 min. recess and no punch on green card

      Red Card-Last Card-Lose all recess, no punch on green card, note/phone call home, possibly sent to office.

 

Every student's goal is to stay on green for the day.  We all make mistakes.  Please don't be alarmed if your child has a couple of yellow days.  Your child's behavior log will be in the daily take home folder.  There is also a place for you to sign each day so that you can monitor your child's behavior daily.

 

 

 

Take Home Folders/Communication

 

Take Home Folders

 The daily take home folder will go to and from school each day.  Take home folders are important.  They serve as a daily communication between school and home.  It is very important for you to send the folder back each day.  We will use it every day.  I will include daily homework to help reinforce skills taught in class.  Hopefully you'll find the activities helpful and a great way to be involved in your child's education.  Your child needs to read every night for 10 minutes.  Your support is essential for your child's success.  There is a spot for you to write the book that you read and to sign.  Please remember to do this daily.  You may read to your child, with your child (you read a word/sentence/page and your child does the same) or let your child read to you if he/she is able to do so.  Reading with your child has been proven to improve reading skills--so be diligent.

 

The take home folder will have the behavior log, what we did for the day, and the reading log /signature sheet.  It will also have a Keep at home section for completed work to be sent home.  Please check the folder nightly!!

 

Please review all contents, as it is a great opportunity for discussion with your child about school. I will also include any special notes, schedules, and newsletters in the folder.

 

Communication

The take home folder is a daily way to communicate.  Please send any special notes, book orders, etc. in their folders.  I check the folders each morning.  If you need to contact me you can call me at school or simply email  and I will get back to you as soon as possible.  Always check for schedules, newsletters, and key concepts in your child's folder.  We have conference times set on the calendar twice a year, however if you have any concerns or questions and want to conference with me we can schedule a time to either meet or conference by phone.  Always feel free to contact me.  Thanks for all of you support!!

 

 

Classroom Routines

 

Book Order

I will send home book orders throughout the school year.  I usually send the order home with a deadline for it to be returned.  It takes 2-3 weeks to get books back.  Please do not send cash but write a check out to Scholastic Book Clubs.

 

CORE

CORE consists of Computer, Art, Music, and P.E.  The Core schedule is sent home on a calendar each month.  Please be sure to have your child wear tennis shoes on P.E. days.

 

Library

Your child will be able to check out 2 library books for a period of 2 weeks.  He/She is responsible for the book, and if lost, must be responsible for paying for it.  Please designate a special place for these books at home.  This will help your child remember to return the books too.

 

Snacks

Since we have an early lunch this year, we will have an afternoon snack.  The schedule calendar shows who is responsible to bring the snack.  The person who brings snack is also the Reader for the day.  They will get to read a book in my special chair.  Please pay special attention to this so you can help your child select a book to read for Reader's Chair.  We have 16 students and some allergies to nuts.  Keep that in mind when sending snacks.

 

Birthdays

Birthdays are special days and I celebrate your child with a certificate, birthday tag, banner, and a special gift book from the teacher!  I will try to schedule your child's snack day on their birthday so they can bring their birthday treats. We will celebrate summer birthdays on special selected days.  If your child is having a party and needs to pass out invitations they must have an invitation for every child.  Feelings are often hurt when a child is left out.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding on this issue. 

 

Transportation Home

Please send a note with your child if he/she is not riding the bus or if there are special arrangements.  We want to be sure that your child will arrive safely from school.  Please send a note every time there is a change or make a special call into the office.

 

Star Student of the Week

Each week our class will celebrate a new star of the week in our class.  The star can bring some pictures and fill out a special paper for a very special bulletin board.  The class will help create a book for the star student that they can enjoy.  Every student will get a chance to be the star!!  We have a classroom full of stars!!

 

Reader's Chair

The snack person for the day is also the reader for the day.  They sit in my special chair and read a book to the class that they feel comfortable sharing.  The night before might be a good time to review the book choice and help them feel confident.  Students who are not comfortable with the text can always share pictures.  Students may only have time to share a few pages.  I enjoy listening to them read and share their favorite parts. It is great practice and helps them gain confidence.

 

Smile Guy

Smile Guy goes home every weekend with a student.  The student writes a sentence or more about the adventure they had with Smile Guy over the weekend.  The student gets to share with the entire class and show the picture in the Smile Guy journal.  Every student will have this opportunity.

 

"Something I Like Bag"

The "Something I Like Bag" goes home with a student everyday.  Students can bring the bag back with the item to share and the special journal that helps us know why it is special and what we can learn from it.  It is so fun to see the many interesting things the students bring!

 

 

Curriculum

 

Language Arts

The Houghton-Mifflin reading series is loaded with great ideas and stories that we will be using in 1st grade.  It is an integrated program that combines reading, writing, spelling, and phonics.  Speaking and listening skills are also emphasized.  We read many books during the year including text books, library books, and trade books.  As the year progresses, the reading material will increase in difficulty.  It is important for all students to practice reading at home so classroom skills are reinforced and reading success is more easily obtained.  When we finish a book I usually let the students take the book home and share some of their favorite stories.

 

Spelling

Our spelling program supports our Reading Pathways phonics program.  Our pretest will be on Mondays each week.  Your child will not have seen the spelling list before the test.  Students who miss 0 or 1 word on the pretest will be given a super duper speller list.  If your child is on the super duper list, the list is definitely a more difficult list.  It is a challenge for those who have already mastered the regular list.  The final test will always be given on Thursday for all students.  On the final test I will also assess the grammar skills we have been working on.  We take our pretest on sound dot paper which follows closely to what we have learned in our Reading Pathways program.  The original list will have 10-12 patterned words, 2 words will be what we call cheater words in our Pathways program.  We always have the same spelling homework each week.

 

Spelling Homework

Mon.  Write words 2 times

Tues. Write words in sentences

Wed.  Take a practice test at home

 

Math

We use a program called Everyday Mathematics.  It is a problem solving approach based on everyday situations.  We will do many hands on learning activities that engage skill development.  Your child will bring home a "homelink" page  for homework that reinforces the skill we learned that day.  Please be sure your child completes the page nightly and returns it in the folder the following day.  I will send home a family letter that explains what we cover in each upcoming unit and the answers to homelinks.  You'll want to hang on to those for a reference when helping your child with homework.

 

Curriculum Rotations:

 

Science

Students have the opportunity to explore living and nonliving things, earth science, and space science.  Students will go to Mrs. Camacho for this subject.

 

Social Studies

Our social studies program engages students to explore maps, life long ago, symbols and holidays, family, economics, and citizenship.  The format and activities are interesting and motivating. Students go to Mrs. Hachen for this subject.

 

Health

The health program explores the five senses, expressing emotions, strong healthy bones and much more.  Mr. Hesterman will teach this subject.

 

Writing

Mrs. Kindle will teach some special writing skills that will challenge students to become better writers and more expressive in their writing.

 

Our rotation day will be every Friday.  Fridays will have a different schedule due to these rotations.  We enjoy teaching these different subject areas and getting to know all of the students rather than just our own classes.