Dear Students and Families,
Welcome to First Grade! We’re excited about the opportunity to get to know you, and are looking forward to a happy and productive school year.
Curriculum areas we will focus on this year include:
Reading—we will read a variety of stories this year as we work to develop our skills. Students will be tested weekly on story comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and a comprehension skill.
Math—please check the study page in your child’s Communication Folder for the skill being studied each week. Students will be tested on skills as they are covering along with the memorization of basic facts to 12.
Reading Foundations:
Phonics— A portion of the weekly reading test will cover the current phonics skill and will be given on Friday of each week (unless otherwise noted on the Home Learning Page).
Spelling —students will continue to develop their knowledge of letters and how they work together to form words.
**Spelling Bee: At the end of the school year, each class will have a Spelling Bee. You can practice with your child at home by calling out the word and having them "say the word, spell the word, say the word" for you.
HOMEWORK:
Parish policy allows for 45 minutes of homework for first grade. A HOME LEARNING sheet will come home on Mondays. It will include all suggested activities for the week. Please see that your child spends time each night reading, practicing phonics skills, going over math pages, and math facts.
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Graded papers will be sent home in the blue folder weekly on Wednesdays. Please sign the chart stapled to the inside of the folder and return all papers to school by Friday of the same week.
The parish grading policy is:
93-100 A
85-92 B
75-84 C
67-74 D
66 and below F
The red folder will be used as our “COMMUNICATION FOLDER”. It will come home daily and will include the following items:
Weekly Home Learning Study Page
Daily conduct grade to be initialed
Practice pages from daily subjects (such as math & reading)
Any notes from the office or classroom teacher that need attention.
Please be sure to check this folder nightly, go over practice pages with your child, and return the folder to school daily.
Behavior:
Students will start each day with a behavior grade of “A”. For each infraction of a classroom or school rule they will move a conduct clothespin reducing their behavior grade for the day. Your child's daily behavior grade will also be affected by their behavior in P.E. Children who get in trouble in P.E. will move their clothespin and miss recess for the day. (Please be sure to read the handout sent home by the P.E. teacher at the beginning of the school year. It explains their discipline policy as well as provides other important information.) The grade will be recorded in the Communication Folder that comes home daily. Please initial this grade daily to show that you are aware of your child’s conduct at school. Remember, toys are not allowed at school and will be taken away by your child’s teacher.
Classroom expectations are:
1. Follow directions quickly
2. Raise your hand for permission to speak.
3. Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat.
4. Make smart choices.
5. Keep your dear teacher happy.
Dress Code
Please be sure that your child follows the dress code as it appears in the Rapides Parish School Board Policy Handbook. This includes a tucked in shirt and belt. We must encourage our first graders to be responsible for their uniform now so they are prepared for the later grades when detention will be assigned for uniform infractions. Please remember, children are not allowed pants or shorts with pockets or loops on the legs. Your child will be considered out of uniform if he/she wears them.
As per state policy, students are required to be in attendance 160 days. If your child is absent for an illness, please get a doctor’s excuse or write a note to your child’s teacher. Doctor’s excuses must be turned in within five days of the absence. Make-up tests will be before school and at recess.
If you have any questions or concerns or if you would like to visit our classroom, schedule a conference, or volunteer to help out, you can contact your child’s teacher by e-mail or through the front office.
Once again, welcome to first grade. Let’s work together to make this the best year ever!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Mildred Tucker [[email protected]]
Mrs. Angela Gorum[[email protected]]
Mrs. Lacie Russell [[email protected]]