It was nice to meet all of you last week! I hope you left with a better idea of what we do in our first grade classroom.
Some of you had great questions that not everyone was in the room for, and I'd also like to recap some important points.
1. If your child will be out for vacation, send me an email if you would like the missed work sent home beforehand. I have no problem sending it to you!
2. Phonics! Phonics! Phonics! Please help your child sound out the spelling words. It is so important that they learn to blend the sounds, rather than memorizing the words.
3. Your child needs to write their first name, last name, and number on every paper they hand in, including homework.
4. We love to celebrate birthdays! Your child may dress down for their bday. You may send in a non-edible treat for the class such as stickers or a small toy. We are not allowed to hand out candy or cookies, etc.for birthdays or any holiday.
5. Spelling and Reading tests every Friday. Math tests will happen when we complete each chapter. There are no formal Religion tests.
6. The ABC Order index cards and corresponding worksheet do not need to be returned to school.
7. All homework should be initialed/signed and returned. Spelling and reading tests should be signed and returned in the yellow folder.
8. Lunchtime is short! If your child will be buying a separate snack/dessert please know that if they ask too late,(especially ice cream) they may not be allowed to buy. We eat snack around 1:30 each day. Please remember only water and no nuts for that snack as we eat in the classroom.
9. I set up 1A Teams and it is working for some of you! You may have to go into your account and accept my invitation.
10. Our class trip to the Bayshore will be in May.
11. Our First Grade Prayer Service will be the last day before Christmas vacation. If you know ahead of time that your child will be absent that day please let me know.
12. Our new math program is very different! We are taking things slow,reviewing in class frequently. It's going to take time for all of us to adjust. I have heard from some of you that homework has been very difficult. Please reach out if your child is struggling because I can always go over the HW problems with the class as a review.
13.This is important and was not discussed at Back to School Night:
Starting Wednesday 9/17, we are tweaking our sentence homework in spelling. I will model two sentences in class. Then the other 3 sentences your child will write with you. So for this Wednesday (tomorrow), the first two words that I will use in class are "did' and "him". They are the first 2 words from the ABC Order list. Your child will then copy them during class time. Then, when they get home they will write just 3 sentences using the words using "him, "is", and "list".
We will do the same routine for Thursday using the last 5 words from the ABC Order list. I will model 2, they will write 3 with you.
I will continue this through September. In October, I will model 1 sentence. By November they will be writing all 5 for homework.
14.Bathroom and Water breaks. The children are given a 10 minute break between 9-9:30 each day to use the bathroom and sip some water if thirsty. They also use the bathroom and are offered a water break after recess. Then again during snack time, if they need to use the bathroom they are allowed to go. I realize that sometimes children may need to use the bathroom outside of those break times. If they ask in the middle of teaching time, I may have them wait a few minutes to leave the room, but they will have a chance to go. Please be sure your child uses the bathroom before they leave for school too!