Meet the Teacher Night

 “Meet the Teacher” Night

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Welcome Parents!

     Hello again!  Here are just a few of the many activities we will be involved in during this wonderful, new school year at Peters Elementary.

1.  Daily Folders:  Your child will bring home a blue folder each night.  It will contain any homework that needs to be completed or any important papers that must be signed and returned to me the following school day.  These papers will be located in the “Return to School” side of the folder.  All other papers that don’t need to be returned to school should be in the other side of the folder (“Keep at Home”).  Please check both sides of your child’s folder each night.  At times, some important papers can end up in the wrong side of the folder.  I generally correct and send home assignments and tests the day after they are returned to me.  Please take time to look at all of your child’s work and review any areas that may need further attention.  Stress to your child the importance of being neat and careful when completing school work!

2.  Friendly First Grade Newsletter:  On Fridays, look for our class newsletter listing the schedule of events for the upcoming school week.  If posted on your refrigerator, you will be up to speed and well aware of EVERYTHING your child is learning!  J  You will find information on important dates, assignments, and topics of the week.  I will also be posting our newsletter on my website this year find my website from the Peters homepage.  The information on these newsletters is extremely important.  Please read it so you don’t miss any events or notices!

3.  Weekly Vocabulary Words:  Every week, you will find a list of vocabulary words we will be discussing in the upcoming week of school.  The vocabulary words go along with the “Shared Reading” story we will be working on during that school week.  Please practice these sight words with your child a few minutes each night.  This will help to build and strengthen your child’s sight vocabulary and fluency.  I may also send home a paper with sentences containing our weekly vocabulary words.  Practice reading this sheet with your child each night, and have him or her point to each word as he or she reads the sentences to ensure that your child is not just memorizing sentences.  Sign and return this sheet to me by Friday of that week.

5.  Monthly Journal:  Every morning our class will be writing a few sentences or thoughts in a writing journal.  In the beginning of the year, the children start journal writing by copying the daily message from the board.  By the end of the school year, the children will be able to write their own daily message.  How exciting it will be to see all the progress your child will make in writing this year!

 6.  Classroom rules:  Our class created and agreed to follow the rules listed below.

Rules:

1.  Raise your hand when you want to speak.

2.  Walk in the classroom and hallway.

3.  Listen to the teacher when she is talking.

4.  Never shout in school.

5.  Never push, touch, or hit anyone.

6.  Smile J

                                         Consequences:

1.  First time rule is broken…      Name on board (= warning)

2.  Second time rule is broken…          ü next to name (= lose half recess)

3.  Third time rules is broken…      üü next to name (= lose all recess)

4.  Fourth time rule is broken…      üüü next to name (= call home)

5.  Fifth time rule is broken…      (= go to principal)

7.  Special Subject Class Schedule:  10:45 – 11:25 a.m.

     Day 1 – Activity (Hands-on extensions)

     Day 2 – Library (Remember to return your books on this day)

     Day 3 – Computer Lab

     Day 4 – Music & Computer Lab (with Mr. Green)

     Day 5 – Art (You will need your paint shirt)

     Day 6 – Phys. Ed. (Remember to wear your sneakers on this day)

                   *Breakfast – 8:55-9:15 a.m.

                   *Recess – 12:35 – 12:55 p.m.

                   *Lunch – 1:05 – 1:35 p.m.

8.  Reading Curriculum:  We will be using the Scott Foresman Reading Street series again this year, continuing what your child learned in Kindergarten. It incorporates research-based reading instructions in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.  There are activities that take the children through the writing process to become fluent writers.  Differentiated instruction is addressed with guided reading.

     What is Guided Reading?

The teacher works with a small group of children who use similar reading processes and are able to read similar levels of text with support.  The first grade program is leveled through the Reading Street series.

     What is the goal of Guided Reading?

To help children learn how to use independent reading strategies successfully.

     What kind of homework can I expect with Guided Reading?

Several times a week, your child will bring home a legal-sized envelope containing the book we worked on in our guided reading group that day.  Please let your child read this story to you.  Sign and return the paper inside the envelope stating that you listened to your child read.  Promptly return the envelope containing the book on the next school day.

9.  Little Phonics Readers:  Your child will soon start to bring home one or two little phonics readers each week.  When your child has read these little readers to you, please sign your name on the front of the little reader and have your child bring them back to school.  We will reread them and then file them in your child’s little library box where they will be kept until the end of the school year. 

10.  Math Curriculum:  Here are the concepts we will be covering in first grade math this year.

     Unit 1 – Adding and Subtracting Concepts

     Unit 2 – Adding and Subtracting with Facts to 10

     Unit 3 – Adding and Subtracting to 12.  Numbers to 100.

     Unit 4 – Money, Time, and Graph Concepts

     Unit 5 – Geometry, Measurement, and Fractions

     Unit 6 – Addition and Subtraction to 20 with 2-Digit Numbers

11.  Phonics:  We will usually have Phonics homework 3-4 times a week.  Please do not feel you need to learn the coding marks for words.  Hopefully, your child will listen well during class and be able to code words on his/her own.  However, do not get frustrated and feel you can’t help your child with his/her homework.  Just by allowing your child to read the words or sentences on the homework sheet to you each night will be the best help you could give him/her.  If you are interested in learning more about coding marks, I have provided a coding packet for you to refer to throughout the year.  Remember… coding is just a strategy the children can use to help them sound out unknown words.

12.  Spelling:  Your child will get a list of spelling words to study each week.  I will put the spelling list on our weekly newsletter.  Our tests will be given every Day 6.  If Day 6 falls on a Monday, the test will be given the previous Friday instead.  Practice the words each night with your child.

13.  Science Curriculum:  We have a new Science series.  Here are some of the topics we will be covering this year…

     Unit A – Plants

     Unit B – Animals

     Unit C – Sky and Weather (sun, moon, stars, planets, and seasons)

     Unit D – Caring for Earth (rocks, soil, water, air, and pollution)

     Unit E – Matter (solids, liquids, and gasses)

     Unit F – Force and Motion (magnets and sound)

14.  Science and Social Studies Grading:  Science and Social Studies concepts are integrated into our Language Arts curriculum.  Therefore, your child will not receive a letter grade in these two subject areas.  However, he/she will earn a participation number on his/her report card.

15.  Excuse blanks:  Please send in an excuse blank with your child the day he/she returns to school.  I have provided a sheet of excuse blanks for you to use throughout the school year.

16.  Book Clubs:  I will be sending home book club papers each month.  Your child is not obligated to buy any books.  When ordering books, please make the check payable to the specific book club you are ordering from.  Please do not make the check payable to me.  I will have order deadlines listed on the weekly newsletter.  I will not write them on the book club papers that go home.

17.  Birthdays:  Birthdays are such special occasions for our children.  Cupcakes or any other treats are always welcome in our class.  This year we have 20 children.  However, please do not feel you are required to bring a treat into school.  This is only a suggestion that has been successful in the past.  Also, please do not send private home party invitations to school for me to distribute unless the entire class is invited.  It results in hurt feelings for those not invited.  In addition, I am not allowed to give out student addresses or phone numbers for parties.  You may be able to find many children’s addresses in the PTO student directory.

18.  Grading: 

Our Elementary District-Wide Grading System

G = Good – Child consistently produces work of high quality and consistently applies learned skills.

S = Satisfactory – Child usually produces work of satisfactory quality and often applies learned skills.

N = Needs Improvement – Child seldom produces work of satisfactory quality and frequently needs reteaching.

My Classroom Grading System

G = 0 Wrong (Star, Smiley Face) for Neat Job

G = 0 Wrong (Sticker) for Perfection

S = Has 1 or 2 errors.  For the most part, understand the concept.

N = Has several errors on paper.  May not yet understand the concept being taught or is just making careless errors.  (Extra practice with teacher may be suggested during recess time)

19.  Book It:  Book It starts in October.  4 hours of reading each month is our goal.  Sign and return your child’s Book It calendar at the end of each month.  Be sure to mark how many hours he/she read for the month.  Each child that meets our 4 hour goal will earn a Pizza Hut certificate – good for one free personal pan pizza.

20.  Free Lunch Forms:  Please fill out this form even if you aren’t sure you will qualify.  Our school benefits in many ways by having a higher enrollment in free and reduced lunches.  (Remember, the information you give the district is strictly confidential.)

21.  PTO:  PLEASE JOIN!!!

22.  ENJOY YOUR CHILD’S YEAR IN FIRST GRADE…  IT’S THE GREATEST ONE OF ALL!!!

This just about covers our year in first grade.  Please remember, if you ever have any questions or concerns at any time, please don’t hesitate to call me at school (x1412), read the info on our weekly newsletters/website, or email me at jhillegass@nlsd.org.  You’ll hear from me by the end of the day!

      Sincerely,

  Miss Hillegass

Teacher Websites © 2009 SchoolWorld