Ms. Wolf’s
Important First Grade Information 2019-2020
Please use this handbook as a reference throughout the year.
I am looking forward to the opportunity to getting to know you and work with you this school year. Communication is the key to a great parent-teacher relationship. I will be communicating via monthly newsletters, notes in binder, phone calls, conferences and checklist/report cards. You are welcome to call me, send a note or email if you have any questions. My classroom phone number is 636-923-3505. Leave a message and I’ll get back with you that day. If the message is timely important feel free to contact the office (636-923-3632) and have them relay the message to me.
Morning Work & Arrival
Students are expected to arrive in our classroom no later than 8:30 and ready to begin their morning routine. There is a set routine in place. This is essential to starting the day in a productive way. Please be sure students have eaten breakfast before school or have been instructed to eat breakfast at school. A hungry child is not a happy child!
Word Work/Peanut Butter Words
Word Work will focus on a weekly skill with daily practice with the Heggerty Program. Students will study 6 words weekly from their Peanut Butter Book. Students will be tested on their appropriate list on Fridays and move forward at their own pace. Please help your child prepare nightly for our weekly spelling test by reviewing the weekly 6 words. Students will also be assessed on spelling skills in daily writing.
Reading and Writing
Reading and writing will be emphasized in Communication Arts as well as throughout the content areas and should be encouraged at home. We are using a reading workshop model based upon the work of Lucy Calkins from the Teacher’s College Reading & Writing Project as well as authentic literature sets. The literature sets will also cross over into the other curricular areas of Science and Social Studies. Some activities that foster reading and writing include taking trips to the library, sharing favorite parts of a book, reading aloud, and writing letters/notes. Reading books at home nightly is essential to your child’s reading growth. Students will be spending part of the day in a Writer's Workshop. We will focus on personal narratives, How To, non-fiction writing, writing reviews and writing poetry.
Math
We will be using a math series called “Everyday Math.” You are probably familiar with this series as it was used last year. First grade students focus on developing number sense. Students will begin with simple addition and subtraction practice. Over the year we will learn graphing, 2-digit addition with no regrouping, 2-digit subtraction with no regrouping, time, fractions, and geometry. The website Dreambox provides additional math skill support in the classroom. Dreambox will also be included as part of the weekly homework math practice.
Science/Social Studies
We will be using textbooks as well as other resources to study various topics in science including life cycles, Earth systems, light and sound. We will also be learning how to use scientific tools.
We will explore a variety of topics this year in Social Studies. Some include map skills and where we live in relationship to the whole world and economic concepts to name a few.
Homework
Your child will have a homework packet every week which includes a reading and math. Students will have a reading pouch or the choice of reading on line as part of their weekly homework. Research has shown daily reading to be one of the most important factors in predicting student success at school. Please provide a quiet place and support when needed. All homework should be completed in pencil by the student. No ink pens allowed! Parent assistance and guidance is helpful, but please do not do the homework for your child. If your child is having difficulty or overwhelmed by an assignment, please write me a note in his/her planner and I will provide help at school.
Grading
Even though we do much of our work in the form of guided reading, discussion response notebooks and cooperative learning activities….you will see some paper and pencil items come home from time to time as well as assessments. As stated in the Student Handbook I will be grading and reporting using Standards-Based Grading. You will get checklists showing your child’s growth towards a specific learning standard if it is an assessment. These will be recorded as 1-minimal, 2-developing, 3-meeting, and 4-exceeding. If it is not a formal assessment, I will just put a quick comment…good job, fantastic, etc. on that paper.
On Line Resources
Students are encouraged if possible, to visit my classroom website. We will practice in class how to get to this page on the Valley Park web page. There are many resources for additional practice of the many academic areas. Dreambox is outstanding resource to support our math curriculum. Raz Kids is awesome resource to support your child’s reading level. All usernames and passwords will be inside their binders.
Absence
Please value your child’s attendance as a priority. Much of first grade learning occurs during group activities, which cannot be made up at home. Don’t forget to call the attendance line to report the absence.
Monthly Newsletter and Calendar
Each month you will receive a first-grade newsletter and calendar. The newsletter will include important school information, upcoming events, as well as the curriculum we will be learning about during the month. Other notes will be sent home as needed. The monthly calendar may be found in the pocket of your child’s take-home folder found inside the binder. Please check this calendar frequently.
Field Trips
Field trips will be taken as extensions of our classroom activities. Children must exhibit good behavior and complete work in order to accompany the class. Siblings are not allowed to attend field trips with a parent that volunteers to be a chaperone. I will let you know as soon as possible when a field trip is scheduled.
Take Home Folder and Binder
Please make sure your child is cleaning out his/her folder/binder and book bag every night. This gives you the opportunity to review any papers with your child that have been checked and sent home. Only return homework packets that need to be returned on Fridays. I check the folders each morning for signatures and any notes from you. You will also find notes from me when needed. Please make sure you are signing your child’s folder each night after checking homework completion. Students need to learn this responsible daily procedure to be successful at school.
Birthdays
Birthdays are a welcome celebration! I like to make birthdays very special for the children. You may send store bought treats for your child’s birthday if you wish. Please include any paper products and utensils that might be needed. Drinks are an optional choice. If your child has a summer birthday, it might be celebrated as a half birthday or at the end of the school year. All treats and paper products may be brought in by the student or dropped off at the school office for that day’s celebration.
Book Orders
I will send Scholastic Book Order forms periodically. You will typically have a week to return book orders. If ever you wish for a book to be a surprise, just send the order form in an envelope with a note telling me. I’ll make sure it stays a surprise. Book orders are optional!
Classroom Conduct
In our classroom, we expect to learn free of distractions. In the next couple of weeks, the students will be working on writing our classroom constitution. Students earn a variety of rewards for making good choices during the school year and face a consequence for not following the rules. The consequence used will fit the behavior as needed. At times your child may have a think sheet, a written form to think about behavior and then signed by you. Perhaps a few minutes of recess are lost consequently to think/reflect about the situation. You will be informed in your child’s folder. In our classroom, we expect that all students:
· Follow the Hawk Way
· Be respectful to yourself, others and objects
· Listen and follow directions the first time they are given
· Come to school ready to learn and grow
Toys and things from Home
Please do not let your child bring toys to school from home. I do not want to risk getting anything broken or lost. A note will be sent home or listed in the folder when any item(s) is needed for special projects.
Stay in Touch….
If you need to reach me at any time, you can phone me here at school 636-923-3505. You may also contact me via email at [email protected]. Looking forward to a fantastic year! Thanks for reading!! Carol Wolf
Important First Grade Information 2019-2020
Please use this handbook as a reference throughout the year.
I am looking forward to the opportunity to getting to know you and work with you this school year. Communication is the key to a great parent-teacher relationship. I will be communicating via monthly newsletters, notes in binder, phone calls, conferences and checklist/report cards. You are welcome to call me, send a note or email if you have any questions. My classroom phone number is 636-923-3505. Leave a message and I’ll get back with you that day. If the message is timely important feel free to contact the office (636-923-3632) and have them relay the message to me.
Morning Work & Arrival
Students are expected to arrive in our classroom no later than 8:30 and ready to begin their morning routine. There is a set routine in place. This is essential to starting the day in a productive way. Please be sure students have eaten breakfast before school or have been instructed to eat breakfast at school. A hungry child is not a happy child!
Word Work/Peanut Butter Words
Word Work will focus on a weekly skill with daily practice with the Heggerty Program. Students will study 6 words weekly from their Peanut Butter Book. Students will be tested on their appropriate list on Fridays and move forward at their own pace. Please help your child prepare nightly for our weekly spelling test by reviewing the weekly 6 words. Students will also be assessed on spelling skills in daily writing.
Reading and Writing
Reading and writing will be emphasized in Communication Arts as well as throughout the content areas and should be encouraged at home. We are using a reading workshop model based upon the work of Lucy Calkins from the Teacher’s College Reading & Writing Project as well as authentic literature sets. The literature sets will also cross over into the other curricular areas of Science and Social Studies. Some activities that foster reading and writing include taking trips to the library, sharing favorite parts of a book, reading aloud, and writing letters/notes. Reading books at home nightly is essential to your child’s reading growth. Students will be spending part of the day in a Writer's Workshop. We will focus on personal narratives, How To, non-fiction writing, writing reviews and writing poetry.
Math
We will be using a math series called “Everyday Math.” You are probably familiar with this series as it was used last year. First grade students focus on developing number sense. Students will begin with simple addition and subtraction practice. Over the year we will learn graphing, 2-digit addition with no regrouping, 2-digit subtraction with no regrouping, time, fractions, and geometry. The website Dreambox provides additional math skill support in the classroom. Dreambox will also be included as part of the weekly homework math practice.
Science/Social Studies
We will be using textbooks as well as other resources to study various topics in science including life cycles, Earth systems, light and sound. We will also be learning how to use scientific tools.
We will explore a variety of topics this year in Social Studies. Some include map skills and where we live in relationship to the whole world and economic concepts to name a few.
Homework
Your child will have a homework packet every week which includes a reading and math. Students will have a reading pouch or the choice of reading on line as part of their weekly homework. Research has shown daily reading to be one of the most important factors in predicting student success at school. Please provide a quiet place and support when needed. All homework should be completed in pencil by the student. No ink pens allowed! Parent assistance and guidance is helpful, but please do not do the homework for your child. If your child is having difficulty or overwhelmed by an assignment, please write me a note in his/her planner and I will provide help at school.
Grading
Even though we do much of our work in the form of guided reading, discussion response notebooks and cooperative learning activities….you will see some paper and pencil items come home from time to time as well as assessments. As stated in the Student Handbook I will be grading and reporting using Standards-Based Grading. You will get checklists showing your child’s growth towards a specific learning standard if it is an assessment. These will be recorded as 1-minimal, 2-developing, 3-meeting, and 4-exceeding. If it is not a formal assessment, I will just put a quick comment…good job, fantastic, etc. on that paper.
On Line Resources
Students are encouraged if possible, to visit my classroom website. We will practice in class how to get to this page on the Valley Park web page. There are many resources for additional practice of the many academic areas. Dreambox is outstanding resource to support our math curriculum. Raz Kids is awesome resource to support your child’s reading level. All usernames and passwords will be inside their binders.
Absence
Please value your child’s attendance as a priority. Much of first grade learning occurs during group activities, which cannot be made up at home. Don’t forget to call the attendance line to report the absence.
Monthly Newsletter and Calendar
Each month you will receive a first-grade newsletter and calendar. The newsletter will include important school information, upcoming events, as well as the curriculum we will be learning about during the month. Other notes will be sent home as needed. The monthly calendar may be found in the pocket of your child’s take-home folder found inside the binder. Please check this calendar frequently.
Field Trips
Field trips will be taken as extensions of our classroom activities. Children must exhibit good behavior and complete work in order to accompany the class. Siblings are not allowed to attend field trips with a parent that volunteers to be a chaperone. I will let you know as soon as possible when a field trip is scheduled.
Take Home Folder and Binder
Please make sure your child is cleaning out his/her folder/binder and book bag every night. This gives you the opportunity to review any papers with your child that have been checked and sent home. Only return homework packets that need to be returned on Fridays. I check the folders each morning for signatures and any notes from you. You will also find notes from me when needed. Please make sure you are signing your child’s folder each night after checking homework completion. Students need to learn this responsible daily procedure to be successful at school.
Birthdays
Birthdays are a welcome celebration! I like to make birthdays very special for the children. You may send store bought treats for your child’s birthday if you wish. Please include any paper products and utensils that might be needed. Drinks are an optional choice. If your child has a summer birthday, it might be celebrated as a half birthday or at the end of the school year. All treats and paper products may be brought in by the student or dropped off at the school office for that day’s celebration.
Book Orders
I will send Scholastic Book Order forms periodically. You will typically have a week to return book orders. If ever you wish for a book to be a surprise, just send the order form in an envelope with a note telling me. I’ll make sure it stays a surprise. Book orders are optional!
Classroom Conduct
In our classroom, we expect to learn free of distractions. In the next couple of weeks, the students will be working on writing our classroom constitution. Students earn a variety of rewards for making good choices during the school year and face a consequence for not following the rules. The consequence used will fit the behavior as needed. At times your child may have a think sheet, a written form to think about behavior and then signed by you. Perhaps a few minutes of recess are lost consequently to think/reflect about the situation. You will be informed in your child’s folder. In our classroom, we expect that all students:
· Follow the Hawk Way
· Be respectful to yourself, others and objects
· Listen and follow directions the first time they are given
· Come to school ready to learn and grow
Toys and things from Home
Please do not let your child bring toys to school from home. I do not want to risk getting anything broken or lost. A note will be sent home or listed in the folder when any item(s) is needed for special projects.
Stay in Touch….
If you need to reach me at any time, you can phone me here at school 636-923-3505. You may also contact me via email at [email protected]. Looking forward to a fantastic year! Thanks for reading!! Carol Wolf