Mrs. Prull’s First Grade Class Schedule
8:30-8:45 Morning Procedures, Calendar
8:45-9:15 Religion (Chapel on Wednesday)
9:15-9:30 Spelling, word work
9:30-10:15 Math
10:15-10:30 Recess
10:30-11:00 Reading/literature
11-11:30 Language
11:40-11:55 Lunch
12:00-12:20 Recess
12:30-1:00 First trimester-Musical practice
Second and third trimester-
Spanish-
Art
Fitness
Music
1:00-1:30 Science (M, W, F)
1:00-1:45 PE (T, Th)
1:30-1:45 Science (M, W, F)
1:45-2:15 Language Arts (M, W, F)
1:45-2:15 Social Studies (T, Th)
2:15-2:45 Handwriting, Art or Center Time
2:45-3:00 Closing, Clean up and prayers
Keeping in contact:
Communication between home and school is essential! Your children will have a pocket folder, which they will bring home everyday. All papers will be sent home in this folder including homework, school newsletter, permission slips, and chapel offering bag or important notes. They will need to bring their folder to school everyday!!!
Every Monday you will receive a class newsletter via email that will keep you informed of our classroom activities. The class newsletter will include the week's memory verse and spelling words. Any field trip permission slips and monthly book orders will be sent home in your child's folder. Notes may come home at other times, too as needed. It is important that check your child's folder for any notes that may require your immediate attention. Be sure you read the newsletter and notices. That way you will stay fully informed and not miss anything vital.
If there is something that may affect your child's mood or behavior at school (such as medication, a late night or family problems), please send a note in your child's folder or send an email to let us know. This will help us to be understanding and supportive of your child during the day.
If you have a quick question, I will be available at 3:15 P.M. each day. If you want to discuss your child's progress, please make an appointment with me. This allows me to observe your child and gather any necessary information, and I can devote all of my attention to our discussion. You can contact me by putting a note in your child's folder, leave a message in the office or send me an email @ meggrace1st@gmail.com
Discipline:
We will work on making good choices in class. Our goal is that children learn to make good choices and gain self-discipline so that our classroom is a happy, secure environment for learning. Students are told of expected behaviors in class. The classroom rules are posted in class and reviewed throughout the year.
Classroom Rules
The following rules will enable us to have a positive and effective learning environment in our classroom:
1. Be kind (Say nice things. Share. Respect other people and their belongings. Keep your hands to yourself.)
2. Be a good listener (Follow teacher's directions the 1sttime. Listen in class. Listen while others are talking.)
3. Follow classroom procedures. (Work quietly. Raise your hand. Do not disturb others.)
4. Be a good problem solver (Go to the teacher in cases of emergency- when someone is being hurt, or when property is being damaged. Otherwise, think of a positive way of solving the problem yourself!)
5. Do your work neatly, on time, and to the best of your ability.
During the school year we will use a behavior clip chart. Each student will begin on the green section labeled ready to learn. They may move up the chart for good behavior. When a child is not following our class rules their clip will be moved down to yellow (make a better choice), orange (teacher’s choice) or red (parent contact). This will mean that they will need to spend time during center time solving their problem. A note will be sent home to be signed and returned.
Consequences for misbehavior may include:
Missing recess
Missing class activity
Missing field trip
After school detention with teacher and principal
-Aggressive behavior may result in an immediate downward movement of clip.
Behavior Report
A behavior report will be sent home each Friday. It will let you know your child's behavior for the week. Please sign and return this form each week.
Marble Jar Party/Class reward
The class will work together towards filling a jar with marbles. Marbles can be earned when the class is really working hard at doing their best. Once the jar is full we will choose how we want to celebrate (a movie, extra recess, a special snack or some other special treat.
Tardies
Tardiness interrupts everyone's learning. Children should be here ready to line up when the bell rings at 8:25.
Dismissal
If your child must leave early for the day, go directly to the office and sign them out. I will send your child to the office when the office notifies me. Whenever possible let me know in advance by phone or note.
If your child is to be picked up by someone other than the usual person, please notify me by note or phone message.
Please let me know if your child will be going to daycare.
Visiting
All parents and visitors must check-in at the office. Please do not bring items to the classroom during the day. Take the item to the office. This minimizes interruptions.
Homework
Weekly Homework Schedule
Monday: Reading at home (minimum 20 minutes)
Weekly report due Monday
Tuesday: Reading at home (minimum 20 minutes)
Wednesday: Reading (minimum 20 minutes).
Thursday: Reading (minimum 20 minutes).
Friday: Reading (minimum 20 minutes) Reading at Home form due today!
The primary focus of homework in my class is reading. Additionally they should practice spelling and reading their weekly spelling words, practice math facts with their flash cards, practice reciting the weekly memory verse. You may choose which day or days will be best.
I encourage you to ask your child to tell you about the stories they read. This will help develop their comprehension skills.
Each week your child will have a write and share assignment that will be placed in their folder on Friday. They will be assigned a day of the week that their assignments will be due. At the beginning they will require assistance but as the year goes on they may be able to complete on their own.
At the beginning of each math chapter a packet will be sent home with a pacing schedule on the front cover. This is optional work but may be completed and returned for a few extra credit points.
Your child may have additional homework as needed to complete unfinished class work or to further practice fundamental skills. This work needs to be completed and returned the following day.
Reminders
Book bags must be brought to school daily and will be turned in on Friday!
WEEKLY REPORT get signed and put back for Monday!
**Parents, please discuss any behavior concerns with your child.
Reading at home form must also be signed and returned on Friday
All graded work and completed reading at home forms will be sent home in the finished work side (right side of the folder) and should be taken out and kept at home. Please be sure to always check your child's folder and remove all the papers from the finished work side each day.
The following are ideas of things you can do with your child to help them have a successful first grade year.
Spelling words: Each week there will be 10 spelling words. Review them with your child- orally, written, or in a game. When the list comes home on Monday, see how many he/she knows. If none-learn 2 words. Each day add two more words. There will also be a list of high frequency words. They should practice reading and recognizing these words. If they have mastered the spelling words they should practice spelling the high frequency words. Spelling tests are taken every Friday.
Memory work: Each week there will be a Bible verse for your child to memorize. We will discuss the verse in class, but it should be practiced at home. Make it a part of your routine. Recite it on the way to school, or at supper, or at bedtime. Memory tests are on Fridays. At the beginning of the year they will recite them to me. Beginning with the second trimester they will change to a fill in blanks format.
Math facts: In first grade we will begin memorizing addition and subtraction math facts. The goal is for each child to know their facts (without using their fingers). I will send home the addition flashcards that were purchased as class supplies. It will be beneficial to spend a little time practicing with the flashcards at home. Go slowly and be aware of your child's attention span/frustration level. At first see if your child knows any of the facts. Start with a few cards and a 2 or 3 new cards each day or so until the set is done. Then work on speed.
Reading: Your child needs to practice reading a minimum of 15 minutes every night. Practice is the only way to improve reading speed and accuracy. Ask your child questions after to reading to stimulate their comprehension skills. Beginning in October, we will participate in the Pizza Hut Book-It program. Each month each child will receive a monthly reading log with a goal of how many minutes should be read. If the goal is met, he/she receives a coupon for a free personal pizza. The monthly reading chart is a part of your child's reading grade so be sure to fill in the time and return it to school even if the goal is not met.
Handwriting: Encourage your child to write neatly all the time. With practice their writing speed will improve. You can help them develop fine motor skills by providing dot to dot activities, word searches or any activity that requires careful writing skills. We use a modern manuscript style of printing. This style allows a smooth transition into cursive. I will send home a copy of this alphabet style for you to keep handy for reference at home.
Class work: If your child does not use work time wisely for completing work required, I will send it home for homework. The work is due the following day. (Full credit may not be given.)
Snack Time
In first grade we do not have time during class for snacks but they do sometimes get a little hungry before lunch time. During the first few weeks of school I will provide one graham cracker that they can eat during the first few minutes of recess. Each child will need to bring 1 box of graham crackers (any brand or flavor, i.e. cinnamon, chocolate, and plain) each trimester. Please send your box during the first two weeks of school. I will remind everyone when to send them for the second and third trimester. Thanks in advance for your help.
Birthdays
We will celebrate birthdays in class at 2:30 in the afternoon. Children with birthdays during the summer months will get to celebrate "unbirthdays". Your child may bring a treat to share with the class-cupcakes, cookies, donuts, etc. Please save more elaborate celebrations such as treat bags and balloons for a party outside of school time. Please let me know when you would like to send in treats so I can be sure we have enough time to celebrate.
Starfish of the Week
Each student will have a turn at being the student of the week. They will need to fill in the poster. Your child should find 3 things that are special or interesting to them and put them into the bag that I will send home on Thursday and bring them to school on Friday to share. Items other than toys are preferred. Books, trophies, pictures, anything that has special meaning to them.
Toys
Toys should not be brought to school. We have toys for the classroom and other equipment for recess. This helps prevent lost or broken toys and hurt feelings.
Field Trips
We have several wonderful field trips planned to enrich our curriculum. We will be going to Rosa’s Milk Farm, 88.9 radio station, Enchanted Playhouse,Visalia Library, The Gardens and Hillcrest. We will need drivers/chaperones for transportation. Most of our field trips have limited space. Younger siblings will not be able to attend. Priority will be given who can transport 3 or more students. We understand that you may need time off from work to attend a field trip. If you would like to chaperone, return the permission slip promptly. In the event that you will not be able to take the time off notify us immediately so we can allow another chaperone the opportunity to attend.
Class Parties
We will celebrate Christmas, Easter and Valentine's Day with class parties. We will also have a fall/harvest party. In the first few weeks of school I will allow the children to choose the party they would like to host. There should be 3 or 4 students for each party. If it is a party that your child is hosting I will send a list of items, paper goods, drinks cookies, popcorn, etc. or you may offer a suggestion of what you would like to send. They may sign up to bring one or more of the items. This is also the party you are welcome to help and attend. I will coordinate the notes and let you know what you need to send for the celebration.
Class volunteers-Volunteers are needed as drivers and chaperones as well as for various craft projects.