First Grade Handbook
Welcome to first grade and the beginning of another wonderful school year. I’m very excited about this school year and excited about having your child in my class. On the following pages you will find some useful information about first grade.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
The building is opened at 7:00 am each morning. Students should go directly to the gym each morning. Morning announcements and the pledge will take place every morning in the gym between 7:30-7:35 am. Our school day begins promptly at 7:45 am with instruction. If your child arrives after 7:45, he or she should go to the office for a tardy slip. Every second of our day is precious, and it is so important that we get our day started by 7:45 am.
Afternoon announcements begin around 2:40 pm and we begin dismissing at 2:45 pm. If your child must leave earlier he or she must be signed out in the office. If you need to come to the classroom or speak with me please try to let me know ahead of time so we can set up an appointment. The children get very distracted when we have visitors. It is best to set up an appointment so that instructional time is not disturbed. It also becomes a safety issue when I am unable to give them my full attention.
BEAR FOLDER
This year in first grade your child will be provided with a BEAR Folder. The BEAR Folder is a wonderful communication tool and will house everything you will need to know about First grade throughout the year! Each day your child will be responsible for bringing home his or her BEAR Folder. This will come home on the first day of school and is to be brought back to school EVERYDAY. There will be a letter explaining what it is and how it will work that you will find in the BEAR Book on the first day of school. The BEAR Folder is a great way for us to communicate, build responsibility in the children, and will be a very important tool for us this year. Please look it over carefully and let me know if you have any questions.
HOMEWORK
Beginning in Skills Unit 3 we will start taking spelling tests. Students will find these words in their BEAR Folders along with the date of the test. Although we practice these words at school, at home practice is also recommended. Please help and encourage your child to study these each night at home.
Reading will be extremely important this year. Students will be exposed to a lot of reading at school but it is very important that they are exposed to it at home. Whenever possible, encourage your child to read, read with your child, and read to your child. The more exposure a child can have the better. We will be working from a variety of different reading sources including our reading series, leveled readers, and our classroom library. I will be asking that your child practice reading every night. You will find a reading log in the BEAR Folder. Each time you and your child read, jot it down. When students fill up a reading log they will get a treat.
If your child seems to be having difficulty finishing work in class he or she may bring it home to finish. Please return it to school as soon as possible.
SNACKS
We will have a break each afternoon during our recess break. If you would like for your child to have a snack during this time please send one with your child. There will not be a provided snack in class.
MEDICINE POLICY
Our school policy for administering medicine, both prescription and over the counter must be followed strictly. If your child must take medication during school hours please check with the office for proper procedures. DO NOT SEND MEDICINE TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR CHILD. Medication must be brought to school by an adult.
ATTENDANCE
Please understand that your child’s attendance is very important. First grade is very busy and full of lots of new information. If your child misses a day of school, we must receive a written excuse within three days in order for the absence to be excused. Please send a doctor’s excuse whenever possible. Students who accumulate five unexcused absences may be reported to the county attendance supervisor. Unexcused tardiness and sign outs will count toward these days as well. You will find excuse notes in the SAFARI book.
CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE/BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT
This year we will be using a colored "clip chart" to monitor our behavior and our choices. Your child will have a mini clip chart that they will keep at their desk along with a clip that will physically move up or down the chart, depending on their choices. Each day your child will begin their day on green which stands for ready to learn. They will have an opportunity to move up the chart when good choices are made and will move down when poor choices are made. Please keep in mind that your child may not move every single day-for them to move up, they must go above and beyond in their behavior choices! I will send home a note explaining in more detail this “clip chart.”
In the BEAR folders you will find a daily report of your child’s behavior. Please check it daily and initial that you checked it.
Students will have a chance to earn "Dojo Points" for making good choices, answering stuff questions, caught being good, etc. and can spend their points on Friday on prizes/candy.
BOOK CLUBS
Reading is an extremely important part of first grade. It is important that children have as much experience with reading and books as possible. Approximately once a month I will send home book club order forms. These book clubs are great ways to buy good books at cheap prices.
To order online and help our class earn free books please visit http://www.scholastic.com/bookclubs and use our class code GKFMP
First Grade Supply List
2 boxes of Pencils (Ticonderoga brand preferred)
Crayons (2 packs)
glue sticks (12)
scissors
3 primary composition books
pencil box
water bottle
Donations of the following items would be greatly appreciated: paper towels, hand sanitizer, tissues, Clorox wipes, wedge erasers, Ziploc bags (various sizes), black fine tip Expo Markers, construction paper, white and colored copy paper
TOYS
Please DO NOT allow your child to bring toys to school. If there is ever a special occasion that students may bring toys to school I will let you know on our Friday note .
COMMUNICATION
I will send home a weekly newsletter every Friday in the BEAR book. This weekly letter will have upcoming dates, reminders, etc. Please look for this note so you can stay informed of what’s happening in our class!
If you need to get in touch with me I can be reached the following ways:
email: edelk@overtoncountyschools.net
school: 931-823-5921
or
You may jot me down a note in the BEAR Book on the communication log.
Your child is VERY important to me! If your child has any special needs or circumstances please let me know. If you have any questions or concerns please let me know. I look forward to a fun and successful year with your child in first grade!
Thank you!
Miss Elisabeth Delk
