First Grade – Kitah Alef

First Grade Orientation Alphabet

Welcome to First Grade at MJGDS! This Orientation Alphabet is intended to help answer questions you may have about your child’s school year. Please keep this handbook for future reference.

Aa       Attendance and Absences

• Attendance is linked to school success!
• Arrival time is from 8:00-8:10. School starts at 8:15.  If your child arrives in the classroom after 8:15 he/she is considered tardy.
• If your child will be absent from class, please e-mail or call the school. A note should be provided to the office once your child returns to school.

AR (Accelerated Reader)

• We are excited to offer Accelerated Reader at our school.  This is a reading program that helps students pick “just-right” books for him/her to read.  Our classroom will start the program by the end of August.

Bb       Behavior Chart

• The behavior chart in our classroom is designed to allow students to improve behavior if they are having a rough day.  We will be using what is called a ‘clip chart.’ Students all start on ‘green-ready to learn’ and will move their clips up or down based on their performance throughout the day.

Birthdays

• We will recognize this special day for each child during class time.
• Snacks are welcome, but please keep them all the same and ‘mini-sized’. For example you may send in mini-chocolate donuts for a birthday treat. There are 16 students in our class.

Book Orders

• Each month Scholastic Book Orders will be sent home. The book club has excellent books at reasonable prices. Our classroom will receive free materials and books for each book ordered. If you would like to order books online you can visit scholastic.com/bookorders.

Cc        Classroom Rules

• Raise your hand.
• Use inside voices
• Use listening ears.
• Use walking feet.
• Be kind.

Clothing

• School uniforms are required Monday-Thursday.
• Students should wear Shabbat clothing on Fridays.  Please follow the guidelines provided by the school. No one should wear shirts without sleeves.
• Please ensure your child wears sneakers during PE days.
• All clothing and lunch boxes should be labeled.

Communication

• I believe communication is the key component to a successful school year!
• Please check our class blog daily by visiting http://mjgds.org/classrooms/1stgrade/.
• Along with the blog, I will also communicate through e-mails, behavior charts, notes, telephone calls and conferences.
• You are also encouraged to e-mail me at pamela.lewis@mjgds.org if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Curriculum

• Our reading series is a continuation of the reading series we used in Kindergarten. It is called Reading Street. It includes related stories, leveled readers, weekly spelling words, grammar and writing lessons.
• Our new math series is called Primary Mathematics and it is based on Singapore Math. As a staff, we are in the process of enriching our understanding of the methods used in Primary Mathematics.  There will be parent meetings and notes sent home to help you better understand the series in the coming weeks. I greatly appreciate your patience and understanding during this curriculum transition.
• Our science and social studies units will be teacher-directed and based on the standards for Florida.

Dd       Discipline Policy: Rewards and Consequences

• Derech Eretz means conducting oneself with respect, responsibility, and kindness. Each child is expected to follow our classroom rules.
• Rewards will result from positive behaviors.

-Rewards may include praise, notes home, free time, and lunches with the teacher.

-Children also have the opportunity to earn “tickets” with positive behavior. If a child is “caught” following directions he/she will earn a ticket to go in our class lottery. Each Friday a ticket is pulled for a special reward.

- Since we are community, our entire class will also have the opportunity to earn marbles for our marble jar. Once our jar is filled the entire class will earn a special treat—a marble party!

• Consequences will result from negative behaviors. Our classroom discipline plan uses clips placed on different colors to keep track of your child’s behaviors. Each day your child will start on a green. However, if he/she chooses not to follow the classroom rules the clip will be moved up or down. There is always a possibility of earning the opportunity to return to green if behaviors are corrected. Warnings and positive reinforcement will be provided in order to help ensure your child’s success in following the classroom rules.

Ee       Evaluations and Assessments

• Your child will be assessed throughout the year to determine his/her understanding of the concepts covered in class.
• Letter grades will not be used on schoolwork, but rather a system of checks.

Ff       FANN

• We collect food each week to send to FANN.  Please send in your food donations each Friday.

Field Trips

• We will go on several field trips this year. Please stay tuned for more information at a later date.

Gg       Good Behavior

• We expect all students to follow our classroom rules.  This helps ensure a positive learning environment for everyone!

Hh       Homework

• I understand the importance of family time and do not want to overwhelm students, but I also value your child’s education. As stated in the handbook, “homework is an important tool for reinforcement and enrichment.” Therefore, homework will be assigned throughout the year.
• In the beginning of the year, homework should be completed each evening it is assigned. However, as the year progresses, it is my goal to create homework packets that will contain spelling, math review, etc. Your child will still bring home reading stories throughout the week to read to you.
• Please keep in mind that our new math series teaches with methods that may be unfamiliar to you.  Please contact me if you have questions.
• Please supervise your child’s homework, BUT DO NOT DO IT FOR THEM.

Ii       Illness

• It can be very difficult to decide when your child should stay home but please keep your child home from school when he/she is ill. This will help prevent the other children and myself from becoming ill.

Jj

Kk       Kind

• I expect all students to be kind to their peers.  I hope to create a safe learning environment.

Ll       Lunch

• Lunch is from 12:00-12:30pm
• You can either purchase a lunch from Margo’s or send in a kosher lunch.

Mm       Messy!

• Please excuse our messy hands, clothes, and sometimes even our messy room. In our classroom learning involves being active!

Nn       News

• Please check our blog DAILY for important class updates.

Oo       Outside

• We will spend some time outside each day either through PE or recess.

Pp       Photographs

• I like to document our year of learning through photographs. These will be posted on our blog so you can also be part of our learning community.

Qq       Questions

• You can send me a note in your child’s take home folder or e-mail me when you have a question.

Rr       Report Cards

• Report cards will be issued every nine weeks.

Ss       Schedule

• Our schedule will be flexible each day.
• Our weekly resources are: Monday-Art, Tuesday-Library and PE, Wednesday-PE, Thursday-PE and Music.

Snacks

• We will have a healthy snack DAILY.  Please keep in mind this is a snack—NOT a meal. You are also encouraged to send in a small bottle of water for your child as well.

Supplies

• Thank you for supporting our school fee for class supplies.  We currently have all the supplies needed for a successful year. Please do not send in extra supplies (such as folders) with your child to school.

Tt       Take Home Folders

• Please check your child’s folder each night for important notes, homework.

Uu       “U”

• …are your child’s first and most important teacher!  I encourage “u” to take an active role in your child’s education.

Vv       Volunteers

• If you wish to volunteer in our classroom please see me.  We love volunteers!

Ww       Wish List

• Please consider donating the following items to our classroom.

-Extra Snacks

-Pillows

-New or Gently Used Children’s Books

Xx       eXciting!

• First Grade is an exciting year!

Yy       Yawns

• Please make sure your child gets plenty of rest every night.
• Please keep in mind that a good breakfast will keep your child alert and ready to learn all day.

Zz       Zzzzzzzz!

• Your child may come home exhausted from all the wonderful learning and exploring. But there’s no need to worry because he/she will have lots of fun in the process!