Welcome to 1st Grade

The year is off to a great start! I hope the following information is helpful in understanding what your child’s school day is like and answers any questions you may have.

Classroom Procedures and Schedule
It is important that your child brings all of the supplies listed on the first grade supply list to school as soon as possible. Please refer to the right side of the screen to view the supply list.

Your child is expected to be seated and ready to work promptly at 9:00 a.m. We begin each day with time for silent independent reading. We then complete our daily calendar routine and graph the weather. The remainder of our morning is dedicated to language arts instruction. Scheduled lunch and recess is from 12:05 – 12:50 p.m. The afternoon includes read aloud time, math, social studies, and science. Please scroll down and refer to the right side of the screen to view the schedule for our weekly pull-out classes (P.E., Music, Library, Art, Computer Lab, and Health).

Behavior
We have discussed behavior as a class and have decided on four classroom rules:
1. Be Safety Smart
2. Be Kind
3. Raise Your Hand
4. Be Honest

Students who choose to behave appropriately earn points. When a child has accumulated 20 points they can be cashed in for a treasure from the treasure chest.

When the entire class displays appropriate behavior a marble is awarded. Once the marble jar is full the class has earned a popcorn party.

Inappropriate behavior is dealt with on an individual basis and will involve parents if a child’s behavior needs to be modified.

Grading
Report card grades for the first grade are as follows:
O = Outstanding
S = Satisfactory
N = Needs Improvement

Your child will be graded according to his/her academic performance with attitude and effort being recognized as a contributing factor to the grading process.

Parents in the Classroom
Please feel free to come in and visit us. Parents are always welcome to join in and help out in our classroom. If you are interested in volunteering on a weekly basis please stop by the classroom and I will give you a Volunteer Opportunities sheet to fill out. After you return the sheet, I will then contact you and schedule a time for you to come in and help.

Communication
Look for your child to bring home a dark blue mail folder. This folder is a means of communication between you and I. Please check it regularly for information being sent home and feel free to return paperwork back to school in it.

Look for our class newsletter to be posted on this blog on a weekly or biweekly basis. If you would prefer to have a paper copy sent home please let me know. The newsletter will keep you updated on topics that your child is currently learning about, include important information such as the Shooting Star of the Week, as well as any supplies that the class may be in need of for upcoming projects.

New Technology Tools
I am a current ASD Teacher Technology Leader grant winner for the 2008 – 2009 school year. This means your child has the unique opportunity to interact with cutting edge technology tools on a daily basis that are unavailable to other classrooms. In order to maintain safety for all students, as well as fully benefit from the technology tools made available to us, it is imperative that all parents complete and sign an internet agreement (www.asdk12.org/forms/uploads/StudentIUA.pdf) and media release form (www.asdk12.org/forms/uploads/MediaRelease.pdf) for their child. If you are concerned about either form, please contact me immediately.

I am looking forward to a great year in first grade at Kincaid Elementary and I hope that you are too!

Sincerely,
Joni Matthews