First Grade Information



First Grade Information 2015-16

Mrs. Birzele—Room 106

Morning Drop Off:

Please read the student handbook for a complete description of the morning drop off procedure.

Dismissal:

At approximately 2:50 p.m., the children will start being dismissed. Walkers/car riders are called down to the exit by the gym doors between 2:50 – 2:55. Bus riders are called down, by bus number, after walkers and riders. If an unplanned situation arises, please notify the front office. They will call the child down to the office or inform me of the change in plans.

If transportation changes need to be made, they must be made by YOU. Please DO NOT send your child to school with verbal instructions of a change. If unsure, I will ALWAYS default to the information you have given me on the transportation form. No verbal changes will be accepted from the child. If you need to make last minute changes, please send in a note or call the office. Please do not e-mail me changes during the school day as I may not see them before dismissal. If your child’s afternoon schedule changes from day to day, I will need a weekly schedule every Monday or a daily note.

Snack:

The children will be given time every day for a snack. It is your responsibility to provide your child with a healthy snack every day. The snack can be packed in lunch bags or packed separately. Please do not send chocolate or sugar snacks. A healthy snack is good for brain function and the learning process. Healthy snacks may include but are not limited to: fruit, vegetables, pretzels, yogurt, applesauce, crackers, cheese, or fruit snacks. Feel free to ask if you have any questions about what constitutes a healthy snack. Please send in a snack starting on the first day of school.

Water Bottles:

Your child is more than welcome to bring a water bottle to school with them each day to keep at their desk. If you send it filled in the morning, I will allow them to refill it during bathroom breaks. I will ask them to take it home at the end of each day to be washed. Due to the potential for spills, I would like to request that water bottles have “pop tops” rather than screw on caps. Please do not send anything other than water in water bottles.

Lunch and Recess:

Hot lunch orders are to be placed online each month. Please check with the school office, if you have any questions about this process. If your child forgets their lunch, they will be offered and charged for a school lunch. Students will go outside for recess first and eat lunch when they come in from recess.

Curriculum Overview

Handwriting: We use Handwriting Without Tears for Handwriting instruction. This is a developmental, multisensory approach to Handwriting. I will send home a letter formation guide and more information about the program in September.

Theology: Our Theology textbooks are by Ignatius Press.

Throughout the year, the focus will be to:

o Recognize that we are Catholic Christians created by God

o Introduce the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist

o Read stories from the Bible

o Learn more about Mary, the Mother of God

o Learn more about the lives of Saints

o Celebrate the Liturgical Seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter

o Sing songs of glory and praise

o Recite the Sign of the Cross, The Lord’s Prayer, and The Hail Mary

Math:

The main components that your child will be working on are addition, subtraction, time, measurement, and geometry. We will also focus on problem solving and articulating and explaining our reasoning and problem solving methods. Our textbooks are Envision Math which align with the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

Reading/Writing/Phonics:

Our reading series integrates reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities into daily language arts lessons. Orton-Gillingham multisensory activities, and an interactive word wall are also included as part of daily instruction. We will also incorporate aspects of the Daily Five into our reading block. Students are encouraged to utilize the Accelerated Reader program at home as well as at school.

The children will be involved in many creative writing activities. We will use the elements of Six Traits Writing to encourage creativity, improve basic writing, and introduce skills using correct grammar and spelling in published work. Students will also write in a daily journal throughout the year.

Spelling:

Spelling development will occur through instruction of phonics patterns as well as incorporation of weekly word wall words. Word study activities relating to words or patterns focused on during a particular week will be included in the weekly homework packet. Children will be encouraged to use “invented spelling” in their writing as they begin to develop and understand the conventions of spelling. Students will be expected to read and write word wall words correctly, though they will not be given weekly tests on them.

Science:

We will be studying a variety of topics including animal groups, magnets, liquids, the sun, and weather. Mrs. VanderBeek will be visiting our classroom weekly to do supplemental science projects with the children.

Social Studies:

Our Social Studies series is called Social Studies Alive! The focus in first grade is on School & Family. This series is very interactive and fun for the students.

Additional Subjects:

A schedule of the children’s additional classes will be sent home during the first week of school. Classes include Gym, Art, Spanish, Music, Library, and Computers.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd:

This year, first graders will again have the opportunity to participate in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. We will visit the atrium weekly. The first graders will have Year 2 presentations which are all new for them, including new Practical Life. 

Mass:

Students will attend Mass weekly. All-School Masses are celebrated on Wednesday mornings at 8:00. Parents and families are always welcome to attend all-school Masses.

Homework:

Homework will be sent home beginning after Labor Day. Every Monday a homework packet will be sent home in your child’s homework folder. The packet will include a cover/assignment sheet and several homework sheets to be done daily over the course of the week. Homework packets are due back on Friday each week. This method of homework is meant to provide you and your first grader important time together. This time spent doing homework will keep you informed of what your child is learning in school and, more importantly, it will show your child that you want to be involved in their education.

Folders:

Each student is asked to have two sturdy folders with pockets at the bottom. Both folders will stay at school. Unfinished daily work will be stored in the first folder. The second folder will travel back and forth with your child to school each day. If I need to send anything home, it will be in that folder. Please use the same folder to send anything to school. **Please help your child remember to bring his/her homework folder back to school every day**

Accelerated Reader:

Accelerated Reader encourages reading by offering a computer-based “quiz” after completion of a book. At our level, there are about 5 comprehension questions, instant feedback, and a chance to view incorrect responses to help in understanding. This can be done through the internet on your home computer. Sitting with your child as they answer the questions can be a good experience. There are Accelerated Reader quizzes for many books. In order to check if a book is an AR book, visit . We will begin using the program later this fall. At that time log-in information will be sent home. Once students have become comfortable with the program, they will be required to meet a point goal during the third and fourth marking periods.

8th Grade Buddies:

Each first grader will be paired with an eighth grade buddy. This gives the first grader a chance to have a special older friend. We do several activities together throughout the school year including: partner reading, sitting together at Mass some Wednesdays, and holiday get-togethers.

Scholastic Book Orders:

Approximately once a month a book order will be sent home. Book orders are an excellent way for families to acquire quality books at very reasonable prices. If you would like to order books please return the order forms by the specified date with one check made out to Scholastic. You will also have the option to place your order online via the Scholastic website. I will send home more information about this process with the first book order.

Field Trips:

Information will be sent home as we schedule trips away from the school grounds. Please see the Family Handbook for the school field trip policies.

Birthdays:

We will honor and celebrate each student’s birthday with a song.  All students will also be invited to choose a special gift from the birthday basket in the office.  As a precaution to food allergies, we will not be sharing birthday snacks.  Any invitations to private birthday celebrations (or any other social gatherings) held outside of the classroom should not be distributed at school, unless the entire class is invited to attend.

Volunteers:

From time to time, I would like some extra help in the classroom for art projects, reading with students, bookmaking, field trips, etc. A volunteer interest form is included in this packet. Please return it the first week of school if you are interested in helping out in the classroom. Please know that the diocese requires any parent coming into the classroom to work with children to be VIRTUS trained. All volunteers must also fill out a criminal background check form prior to volunteering. The school office has this information. Thank you for all you do for this class and school community!

Discipline:

All children in the classroom will be expected to respect the individual rights of everyone in the school. We will all be a part of a cooperative classroom and work together with consideration for others’ thoughts and feelings. As the school has zero tolerance for violence, your child should always feel safe and comfortable in a secure learning environment.

Rules for our classroom are clearly stated and displayed. Gentle reminders are usually all that is necessary to maintain order. Please understand that your child will be given every chance to correct his/her classroom behavior. If your child consistently has difficulty managing their behavior, then an individual behavior plan will be implemented in cooperation with the teacher and the parents. The school wide behavior rubric will also be applied based on your child’s behavior.

I am looking forward to a fantastic school year! If you ever need to get in touch with me, you can e-mail me at: mbirzele@ or call the school office (345-2444) and ask for my voice mail. I will return your e-mail or call as soon as possible. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to ask. (

Mrs. Mindy Birzele

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