WELCOME TO FIRST GRADE!
Dear Parents:
It is my pleasure to be your child's teacher this year. (Those of you who had your child in my class last
year will know most of this.) It will be an exciting and fun year for all of us. To help you and your child get
started on a good year, I'd like to fill you in on some of the procedures in our classroom.
CLASSROOM RULES
1. Listen, follow directions, and do your first grade best.
2. Be kind (because nice matters).
3. Sit criss-cross, hands in lap when on the rug.
4. Walk in the building to be safe.
5. Always ask before borrowing. Share school supplies nicely.
We have decided on these rules as a class and your child should be able to discuss these with you in more
detail. We have all signed a “contract” to try our hardest to follow them.
CONSEQUENCES/REWARDS
When a child chooses not to follow the rules there will be consequences, as listed below:
Green = Super day
Yellow = Warning
Orange = 5 minutes of time out
Red - 10 minutes of time out
No colors left = 15 minutes of time out and a phone call home or note
Extended time out and may be asked to go to the office to discuss behavior
Some actions, because of their nature, may require skipping some of the intermediate steps. Please do not
worry if your child occasionally “pulls a color" (see Behavior Reports section). As I explain to the
children, none of us is perfect and we do not always have “green” days. If there is an ongoing problem of
any kind, be assured that I will contact you. An occasional yellow or even an orange are very common.
We use it as a learning experience and move on. Every child starts over on green the next day.
We have many positive rewards for good behavior:
1. Hand stamp (individual)
2. Team points (small group)
3. Party points (whole class)
4. Free time
5. Praise
6. Positive notes sent home
BEHAVIOR REPORTS
Every Monday (or first day of that week) I will send home a report on your child's behavior letting
you know how they did the previous week. It is color coded and will be explained to you by your child.
If you have questions about the report after you receive the first one, please let me know so that I can clarify
it for you. The report, signed by you, needs to be returned on Tuesday. Only written notes or calls from
parents will be accepted if a report is not brought back for any reason. No verbal explanations from
children will be accepted if a report is not returned.
CLASSROOM SUPPLIESA list of needed supplies has been sent home. Some supplies (such
as pencils, glue, tissues, and baby wipes) will be shared. If your child has a special supply that they do not
wish to share, it should be kept at home for them to use on homework, etc.
HOMEWORK FOLDER
Daily Green Homework Folder: Expect your child’s homework folder home every day: Monday-
Thursday.
Included in the folder will be the following:
We will be studying lists of sight words at home and at school. Your child needs to be able to
recognize the words quickly and easily. Review them on a regular basis. There will be a weekly
oral test on Fridays. For those kids that already know the words, they should challenge themselves
to spell the words as well. We will be testing each first grader at the end of the year on 300 words.
Our goal is for them to recognize at least 200 words. There is a practice power- point document
on my SWIFT web site. I will also post the 10 weekly words there as well.
Every Monday through Thursday your child will have math homework and reading homework.
Put them back in the folder for you child to return to school the next day.
Every Monday there will be a behavior report outlining your child’s “colors” for the previous
week. It needs to be signed by you and returned the next day in the daily homework folder.
Thursday is the day for office generated paperwork.
We try to keep on top of papers in cubbies. Sometimes you’ll see a lot and other days we won’t
have time to get them ready for home.
I’m trying something a bit different this year. If folders, reports, and/or homework are not turned in when it
is due, the kids will owe 5 minutes of their free time for each missing paper, etc. I think it will help them to
remember to do the homework and be responsible for themselves. If there is a situation when your child
cannot do their work, just let me know and they will not owe time. If your child loses their green folder, a
new one is $1.00.
Every child at Wainwright will be expected to read on a regular basis. Again, research shows that children
that are read to and read with a fluent reader become better readers themselves. The goal is 15 minutes per
night, five days per week. I do not need documentation from you about your nightly reading. I have some
books available for kids to take home if they wish. Some they can read to you and others will be more
appropriate for you to read to them. I let the kids pick 2 books at a time. When those are returned, they can
get more. These should come back in a timely manner. Please help them to keep track of these books.
Spelling tests for everyone will begin in January. More information will be sent home then.
ATTENDANCE
Being to class on time is very important. Being late can disrupt your child's day and will require makeup
work. If your child is going to be out, please let me know so that we can make arrangements for you to pick
up the work or send someone for it. Please send a note with your child when they return explaining the
reason for the absence. With the “No Child Left Behind” legislation in effect, we must be very diligent
with our documentation. Our literacy block takes place in the morning. Please, if possible, try to schedule
any doctor’s appointments at another time of day so that your child does not miss this very important
instruction.
GRADING
I will be grading your child's work in many ways. Best effort, following directions and completing
assignments will be very important. Assessments will be made in a variety of ways and daily papers will
receive good notes, stickers, etc. Occasionally you will see points earned or a plus, check or minus. Many
times your child will correct his/her own work. This is an important learning tool and will give your child
immediate feedback on answers.
Library will be on: Monday. Please send any library books that your child has chosen to take home back
that morning so that new books may be checked out. Lost or damaged books are the responsibility of the
family. Report cards will be held at the end of the year if fines are outstanding.
MUSIC
Music will be on: Thursday and Friday.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
PE will be: Wednesday and Friday. Please have your child wear tennis shoes and appropriate attire on
those days. Dresses are not recommended. Children not dressed appropriately will not be allowed to
participate. Please don’t send PE clothing, as we will not have time to change.
COMPUTERS: We will be spending time in the computer lab each week.
BIRTHDAYS
Birthday treats may be sent to school for your child’s birthday. PLEASE let me know 2 days in advance.
Our district has very strict calorie, fat, and sugar regulations for food served in school. No homemade treats
may be served. Sending a treat is optional, so don’t feel that you need to send something. Some families
choose to donate a book to the class to honor the birthday boy or girl. We usually celebrate toward the end
of the day If your family does not celebrate holidays, please let me know so that I can make arrangements
for your child to have an appropriate place to be should we have a celebration.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 571-3404, or send a note with your child. I'll
get back to you right away. If you have an emergency, please call the office at 571-2325.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Maarsingh
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