August 25, 2008
Dear First Grade Parent,
I am looking forward to spending this very important school year with your little one. First Grade is such an exciting year of growth and change. I hope to meet all of you very soon.
The start of first Grade may be very exhausting for your child. There are new children to meet, new rules to follow, more classmates than last year, more responsibility for work and belongings and a longer school day for some. Extra patience and encouragement may be required. Be sure that your child comes to school well rested. We will spend most of this week learning procedures and expectations. Please, keep our classroom in your prayers.
Reading is an important part of First Grade. Be sure that you have set aside time to read to and with your child. This can become a special time for you and your little one. You will enjoy seeing your child’s progress. It will teach your child to love reading. Share a variety of books and read daily! In reading we use Scott Foresman’s Reading Street. I think that you will enjoy sharing these books with your child. We will spend the first few days of school reviewing sight words and letter sounds. This week we will review, remind, remember and check on where everyone is in Reading. Next week we will begin our first unit. Remember that when your child brings home his/her reading text book to share with you it must be returned to school the next day.
Every week you will receive a Trillium from the office. It will keep you up to date on school news. Every other week, I will send a parent letter to keep you informed about classroom news, up coming events and ways to help your child at home.
Your child will have homework. This homework is not time consuming. It is important that it be returned the next school day. Please, look in your child’s Take Home Folder every night. Return the homework in that folder. Your child will have Math homework. This homework will be the back of a worksheet that was done in class. Your child will also have some Spelling homework. After your child completes the work you should check it. Require your child to make any corrections immediately. Initial the top of the page to show that you have checked it. If you find that your child has questions write a note on the homework paper and I will try to answer them. You will also find home activities at the bottom of many Reading and Spelling workbook pages. These notes will let you know what skills we are working on and give suggestion for ways that you can help your child review.
Your child will have P.E. with Mr. Snider on Monday and Wednesday. Be sure to send a pair of gym shoes to be kept at school and worn only on the gym floor.
Your child will also have Music class with Mrs. Heasley each Thursday and Art with Mrs. Mason every other Wednesday. Be sure that your child has a paint shirt – it can be a man’s old shirt. If it was long sleeved be sure to cut the sleeves off so that your child’s hands show.
Your child will visit the library once a week. Each week after story time your child may borrow one book. It may be returned to the library box in our room any day.
Our library time will be on Tuesday afternoon.
All children go outside for recess every day unless it is raining. Please, remember to send jackets and hats when the weather gets cooler. Boots and snow pants will be a “must” for winter play. All children should have a complete change of clothes at school. Accidents will happen. Children will fall into puddles or spill milk and need to change clothes.
The day will come when your child will forget lunch at home or on the bus. We want to give your child a way to deal with these little “emergencies”. All children should have an emergency lunch at school. This can be prepackaged food like peanut butter crackers, a juice box, a fruit roll up etc. in a zip lock bag. It could be emergency money and lunch tickets. These will be kept in the locker until needed. Please remember that lunch ticket can not be used on Friday. The office will not be giving IOUs. Emergency money kept in a backpack does not help if the backpack is left on the bus. Please give your child an easy way to solve these little problems.
In History we study the Old Testament so our History and Bible lessons will be closely related. Our first lessons will center on creation. The children must learn what was created on each of the seven days of creation. We will practice often in class. Our first memory verse will be Psalm 119:11 (due this Friday) and the next memory passage will be Genesis 1:1 and 31a (due next Friday). We memorize from the NIV (New International Version).
We teach Zaner-Blozer manuscript handwriting. I will send directions with the stroke sequence so that when you practice at home you can encourage good handwriting and proper stroke sequence.
In Science we will soon begin to learn about observing and investigating. We will also learn how our senses help us observe.
From time to time I will send home book club order forms. Any one who wishes to order may do so. Please, pay by check made out to the book club. Please, make careful choices. The order form will give the date that orders are due.
I am looking forward to a great year. I hope to see you at Open House.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Ruth Fiscus