First Grade Weekly News
with Mrs. Berry
WELCOME TO OUR HIVE!!!
Thank you for a great first 3 days of school! Please see the following reminders and information for next week!
Learning for the Week:
IB Unit: Where we are in Place and Time.
Central Idea: Pioneers Drive Change
In our first week, we will focus on the IB Learner Profile Traits that make a pioneer. We will apply the IB Learner Profile traits to our participation in our Reader’s and Writer’s workshop.
Math: Participating in the math workshop and counting to 120. We will also be starting our number talks.
Word Work: We will be reviewing sounds and practicing our handwriting.
Reminders: Please be sure to return the family information guide and clinic card. I will be emailing you on Monday if I have not received them. This is for your child’s safety!
Classroom Management:
At the beginning of the year I want to set high expectations for your child’s classroom behavior. In order to create an environment where all students can excel, I will strictly enforce our essential agreements (Class Rules). I want to give praise and reward those students who are following those agreements, while also redirecting and reminding students who need more guidance. As we learn our classroom rules and procedures, students may need to have a quick time out in the classroom to reflect on their disruptive behavior without me sending a note home to notify you. Please do not be alarmed if your child has moved their bee down the behavior chart. They have the opportunity to move up and down based on their actions. I will always contact you if I see a pattern of behavior that needs a change.
Essential Agreements
Our class brainstormed ideas that are important to help us learn and have a successful year in first grade.
1. Always Be Safe
2. Help Each Other Learn
3. Be Happy
Therefore, the class agreed that these rules were essential to meeting our goals:
1. Be a good listener
2. Be kind with our words, bodies, and things.
3. Always do your best
Throughout the school year we will discuss ways to solve our problems. We will use the “I feel” strategy. Students will say: I feel __________ when you_________. Can you please ____? This will give students the ownership and responsibility to begin to problem solve and make positive changes in their learning environment. This week, students have focused on our first 2 Essential Agreements: Always Be Safe and Help Each Other Learn. We have discussed how to be safe, how to help each other learn, how to listen with our whole body, and what kind people say and do. As a class, we have done well with being kind. Our class goal is to work on being a listener, most specifically not talking when a speaker or the teacher is talking.
Bathroom Breaks: As a class, we take 3 restroom breaks throughout the day. Students have the opportunity to go before the bell rings, after specials (10:00), and before lunch (12:25). I hope to minimize classroom disruptions for the restroom by allowing us to go as a class. If your child has a medical concern, please reach out to me.
Water and Snacks: Please send your child with a water bottle they can sip on throughout the day and a hearty snack, as we eat lunch later in the day. We eat snack at 10:00.
Paperwork
Please return the clinic card and family information form in your child’s daily folder. Individual reminders will be sent on Monday if I have not received them.
Daily Folder
Please check your child’s folder each day. Place any change of transportation notes in the front pocket.
Helpful Hints to start the year off right!
*get plenty of rest
*eat a healthy breakfast
*do not take off your color coded bus bands
*double knot tennis shoes
Curriculum Corner
Student Objectives for Reading and Writing:
- I can Inquire about the world around me
- I can participate in class by speaking clearly.
- I can participate in class by waiting my turn.
- I can tell what the author and illustrator does for a book or poem.
- I can ask questions about words I don’t know.
- I can use pictures to help me understand what a book says.
- I can recognize and use sight words in my writing.
- I can use neat handwriting.
- I can write a narrative story.
- I can write information.
Specials for the Week
TUESDAY- Music
WEDNESDAY- Spanish
THURSDAY- PE
FRIDAY- Art
DATES TO REMEMBER
August 14th: ASP Open House: Come learn about the After School Program and activities your child can participate in!
August 21st: Los Bravos Spirit Night
August 24th: All Pro Dads
August 30th: PTA and IB Parent Information Meeting