4 September 2010
Week's Special Schedule:
Tuesday: Host Nation
Wednesday: Art
Thursday: Host Nation
Friday: P.E.
A huge 'thank you' to all the parents and other family members who attended our Open House on Friday afternoon! It was a pleasure to meet the Most Important People in my students' lives. Wouldn't you agree that your child was a most amazing tour guide?
First Grade is magical and one that begins their journey to independence and greater learning with scaffolded success. We have 20 students who've begun to form a community of learners with great expectations and group norms that allow all of us to progress. It should be a great year together.
This blog serves as the communication for our classroom. My weekly post will occur, most weekends, and will contain important information about the internal workings of our classroom. You will also assist your child in the first weeks with accessing their homework by using the links listed on this page. Soon, I will send home all their usernames and passwords in order that you can get started. Students will also have some written homework scheduled during the week by using their "Reader's Response Log". Directions for that homework will be sent home in the reading bag.
All of the above will occur after we attend the Parent Orientation meeting at 3 p.m., on this Wednesday, the 8th of September in our AES classroom, E-89. Plan on about an hour, where we'll review the academic expectations, class procedures, homework instructions, and answer any questions that may come up. I will also review the specialists' schedules, so that you understand when P.E. is. Please remember to dress your child with appropriate clothing for movement and activity on that day. The correct
shoes are important for safety and success on P.E. day!
This week we will complete the pre-assessments for reading and math. Most of these are administered on a 1 to 1 basis, so you can understand why it takes a few days! These assessments give us an individualized starting point for learning and will allow for more formative instruction, progress and evaluation when meeting grade level benchmarks.
Once again, I'm very happy to have your child in my class.
Please get your Scholastic Book Orders completed, save those Box Tops for Education (you can send them in by just trimming and placing them in a zip-loc. May I please encourage all families to join the PTA at our school? For a minimal, $5 membership, we receive amazing support from this organization and it builds our school community, as well.
I am also looking for a parent (sponsor or dependent) to serve on the Continuous School Improvement this year. This involves representing yourself as a stakeholder in the academic progress of all students. We need your voice. I'd even love to see parents (mom & dad) share in this responsibility as a team. It makes it easier if we have two to work together, when one is not able to attend. There are a few meetings and we'd love to have your expertise, opinion, and feedback throughout the year. Please let me know if your interested and I'll send your names forward to the CSI Co-Chairs. Get on Board!
In closing, I have to say that this school year had the most efficient beginning of any school I've taught at. We have amazing, supportive administrators, and wonderful support professionals. When you walk into our school, you'll see order, learning, and an environment that supports teachers, individual students and meets the needs of everyone in our AES community. Thanks for being a part of it with us!
Let's have a great week this week. See you on Wednesday at 3 o'clock in our classroom. Remember that we have limited space.
P.S. If your child is being picked up or you have a change with how your student departs from school, is absent due to a family trip, medical/dental appt, etc. you are required to send a note to the teacher. This helps our attendance remain accurate. If your child only 'says' that they are to go home another way than their bus or AYP, but I don't have a note, they will be delivered to the bus at departure time. Thank you for your attention to this.
Mrs. Petty
