Mrs. Maner’s Class

1. Mrs. Maner’s Class First Grade Calera Elementary School 2014-2015

2. Welcome! You will find this Presentation on your child’s desk. Please feel free to ask any questions!

3. Meet Mrs. Maner This marks my fourth year in education. I taught kindergarten for two years before moving up to first grade! I also spent 1 year as an instructional aide. I have loved each part of my journey but my heart is truly in the classroom. I met my husband, Dusty, a little over 10 years ago. We married in April of 2009. I have my undergraduate degree in Interior Design from the University of Alabama (2008) and then received my Mater’s Degree in Elementary Education in 2010. We have a sweet little Shihtzu-Poodle named Monroe. We love to hang out with friends and family, travel, and watch Alabama Football! Roll Tide!

4. What does your classroom donation buy? Your classroom donation goes a long way in helping me purchase various things that we will use throughout the year. Some examples include extra snacks, supplies, items for special activities, and more! If you have not paid the donation, please strongly consider doing so and send in your child’s Daily Binder.

5. Schedule

6. Reading Stations We will be doing Reading Stations differently this year. Students will be visiting a different reading “area” each day. Within these areas, students will practice different skills that pertain to writing, phonics, phonemic awareness, reading fluency, and even technology skills. Each day, students will be required to complete the activity in the “Have To” bin and then they may choose to do any of the others activities within that area.

7. Math Stations In Shelby County, we participate in a program called AMSTI (Alabama Math, Science, & Technology Initiative). This program is a research-based learning curriculum that is based on age-appropriate activities aimed at teaching the “why” of mathematics. For this reason, many parents feel that their children are “just playing games,” but I assure you, learning is taking place. Our math stations will be much like the reading stations, in which they will be required to complete a “Have To” activity each day and then they can choose another activity from their area color bin.Each day students will be practicing a different standard in each bin. The “Have To” bins will pertain to the current lesson and standards. I will pull a small group to help those who need it!

8. Lunch Visitors Our lunch time is 11:48-12:13. We would love for you to join us for lunch whenever you would like. It is highly recommended that you email or call before coming due to unforeseen circumstances that will sometimes change our schedule. County policy dictates that no outside food be brought in to the school. Please sign in at the office and wait for us in the lunchroom. After lunch, you will be asked to return to the office to sign out. School policy states that only the child you are eating with can be allowed to eat with you due to safety issues.

9. Room Moms Our “Room Moms” for this year are Samantha Harris and Karma Mesamore. They will be in contact with you throughout the year concerning special events within our classroom. We still love to have volunteers to help with tasks such as coming to laminate, make copies, cut things out at home, etc. Thank you for filling out the volunteer form at Meet the Teacher!

10. Extras! Please keep an extra (seasonally appropriate) change of clothes in your child’s backpack at all times. Bathroom accidents and spilled milk are a common occurrence in first grade, and students feel much better when they know they have other clothes. It’s also much easier for you to not have to leave work!

11. Newsletter Every Monday, I will create a newsletter that contains the most important information regarding our class. There will be reminders about various upcoming events, homework, and scholastic book orders, just to name a few. It is very important that you read these each week as they will often contain information that is time sensitive. Unless I have received a written note from you, I will be emailing all newsletters and posting them on our class blog. If you have not contacted me regarding newsletters, please do so immediately.

12. Blog/Remind 101 Our blog is one of the best ways to keep up with what is going on in our classroom. I will post class newsletters, reminders, and pictures on the blog. There are also many links to educational websites that you can explore with your child, including a link to our class’s Scholastic page! In the coming weeks, I hope to add more categories including homework, sight words, and helpful tips to make your child a better reader. Keep an eye out for these additions! http://podcasts.shelbyed.k12.al.us/amaner/ Remind 101 is a great way for us to contact one another via cell phone. Please sign up if you have not done so already! Feel free to text me anytime through this service! You can also download the free app for iPhone and Android!

13. Scholastic Book Orders Every month, I will send home a Scholastic catalog for you and your child to look through. There are many books of different topics, reading levels, and prices. These books make perfect birthday and Christmas gifts! Scholastic does an amazing job of helping our class out, including giving us points for every dollar you spend when ordering from Scholastic. Orders will typically be due by the end of every month! and can be placed online (we receive Bonus points for this) or by sending in a check. Please let me know if you need another Scholastic order form!

14. Student Progress Soon there will be a folder in your child’s Daily Folder labeled “Student Progress”. Each week, I will send home any assessments or work samples in this folder that will help you to know in which areas your child is struggling/excelling. These papers will be sent home as we complete them and I grade them. The majority of your child’s report card grades will come from this work. Please feel free to leave me a note in the folder to let me know how you feel about your child’s progress!

15. Reading Homework Reading homework will be required nightly beginning after Labor Day. The homework will consist of books that pertain to your child’s reading level and also books that they have picked from our classroom library. You may have your child read to you or you may read to your child. Every night that you read, you will track the book and time reading on the reading log that will be located in your child’s Daily Binder. Please note, you are not limited to the books in your reading bag, they are simply a suggestion. Please return the books to school daily and please let me know immediately if something happens to any of the books.

16. Discipline Everyday that your child is in my care, my goal is for them to become a better version of themselves than they were the previous day. In my classroom, I encourage your child to be their best by being responsible for their own person from day one. I often ask my students, “Is this something you need my help with, or can you do it yourself?” This is because I want for each of my students to learn how to take care of themselves so that they can be prepared for second grade and beyond. If there is ever a time that you have any questions, comments, or concerns, PLEASE feel free to email or call. School Phone: 205-682-6120 Email: amaner@shelbyed.k12.al.us

17. Conferences I am required to meet with each of you at least two times during the school year. I like to spend the first few months getting to know your children so that I can give you the best insight on how to help your child. I will start holding conferences in mid-September. I have included a conference form for you to fill out with several possible dates and times. I will respond back to you with a date that is available and convenient for you. I understand that leaving work is difficult; therefore, phone conferences are acceptable.

18. Behavior Chart Every child starts off on green. They can move up with good behavior and down with behavior slip ups. A student who moves down can move back up with good choices. I remind my students often, “We learn by making mistakes.” Blue: The highest behavior a student can have. If your child goes to blue, they will be allowed to pick a coupon . Sometimes, these rewards will allow them to bring in an item from home. Please make sure this item does not make noise, is not large, and is not electronic.

19. Behavior Chart (continued) Yellow: Your child made a mistake. I give 2-3 warnings before a child moves their number. If a child movesto yellow, they will have 5 minutes off of recess time and a 5 minute break in the classroom. Red: Your child had more than one slip up today. After going to yellow, I give 2-3 more warnings before moving to red. A student on red has no recess and another 5- minute break and the parent will be contacted.

20. Snack We will have a “working” snack everyday at 2:00 p.m. A “working” snack means that we will continue working through our snack (reading a book, writing in our journal, etc.). Please try to send a snack every day (1 food item and 1 drink item). It becomes difficult to provide students with a snack, so please let me know if there are circumstances that prevent you from sending one. Also note, that school systems no long sell items that are considered “junk food”, so students cannot purchase chips, etc. from the lunchroom for snack. Shelby County policy states that candy and other unhealthy snacks are not allowed. Please send your child’s snack in a bag/lunchbox with his or her name written on it. This will help eliminate confusion when students bring in the same snack!

21. Birthdays and Celebrations Your child’s birthday is a very important day for them, and I try to make it a special day in our classroom. If you would like to send in a special snack to celebrate your child’s day, you are more than welcome to do so. I do ask that you let me know in advance if you are going to send something in so that I can make plans. We will celebrate special snacks during snack time at 2:00. If your child has a summer birthday, I would love to help you accommodate so that he or she can enjoy our birthday festivities! Please let me know of any religious beliefs that prevent your child from celebrating any holidays.

22. Field Trips More information on our field trips will be sent home as the field tri[ date approaches. Class t-shirts are on sale now and Friday the LAST day to order shirts. We strongly encourage you to purchase a shirt for your child. Having the students in the same colors on field trip days keeps us safer!

23. Kona Ice • Once Per Month (typically at the end of the month): • I advise that students purchase the $2 size- it is almost impossible for them to finish medium and large sizes! • NO ice cream on Kona Ice days if your child is buying a Kona Ice treat! • September 26th