Mrs. Massaro's 1st Grade Information 2014-15

1. Mrs. Massaro’s 1st grade information 2014-15 School Phone: 361-0099 ext. 3526 Email: sherry_massaro@etownschools.org

2. Important times to remember • School opens for students at 8:30 a.m. • Classes begin at 8:50 a.m. • Students are dismissed at 3:35 p.m. • Excuse cards, educational trip forms • An excuse card is required for ALL absences upon return. Parents should call and report absences. Please follow the prompts on the telephone. Forms are required and can be found on the district’s website under “Site Shortcuts.”

3. Lunch Account • School lunches cost $2.25. Students who are purchasing school lunch must either bring money each day or can use money in their lunch account. • To deposit money into the lunch account, you can do this online or send cash/check in an envelope with your childs name and my name on and labeled lunch moneyLost and Found • Please label all of your child’s clothing and belongings (sweaters, coats, backpacks, lunch boxes, etc.) • Ice Cream is on Tuesday’s and is $.50 

4. Things from home • Please control what comes into the classroom. The children DO NOT NEED folders, binders, markers, scissors, tape, glue, or staplers (removers). Either the school or I will provide all supplies needed. • If we are in need of anything, I will send a note home requesting the items needed. • Party invitations should be distributed outside of school unless EVERY student is invited

5. Collections • If your child consistently chooses to play with an object in class (including supplies), his/her behavior shows me they are not yet ready to accept the responsibility of having the object in their desk. If it is a supply object, the object will be kept at another location and be given to the child as needed to complete a task. . If it is an object from home, I will return it to the child in at winter break or the end of the year. If you want the item at home earlier, write me a note, and I’ll send it home. (You may also come to school and pick it up.)

6. Important Skills to be covered this year: • Reading Strategies • Decoding - the ability to apply your knowledge of letter-sound relationships, including knowledge of letter patterns, to correctly pronounce written words. • Fundations and Words Their Way – Phonics programs • Comprehension – Predict/Making Inferences, Monitor/Clarify, Making Connections, Question, Visualize, Summarize (Characters, Setting, Sequence of Events, Problem-Solution), Determining Importance, Synthesize/Evaluate • Fluency – expression, reading smoothly

7. Math • Number recognition • Basic addition and subtraction without regrouping – variety of strategies to solve number sentences • Word Problems – Using CUBE strategy to identify key vocabulary to help solve • Shapes – plane and geometric shapes • Fractions – 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 • Time – to hour and half hour • Measurement

8. Social Studies/Science • Will usually be taught in 4-6 week sessions • Social Studies themes are: • Introduction to Maps and Globes • Wants and Needs • Rights and Responsibilities • Famous Americans and Holidays • Patriotic Symbols • Current Events

9. Science themes are: • Soil and Minerals • Basic Needs and Earth Resources • Basic Needs and Diversity of Living Things • Organisms • Properties of Matter • Keeping Fit and Healthy

10. Progress Reports and Conferences • Conferences are held at the end of the first marking period (November) and the middle of the third marking period (March). • Progress reports are changing this year as we transition into a trimester based grading system. Please look for paper work coming home and information on the website regarding these changes. 

11. Daily Specials • Day 1: C.U.B.S (2:30-3:15) • Day 2:Library (1:55-2:10) Music(2:30-3:15) • Day 3: Gym(2:30-3:15) • Day 4: Art (2:30-3:15) • Day 5: Computer (2:30-3:15) • **Also on Day 5: Library (11:00-11:10a)This is library exchange day. • (*Please remember that library books need to come back on Day 5!)

12. Daily Schedule • 8:50-9:00 Attendance/Announcements • 9:00-9:30 Clinic (Fundations) • 9:30-10:00 Guided Reading/Literacy Centers • 10:00-11:00 Anthology and Phonics • 11:00-11:45 Writing • 11:50-12:30 Lunch and Recess • 12:30-12:40 Math • 12:40-2:10 Science/Social Studies • 2:10-2:25 Recess • 2:30-3:15 Special • 3:35 Dismissal

13. SNACK POLICY • This year, our lunch is scheduled for 11:50 am. Students will be allowed to have a snack in the mornings. If you wish to send a healthy snack with your child, he or she may eat it at that time. I provided snack for the first weeks. Donations are requested to provide snack for those who are unable to bring snack. • We have students in the building with peanut allergies and therefore ask that you do not send in any snack that contains nuts, peanut products, or peanut butter to respect these allergies. Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions about snack, please feel free to contact me.

14. Some suggested snacks: • Graham crackers Animal crackers • Goldfish crackers • Grapes/Raisins • Fruit snacks • Pretzels • Please do not send candy in for snack. Students will not be permitted to eat it as a morning snack. Thank you! • We do allow special treats for Birthdays.

15. Homework Habits • Why is homework important? • Homework is important because it helps reinforce what has been learned in class. It gives your child the chance to apply skills learned to similar tasks. Homework also teaches responsibility and helps students develop positive study habits.  • What will you child be receiving for homework? • Math/Phonics page: These will be sent home throughout the week and will always be marked homework. If your student does not have time to finish his/her work in class, the paper will be sent home marked homework. • What will happen if your child does not complete a homework assignment? • I expect the homework to be completed as soon as possible. If homework is not completed on time, natural consequences will follow, such as completing the homework at recess. Recurring situations will result in a conference with the parent. • I hope this information about homework clarifies any questions or concerns you may have had. Please feel free to contact me for further clarification.

16. Lightning Words: These are the sight words learned during the week for each theme of our anthology reading series. Students should practice reading the words aloud each night. You may time your student to encourage fluency and speed. • Nonsense Words: These will be sent home monthly and practicing them will help your students reading fluency. • Monthly Calendar: Please help your child with two activities on the calendar a week. After completing the activities, you and your student should fill out the questions about the activities.

17. How much time will my child be spending on homework? • The time spent on homework will vary depending on the assignment and the student but should not exceed more than 10 minutes in one sitting. He/she may return to the assignment, if necessary. The amount of homework assigned is to be comparable to only 10 minutes total. If your child takes longer, please send in a note and we can develop a plan to help your child get it to a 10 minute limit.

18. What is the take home folder? • Your child has been given a take home folder to take home his/her assignments and important information. The left side of the folder is marked with a ”LEFT at Home” and the right side of the folder is marked with a “Bring RIGHT Back.” Please keep this folder labeled, and check it each evening.

19. What are your child’s homework responsibilities? • I expect your child to do his/her best work on each homework assignment. All written work should be done in pencil, unless otherwise indicated. Homework needs to be completed and returned by the Friday of that week. (For days when we have no school on Friday, assignments will be due on Thursday.) • How is assignment completion recorded in the classroom? • Each day I will check your child’s homework for completeness and accuracy. This will be reported on the progress report under “”Learning Behaviors”.

20. 7 Healthy Habits • Habit 1- Be Proactive…You’re in Charge • Habit 2-Begin with the End in Mind…Have a Plan • Habit 3-Put First Things First…Work First, Then Play • Habit 4- Think Win-Win…Everyone Can Win • Habit 5- Seek First to Understand, Than to Be Understood…Listen Before You Talk • Habit 6- Synergize…Together is Better • Habit 7- Sharpen the Saw…Balance Feels Best