Welcome to Miss Hotz’s Class!

1. *Please begin by completing ALL of the pages on the orange paper. I’d like to have this information before you leave tonight.Please put completed forms in the bin on my table. *Please be sure to add your child to my transportation sign up sheet at the back table I need to know how your child will be getting home each day. *Also there is a sign up sheet at the back table to volunteer for the first week of school.

2. Welcome to Miss Hotz’s Class!

3. All About Me • This is my 4th year teaching first grade at Lowes Island. • I am originally from Massachusetts and I am a big Red Sox and Patriots Fan. • I went to college at the University of Mary Washington. I received my education certification and my masters in elementary education with a specialization in arts integration. • I love the arts and enjoy integrating singing, dancing and signing into our daily routine.

4. Parent/Teacher Communication • Blue Homework Folder: Please check this daily. Be sure to initial your child’s reading log. • Monday Folder: Please review all contents on Monday, sign and date the outside of the folder and return the empty folder to school on Tuesday. • Monday Memo: Will be posted on my web page every Monday by 3:00. This will contain our homework for the week, as well as other important information. If you do not have computer access please be sure to let me know.

5. Parent/Teacher Communication • If your child is absent—you must call the absence line in the office and send in a written note the day that they return to school. • Please do NOT e-mail me anything time sensitive. If I am absent or if my e-mail is down, I may not get your message. • All changes in dismissal need to be sent in writing . If there is a last minute change, please call the office. • Please feel free to email me any questions or concerns at: Ashley.Hotz@lcps.org

6. Homework • Each student will have nightly homework that should take no more than 30 minutes. Word study will be checked DAILY, math will be checked WEEKLY on Friday and reading logs will be checked MONTHLY. Please complete all homework in pencil. A homework grade will be reflected on the report card. • Word Study: Please follow the homework chart glued on the inside of the word study notebook. Please write the date at the top of each assignment. • Reading: Please read with your child 10 minutes a night and initial their reading log found in their blue folder. • Math: There will be weekly math pages found in the green SOL math book which will be posted in my Monday Memo. Please staple the pages together and turn in by Friday. Take the green SOL book home tonight. • FIRST HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: Help your child memorize their lunch number and make sure your child wears their name tag daily to school.

7. Birthdays • Due to policy changes throughout Loudoun County, parents are no longer allowed to send in birthday treats for the class. I understand that birthdays are a special day for children and you are welcome to send in nonfood items such as a favorite book for our classroom library, pencils, stickers, bookmarks etc.

8. Snack and Lunch • Students may bring in a small snack to enjoy during snack time and it should be of nutritional value.(fruit, veggies, granola bars) Snacks must be PEANUT free. • Juice should not be sent in during snack time but students may have a water bottle with a top to enjoy during class. • Our lunch time is from 10:35-11:05. If you would like to join your child for lunch please meet us in the cafeteria and say goodbye before we go back to the classroom. • Talk with your child about what they are having for lunch.

9. Star Student I will be sending home a schedule soon and the Monday before your child’s week you will be sent home a bag with instructions on how to fill it.

10. Our Specials PE: Monday, Thursday, Friday MUSIC: Tuesday and Friday GUIDANCE: Tuesday SEARCH: alternating Fridays COMPUTER LAB:-Thursday ART: Wednesday LIBRARY: Tuesday (make sure to send in library books)

11. Our Classroom Rules We raise our hand when we want to share. We listen when others are talking. We use inside voices and walking feet in school. We take care of our things. We take care of each other.

12. Classroom Management Plan • Group: Class compliment chain • Individual: School Store

13. I will go over the report card format in detail with each of you during our first quarter conferences at the end of October. • Students will receive grades for effort, behavior, and work habits: • O = Outstanding, S = Satisfactory, N = Needs Improvement • Students will receive grades for their progress in specific academic areas: • E = Exceeds Standard • M = Independently and Consistently Meets Standard • P = Progressing Towards Standard • B = Performing Below Standard *It is perfectly ok to be getting S’s or P’s on things. I don’t expect students to be exceeding in everything. If a student gets an N or a B, this means your child needs more practice in this area. *I will only be using the above scale on report cards and on papers that I am assessing. Everything else will either be  (checked) or given a comment. Some papers may not have markings on them. Your child may have done them at a center or perhaps on their own time. Report Cards & Grading Scale

14. Your child will participate in many reading and writing activities throughout their school day. • DRA used as a midyear and end of the year assessment • Please refer to the reading strategies hand-out on my website when helping your child read at home. • Please be on the look out for book baggie memo coming in the next few weeks. Reading & Writing

15. Word Study is studied in small groups with a test each Friday. • Your child may change groups based on their phonological development and they will be reassessed quarterly. • If you see easier words coming home, we are working on HOW to sort our words and apply their phonetic principles to student writing. • If your child finds their words too easy challenge them to apply their word study skills to new words so they internalize the phonological feature. Word Study

16. Math • In First Grade we use a Blended Approach for Math. • Student work in our Math books and do hands-on activities “Investigations”. • Math timed tests (each Thursday) • Calendar • Patterns • Counting, Writing, Recognizing Numbers to 100 • Graphing • Understanding addition • Addition facts to 10

17. Social Studies: • Citizenship • Rules • Pledge of Allegiance, Safety • Community • Past and Present • Family • Schools • Transportation • Columbus Day • Science: • Autumn (plants, animals, people • Sun and Earth (Day and Night) • Animal coverings

18. T-Shirts The 1st grade classes wear Tie-Dyed T-Shirts for field trips and other school activities. Please send in a plain white t-shirt with your child’s name written on the tag with permanent marker. Please rubber band the shirt in advance, so that it’s ready to be dyed. All t-shirts are due in by September 13th. It is best to send in a shirt that is a bit larger than your child would normally wear to allow for shrinkage.

19. Scholastic News We use Scholastic News to supplement our curriculum. Please send a check made payable to “Scholastic Magazine” for $6.50 to school by September 13th. Please be sure to include your child’s name in the memo. NO CASH will be accepted.

20. Volunteers Needed! • I need volunteers to come in to help the first week of school. If you are interested please sign up on the sheet at my back table. • If you are interested in volunteering throughout the school year please complete and return my volunteer interest survey in your folder.

21. Open House *Tomorrow is open house from 8:30 am- 10:00 am. *Please make sure you bring your child’s school supplies with you. *You will need to stop by the school store near the office to get a few notebooks. *The cafeteria staff will be available to put money on your child’s account. *I look forward to meeting all my new first graders tomorrow!

22. Let’s go through our folder…….

23. Final Reminders • Please be sure your child knows exactly how he/she will be getting home. If you have not added your child to my transportation form, please do so before you leave today. • Make sure to have your child bring a healthy snack to eat every day. Students will not be allowed to share their snack if someone forgets. • Remind your child what he/she will be having for lunch. Sometimes children aren’t sure what they are supposed to buy and packers often confuse their lunch for snack. You may consider packing the snack in a separate container for the first few weeks. • Please check your child’s backpack when he/she comes home. There will be many important papers that need to be completed by you and returned to school as soon as possible. • Remember to send your child in their special tag EVERY DAY until I let you know otherwise.

24. Thank you for sharing your child with me this year. It is going to be a wonderful year and I can not do it without your help and support! I look forward to meeting your children tomorrow. If you have any questions for me please write them on the sheet and leave it on your child’s desk.