First Week

This has been a magical week getting to know each other. We have practiced saying each others names in Morning Meeting.  One of our chants has been,

Say your name and when you do.

We will say it back to you.

Hi_________!

We talked about the school and classroom rules. All the rules can be under the umbrella of BE KIND. The students already know: walk in halls, wait their turn, share, raise hands, not interrupt, and listen. 

They have demonstrated these skills even before the lesson on rules. Way to go parents!

Reading: We read several books together. The students love to hear a story. Many commented that they also love when their parents read to them! The students are already reading books at their tables every day. Students will "shop"(choose) books that are at the just-right level for each reader. Next week, each child has a book basket with 10 books. About two or three times a week, the students will be able to trade the books and get new ones so they are never bored with their books. Engagement is key is learning to read. We have lots of books in our classroom library at the just-right level to help your child be excited about reading and grow as a reader.  In addition, students will go to the library every C day. Starting in October, students will be able to get two books at a time and go to the library almost every day!

Math: This week students explored with math manipulatives. They demonstrated they could count one-to-one and make patterns. We played ten frame flash as a class and many were very successful with identifying numbers up to 10 just by looking at the ten frame.
LINK:     Ten Frame Flash




We compared numbers using the words: greater then, fewer then, more, less and same. One game we played with cards is "Top-It".  Players take a deck of cards mix them up and put them face down in a pile. One player goes first and turns over a card. The next player turns over a card. Whoever has the greater number on the card wins.  We also played whoever has the  number that is fewer on the card wins. Jack, King Queen are considered a ten and the ace is considered a one. If both cards are the same number, then each player flips over another card.

Winner is on left because 10 is greater then the ace (one).

Social Studies: Each day that we could we  had a get-along recess. We are working on including everyone in play and building a class community. Children build community by playing! After recess the students gather to reflect as a class on how well they played together and how much fun they had with each other. This week we taught/encouraged the children to be assertive and ask for a play partner and learn their partner's name.

Bucket Filling

In Social Studies, we have been teaching a unit called:  How We Can All Get Along. 
We talk about "filling some one's bucket" which means being kind to someone. If we forget, then we talk about how the other person feels- usually bad or sad. Plus, we talk about how we feel when we are not nice- usually bad or sad. Developing empathy in our students allows them to understand how the other person is feeling.  One main take away from today's lesson is fixing the problem that one creates.  We are teaching that it is not enough to just say, "I'm sorry" when we hurt our friends. We also have to ask, "How can I fix it?" 

I feel_______ When you_________ and I need for you to___________.

One student today said that she needed for the person to say something nice that they like about her to make her feel okay along with saying "I'm Sorry."  This goes right along with our work on Filling Each Others Buckets. 

Some books we have read to help us understand are: 

Books about Bucket Filling

  

Get Along Recess

Students will have extra recess at the beginning of the year to help form relationships and connections. Children do this naturally while playing.

ART

The students go to ART once every 5 day rotation. Mrs. Marquart is our art teacher. This year students will do choice art.

PE

Students go to PE everyday for half an hour. Students will use the gym, black top and sometimes Concordia Park for the activities.

Math

Number to 10.   Students can count and write their numbers to 10. So....
We are working on vocabulary:
Greater then/More then and Fewer then/Less then.  How many more and how many less?
We use Top-it cards to play games. Top-it cards are cards numbered 1 through 10. Cards are mixed up put into a pile face down. Each player flips over one card and then partners compare.

Writing

We write everyday in first grade. We are starting with Poetry or Music in our Hearts.  We encourage children to sound through words so they can make letter sound connections. Common Sight words are on their Red Writing Folder for them to see and spell correctly.

Notice the noise canceling headphones.

Students add detail to their writing and pictures.

Library with Mr. Bober

We can go to the library almost everyday as long as we bring our book back to school.

Mr. Bober reads a story every Library time. We have library time on C days.

"Always use a shelf mark."

Looking for good books.

Even nonfiction is fun to read.

Beginning of the Year

The students started the year with an assembly to talk about our school Touchstone. They are learning routines and how to behave upstairs in an open classroom setting.  The students are doing GREAT.

Dr. Martin, our Principal, talking to the school.

We learned how to resolve conflicts peacefully.

We saw friends from last year at the assembly.

We line up outside on the big playground and then walk in through the the front doors.

We hang up our backpacks in our own lockers.

We get out our blue take-home folders, water bottle and lunch.

We move our lunch tag and put our blue folder in the basket. 

Nuts and Bolts

Captain First Grade Nuts and Bolts

Arrival Procedures

Breakfast can be purchased starting at 8:15 a.m.

Playground supervision starts at 8:20 a.m.

Parents are welcome on the playground each morning,

but School Policy is All Goodbyes Are Said Outside.

First Grade teachers meet the children on the playground at 8:30 a.m.

The class will transition to the classroom together.

School Learning starts at 8:40 a.m. in the classroom.

On rainy or snowy days students will gather in the cafeteria before being escorted to the classroom by their teacher.

Dismissal Procedures

School is dismissed from the cafeteria at 3:30 p.m.  

Please be on time.

School policy is that first grade children must be

signed out by a parent/guardian when they are picked up.

A staff member escorts children riding the bus.

Aftercare children are escorted to their designated area.

Illness

If your child is sick, please notify the school office to let us know.

 The number is 854-6100.

 If your child complains of an illness, please DO NOT send your child to school without first checking his/her temperature.

The policy is fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.

A note is needed when returning to school explaining the illness.

When an absence is known in advance, please notify the office and teacher.

Clothing for School

  All coats, jackets, sweaters should have your child’s name on it.

  Please send extra clothes to keep at school in a zip lock bag in case of a wet slide/spilled milk or an accident.

Clothes should be appropriate for daily outside recess.

Students should wear Tennis shoes since we have P.E.

**Note that our building is cold during hot days.

You may want to send a sweatshirt/sweater/ long sleeve shirt for your child to keep at school when the AC is running.**

BackPacks

Backpacks should have your Child’s Name On It.

Please send the backpack every day and check folders and school bag for notes and new information.

Blue Take-Home Folder

Every day your child will bring home this folder that may contain homework and important school information.

We appreciate your help in establishing a routine to check and return take home folders daily!

HEALTHY Snacks

We eat lunch at 11:00 a.m.

You may send a healthy snack for your child to eat in the afternoon.

Students may NOT share snacks.

Remember the School District of Clayton has a NO NUT policy for K-2.

Birthdays

 We know birthdays are important to children.

The first grade teachers have a special pencil and/or sticker for your child.

However, District Policy is NO BIRHTDAY TREATS are to be shared.

No Invitations to parties may be given out at school.

Please refer to the Captain Handbook for the birthday policy.

Best way to Contact me: 

jenigoode@claytonschool.net