Ms. Diane Hart
1st Grade		 LES Home
First Grade Schedule 2009-2010
  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
7:30-7:45 Morning Duties Morning Duties Morning Duties Morning Duties Morning Duties  
7:45-8:20 Greeting/ News Sharing Activity Greeting/ News Sharing Activity Greeting/ News Sharing Activity Greeting/ News Sharing Activity Greeting/ News Show + Tell  
8:20-9:00 ART MUSIC PE ART MUSIC
9:00-9:20 Snack 9:00-9:40
PE 		Snack
9:20-9:50 Math 9:40-9:55
(in the classroom)
Snack 		Math  
9:50-10:20 Math 9:55-10:45
Math 		Math
10:20-11:20 Spelling Reading   10:30-11:00
Bi-Weekly
Health
Spelling/Reading		 Spelling/Reading Math 10:30-11:25
Spanish ? 10:45-11:20
Reading 		Spelling/Reading
11:20-11:45 Recess
11:50-12:12 Lunch
12:12-1:30 Calendar
Handwriting Writing 		Calendar
Spelling
Writing 		Calendar Handwriting Writing  
1:30-1:45 Recess Bi-Weekly
Recess/Town Library 		Recess
1:45-2:20 Bi-Weekly 1:50-2:20
Guidance/Social Sciences 		Bi-Weekly
1:15-2:00 Computer/Social Sciences 		Social Studies Bi-Weekly School Library
1:20-2:25 Town Library 		Social Sciences  
2:20-2:32 Clean up
Dismissal

School Day

Morning Duties:

When the children get to school they should put their things away, take their chair down from their desk, hand in their folder, take out their lunch money/checks and put it in the green envelope, sign the Snack and lunch paper, and let me know of any changes for the end of the day. Next, they read the morning message and sign in on the whiteboard.

Morning Meeting:

When the intercom comes on, everyone stands to listen to the school news and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. After the pledge we gather together on the floor to greet each other. Next, we read the news and have voice share. On Friday, students can bring something in for show and tell. They may choose to pass if they want to. Some mornings we will sing songs, read a poem, or play a game. We will be working on turn taking, cooperation, being a good sport, and just plain having fun and a laugh! We are currently building our vocabulary and language skills. This is a special time of day for everyone! We learn a lot about each other and it really brings our community together. Your child looks forward to this part of his/her day.

Specials:

Most of our specials are in the morning this year. On Mondays the children have a long Art class (80 minutes) from 8:10-9:30. They should have an art shirt and dress accordingly. On Tuesdays (8:10-8:55) and Fridays (8:30-9:10) they have Music. On Wednesdays and Thursdays they have PE from 8:30-9:10. They should have their sneakers with them on the days they have Physical Education. The PE teacher will put a sticker on the chart if all the students come prepared. I do not have extras sneakers for them to wear, but they may leave a pair at school if they choose to do so. On Wednesdays, they will have Guidance or Health (1:45-2:17 on alternating weeks). On Thursdays they will have School Library from 1:50-2:17. I am going to try to have Town Library from 1:20-2:20 on alternate weeks. On Fridays, I am working to schedule time in the Computer Lab from 1:50-2:17.

Spelling:

The Building Blocks to Spelling Program is used in first grade. You will be provided with a spelling list for the year. Students are given their spelling words on Monday. Words are given in a flash-card format to make them easier to study. They have twelve words to study, including sight words. We will also do hands-on activities. A spelling test will be given every two or three weeks. Keep practicing the words your child might miss until they get them right.

Handwriting:

Our handwriting program is called Handwriting Without Tears. Students will be writing in a workbook. Our goal is for them to use correct letter and number formation in their writing. Last year, they had to look legible to be okay. This year, they need to start at the top (except d and e). You want children to write with speed and neatness while thinking about the content of their work. The secret to achieving speed and legibility is following the eight key skills in our books. They are memory (name and visualize in random order), orientation (without reversals), placement (bump lines), size (consistent), start (start at the top), sequence (make the letter parts in the correct order and direction every time), control (print letter parts neatly without gaps, overlaps or extra tracings), and spacing (keep letters in words close and leave space between words in sentences). Children who immediately know their letters or numbers and which way they face (Memory and Orientation) don’t have to stopand think; they can write quickly. Children who make their letters sit correctly on the baseline and who make a consistent size (Placement and Size) produce neat papers. Children who always start in the right place and make the strokes the same way every time (Start and Sequence) are able to write quickly and neatly without thinking. (Control) will come naturally as children master the above skills. (Spacing) develops from good instruction and from using the worksheets and workbooks that provide room to write. (Speed and Neatness) will come when you work on everything else. Children with good habits can be both fast and neat. That’s where we are heading!

Reading:

During our reading time, students will read alone, read with a partner, read in a small group and/or read to an adult. They have a Ziploc bag that they put five books of their choice in. The bag contains easy books, on-level books that they can read independently, and harder books that they are learning how to read. Sometimes they need an adult to help them choose the appropriate books. When they complete reading their chosen books, they put them back and get five more. After they read a book to an adult they take the card out of the book and put it in their pocket chart. Then they may either put the book in their homework folder or backpack. This homework should be a time for them to share their success with you. The next day they take the card out of the pocket and put it in the book and put the book back. Children could read to a teddy bear, siblings, a friend, a sitter, etc. You can take turns reading. You can write down books that you read at the dentist, etc. It helps if children keep their books and folder in their bag when they aren’t using them. First Graders should exit first grade reading level 14-16. Level 17-19 are transition to second grade books. Level 20 is the level for beginning second graders.

Writing:

Sometimes we will do group writing (specific things which will be teacher directed), independent writing (encouraged to write about whatever topic they want), and cards/letters (buddies, teachers, parents, other children etc.).I will be working on Traits of Good Writing. The traits students will be learning are Ideas and Content, Word Choice, Fluency, Voice, Organization, Conventions, and Presentation.

General Information

Recess:

Our recess is from 11:25-11:45 EVERY DAY. At the start of the year I will go outside with them for an extra recess in the afternoon. They can play with their friends from K-3.

Lunch:

All students eat in the cafeteria. They are able to eat with their friends from K-3. They should be on good behavior and using good manners.


Math:

We use the Houghton Mifflin Math books and other supplementary materials.

Science/Social Studies:

Our first unit is Insects. We learn the Butterfly Cycle etc. We are learning teamwork and being a team player in our classroom community. My goal is that everyone understands what we are doing. That will require everyone working together to help each other.

We are working on an All About Me unit that lets us know more about each other. Learning and work is done throughout the whole day. Other units are cooperative group games, magnets, the human body, and the Four Winds program with parent volunteers whose focus this year will be on Design and Nature. Our school theme is helping our environment (water, paper, oil, and electricity). REDUCE, RECYCLE, REUSE.

Buddy:

The students will each have a fourth grade buddy to work with this year. We hope to have fun and learn from each other! In November we make posters together and in December we donate food to the Good Neighbors Food Shelf.

School Hours/Dismissal:

School begins at 7:45 AM. Students arriving after that will be marked tardy. Starting this year, three tardies will be marked as an absence. I will be opening the classroom door at 7:30. If children come to school by bus they will go to the school library until 7:30 and will then be sent to the classrooms.
Dismissal is at 2:32. Bus students leave first and walkers and children who are being picked up are dismissed at approximately 2:42 after the buses leave the parking lot. All buses are operated by the Ludlow Municipal Transit System. There is always a teacher available during dismissal to help students. If you need to change where your child is going to be dropped off after school, you need to send in a note or call the school before 2:00 PM. Parents/Guardians that get here early to pick up their children should wait by the bus loading area next to the gym until you hear an announcement over the intercom indicating that you may pick up your child. If you are picking your child up early, please send in a note so I can have your child ready. Thanks!

Hot Lunch and Snack:

Follow the breakfast menu to see the choices for Snack. You may purchase milk separately for $.50. All lunch money is kept in an account through Black River Hot Lunch Program. Snack costs $1.50. Lunch costs $2.25. Checks should be made out to Black River Hot Lunch. Meals may be paid for either weekly or longer. If you get free or reduced lunch your child can get breakfast or Snack (not both). If they go to breakfast you should provide them something for Snack or they will have to sit without a Snack for 15 minutes. On Monday, we will be eating in our classroom. We may be eating in our classroom on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as well. Please label your child’s lunch bags. A water bottle for the classroom is helpful; especially during hot weather.

Attendance/Absent Days:

Consistent attendance is essential for your child to obtain the maximum benefit from our carefully planned program. Please have them here on time, but no earlier than 7:30 AM. If your child is running a temperature, please keep them at home.If your child is going to be absent, please call the office after 7:30 AM and before 8:00 AM(228-5151)to notify the school: also, please send in a note the following day explaining why your child was absent.

Birthdays:

You may send in cupcakes or treats for your child’s birthday. We love to celebrate events together. We do not send home invitations unless everyone in the class is invited. Please pass out invitations outside of school; we wouldn’t want any hurt feelings.

Clothing:

Classrooms tend to be warm, so comfortable layers work best. Each child should bring in a shirt for art on Mondays. They should bring sneakers for PE on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Children need to have footwear everyday. Even when it is dry at home, our playground seems to have snow and mud. Please make sure your child brings boots to school for recess. You are welcome to have your child leave a pair of extra shoes or boots at school.

Transportation:

If you want your child dropped off at a stop other than his/her usual one, or if you do not want him/her to ride the bus on a particular day because you will be picking him/her up, please send a note to tell us of the change.If your child’s destination changes from day to day, I would appreciate receiving a written schedule.

Contributions:

We know children who contribute items to their classroom build an important sense of belonging. Throughout the year we will be asking for various items. Some examples of what we may be asking for are cereal boxes, old greeting card fronts, egg cartons, can tabs, Campbell’s labels, box tops, etc. Thanks for all the supplies!

First Grade Folders:

Each day your child will bring home a blue folder containing his/her work, news, book orders, monthly menus, homework, etc. Please make sure you check it and sign your name, date it, and add comment, if any, on the back paper and send it back.

Homework:

The first grade folder will have their homework in it. The National Standards state that students should have 10 minutes of homework per grade. I will give homework on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. I won’t give homework if there is no school the next day. Students should be reading two or three nights a week; more if there are more adults in the room to listen to them read. If you aren’t seeing any books brought home, please speak to your child and then to me. They should practice their spelling words every week. I am giving 12 words every two to three weeks. You should put any important papers, money, or notes in this folder. If they don’t hand their folder in, we will look in their bag together to see if we can find it, until they become responsible enough to do it on their own.

Communications:

I have my email address and the school phone number on the first page of this handbook. Please call, write, or set up an appointment if you have any questions. I will be glad to meet with you.

Volunteers:

If you would like to share pictures of a trip, a special collection, a particular talent, a hobby, etc., with the class, please let me know. We would love to invite you to our classroom. You could do a project with the children; come in to read a book; play an instrument; call parents for the Christmas and Valentine parties, etc. If you have any other ideas, please let me know and I’ll see what we can do.

Other:

Winter sports starts in January.
Rotary gives all first graders a free book with their name in it.

Together we will have a great year!


Back to top

 LES Home