Welcome

Welcome to our first grade family.  It's really fun to see how much first graders learn during this year  The specifics of what we are learning in the classroom each week and how you can help at home is in my weekly newsletter Mrs. Sullivan's Snapshot.  It is my hope that this information will help you have meaningful conversations with your child about what is going on in the classroom.

The best way to help your child succeed in school is to take an active interest in their school day.  Take the time to ask your child how their day was and what they are learning about.  Remind your child to bring you their "take home folder" so you can look through it with them each day for notes and homework.  I will send completed school work home on Fridays in a "Friday Folder".  It is very important to praise the work your child has done and let them know how proud you are of them.

    Homework

As we get into a school routine I will begin sending homework for your child each night. This homework should not take more than 15 minutes to complete.  If it is taking your child longer than this to complete their homework please contact me so we can modify the homework.  The purpose of homework is to allow your child to get a little extra practice on what we are learning and to let you know what we are working on in class and how your child is doing at these new skills.  It will help establish a good routine that will help your child succeed in their upcoming years of school.  I have other resources on my web page that may help with homework such as a number grid and word wall that can be printed for use at home.  I have links to educational web sites that can be used to reinforce what is being taught in the classroom.  This information is under curriculum links on my home site.

    Discipline

Spring Green Elementary has adopted the time to teach discipline system. As part of this program your child will be taught what behavior is acceptable and what behavior is not acceptable.  This is accomplished by doing many Teach To's during the first weeks of school.   Once a behavior has been taught and practiced the student will need to refocus if they decide not to follow the correct behavior.  Students will refocus by moving a cutout on a stoplight chart.

Green means keep going.  Your behavior is just how it should be.  Students that remain in the green pocket all day will be rewarded with character cash at the end of the day.  They will bring this home to show you how hard they worked. 

Yellow means be careful.  If a student chooses not to follow the correct behavior they will have to move to the yellow pocket and have a conference with the teacher regarding their behavior.  Your child will not bring home character cash but should be able to tell you what they can do better tomorrow so they can earn it then.

Red means stop!  If a student continues not to choose the correct behavior they will have to move to the red pocket and have another conference with the teacher and miss out on some recess time. I will call you if the behavior continues.  It is your child's responsibility to be able to tell you why they did not earn character cash for the day.

*If a students behavior injures another person a refocus form will be filled out and sent home from the office.

Please take the time to check with your child to find out if they earned character cash for the day and if not what they plan to do so they will earn it the next day.

    Supplies

• Book bag
• 1 pocket folder
• 1 plastic folder w/3 prongs
• 1 large pink earaser
• 3 glue sticks
• 1 large box of tissues
• 10 count box wide washable markers
• 2 black low odor markers
• 24 count Crayonla Crayons
• 1 wide-lined single subject spiral notebook
• Scissors (Fiskars are nice)
• 4 oz Elmer's Glue-All
• 6 #2 pencils (need to be replaced often)
• Pencil Box (cigar box size)

Return to Mrs. Sullivan's First Grade

08/22/08 (ALS)