Ms.Byrd’s Class Handbook
First Grade 2013-2014
Dear Families of First Graders,
Welcome back to school! I hope you had a wonderful summer and are looking forward to a great school year. I am thrilled to be here at Butler Elementary teaching first grade. I have been teaching this grade for almost thirteen years, and I truly love my job! I will do my absolute best to ensure your child receives the best education possible, and I know that your support will make all the difference this year! Please never hesitate to email me at [email protected] or call the school with any questions that you may have. I hope this handbook will answer some of those questions. It is my goal for your child’s year in first grade to be a time filled with learning, laughter, fun, and love!
Sincerely,
Ms.Byrd
Contents…
Communication/Transportation Notes/Attendance, Tardiness, Dismissal/ Lunch Money/ Snacks/ Homework/Birthdays
Communication
Each day your child will bring home a green C.A.R.E. (Check and Return Every Day) folder. Every Monday, I will put the Weekly Update/Assignment calendar and homework in the folder. I will also send home a list of the Spelling/Vocabulary words that you should help your child learn during the week.
Transportation Notes
If there are ANY changes in transportation home, please send me a dated and signed note. You can send them in your child’s CARE folder. I check these in the morning, so if I have any questions I’ll have plenty of time to call. If it is a last minute change, call the school as early as possible. Don’t forget your car rider ID flyer for pickup.
Attendance/ Tardiness/ Early Dismissal
Every minute of the day is important to us. There’s not a minute wasted! In order for your child to receive the best education possible, it is necessary for your child to be on time and present at school. Please keep your child at home if he/she is sick and send an excuse note in the folder. Please schedule appointments in the afternoon, if possible.
Behavior Expectations
Class Rules and Consequences-"BEARS"!
1. Be a good listener.
2. Eyes on the speaker.
3. Always raise your hand to speak.
4. Respect yourself and others.
5. Speak kind words.
Daily Behavior Chart
This is a simple and easy way of tracking your child’s daily behavior in the classroom. The Daily Behavior Chart is a color coded chart. Your child will have a clip with his or her name on it, and they will start on green each day and move across the colored chart if behavior warrants. The goal is stay on green, which means "I am having a great day!" Here are the order of color codes:
Green- I had a great day!
Blue- I had to be warned today!
Yellow- I had to sit out 5 minutes of recess.
Red- I had to miss all of my recess.
Orange- Teachers choice (depending on the offense- typically trip to the office).
Students will have to option to "earn their way back to green" if they are moved off it, as long as they serve the coded punishment with an accountable attitude and correct their behavior!
In the back "window" of each students CARE folder will be a behavior chart, in which I will mark the color they ended their day on. Check this daily to discuss each day's behavior progress with your child!
Lunch Money
Your child will take money directly to the cafeteria. Please mark Breakfast or Lunch because they are separate accounts, and include their account number. You may wish to pay for the year, month, week, or day. You will be notified when your child’s balance is low.
Snack
Snack time is cherished by first graders. We get hungry from so much work!!! Send a healthy snack (no drinks- we have a water fountain in the room) each day that is quick and easy to eat. We take our snacks out of our lunchbox and book bags and place in a bin, so label if you wish. If you forget to send a snack one day, don’t worry! I’ll have extras on hand. Feel free to donate snacks for the class.
Homework
First graders get so excited about getting homework! All homework for the week will be sent home on Monday to be returned on Friday. I do not suggest having your child do all of the homework on one night, however. Your child should be able to complete homework within 15 minutes. Keep in mind, your child is expected to read at least 15 minutes each day in addition to homework. Although homework is neither graded or required, I strongly reccommend this practice! Not only does it build a strong bridge between school and home, but also teaches your child how to be responsible and accountable.
Super Reader Bags
Your child will have a book to read and then reading log to be completed by you. We will begin starting with two nights a week. (Note- these will not begin to come home until reading groups are made- you will be notified in the coming weeks.) Please return the book and reading log inside of the bag the following day. We’ll also be taking Accelerated Reader quizzes on the computer on most of the books. AR quizzes are not graded, but children can earn “points” for correct answers, therefore boosting their zoned reading level and books they are allowed to check our from the library.
Birthdays
You are welcome to send a treat in on your child’s special day! Please let me know in advance so we can be ready. I don’t want any feelings to be hurt, so please send party invitations if there are invites for the whole class, otherwise you will have to make other arrangements to distribute invitations that are only for a select few- Thanks!
*****Look for beginning of the year forms in the CARE folder to complete and return- I know it's a lot to fill out, but the sooner it's done and turned in, then you're off the hook :-) ******
THANKS!
Ms. Byrd
STAY CONNECTED WITH YOUR CHILD’S CLASS!
Class website (VISIT WEEKLY!): www.byrdfirst.weebly.com
Ms. Byrd’s email: [email protected]
Text message reminders: Text the message @msbyrdsf to phone number 850-635-0005. You can opt out of messages at anytime by replying, 'unsubscribe' @msbyrdsf
First Grade 2013-2014
Dear Families of First Graders,
Welcome back to school! I hope you had a wonderful summer and are looking forward to a great school year. I am thrilled to be here at Butler Elementary teaching first grade. I have been teaching this grade for almost thirteen years, and I truly love my job! I will do my absolute best to ensure your child receives the best education possible, and I know that your support will make all the difference this year! Please never hesitate to email me at [email protected] or call the school with any questions that you may have. I hope this handbook will answer some of those questions. It is my goal for your child’s year in first grade to be a time filled with learning, laughter, fun, and love!
Sincerely,
Ms.Byrd
Contents…
Communication/Transportation Notes/Attendance, Tardiness, Dismissal/ Lunch Money/ Snacks/ Homework/Birthdays
Communication
Each day your child will bring home a green C.A.R.E. (Check and Return Every Day) folder. Every Monday, I will put the Weekly Update/Assignment calendar and homework in the folder. I will also send home a list of the Spelling/Vocabulary words that you should help your child learn during the week.
Transportation Notes
If there are ANY changes in transportation home, please send me a dated and signed note. You can send them in your child’s CARE folder. I check these in the morning, so if I have any questions I’ll have plenty of time to call. If it is a last minute change, call the school as early as possible. Don’t forget your car rider ID flyer for pickup.
Attendance/ Tardiness/ Early Dismissal
Every minute of the day is important to us. There’s not a minute wasted! In order for your child to receive the best education possible, it is necessary for your child to be on time and present at school. Please keep your child at home if he/she is sick and send an excuse note in the folder. Please schedule appointments in the afternoon, if possible.
Behavior Expectations
Class Rules and Consequences-"BEARS"!
1. Be a good listener.
2. Eyes on the speaker.
3. Always raise your hand to speak.
4. Respect yourself and others.
5. Speak kind words.
Daily Behavior Chart
This is a simple and easy way of tracking your child’s daily behavior in the classroom. The Daily Behavior Chart is a color coded chart. Your child will have a clip with his or her name on it, and they will start on green each day and move across the colored chart if behavior warrants. The goal is stay on green, which means "I am having a great day!" Here are the order of color codes:
Green- I had a great day!
Blue- I had to be warned today!
Yellow- I had to sit out 5 minutes of recess.
Red- I had to miss all of my recess.
Orange- Teachers choice (depending on the offense- typically trip to the office).
Students will have to option to "earn their way back to green" if they are moved off it, as long as they serve the coded punishment with an accountable attitude and correct their behavior!
In the back "window" of each students CARE folder will be a behavior chart, in which I will mark the color they ended their day on. Check this daily to discuss each day's behavior progress with your child!
Lunch Money
Your child will take money directly to the cafeteria. Please mark Breakfast or Lunch because they are separate accounts, and include their account number. You may wish to pay for the year, month, week, or day. You will be notified when your child’s balance is low.
Snack
Snack time is cherished by first graders. We get hungry from so much work!!! Send a healthy snack (no drinks- we have a water fountain in the room) each day that is quick and easy to eat. We take our snacks out of our lunchbox and book bags and place in a bin, so label if you wish. If you forget to send a snack one day, don’t worry! I’ll have extras on hand. Feel free to donate snacks for the class.
Homework
First graders get so excited about getting homework! All homework for the week will be sent home on Monday to be returned on Friday. I do not suggest having your child do all of the homework on one night, however. Your child should be able to complete homework within 15 minutes. Keep in mind, your child is expected to read at least 15 minutes each day in addition to homework. Although homework is neither graded or required, I strongly reccommend this practice! Not only does it build a strong bridge between school and home, but also teaches your child how to be responsible and accountable.
Super Reader Bags
Your child will have a book to read and then reading log to be completed by you. We will begin starting with two nights a week. (Note- these will not begin to come home until reading groups are made- you will be notified in the coming weeks.) Please return the book and reading log inside of the bag the following day. We’ll also be taking Accelerated Reader quizzes on the computer on most of the books. AR quizzes are not graded, but children can earn “points” for correct answers, therefore boosting their zoned reading level and books they are allowed to check our from the library.
Birthdays
You are welcome to send a treat in on your child’s special day! Please let me know in advance so we can be ready. I don’t want any feelings to be hurt, so please send party invitations if there are invites for the whole class, otherwise you will have to make other arrangements to distribute invitations that are only for a select few- Thanks!
*****Look for beginning of the year forms in the CARE folder to complete and return- I know it's a lot to fill out, but the sooner it's done and turned in, then you're off the hook :-) ******
THANKS!
Ms. Byrd
STAY CONNECTED WITH YOUR CHILD’S CLASS!
Class website (VISIT WEEKLY!): www.byrdfirst.weebly.com
Ms. Byrd’s email: [email protected]
Text message reminders: Text the message @msbyrdsf to phone number 850-635-0005. You can opt out of messages at anytime by replying, 'unsubscribe' @msbyrdsf