Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy

2015-2016

Ms. Shew’s and Mrs. Cole’s

First Grade

•About Me- I was born and raised in Rutherford County. I live in Cliffside, NC with my two children. Hunter is starting 8th grade and Molly is in 4th grade this year. I received my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Gardner Webb University in 2000. I taught 1st grade for 14 years at Cliffside Elementary School. This is my second year teaching at TJ and I am looking forward to an exciting, fun-filled year of learning!

•About Mrs. Cole-She is a wife and mother of two daughters. Breanne is a seventh grader at TJ and Lindsey is in the 3rd grade. Mrs. Cole graduated from Isothermal College with degrees in business and cosmetology. She has been an assistant for 7 years. Mrs. Cole and her husband Jason enjoy farm life and the outdoors. She is so excited about our upcoming year!

8:00-8:10 Assembly

8:10-8:20 Unpack/Attendance/ Lunch Count

8:20-9:05 Specials

9:05-9:20 Restrooms/ Snack

9:20-10:30 Calendar/ Math

10:30-11:45 Skills

11:45-12:15 Lunch

12:15-12:30 Restrooms/ Clean Up

12:30-1:45 Listening and Learning

1:45-2:15 Recess

2:15-2:20 Pack Up

2:20-2:55 Daily Extensions

• Monday 8:20-9:05 Computer

•Tuesday 8:20-9:05 Library

•Wednesday 8:20-9:05 Art

•Thursday 8:20-9:05 P.E.

•Friday 8:20-9:05 Music

•School begins promptly at 8:00 and ends at 3:00.

•To have a successful year it is vital that your child be at school each day. It is also vital that they not be tardy or dismissed early. In the event your child is absent, please remember to send a written excuse for the office.

•If your child plans to go home a different way than usual, you must send a written note or contact the office by lunchtime. We cannot change transportation just because a child says so.

•Follow directions the first time they are given.

•Raise your hand and wait for permission to speak.

•Stay in your seat unless you have permission to speak.

•Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.

•Be respectful of others and their property.

•Always do your best!

To encourage students to follow the rules, I will support appropriate behavior with verbal recognition, prizes, and positive notes, emails, and phone calls home.

We will have a positive behavior system. In the classroom we use a flow chart with a puppy dog theme (I am a dog lover!) Each day your child will begin on READY To LEARN-Green. They can move up to Hot Dog- Blue if they display a behavior that is above and beyond what is expected of them. If the student continues to display exceptional behavior, they will move their puppy dog clip up to Best in Show-Purple, which is at the top for excellent behavior. If they are having difficulty following the rules for some reason then they will have to move down to Dropping the Ball-Yellow (warning). If the student continues to misbehave, the clothespin will go to Barking up the Wrong Tree- orange (time out or loss of privilege. Lastly is In the Doghouse -Red- Contact (parent contact)!

• Please look in your child’s folder each day. We will send school information by way of your child.

•We will send home all classwork in a folder on Wednesdays. Please look over all of the papers with your child. The papers on the side labeled “Return to School” need to be sent back on the following day with your initials at the top of the stapled set of papers. This will make sure you are aware of important grades your child is currently making. The other side that reads “Keep at Home” should be left at home to be looked over at leisure with your child. Please make sure that you sign the log on the back cover of the folder. This assures me that you have seen your child’s weekly work and gone over it with them. This system is vital to keep you up-to-date with your child’s progress.

•Please remember to check your child's grades periodically in PowerSchool. No midterm progress reports will be sent home since parents can always access the Gradebook.

•Students will be graded on a ten point scale. A 100-90, B 89-80, C 79-70, D 69-60, F below 59.

•Math tests, Listening and Learning Domain Tests, Graded Comprehension Assignments, Grammar Tests on Comprehension, and Projects will count 70%. All quizzes, Spelling tests, Calendar check ups, and graded problems of the day will make count 30%.

• Homework is very important. Look at homework as a chance for your child to show you what they are learning at school.

•Homework will always be a review of what we have learned in class, if for some reason your child is struggling please make every effort to help them, without doing it for them. Please let me know if your child has struggled to complete a homework assignment!

•Along with the review sheet for the night, your child will be asked to read each night. This is a great time to cuddle up with your child and read together. Once you have read, please fill out the reading log that will be kept in your child’s homework folder.

•Homework must be completed daily. If your child is absent, the homework is due the day he or she returns.

•Incomplete homework or homework not completed by the student will be completed during recess.

• Our lunch time is 11:45-12:15.

•You are welcome to come eat lunch with your child only. We must have written permission from another parent if you plan to eat lunch with their child as well.

•We will have hot lunches again for $3.00 per meal. Your child may order a lunch or bring one from home.

•If you are ordering hot lunch, please either set up a lunch account online or send your child’s lunch money in an envelope with your child’s first and last name on it.

•If you are sending a lunch from home, please make sure it does not need to be refrigerated or heated. Include a napkin, fork, and spoon if necessary. Also remember that it is a school rule that we have no soda.

•First grade will have a snack this year. Please send a nutritious snack (goldfish, crackers, etc.). We will be working while we are eating so the simpler the better! You may send a small water bottle for your child. To avoid spills in the backpack and on the gym floor, you will want to send the snack and water bottle in a small insulated baggie or in the lunchbox.

We love help from our parents!*You will see a parent volunteer form being passed around. Please fill it out if you are interested in helping.

*Volunteers must have an appointment. I need to know in advance if you are coming.

*Volunteers are welcome to the work room to get materials and supplies, or make copies. However, all work should be done at the hall tables.

*A board change this year limits parents to one day to sit in in and view inside the classrooms.

* The forum also needs volunteers. If you are interested in helping out with different forum activities, please email Christie

Herndon at tjgrammarforum@gmail.com.

Volunteer in our Classroom!

• Birthdays are wonderful!! Simple treats may be brought by you (or sent to school) on your child’s birthday. Sending a birthday treat is optional. Please let us know ahead of time if you plan on doing something special.

•We would prefer that these treats take place during lunch time or after recess (2:15).

Fables and Stories Mexico

Human Body Early American Civilizations

Geography Astronomy

Different Lands, Similar Stories History of the Earth

Early World Civilizations Habitats

World Religions Fairy Tales

Matter Birth of Our Nation

Electricity Frontier Explorers

• We will begin the year with a review of letter sounds and tricky words and then move into a continuation of learning sounds throughout the year.

•As new sounds are introduced we will begin reinforcing those sounds with the use of a reader. Your child will be asked to read a story from the reader for homework. Our first reader will be called Snap Shots.

•This year your child’s reading comprehension sheets will be graded. Please make sure they have a good understanding of the story. By the end of 1st grade, students should be able to read with fluency, accuracy, and comprehension, stories and texts which are first grade appropriate.

• We will continue to use Singapore Math this year. • Singapore is a different math program in that it provides your child the opportunity to become a true problem solver.• Each of our lessons will be hands on. Your child will be using items to help them solve our math problems. •You will find helpful websites on my webpage to use at home to support classroom learning.•Another good resource for parents is What Your First Grader Needs to Know by E.D. Hirsch,

• Please be sure your child is dressed in the proper uniform attire as written in the handbook. A note will be sent home if your child is not in the correct uniform clothing and shoes. • Please remember to write your child’s name in each item. We do not want your child to loose their jacket or sweatshirt.

•The only way that we can have a successful year is to communicate. It takes us working together for your child to have a year where they can SHINE. • Please check the website often. I will be posting what we are studying, homework, special dates, important information and pictures. I try to have the Weekly Update ready by Monday mornings.• My email address is rshew@tjca.org Please feel free to contact me at any time. However I will be teaching your child during the day, so I will only be able to check my email in the mornings, at lunch, and after school. If it is something I need to know about, especially a change in the way your child will get home, PLEASE call the school.•You can reach me at school 828-245-9526 in the mornings by 7:30 or from 3:00 until 4:00 in the afternoon.

• August 20th First Day of School•September 7th Labor Day No School•October 15th Half Day For Students; Fall Festival 4-8 p.m.•October 16th No School, Teacher’s Workday•November 11th No School; Veteran’s Day Holiday•November 16th Trimester 1 Ends•November 25th-27th Thanksgiving Break•December 18th Half Day For Students•December 21st-January 1st Christmas Break•April 28th Noon First Grade Concert Red Coats, Revere,And the Revolution. Children may dress in costumes from the American Revolution time period or school uniforms.

for taking the time to attend Orientation!

I look forward to working with you and your child this year. It is going to be a wonderful year filled with exciting learning activities!