mrs. michele fouch 2015-2016 room 10 [email protected]
TRANSCRIPT
Dear Parents or Guardians,
Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year! I am very excited about the adventures we are going to have this year at Cedar Lane. This information sheet should help you become acquainted with me, our classroom procedures, and our school procedures. You, as the parents/guardians, are my best link to your child’s strengths and weaknesses. I consider our relationship a partnership. With your help and support, we will have a very successful school year. Weekly Communication: I will be sending a folder home with your child every Friday. In this folder, you will find graded assignments and any communication pertaining to our class and school. I ask that you sign the folder and return it with your student on Monday morning. You may keep the graded work at home with you.
Snack: Afternoon Snacks & Water ConsumptionI have found it beneficial for the class to have a healthy afternoon snack. This year, our lunch is at 10:50; therefore, everyone should bring an afternoon snack. Only send enough for one day, and please do not send snacks that need refrigeration. Only healthy and PEANUT-FREE snacks are permitted, and it is helpful to avoid snacks that require silverware. I also permit my students to bring a water bottle to school to keep on their desks during the day and to use at recess. Plain water is the only beverage permitted, and the bottle must have a secure lid. Water bottle should be taken home on a regular basis to be cleaned. The following are examples of healthy snacks that we can enjoy while we continue to work.Apples Grapes
Carrot sticks PretzelsOyster crackers Graham CrackersCheese crackers Dried FruitSmall box of raisins Protein or Nutrition BarCut fruit Cut vegetables
Lunch: Lunch is from 10:50-11:20 and you are more than welcome to join your child for lunch anytime. If your child packs a lunch, please send it in a sturdy lunch box with your child’s name clearly printed on it. Please do not send soda or candy in your child’s lunch.
If your child brings money to school for lunches, please put it in an envelope with your child’s name and lunch number on it (their five digit number code). Place the envelope in your child’s “BEE Folder” and I will collect the envelopes. (Please consider the lunch account option as it saves you from having to find change and an envelope in the morning. It also seems to reduce the children’s stress when they know they have plenty of money on their account. You can arrange for it by visiting www.payforlunch.com or send in a check to County of Loudoun worth several lunches worth.)Monthly lunch menus are available on the school website. There are two combinations available each day: peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a bagel and yogurt. Snacks (chips, ice cream, cookies) are also available for purchase.
Parties :There are three main parties each year - Fall, Winter, and End of Year. We will celebrate the 100th day of school, Valentines Day and other special days throughout the year!
Belongings: Please make sure all items that your child brings to school are clearly labeled. Many coats, sweaters, gloves, and hats look alike and sometimes the children don’t even remember what belongs to them! Please also leave all toys, etc. at home because they get lost, broken or can be distracting.
Birthdays: In order to make your child’s day special, we will celebrate in the classroom during our Morning Meeting and sing “Happy Birthday” in the cafeteria. Loudoun County’s food policy states that no food is allowed to be brought in and shared. That means that there will be no food allowed for birthdays. If your child wants to share something with the class, you have 2 choices to send in: a book of your choosing for the classroom library or a piece of indoor/outdoor recess equipment (I can send you a suggested list of books and equipment.) We will celebrate summer birthdays in May/June.
*If you are inviting the entire class to your child’s birthday, you are welcome to have your child put invitations in their classroom mailboxes.
Homework/Classwork:I believe that homework is necessary for students to practice skills that have been learned, in addition to, enriching their classroom experience. On the other hand, I do not believe in overloading students with busywork. In many cases, homework will simply include reading 20 minutes each night, completing a few math problems to review, and studying for assessments. In order to help students become organized, students are given a “Bring Everything Everyday” folder. This is your child’s homework and important papers folder. Your child should bring his/her “BEE Folder” to school each day. Please remove all papers and initial the folder each day so that I know you have seen it. Your signature means that you have checked the folder and your child has completed his/her homework assignment with your help. (Please do not sign ahead.) • Homework assignments are interactive at this level-you will be working with your child 30-40
minutes per night. • 20 minutes should be spent reading… either you reading to your child, or your child reading to you.
This will help to build vocabulary and fluency. • Other assignments will involve practicing a skill that your child is working on in class. • If you cannot get to an assignment on a particular night, please write me a note in the “BEE Folder”
letting me know the assignment will be turned in later. This will ensure that we start the day on a positive note.
• PLEASE SEE “CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT” FOR AN EXPLANATION OF BEHAVIOR TRACKING IN THE BEE FOLDER”
In addition, I will list the week’s homework on our class website. If you notice that your child is becoming frustrated or unable to complete an assignment, please let me know. Homework is meant to reinforce concepts taught in class, and is often an extension of our work that day or week.
FROG (First-grade’s Really Organized Games) Folder: • Once this folder comes home, it should not be returned to school. It will be a resource for some
nights of homework. • Two sections: sight words and math games. • Sight Words: 4-5 words a week, only cut out these words, practice reading and then writing. Keep in
a baggie. • Math: contains cards, dice, and games (which will come home throughout the year). Please keep
them together in the folder. Math games will be sent home frequently to help math fluency and understanding. Use these materials to play the games. Keep all materials in the FROG folder.
Classroom Management: In our school we use the Positive Behavior Instructional Support system to encourage children to make good choices. Children will learn how to show respect for self, others, and property. When students are “caught” modeling these behaviors and making good choices they may receive a “Pride Paw”. They will bring this home to indicate that they have done exceptionally well at school!
I strive to maintain a positive learning environment with a focus on enabling students to understand and respect one another. Our classroom rules state: 1. Respect yourself. 2. Respect others. 3. Respect our property. We will be using Class Dojo in our classroom this year! Class Dojo is an online behavior management system that provides feedback and points for each student in real-time. I am a BIG time believer in the power of positive reinforcement! I especially like Class Dojo as students are awarded positive points to reinforce desired behaviors. You will also be able to log in daily to track your child’s progress! The points will reset at the end of each school day; however, Class Dojo will track the points and generate reports accordingly (daily, weekly). I encourage you to read more about Class Dojo and explore their website by navigating to the following link: http://www.classdojo.com/about In an effort to make the most of this behavior system and maximize its potential to increase positive behaviors, we will have in-class incentives that correspond with the number of points your child accumulates. Students will have the option to redeem the Dojo points they have earned for a particular time period. Most importantly, you will receive a parent code to enter, and your e-mail address. Then, you will have the option of logging in each day to track and monitor your child’s progress! You will also receive an e-mailed report at the end of every week from Class Dojo.
Parent-teacher Communication:If you have any questions or would like to schedule a conference, there are several ways you can contact me. You may send a note to school with your child, and I will respond as soon as possible in writing or verbal communication. You may call the school at (571) 252-5120 and leave me a message, or you may email me at [email protected] for the fastest result. I check my email several times a day, and find this to be the most efficient means to contact me. Transportation:The office will have a copy of your child’s daily dismissal plan which I will follow. If you have a transportation change for your child, please send written documentation or a brief phone call to the office. Handwriting: Loudoun County uses the D’Nealian handwriting system. All the tails may at first seem confusing, but the children usually learn to enjoy them. Please assist your child in holding a pencil and forming letters correctly. During school the children will learn how to form letters, but they will still require lots of practice to gain confidence and skill. Early habits are difficult to change once they become ingrained. During the first few months I would ask you to be especially vigilant in helping your child with handwriting. I will send home notes through the year indicating which letters need practice.I have included a chart showing correct D’Nealian letter formation for you to use as a guide. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Lost Tooth Bag: Losing a tooth is an exciting event for first graders. When a child loses a tooth, he/she will take home the Lost Tooth Bag. You will read a special tooth story and write about how the tooth came out in the Tooth Tales Book. Please send the bag and contents back the next day as the children always seem to lose their teeth in clusters! Assessments: At Cedar Lane we believe in complimenting a high quality instructional program with thoughtful and meaningful assessment practices. Both formative and summative assessments will be given. Formative assessments are administered throughout the learning process and are “spot checks” throughout the instructional day. When formative assessments are sent home you will see a comment or symbol assigned to the assessment, such as a smiley face, star, etc. The results of formative assessments help teachers to make instructional decisions. Summative assessments are used to check what a student has learned. These types of assessments are given toward the end of a unit or at a point when children should have learned certain skills. Summative assessments will be graded with an E,M,P or B and directly impact the grade a student receives in a subject area. All summative assessments will be entered in PHOENIX.
Grading: The elementary report card used in LCPS adequately reflects the curriculum and gives you detailed information about your child’s performance in all subject areas. The report card will be sent home with your child at the end of each marking period. You will be able to use the parent portal to monitor your child’s progress. More information will be sent home regarding the PHOENIX parent portal. A letter evaluation scale is used on the first grade report card to clearly indicate your child’s progress in learning skills. These markings will show to what degree skills have been learned. The scale is: E… Exceeds Standard M…Meets Standard P…Progressing Towards Standard B…Performing Below Standard Because “typical” letter grades (A,B,C,D and F) will not be used on the report card to reflect achievement, they will not be used on class work either. Tests, quizzes and more formal evaluations will be marked with the same letters as explained above. Daily class work and group activities will be marked with a comment or other method of assessment as these are less formal evaluation measures. If you have further questions please let me know. Interims will be sent home towards the middle of each grading period for children who are not performing on grade level at that time for both academics and behavior.
I am looking forward to a great year. Each scholar must do his or her own part in maintaining a positive learning environment. I am here to guide them towards success. I also ask you to join me by being a support team for your child. Together we can develop a partnership to achieve a very successful school year. As Always, please feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions or concerns. J I hope that the above information included was helpful! Here's to a positive and enjoyable school year! Thank you in advance for all your support,
Michele Fouch [email protected]
A Balanced Approach toLiteracy / Language Arts Instruction Reading WorkshopDuring reading workshop, students participate in guided reading groups, independent reading, partner reading, and one-on-one reading conferences. Guided ReadingGuided reading consists of small group instruction. During small group instruction, the teacher gathers together a small group of readers who are able to read similar texts with support. Students are exposed to a wide range of literature, and we demonstrate or review strategies for working through text. They spend time predicting outcomes, learning new vocabulary, discussing story content, and practicing fluency. One-on-One Reading ConferencesDuring a one-on-one reading conference, the student and teacher sit together and read books. Taking reading skill, genre, and the student’s interests in mind, the teacher guides the student in making good book choices. Individual progress is monitored closely through running records, miscue analysis, and anecdotal records. Independent ReadingOur classroom is stocked with a rich array of print materials: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, songs, content area books, and more! Unlike guided reading where the teacher chooses the books for instructional purposes, the focus of this time is to allow the students to choose their own reading material. Students are taught to find books appropriate to their reading level and interests. They store them in “Just Right” bags, and they can turn in old books and select new books as they please. During independent reading, the goal is for students to become immersed in their reading. They build fluency and develop confidence as they explore the many books in our classroom library.
Writing Workshop Students engage in some form of written communication each day. Content area writing includes nature watch journals, animal research, and written responses to science and social studies lessons. During writing workshop, students also write stories, essays, and poems to publish or read to an audience. As a group we explore the art and craft of writing through mini-lessons and author studies. The teacher often meets with a student in a one-on-one writing conference to review written work together. You will enjoy hearing these colorful tales at our Authors’ Tea in the spring!
Word Study Our spelling program is called Word Study. This program is individualized and encompasses a systematic and explicit approach to spelling. Children must master the spelling features for a particular stage of development before moving on to the next stage. Our goal is not the “memorization” of a list of spelling words for Friday’s test, but rather, a firm foundation in word attack skills. We will begin with word families (man, can, fan, etc.) Short vowel words are next in line and when the children demonstrate proficiency in writing those words correctly both on their “tests” and in their independent writing assignments, long vowel distinctions will be introduced. Blends (st, br, sl, etc.) and diagraphs (th, sh, ch, etc.) are studied at each stage throughout the year.
How Can I Support my Child at Home?
Reading* Read to your child.* Have your child read to you. Make sure the book choices are not too hard. Easier books build fluency and confidence.* Read the books that come home in the Take Home Reading Bag.* Make connections:- What did you notice, feel, or like?- What does this remind you of?- What do you like about this book and why?- What was your favorite part and why?- Which character do you like best and why?- What does the author want you to learn?- Give your opinion too!* Keep it fun!
Writing* Encourage your child to write & share stories at home* Encourage your child to stretch out words. Celebrate his/her success, even if the word isn’t spelled correctly.* Choose 1 thing to focus on if correcting (handwriting or mechanics or making sense…)* Let your child see YOU writing* Handwriting (different than writing): Sit next to your child & help him/her form letters correctly
Word Study* Notice what stage your child is at (by looking at their weekly tests) & hold him/her accountable for those patterns when writing at home.* Use the “If you can spell” method* Ignore words that don’t have patterns
Math* Replay games in the “Stay At Home Folder”* Ask the “how did you get that?” type of questions
Daily ScheduleMichele Fouch
2015-2016Morning Meeting
8:00-8:15Morning Meeting
8:00-8:15Morning Meeting
8:00-8:15Morning Meeting
8:00-8:15Morning Meeting
8:00-8:15Word Study
8:15-8:35Word Study8:15-8:35
Word Study8:15-8:35
Word Study8:15-8:35
Word Study8:15-8:35
Read Aloud8:35-8:50
Read Aloud8:35-8:50
Read Aloud8:35-8:50
Read Aloud8:35-8:50
Read Aloud8:35-8:50
Independent Reading
8:50-9:20
Independent Reading
8:50-9:20
Independent Reading
8:50-9:20
Independent Reading
8:50-9:20
Independent Reading
8:50-9:20
Daily 5: Guided Reading
9:20-9:50
Daily 5: Guided Reading
9:20-9:50
Daily 5: Guided Reading
9:20-9:50
Daily 5: Guided Reading
9:20-9:50
Daily 5: Guided Reading
9:20-9:50Shared Reading
9:50-10:00Shared Reading
9:50-10:00Shared Reading
9:50-10:00Shared Reading
9:50-10:00Shared Reading
9:50-10:00Daily 5: Guided
Reading10:00-10:30
Daily 5: Guided Reading
10:00-10:30
Daily 5: Guided Reading
10:00-10:30
Daily 5: Guided Reading
10:00-10:30
Daily 5: Guided Reading
10:00-10:30Mini-Lesson10:30-10:45
Mini-Lesson10:30-10:45
Mini-Lesson10:30-10:45
Mini-Lesson10:30-10:45
Mini-Lesson10:30-10:45
Lunch: 10:50-11:20Recess 11:25-11:45
Writer’s Workshop
11:45:12:05Computer Lab11:45-12:30
Writer’s Workshop
11:45:12:05
Writer’s Workshop
11:45:12:15
Writer’s Workshop
11:45:12:00
Math12:05-1:00
Math
12:30-1:00
Math12:05-12:35
Math12:15-1:00
Math12:00-12:30
PE1:00-1:30
Science/ Social Science
1:30-2:00
Science/ Social Science
12:35-1:00
Science/ Social Science
12:30-1:00
PE-W1:00-1:30
PE |1:00-1:30Art | 1:00-1:50
Library | 1:00-1:30
Music | 1:30-2:00 Guidance | 1:30-2:00
Power Up/ Extension2:00-2:20
Power Up/ Extension2:00-2:20
Power Up/ Extension2:00-2:20
Power Up/ Extension2:00-2:20
Power Up/ Extension2:00-2:20
Specials’ ScheduleMichele Fouch
2015-2016
Monday: PE, Music
Tuesday: PE, Computer Lab
Wednesday: PE, Music
Thursday: Art
Friday: Library, Guidance/Search