First Grade Information 2016-2017

Welcome to first grade! I am excited to be working with you and your child this school
year. Chapman Elementary, as many of you already know, is an exciting place to learn
due to our excellent staff and families. I am excited to be a part of the Chapman Staff this year!
I have six years teaching experience, all in the early elementary grades. I have an 8 month old son named
Cole. I studied at Eastern Michigan University for my Bachelors Degree with a major in Mathematics for
Elementary Education and a minor in Integrated Science. Go Green!
First grade, in my opinion, is the largest period of academic growth. My goal this school year is to guide
your child toward academic, social, and emotional growth within a positive learning environment. The first
grade curriculum is aligned to meet the National Common Core Standards for education. Literacy is our
key focus. Literacy includes guided reading, shared reading, word work, writing, and many other learning
activities. Math is also a large part of our daily schedule. Science and Social Studies are included in our
curriculum, however not on a daily basis. I will update you on a regular basis about our learning.

Communication Sheet
There will be a weekly communication sheet in your childs green GO folder. Please read both sides and
keep the communication sheet in the Return to school pocket of the folder. The sheet will include your
childs daily behavior, reminders, sight words for the week, and other useful information. I will collect
the sheets the following Monday for a homework grade based on the reading log.

Contacting Me
Please contact me whenever you have questions or concerns, no matter how small. Communication is a
key to your childs success. Our relationship is also important for your child to develop a positive school
outlook. You can also reach me by school phone before or after school.

The easiest method is through

email. Given a notice I can be available before or after school. If you have an emergency and need to get
a hold of me, please call the school office. Looking forward to a great year and working with you!
[email protected]
734-379-6380

Drop Off
School begins at 8:48 a.m. except for Mondays in which we will begin at 9:48 a.m. Arriving on time helps
your child prepare for his/her day and sets the tone for a great day. The school breakfast program is
also available at 8:30 a.m. Our Champions program is available to any students needing to arrive before

this time. I will greet students in our gymnasium five minutes before the start of our school day. Please
help your child start the day right by getting him/her to school on time.

Attendance
Please make sure your child attends school regularly. The majority of our learning takes place in the
classroom, engaged in hands-on activities , beginning at the start of the day. Limited homework may be
available to make up on days your child is absent, however, there are days in which homework will not be
available. Make sure to report your childs absence to the school office for an excused absence.
Unreported absences are marked unexcused. Tardies are also noted.

Pick Up
We dismiss students at 3:53 p.m. through the Kindergarten hall and out the doors to the front of the
school building. Students will only be released to people listed on your emergency card. Please make
sure that proper identification is also available until we get to know you and your family. If there are
any changes to your childs normal dismissal routine, PLEASE send a note. A students notification will
not be sufficient for a change in dismissal. Phone calls to the office will be accepted until 3:00 p.m. for
a change in your childs dismissal. Students who ride a bus home will be escorted to their bus by an
upper grade safety.

Snack Time
We have two snack times each day. Please send your child with two healthy snacks. Healthy snack
suggestions include yogurt, granola bars, crackers, fruit, vegetables, cheese, veggie straws or pretzels.
Fruit snacks, sweets, cookies, honey buns, chips or doritos, and pop-tarts will not be permitted at snack
time. Beverages are not permitted during snack time with the exception of water. Snack time is a time
to re-energize the brain, and provide the needed nutrients for brain function. Thank you for your
cooperation!

Water Bottles
Water is important for appropriate brain function. Water bottles are acceptable in the classroom,
preferably a water bottle that will not spill if accidentally tipped. Other beverages will not be
permitted, including flavored water due to the stickiness. Water only please!

Lunch Time
Our lunch time is at 11:35 a.m. Protein is a great way to keep the brain working and ready for learning
throughout our school day. School lunches can be purchased on a daily basis. When sending in lunch
money for your child please make sure it is in a marked envelope with your childs name and lunch
money. If your child is running late to school please let the kitchen know his/her lunch choice by 9:30
a.m.

Birthdays
We follow the Districts Wellness Policy. This is the result of growing concerns about food
allergies and dietary needs for children throughout the district. This means that students
are no longer able to bring in food or treats of any kind for their birthday. However, this
does not mean that we will not acknowledge your childs special day. If your childs birthday
falls on a day we are not in school, I can coordinate a special day for him/her.
***Please do not send invitations with your child to be passed out, unless you have one for every student
in the class. If you need to make arrangements for something else, please contact me.***

Supply List
Here is a suggested supply list and some items that your student may need. Please label all items with
your childs name.

Quantity
1 box

Item Needed
10 Count Standard size
Washable Markers- No larger!

2 boxes

24 count(or less)
Crayons- Regular or Mini-Twistable

Large Glue Sticks

Two pocket folder

Description/Picture
Crayola or Rose Art. Standard colors
please!
Crayola or Rose Art brands
Standard colors only please
Any Brand that dries Clear
Plain or with designs

3 hole punched
1 pair

No brads please
Blunt End Childrens scissors

Dry Erase Markers

The more durable the better!

No sharp ends please!
Black Only!
Low Odor please!

Large Pink Erasers

3 Ring binder

Any Brand

1 inch with 2 pockets

1

Standard Size Pencil box

White with clear overlay for insert

Any Color or brand.
Dimensions: 8in x 5 in
Tool and tackle boxes are not

only

permitted.
10

Standard Pencils No.2

Preferably Yellow- No plastic covered or

decorated pencils please!!! They do not

Hand Held Pencil Sharpener

work in our pencil sharpener.

Must have an enclosure to catch shavings- NO

(Optional)
1

Mechanical sharpeners

Headphones for computer lab

no wireless please

70 sheet spiral notebook

Wide Ruled

1 subject

Composition Notebook

If supplies need to be refilled during the year, I will notify you. Items that are toy-like in nature and
make noise are not permitted.

Communication Sheet
Every Monday your child will receive a communication sheet for the week. The sheet includes behavior,
spelling words, reminders, notes, and a reading log. Make sure to read both sides! I will collect the
communication sheet the following Monday for a homework grade based on the reading log.

Get Organized Folder

The GO folder will be your childs communication folder between home and school.
Your childs communication sheet will be kept in the keep at school pocket. Notes can be written right
on the communication sheet. Any money sent to school should be in a marked envelope (with your childs
name and purpose) then placed in the folder. Any work marked with a grade or a T in a circle (which
means completed together), should be kept at home. Please check the folder daily and return it to
school for the very next day. I will check the folder daily. Thank you!

Homework
Homework will be sent in the GO folder at different times throughout the week. Homework is a review
of daily learning and will include nightly reading, spelling words, math, and occasionally a social studies or
science project. Please return the homework by Friday of that same week. The reading log is the
primary homework however. It is located on the communication sheet. Each night the reading log can be
completed from reading the reading bag book or another book at home; this is considered nightly

homework. Reading is the foundation of learning and the more children practice the more fluent (proper
pacing and voice) they become. Each trimester, a homework grade is reported on the report card.

Asking for Help/Fostering Independency:

Students are greatly encouraged to ask for help once they have worked to complete a task on
their own. There will be a few times that I may not be able to help him/her. These times are
due to your child taking a test/assessment, or when I am working with a small group, or other
individual child. Strategies will be taught to help your child work through times of difficulty.

PBiS Behavior Chart:

Students who make good choices during the day get to clip up from the
Ready to Learn space for positive behavior. Students not making good
choices will clip down from the Ready to Learn. Students will have
opportunities to clip up after a clip down. The final behavior will be reported
on your childs communication sheet by your child. Please make sure the
behavior circle is colored in each day.

Clip on the teacher=Absolutely wonderful! Your child has gone above and
beyond a model student for the school day.
Red= Wow! Your child has had an awesome day! He/she has made many good
choices during the day.
Orange= Students are continuing to make good choices.
Yellow= Students are making good choices.
Green= Students start here every day.
Blue= Think About It= a warning.
Purple=Teachers Choice= a Think Sheet and loss of privilege.
Pink= Parent Contact= an office referral and form that will be sent home for
parents to sign.

Classroom Expectations
As a class we will go through the process of generating rules and discussing the expectations that will
help us reach our goals for the year. It is my expectation that students treat each other and their
environment with respect and kindness. My philosophy is that we treat others the way we would want to
be treated. We will learn how to respect and care for each other and our school environment. When
classroom rules are broken, there will be clear and logical consequences to help them learn from their

mistakes. We will be working very hard to create a safe and nurturing environment where all students
can be successful! This will include class meetings and community building activities.
Students who display positive behaviors will have opportunities to choose coupons to redeem in class.
Students will earn coupons from each clip up they make. When students reach ten points, they will earn
a coupon of their choice. Some examples include: Cool Cat (wear a hat to school), Fluffy Friend (bring a
stuffed animal to school), or use Teacher Supplies (Choose from teachers fun supplies).
At Chapman Elementary all students are responsible for following the same three rules in all areas of
the building:
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Safe
Although these are general rules, we will be learning specific ways to follow these rules in each area of
the building.
I am hoping to provide the majority of information here in this letter. Again, I welcome you and your
child to First Grade! Any questions or concerns please contact me!!!
Thank you for your time!
Ms.Barry
[email protected]
734-379-6380

Specials Schedule
Monday-Gym-please wear gym shoes to school. We have gym right away in the am.
Tuesday- Library and computer lab; please return your library book.
Wednesday- Gym-please wear gym shoes to school.
Thursday- Music
Friday-Art