First Grade Packet
Mrs. Truax
Cooper Elementary
WELCOME TO THE HIVE!
THE BEST PLACE TO BEE!
Table of Contents
First Grade Introduction Letter
First Grade Curriculum and Units
Classroom Rules and Consequences
Behavior/Reward System
Homework Letter
Bee Of The Week
Folder System
Snack Time
Birthday Celebrations
Buzzin’ Into First Grade!
Welcome to a wonderful and exciting first grade year!
I have planned for a busy and fun-filled year. Our classroom will be academically
stimulating and challenging for all children but will also provide a warm and friendly
learning environment. As a class we will strive to be cooperative classmates so that
everyone feels comfortable in our classroom and is able to learn and grow.
PARENT HELPERS: Our classroom is always open. I feel very strongly about
parents being involved in their child’s education. I will be involving parents in a
number of activities throughout the school year. In the first few weeks I will not
be having any parent helpers in the room. I feel I need to first establish a positive
learning environment, as well as, develop a positive working relationship with your
child. I want to get routines and procedures in place. I will start including parents
in the classroom in late October/early November. Thank you for all your support.
MORNING SNACK: Every morning your son/daughter is provided with a snack
time. Snack time will be from 10:00 until 10:10. Your child is responsible for
bringing his/her own HEALTHY snack. I will provide a snack for everyone on the
first day of school. Snack day will start on Wednesday, September 4th.
HOLIDAY PARTIES: We will be celebrating the following holidays: Fall Festival,
Christmas, and Valentine’s Day. I will have a sign-up sheet at the open house for
anyone who is interested in helping. It is greatly appreciated.
HOW TO CONTACT ME:
My email is: [Link]@[Link] (anytime) I am always checking it
throughout the day.
Cooper’s Number (269) 349-2674 Best times to reach me by phone: 7:15-8:10,
12:00-12:40, 2:00-2:35, and 3:30-4:00
First Grade Curriculum & Units
Phonics:
Identify letters of the alphabet both upper and lowercase.
Identify the sound(s) of letters of the alphabet.
Identify blends (bl, st, sw) and digraphs (th, sh, ch, wh).
Blend & Recode nonsense words as well as real words.
Segment words into their syllables and sounds.
Recognize vowels, consonants, and spellings learned.
Recognize word families.
Reading:
Concepts of Print (front cover, back cover, spine).
Directionality (Left to Right).
Identify sight words in context and out of context.
Use reading strategies learned (predicting, making connections, asking
questions, and summarizing).
At first reading words then beginning to phrase what is read (reading more
than one word at a time).
Developing fluency and accuracy (comprehension comes at this stage).
Reading with expression, understanding, and intonation.
Writing:
Write letters both uppercase and lowercase with few or no reversals.
Complete sound spelling and dictation activities.
Use phonetic spelling.
Use resources in the room to help spell words (word wall, word families, and
sound spelling cards).
Write 3 or more complete sentences using capital letters, spaces, and end
punctuation marks.
Develop into fluent writers. The program I will be using is Writer’s
Workshop.
Math:
Topic 1: Solve Addition and Subtraction Problems to 10
Topic 2: Fluently Add and Subtract within 10
Topic 3: Addition Facts to 20
Topic 4: Subtraction Facts to 20
Topic 5: Work with Addition and Subtraction Equations
Topic 6: Represent and Interpret Data
Topic 7: Extend the Counting Sequence
Topic 8: Understand Place Value
Topic 9: Compare Two Digit Numbers
Topic 10: Use Models and Strategies to Add Tens and Ones
Topic 11: Use Models and Strategies to Subtract Tens and Ones
Topic 12: Measure Lengths
Topic 13: Time
Topic 14: Reason with Shapes and their Attributes
Topic 15: Equal Shares of Circles and Rectangles
Science:
Animals (Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians, Birds, Fish)
Plants
Social Studies:
Goods & Products (Apples)
Citizenship (American Symbols)
Other Units:
Leaf Unit
Fire Safety
Columbus
Halloween
Thanksgiving
Christmas
Martin Luther King Jr.
Valentines Day
St. Patrick’s Day
Easter
8 Keys of Excellence:
Components that make us successful
Integrity
Failure Leads to Success
Speak with Good Purpose
This is It!
Commitment
Ownership
Flexibility
Balance
Mrs. Truax’s Classroom Rules & Consequences
In our classroom this year we will be focusing on the following 4 rules. These rules
help to ensure a safe and productive learning environment for all.
The rules of the classroom:
1. Follow Directions
2. Feet and Hands to yourself.
3. Work together
4. Raise your hand to speak.
Consequences:
If a child is not consistently following the above rules he/she will be guided to
procedures such as:
A move away from the group
Take 1 (time out at your seat with your head down to think about the
behavior)
Time Away from Recess
Time Away from the Group (go to the office to sit)
Phone calls and notes home
Behavior/Reward System
If your child consistently follows the classroom rules and shows great
character traits he/she will be able to receive the rewards stated below.
Honeybee Cutouts: This is a positive daily reinforcement. When I see
students following directions, listening, or just doing what they are supposed
to be doing I will give them a honeybee cutout. When your child receives a
certain number of honeybee cutouts, he/she can turn them into me and pick
from the following incentives; lunch with me, use a pen for the day, sit at my
desk, sit on a beanbag at the carpet, wear sunglasses, or have extra I-Pad
time. The number of honeybees needed to obtain these incentives increase
as the year goes on.
Good Note Winner: At the end of each day I will choose one boy and one
girl that I feel had an all-around awesome day. I will reward his/her
behavior by writing out a good note, which he/she can take home and enjoy.
Caught Being Good: At the end of each day I will choose one boy and one
girl that I feel had a wonderful day. I will reward his/her behavior by
writing their name on a honeybee along with their wonderful behavior from
that day. Your child then can hang it on our beehive labeled, “caught being
good.” His/her bee will remain on the hive for that month.
Brag Tags: Each day I will hand out brag tags to students that are
displaying great classroom behavior. They will glue their brag tags into a
book and keep them all year.
Secret Student: Each week I will choose a student to be the secret
student. If that child displays great classroom behavior, works hard, and is
kind to his/her classmates; that child gets to choose a classroom incentive
for the next day.
Homework
Homework in first grade primarily focuses on reading with your child for 20
minutes a night. I will send home a reading log for the week.
Each night I will be asking you to set time aside to read with your child. I
will be sending a baggie book home with your child. These books are leveled and
will compliment or even challenge your child’s reading ability. When a baggie book
comes home with your child please make time to have your child read this book to
you. As soon as your child has finished reading the book please send it back so
another child can take it home. Your child will not always bring home a book
because the books are limited. That is why it is so important to return the book
as soon as it is read.
Lastly, during this time it is also okay for your child to read books that they
enjoy as well as their library book. My goal is to have your child grow to love
reading and books!
Bee of the Week
Dear Parents,
One of the requirements of first grade is to complete a “Bee of The Week
Poster.” This poster is a way for myself and the class to get to know your child
better. This is a great family activity.
These posters are due on Monday. I will send home the bee of the week poster
along with a reminder a week before your child’s “Bee of The Week Poster” is due.
When it is your child’s week he/she will share his/her poster with the rest of the
class. We will hang it up in the classroom for all to enjoy. I will send it home at
the end of the week (Friday).
When your child is the “Bee of the Week,” he/she gets to be the helper all week
as well as bring in things to share during that week.
Below is a schedule to follow when your child is the “Bee of the Week.”
Monday: Bee of the Week Poster
Tuesday: Bring in your favorite book to read or to have read.
Wednesday: Wear your favorite outfit.
Thursday: Bring in your favorite toy.
Friday: Bring in something that is special to you.
Daily Folder
Dear Parents,
In first grade your child will have 1 folder coming home every
day. This folder will be both a homework folder as well as a Friday
folder. The folder will have two pockets; one pocket is labeled
homework and the other pocket is labeled keepers. Please have your
child bring this folder back to school with him\her every day.
Every Monday, your child will receive a homework sheet from me.
I will put it on the homework side of the folder. Anything appearing on
the keeper’s side is for you to keep. Please put any notes you have for
me in this folder. I will check your child’s folder daily.
On Friday, I will be looking for your child’s completed homework
sheet. I will also send home my weekly newsletter as well as important
notes from the school on that day.
Snack Time
Dear Parents,
Every day we have snack time from 10:00-10:10. In first grade your child is
expected to bring his/her own snack every day. This is different from
kindergarten. I do this method mainly because first graders can be picky eaters as
well as many students have allergies to certain foods. Having children pack their
own snacks alleviates these problems.
Please remember to pack your child a snack each day. If your child doesn’t bring a
snack they go without. If you would like to buy your snacks in bulk for your child I
would be more than willing to hold onto their snack in one of my cupboards (please
put your child’s name on the box). As your child’s snack gets low I would write you
a reminder note.
Birthday Celebrations
Dear Parents,
One of the joys of First Grade is celebrating your birthday at school. On
your child’s special day he/she may bring in a birthday treat to share with his/her
classmates. If you choose to send a treat with your son or daughter please make it
something simple and easy to distribute.
If your child’s birthday falls on a weekend or if his/her birthday is in the
summer. We can pick a day during the school year to celebrate.
Lastly, we all love birthday parties! If you are planning a birthday party for
your son or daughter, they are NOT TO DISTRIBUTE INVITATIONS AT
SCHOOL UNLESS ALL STUDENTS ARE INVITED!!!
If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to ask or stop in.
