Welcome to First Grade Orientation 1 st Grade

Welcome to First Grade Orientation! 1 st Grade Blanton Elementary

Business First… – Please email or call by 1: 45, or send a note about change in transportation for your child. – Student will not be called out of class after 2: 20. – If the parents choose not to drop off in the car line and pull through to the parking spots, the parent must walk their child across the cross walk.

More business • Do not use cell phones while driving on school property. You will receive a ticket. • Walkers will not be dismissed to cars in the parking lot. • For your child’s safety we advise that you do not designate a location to meet walkers with your car. • Parents may not drop off students at the back of the building. By law buses and cars must be separated. • Parents need to stay in their car during parent pick up.

Classroom Management • Students will have the opportunity to earn a Great day in their daily folder. • Students who earn Great every day of the week will possible get to take home Mr. Pickles, our classroom pet for the weekend. • Our class works hard every day to earn marbles for our Party Jar. When the jar is completely full, we will have a class party to celebrate.

Homework • Your child will need to read to you for 15 minutes every night. • We will send books home in their book bag for reading. • Spelling will begin in a few weeks. We are planning a differentiated program. More information on spelling will come later. • Spelling will come home in their book bags too.

Reading Levels • Beginning first grade readers should be fluently reading and comprehending at level D. Reading levels will be tested and recorded every report card. • Fluency and comprehension are vital to your child’s reading. They will not advance reading levels until both are evident. • First graders’ reading should at least progress as following: • 1 st six weeks: Level D 2 nd six weeks: Level F • 3 rd six weeks: Level G 4 th six weeks: Level H • 5 th six weeks: Level I 6 th six weeks: Level J • By the end of the year first graders should be reading and comprehending at a level J.

Dress Code • Students are expected to adhere to the dress code policies as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct Handbook. • No flip flops or spaghetti straps, the straps must be the width of two fingers. • Please make sure your child has tennis shoes for P. E. • P. E. days are Monday and Thursday.

Classroom Parties • Birthdays – Students can bring in treats to celebrate birthdays. – Please drop off your treats before 2: 00. – All treats must be store bought and nut free. • Class Parties – We will have a winter party, valentines party, and end of year party. – Winter Party – Dec. 17 th 1: 30 -2: 15 – Valentines Party – Feb. 11 th 1: 30 – 2: 15 – End of the Year - June 2 nd 11: 15 – 12: 00

Field Trips • Elm Fork: Feb. 25 th • We will need at least 2 volunteers per class • Volunteers will need to carpool and follow the school bus to North Texas. (parking is limited) • No siblings. • Students will bring a sack lunch or order a sack lunch from Blanton cafeteria.

Communication • Behavior folders will come home everyday. • Your child will earn a: a. Great Day for following rules and trying their best. b. Okay Day if they receive warnings for behavior but change behavior before the end of the day. c. Challenging Day if they do not change behavior after warnings and have to visit the “Oops” spot.

More Communication • First grade newsletter will go home in the Tuesday folder. • The newsletter will include concepts we are learning, school reminders and important dates. • My webpage at Blanton provides great information about…….

Conference with Mrs. Ballard • My conference time is from 1: 25 – 2: 10 or • Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday after school.

Thanks for coming!! • My top priority is your child’s success in education and growth as a respectful and loving learner. • Thanks again for coming!