Welcome to
1st Grade!
Mrs. Aimee Jacobs
ajacobs@washoeschools.net
http://www.washoecountyschools.org/spanishsprings/
Spanish Springs Elementary School
100 Marilyn Mae Dr. Sparks, NV 89441
(775) 425-7710
Dear Parents,
Welcome to 1st grade! I am so pleased and excited to be your child’s 1st grade teacher this year. I am really looking forward to a great year! First grade is a very exciting time for parents and students alike. Your first grader will learn, grow, and mature A TON this year!!!
During the year, I work very hard to create a classroom climate that is positive, supportive, and enjoyable. I believe this atmosphere is essential to students if they are to feel valued and encouraged to work to their potential. I strongly support the idea that parents should become actively involved in their child’s learning. It is very important to me that we work together to make this year a very successful one.
A detailed description of my classroom, the curriculum that I will teach, and much more will be covered at Back to School Night. (Please check school website for date and watch for parent notices detailing the night and time.)
The following is a very brief description of a few of the basic components of my classroom. I hope this will help you to understand my expectations while your first grader and I get settled in!
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call or email me at school.
Mrs. Jacobs
Email: ajacobs@washoeschools.net
Phone: 425-7710
Classroom Procedures, Expectations, and Behavior/Discipline
*More detailed information regarding my classroom will be given at Back-to-School Night. Look for information to come home soon!
ATTENDANCE
· Consistent attendance is a very important part of learning. Please make every effort to get your son or daughter to school on time, everyday. If, however, your child will be absent, please call the office at 425-7710 or send a note with your child the next school day. Also, pre-arranged absence forms are available in the office.
HOMEWORK
· Every child at Spanish Springs Elementary School receives an agenda book. This book should be brought to school every morning and taken home everyday.
· At the beginning of first grade your child will write very little in it. The amount that your child will write in it will progress throughout the year as they become more competent writers.
· Please make an effort to look at it every night during your child’s nightly homework routine.
o Besides a message about the day, your child will be writing their behavior grade for the day. Every class is different and requires a different amount of behavior support. I always start the year with a plan, but reserve the right to change things as we go. =) Please know that I will always keep you in the loop and make sure you and your child understand my expectations.
o In my room, students have the opportunity to move up and down on our “Behavior Choices” display. They come in to our classroom every day earning an “S” because I am assuming that they will make “first grade choices.” If their behavior goes above what is expected of them, they will move their name to “S+,” however, if their behavior should dip below my “first grade expectations,” they may earn an “S-“ or and “I” for the day. This grading system is very fluid and if they make a poor choice, they will have many opportunities to redeem themselves should they choose to.
o When looking at their behavior grade for the day, please take the grade into account, but more importantly, please chat with your child and discuss the good choices that they mad and if necessary, the poor choices also. If they earned an “at” or “above grade level” grade (S or S+), they are doing just what is expected of them. Please praise them!! If they received a “below grade level” grade (S- or I), this is an indicator to you that I am spending too much of my teaching time re-directing them to do what is already expected of them. Please remind them to make their best choices during the day, but also praise them for what they did right and I know that were still a lot of things they did right!!! (We are all learning and I expect students to check their boundaries as we figure each other out! =))
o Because students are able to move up and down (from S to S= to S to S- to I, etc.), depending on their choices, it is possible to earn an “above grade level” grade for the day, even if I had to give them many reminders. So, I encourage you to have conversations with your child that focus on what they did right during the day or what they did to make better choices while also reminding them of the importance of staying focused and allowing me to teach.
o If behavior becomes a consistent problem, please schedule or expect me to schedule a time to meet with you and your child.
· Your child will also receive a homework folder that they must take home every night and return to school everyday. Once we get into our regular routine, your child’s homework will consist of a nightly reading log and one to two other pieces of homework. Please listen to your child read or read to them for 10 – 15 minutes every night. This is the most important part of 1st grade homework! Your son or daughter will have been given instructions for the other homework assignments that will be coming home. Most of the time they will be able to complete them independently but at times, they will need some help from you. Please help them as necessary. Also, reading logs must be signed by an adult every night. If nightly reading is completed and/or if other homework assignments are completed, minor rewards will be earned. Please understand that the main purpose for homework in 1st grade is to practice skills that have already been taught and to teach responsibility and routine. Thank you in advance for helping to ensure that your child becomes a responsible 1st grader! Remember, we are setting the tone for the remainder of their educational career. It is important that we set the right example the first time around! =)
CLASSROOM AND SCHOOL RULES
Please also be aware that students will be expected to follow our school-wide rules and expectations in all areas of our school, including our classroom. “You ‘OTTER’ be responsible, respectful, safe and kind!” Please encourage your child to use these rules at school and possibly even at home!!!
CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE
I have read many books and have employed many different techniques for behavior management over the course of my teaching career. It is my own personal philosophy, as well as, a school-wide expectation that I will be using a positive behavior management system. My system is a compilation of several different programs and I have adapted it to fit my needs and those of my students. However, every class is different and each set of students comes in with a different set of skills and/or needs, so I do reserve the right to make changes as necessary throughout the year. (I will ALWAYS make sure that parents and students know what is expected and will not adjust my expectations without full disclosure.)
· Positive words of encouragement and praise are my first choice of redirection.
· Verbal warnings are always given first before a move down.
· Very fluid system, students are allowed to move up and down depending on their choices throughout the day.
o S+ (Students making choices that exceed my expectations!!)
o S (Students start here every day. Students are making “first grade choices.”)
o S- (Student choices are below my expectations but they are close. They need to work just a little harder to listen, follow directions, follow the “Otter Be’s, be a good friend, etc.)
o I (Student choices are well below my expectations and I need them to make different choices. At this time, students will earn a consequence. The consequence is “teacher choice.” This consequence may or may not include, staying in a recess, sitting on outside X at recess, writing an apology, having a conversation with me, parent, and/or principal. More serious consequences will be given as necessary.)
§ More serious consequences may include: loss of recess, and/or lunch in cafeteria, time out in another classroom, loss of privilege, detention, referral to principal or assistant principal, call home, meeting with parent, etc.
· Students will receive classroom incentives/rewards for good behavior on an individual, small group, and whole class basis. Incentives/rewards will include verbal praise, “warm fuzzies” to fill their bucket, small treats, items from our “Treasure Box,” group points, whole group incentives (ice cream sundaes, movie and popcorn, etc.), as well as, other various incentives/rewards.
· Students will also earn school-wide incentives/rewards for individual and whole group good behavior and choices. These incentives are called “Otter Shells” and rewards will vary throughout the year.
· All individual behavior will be recorded daily in our school-wide agendas. Parents should look at this communication tool every night, discuss it with their child as necessary and sign it. This agenda should be returned to school daily for daily parent/teacher communication!
Please note:
· Teacher may opt to move student directly to S- or I on our “Behavior Choices” display if student behavior warrants more severe action.
o Minor Offences:
§ Inappropriate Language
§ Physical Contact
§ Defiance
§ Disruption
§ Property Misuse
o Major Offences:
§ Abusive Language
§ Fighting/Physical Aggression
§ Overt Defiance
§ Harassment/Teasing/Taunting
§ Disruption
· Teacher may also opt to remove student from situation/group in conjuction with moving their name.
· Student’s behavior grade, responsibility grade (homework turned in or not), classroom daily grade (class work completed or not) will all be compiled for a daily citizenship grade.
SUPPLIES
Please see supply list that was sent home or let me know that you need another one.
Curriculum
Curriculum will be discussed in detail at Back to School Night. Please join us if you can.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me any time!
Mrs. Jacobs
School Telephone: 425-7710
Email: ajacobs@washoeschools.net
Website: www.washoecountyschools.org/spanishsprings/
