Welcome to FIRST Grade!

I LOVE what I do! Thank you for sharing your children with me! MEET MRS. OVIES

We are fortunate to have these lovely ladies as our Room Parents this year: Amy Moleski Erica Roberts Jen Sims Carol Smith They are asking for a $15-$20 donation to cover the cost of class parties, ice cream social basket and teacher gift. (Please see handout.) ROOM PARENTS THANK YOU!

I use parent/family volunteers in many ways: in the classroom on a regular basis, everyone in a while, via work to go home, etc. If you’d like to help out, in any way, please note what works for you on one of the sign-up sheets and I’ll find a place for you! All Angell volunteers must agree to a background check. (Please see handout.) HELP WANTED!

We begin each day with a meeting. It helps to set the tone in a positive way! (Please see handout.) Please note the Sharing Schedule, which begins next week! Students should not bring any toys or anything valuable to school. MORNING MEETING

Please refer to the handout titled: “A Day in the Life of a First Grader” This will go through most of our daily academic routines. A DAY IN THE LIFE

In addition to our full Reading block, the first grade team splits up the students, according to their needs, for targeted instruction. They will focus on a phonics/reading skill at their specific level. The other first grade teachers are: Miss Bissett Miss Dinko Mr. Wilhelmi We hope to have additional support from our Teacher Aids and Learning Specialist, as well. LITERACY GROUPS

Monday: Music & Gym Tuesday: Gym Wednesday: Media Center* & Music Thursday: Art & Computer Lab Friday: Music & Media Center *LIBRARY BOOKS SHOULD BE RETURNED WEDNESDAY MORNINGS! SPECIALS SCHEDULE

Please send a healthy snack each day. I do not provide snack if it is forgotten. Please keep snacks separate from lunch. SNACK

Homework will be sent home Intermittently for Math (beginning soon!) Weekly for spelling (October) Bi-weekly for Reading (October) Math homework should be turned in the following day. Reading logs should be returned every other Friday. Spelling homework should be returned on Wednesday. Occasionally, there will be “other” homework, but not often. Homework should never be frustrating for your child. If your child is struggling, please let me know. HOMEWORK

There have been some changes to our Math Curriculum, due to alignment with the Common Core State Standards. You have EDM log-in cards in tonight’s packet. This is a great tool to enrich our math curriculum at home. Math Center is done weekly to assess math facts. Students work at their own level. EVERYDAY MATH

Be Kind. Be Safe. Be Productive. SCHOOL RULES

Kind reminders are for students to use when another child is bothering them. Step 1 – Give the child a kind reminder “I do not like it when you poke me.” Step 2 – Give a more serious kind reminder “If you don’t stop poking me, I’m going to have to get help from the teacher.” Step 3 – Tell an adult KIND REMINDERS

If your child brings home a Think Sheet that means he or she has had at least two reminders, but continued to interrupt classroom learning time. The Think Sheet should be signed and returned the following school day. Please discuss the situation with your child at home and feel free to contact me with any questions. THINK SHEETS

Purple folders should be brought back to school each day. Please look in your child’s folder each night. Be sure to empty items to be left at home and help your child return homework on time. It is your child’s responsibility to turn in any notes or homework each day. If you are finding that homework/lunch money is not being turned in, please let me know. A monthly calendar will always be in the front of the folder. If you would like an extra copy, one will be posted on my classroom website each month. You may also use this folder to communicate with me. PURPLE FOLDERS

Whenever you send in money with your child, please make sure it is: 1. Sealed in an envelope or bag 2. Labeled with his/her full name and my name Lunch money can be paid online. Please contact the office if you have any questions on how to access your account. MONEY

Respect Circle is every Thursday afternoon. It is meant to: Recognize the good things happening at Angell Inform students of upcoming events Discuss situations that affect the whole school One student from each class will be given an award at each Respect Circle. RESPECT CIRCLE

Speed Drills are a fun way for the kids to learn and recognize their sight words. I’d like 1 or 2 parent volunteers to help us out. Children are given 2 minutes to read the list of sight words. They only pass the list if they are able to read each word on the list in under two minutes without any help. I have had great success with this in the past! Please let me know if you’d like a copy of the word lists. SPEED DRILLS

(Please see handout.) A note will also be sent home the week prior listing everything your child will need for their special week. Your child has something special he/she will get to do each day. A 12x12 scrapbook page can also be sent home for families to decorate. You are welcome to purchase your own, if you wish! STAR OF THE WEEK

If you are interested in ordering books from Scholastic they are available to purchase online. A note will come home about every other month with information about ordering books. Directions for how to purchase on-line can be found on our classroom website. (Please see handouts.) SCHOLASTIC BOOKS

At this point, we are planning to go on the following field trips: Troy Historical Museum (mid-October) Detroit Zoo (likely in April) Ford Community & Performing Arts Center (mid- May) Walk to the Dairy Queen (June) We’ll have detailed information on the Museum trip in the coming weeks, along with an invitation to help drive/chaperone. FIELD TRIPS

“Any person who volunteers to work with the District shall be screened…” This paperwork should be filled out by any parents/family members who plan to volunteer in ANY capacity at Angell this year. (Please see handout.) VOLUNTEER RELEASE FORM

Please remember to: Sign-up for Fall Conferences and volunteering in and out of the room Write the class a note on the large piece of paper. (They LOVE this!) Turn in any paperwork, $ and/or notes that you brought with you tonight. SIGN-UP

Our classroom website can be found at Please feel free to contact me via phone or . My phone number is My address is Follow us on (I’ll start this later this week!) THANK YOU!!!