1. Nuts and Bolts of 1st Grade
Mrs. Bain’s Class

2. Mrs. Bain Grew up in East Cobb.
I married my husband, Matt, almost18 years ago!
We have been blessed with three children: J.J. (10th grader) and twins Lauren and Luke (4th graders).
We live in East Cobb with our dogs: Brooks and Lilly.

3. Education & Experience
Taught at The Lovett School & Jackson Elem.
I began working at Mt. Bethel Elementary way back in 2003!
I completed my degree in Religious Studies and Theology from Agnes Scott College in 2000.
Theta Alpha Kappa – National Honor Society
I completed my teaching certificate in 2001 and then my Masters in Teaching from Oglethorpe University in 2004.
Oglethorpe University Outstanding Teacher Award.
2006 Cobb County Green School Teacher of the Year
2009 PTA Outstanding Educator Award
2018 Mt. Bethel Teacher of the Year

4. Schedule (as of 8/2019)
7:15 Arrival 7:45 Announcements & Morning Meeting 8:00 Math 9:00 Read Aloud and Snack 9:15 Reader’s Workshop 10:15 G.O.A.L. Time (OG and Language Arts) 10:35 Number Talk 10:45 Restrooms and Recess 11:18 LUNCH 11:50 Unit Study (Science, Social Studies, Health) 12:20 SPECIALS 1:05 Writer’s Workshop

5. Writer’s Workshop Quarter 1: Narrative Writing
Students will begin with a mini-lesson / skill.
Students will then apply the writing skill in a daily activity.
Students will also be called to meet with the teacher to set individual / differentiated writing goals in a conference.
Quarter 1: Narrative Writing
Quarter 2: Informational Writing
Quarter 3: Persuasive Writing
Quarter 4: Narrative Review

6. Reader’s Workshop: Balanced Literacy Approach
Start with a mini-lesson for the whole class. One new READING STRATEGY each day.
Opportunities to apply skill: group, partner, and/or individual.
Guided Reading: small group instruction, books are on your child’s reading level.
Strategy groups: groups to work on reading strategies (the targets vary but often include accuracy, fluency and comprehension).
When not with the teacher, your child will be reading “just right” books. This will give them the opportunity to apply the reading strategies that they have learned.

7. Mathematics Curriculum
Students will participate in Math Workshop –
Mini Lesson
Application of the skill / partner work
Exit Ticket
Activity / Game
Wrap up
Students will take assessments before / during / after instruction. This will help to drive instruction and determine small group instruction (to both extend and re-teach).

8. B.E.E. Folder: Daily Folder Front page protector for Money and Notes
Specials Calendar added monthly for you
Weekly Behavior report in the back.
Look at papers on left side every day.
Most papers are yours to keep.
Please return papers on the LEFT side.

9. Behavior Expectations & Lifeskills
Believe in a BALANCED approach in the classroom. I call this the GOLDILOCKS ZONE (not too quiet, not too loud).
Silent times are limited to our 20 minute reading block, transitions and assessments.
ACTIVE LISTENING at 3 times:
Mini-Lesson
Directions
Intercom

10. Working Out Problems
Students will learn problem solving strategies with our counselor, Ms. Rees.
I will gladly help solve any problem after students have tried at least 1 strategy.
Will work out problems at recess before we line up.
Students can fill out a Counselor’s Slip to talk about a problem more privately.
Students can sign up on the agenda for our Class Meeting with Ms. Rees.
Problems in SPECIALS are handled by the SPECIALS teacher. If you need, please them directly.

11. Homework Guidelines
Please make sure that your child reads for 20 minutes each night. Be sure to mix up reading time with students reading on their own, reading aloud (to you, a sibling or pet) and you reading aloud to your student.
Students can practice their math facts or trick words, but make it FUN!
Have your child take responsibility for a household chore.
Have your child help you cook dinner.
Have your child go to bed EARLY / ON TIME!

12. Birthday Celebrations & Snack
We love to celebrate birthdays here at school.
You may send in a treat to be enjoyed during our lunch at
11:18 (this may be a good day to come in and be a visitor at lunch).
If you choose to send/bring in a birthday treat please make sure that the treat is easy to share / pre-cut. It would be helpful if the treats were also all the same (ie – having 1 flavor of donut is much better than assorted). 
Students will have snack in the morning during our read aloud. Please send in one-to-two small snack items.
Please only send in water - no juice. Juice attracts bugs and can stain our carpet. RE-usable water bottles (with name) are highly encouraged.
I also kindly ask that you not send in high-sugar snacks/deserts.
Students will not be allowed to share or trade snack (due to germs and allergies).

13. Dismissal
If your child is being dismissed differently from how you filled out your CRITICAL STUDENT INFORMATION sheet you will need to send in a change in dismissal form in the morning.
Under NO circumstances should you me a change in dismissal. Please contact the front office instead.
In case of emergency your child will be dismissed according to how your completed the CRITICAL STUDENT INFORMATION sheet. Please be sure you have a copy of this as in a true emergency we would likely not be able to contact parents individually.
Early student pick-up must be done before 1:45 when the front office closes to focus on dismissal.
If you check your child out after 11:15 they will be counted as having attended a full day of school.
The office will either buzz me to say your child has been signed out or give you a green STUDENT RELEASE slip.

14. Visiting and Absences
We LOVE visitors, but please contact me in ADVANCE
to let me know you are coming.
Scheduled visitors must sign in at the office before
coming to the classroom.
Students may NOT bring a friend to the visitors table at lunch (parent only).
If your child is absent I will collect all missed work in an Absence Envelope and send it home the day your child returns.
For every day your child is out they have a day to return the packet. Example: If your child is out for 3 days they can return the packet 3 days later.
If you need more time to complete the work just send me an , I am flexible. We just want to prioritize any work that may be on an upcoming assessment.
If your child has missed multiple days of school you may be contacted by the teacher, administrator or school social worker.

15. Clinic / Allergies / Medicine
We have peanut, tree nut and egg allergies this year.
Any medication for your child must be brought directly to the clinic by you. Our nurse will have you sign a permission form. The medication will either stay in the clinic or in your child’s backpack.
Complete a permission slip (from the nurse) if your child needs to keep cough drops in his/her backpack.

16. Volunteering Friday, August 9th 9:30am Monday, Aug. 19th 10am
Room Representatives will contact you with opportunities to help out in the classroom. Opportunities include: Mystery Reader, Field Trip Chaperone, class parties, special snacks, etc.
If you wish to help out as a Trained Parent Volunteer please attend one of the trainings ( you must be re- trained each year). I promise to make it as easy on you as possible. 
Friday, August 9th 9:30am
Monday, Aug. 19th 10am

17. Contact Information
is the best and fastest way to communicate with me!
I do my best to get back to you no later by the end of the following school day.
My specials is at 12:20 so I will often not get to until this time (I will have occasional meetings at this time too).
Please contact me again if I do not respond within 24 hours (excluding weekends) – your may be caught in SPAM.
Be sure to sign up on the BLOG for an each time the blog is updated. I do not send group s.
Also sign up to receive texts through the REMIND app.
If you care to receive reminder texts please sign up: Please see the next slide for directions on how to sign up!
Teachers must use OFFICIAL means of communication. Please do not use personal contact information if it is in regards to your child / the classroom. Thank you!

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19. Thank you!!!