Friday, August 9, 2013

Our First Week!!!



Dear Parents,

        Thank you so much for sharing your child with me this school year! After our first three days together, I can tell it is going to be a fantastic year full of learning and laughter.

      As a class, we have established a set of agreements that will be followed each day inside and even outside the classroom. We are all accountable to these agreements. Each child traced their hand and signed their name underneath our list. I was very impressed by the ideas that the children had throughout our discussion.  

1.     Try your best every day.

2.     Be helpful.

3.     Be respectful.

4.     Be safe.

Please show your support at home by asking your child about these agreements and by reminding them that they have pledged to follow them. It might even be a great idea to post them somewhere in your home J

The behavior plan in our classroom is the following:

Consequences

* In our classroom, each child has a set of blue, green, yellow and red cards. Everyone starts the day off on green. This means they are “ready to learn!” If a child chooses not to follow our agreements, they will always receive a verbal warning first.

*The next step is to turn their card to yellow. The consequence is to walk or run laps around the playground during the first couple of minutes in recess.

*If the behavior continues, the child will receive another warning. If this behavior still continues, the child will move their card to red. At this time, the child would write a “Reflection Log” explaining their choices and reflecting on how to make better choices next time. This log would go home and be signed and returned the following day.

 

 

Rewards:

·       If a child has an extraordinary day where they do what is expected and beyond, they can turn their card to BLUE!

·       WARM FUZZIES: Each table has a caddy where I drop “warm fuzzies.” Little fuzzies are worth 1 point. Big Fuzzies are worth 5 points. The table that has the most warm fuzzies at the end of each week picks from the TREASURE BOX!

·       To encourage the whole class to work as a team, I have a big jar that all the fuzzies will be poured into at the end of the week. Once this jar is filled, the students get a big prize of their choice. For example: A pizza party, extra recess, or pajama day.

·       It is my philosophy that keeping a “warm”, positive atmosphere eliminates most behavioral problems.

 

I have found this system to be very effective in preventing classroom distractions. Consistency is key. Thank you for your support in implementing this plan J

 

Important Announcements/Reminders:

·       This Monday, August 12th we will be taking pictures for our bulletin board. Our bulletin board says “The Future’s So Bright We Have to Wear Shades!” We are going to be taking pictures wearing sunglasses. If your child has a pair of sunglasses please send them to school on Monday.

·       Please mark your calendars for the upcoming Orientation on August 19th from 6:30-7:15. An opportunity to RSVP is coming soon as we are still receiving new students. I will answer many questions that you may have at this orientation. I look forward to seeing you then!

·       Our class is in need of some “Emergency Snacks” for those students who forget to bring their snack to school. Nutritional items such as: wheat thins, apple sauce (with spoons), granola bars, goldfish, etc. would be great choices.

 

Thank you so much for your support at home! We are having so much fun in first grade!

 

Truly yours,

Mrs. Peake J

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