2. Welcome! Please find the desk with your child’s name on it and have a seat. You may write your child a note on the Happy Gram for him or her to find in the morning.

3. A little about me… My name is Mrs. Garrett This is my fourth year teaching first grade at Haley. I taught kindergarten for five years in Missouri and previous to that I lived and taught in Massachusetts. I have a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University and an ELL certification from SEMO. I recently got married and I am still getting used to my new name!

4. Daily Schedule Morning Work Morning Meeting Literacy Block- Whole Group Snack/Recess Language Arts Instruction –Reading Groups –Centers Specials Lunch SSR Math Science/Social Studies Writing Workshop Dismissal

5. Communication Email is the best way to get a hold of me! Garrett.amy@chandler.k12.az.us Garrett.amy@chandler.k12.az.us I will be sending home weekly newsletters via email and on my website. Please sign up for email notifications so you know when I post new information on my website. http://www.mychandlerschools.org/haley/sit e/default.asp http://www.mychandlerschools.org/haley/sit e/default.asp

6. Morning Meeting Greeting Care Share Activity News and Announcements

7. Brain Gym P.A.C.E- Positive, Active, Clear and Energetic! 1. Drink water-water bottles 2. Brain Buttons 3. Cross Crawls 4. Hook-ups

8. Reading Each week the whole class will be introduced to new literature. Our stories consist of many different genres. We will practice fluency, vocabulary words, comprehension skills, a phonics rule, and a story element. Students will also meet weekly for small group reading instruction at their reading level.

9. Writing Each week we will be focusing on a different part of writing. 1st grade writing is thematically based. –Ex: Human Body We will be using the 6 traits of writing. –Organization –Voice –Conventions –Ideas –Sentence Fluency –Word Choice

10. Spelling Every Friday, the students will receive a list of spelling words to study in their homework. Throughout the week, we will do different spelling activities to help them practice. Please help you child practice the spelling and bonus words at home. Every Friday, there will be a spelling test. The spelling test will be graded using a percentage. A paw print will be given for any student who gets 100% on their test.

11. Math We will be learning using a lot of hands on activities, games, as well as using our math workbooks. Math tests and checkpoints will be graded using a percentage. Any practice page is not graded but will receive a star, a check or a check minus.

12. Homework Homework packets will be sent home on Friday. Reading minutes are on the front of the homework packet. Please work with your child throughout the week. These are activities that reinforce what we are learning in class. Homework is due Friday. Students need to bring homework back on Friday to earn Fun Friday.

13. Our Classroom Rules Be respectful. Be responsible. Be safe.

14. Class Management and Safety 1st graders are reinforced positively for behavior choices. Behavior is rewarded through verbal praise, class incentives, class treats, stickers, etc. Negative choices include a consequence of a verbal warning and then result in the student changing their stick. Parents need to initial behavior charts daily. Comment section is for me.

15. Specials P.E.- Day 3 and 6 Library- Day 4 Music- Day 2 and 5 Computer Lab- Day 1

16. Snacks We appreciate all the snacks that you have donated!! Being that we have snack time every day, we always welcome more snack donations. Please remember to keep the snacks healthy and no peanuts!

17. Field Trips Some field trips we hope to go on are: –Childsplay Theatre –Arizona Sea Life Aquarium –Rockin’ R Ranch We need your help! We would appreciate any contribution you could make toward our 1st grade tax fund. Your contribution makes a difference!

18. Volunteers Friday Parent- Weekly Homework Art Masterpiece Copy Volunteer Classroom helpers Party organizer I send home a monthly volunteer calendar.

19. THANK YOU FOR COMING! If you have any questions that I didn’t get to, please write them down on the comment sheet. If you would like to make a contribution to our fund, please make sure to fill out a tax credit form. Have a good rest of the evening! Please sign up to be a mystery reader! I like to have parents come to read after lunch but if that does not work for you we can find a time that will!