Welcome to First Grade! PARENT ORIENTATION 2018-19
All About Me My name is Liz Cheslock 20 th year of teaching Married and have a 5 year old son name Charlie. Attended all NEISD schools and graduated from Southwest Texas State with a degree specializing in Early Childhood Education Come from a family of teachers (12 in all)
Attendance Teachers pick up children from gym at 7:35 am; tardy bell is at 7:40 am. Child is considered absent if s/he arrives after 9:15 am. Please send a note in after all absences. Dr. notes will excuse the absence but will count towards the total number of absences for the year. If child is to be excused from PE, must have a note and a dr. note is needed for more than 3 days. Make up work will be sent home to be completed and returned in a timely fashion.
Medicine Please make sure to bring all medicine to the clinic for your child. No cough drops or any other medications may be kept in backpacks Children are not allowed to carry medicine to and from school.
Going Home Child must have a note if going home another way. Adult picking up must be listed as an alternative adult on child s release card. Child may not ride the bus unless s/he is usually a bus rider.
Communication I am happy to address any questions or concerns you may have. Please contact me in one of the following ways: email (echesl@neisd.net), a note, or call the office Please check my website for lots of information including homework, word wall list, and our weekly newsletters. https://www.neisd.net/page/4523
See Saw App Please be sure to sign up for the See Saw app! We will be sharing our learning with parents through this app during the year. I will use this as one of the primary modes for sending reminders electronically this year.
Toys There are no toys permitted unless requested by the teacher. Spirit Sticks are ok unless causing a distraction. Jewelry can also cause a distraction.
Responsibility Folders Go through the folder daily and remove and review any class work or information Children are to bring it to school each day. Send lunch money, school forms, notes to teacher in this folder but remind student to give turn it in Tic Tac Toe Homework is due on Fridays unless otherwise stated.
Supplies Please check with your child to make sure s/he has needed supplies for learning I will send home notes if supplies are needed as well Please send in a set of earbuds or headphones as soon as possible.
Lunch Account Please make sure your account is current. You can check the status (including what your child bought) through MySchoolBucks.com. Contact the cafeteria manager with any questions. If you will be dining with your child, please let the teacher know so a tray may be ordered.
Star Student Child will be selected each week. A note will be sent home the Friday before your child s week. Each child is asked to bring a special poster decorated with pictures, drawings, awards, etc. to share. The child may also bring in show and tell each day the rest of that week to share as well.
Chester the Chimp Chester the Chimp will go home with a child every weekend to visit. A note, Chester s bag, the journal, and picture album will come home with your child and Chester. Please have your child write about their weekend with Chester and add pictures to our album if they wish.
Early Dismissal Provided Oct. 5, 17,18 as well as Feb. 6-7 and 15 for parents and teachers to meet. A link will be available for you to sign up online closer to conference time. Curriculum goals and expectations will be shared. If unable to attend, please call the office or email me as soon as possible to let me know.
Spirit Days Fridays are spirit days Encourage to wear their EP shirts or colored Class shirts to show pride in our school. Children may still participate by wearing red, white and blue Class shirts are encouraged for field trips
Parent Volunteers Parents wishing to volunteer or chaperone on field trips must have DPS clearance. Online form at www.neisd.net May take several weeks so please do so early
Grading First grade uses numeric grading. Grades will be taken after many opportunities to practice the skill. Parents may check grades on Skyward website Redo papers may be done for failing grades for a 70.
Homework Tic Tac Toe Homework format Children are expected to complete and return homework on Fridays unless otherwise stated. Please review the completed assignments and work with your child to correct any errors.
Spelling We use the Four Blocks Word Wall guidelines. We will have weekly assessments. Children are accountable for all words and transfer patterns introduced.
Writing Our writing lessons are part of the Four Blocks model. We introduce skills through minilessons during the week.
Reading We use both the basal readers and leveled text for reading instruction. Skills are introduced during Shared Reading, and individual skills are tailored to your child s needs during the Guided Reading Block.
Math We use Investigations, Math Exemplars, and the grade level textbook to meet first grade TEKS. Manipulatives are used to reinforce skills. The District s Scope and Sequence determines the order skills and concepts are addressed.
Science Things we study: Parts of Systems The Natural World Animals Plants Weather
Social Studies Units of study include, but are not limited to: American Symbols The Working World Geography Community, Rules, Laws, and Leaders
Our Class Rules All students are expected to follow the Encino Park Expectations. Students have a Responsibility Folder for parent/teacher communication.
Thank you for coming! I look forward to working with you this year!