About our Classroom
Our 2014-2015 Schedule
9:30-9:40 Morning Business (attendance, lunch count, check homework, restrooms)
9:40-10:00 Morning Meeting
10:00-11:00 Math
11:00-11:10 Restroom Break
11:10-12:10 Lunch/Recess
12:10-12:25 Quiet time/Restroom Break
12:25-2:00 Reader's Workshop (Daily 5/Guided Reading)
2:00-2:30 P.E. (days 1, 3, 5)/Music (days 2, 4, 6)
2:30-3:00 Writer's Workshop
3:00-3:30 WIN (What I Need Time)
3:30-3:55 Afternoon Meeting (Daily planners, reflection cards, jobs, lockers)
3:55-4:00 Dismissal
*Media on Thursdays
Absences
Please send a note or email about late arrivals as well as planned absences. Please also call the attendance line at (763) 315-6408 if you know your child will be late or absent.
Communication
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or would like to discuss your child! The quickest and easiest way to contact me is through email at [email protected]. You may also try to catch me before or after school on the phone. If you leave a message, I will try to call you back as soon as possible before or after school. If you have an emergency, please contact the office directly. Please use your child's take home folder for notes. Also, please make sure you tell your child so they know what to turn in right away in the morning.
Transportation
It is very important that you send a note, email, or call the office if your child’s transportation routine changes. Without a note or phone call, I must send your child home according to their normal routine. Please try to contact me early in the day. Emails and voicemails may not be received by dismissal if sent in the afternoon or if there is a substitute teacher. Also, please note in the Parent
Handbook that the only people that can pick your child up from school are people indicated on the emergency form sent home the first week of school.
Wednesday Mail
Instead of a weekly packet going home with your youngest, information will be sent to an email address that the office has on file (form in open house folder). Please read the mail carefully as they often give information about school and community activities.
Website
I am currently transitioning online information to a new website called Schoology. I will be using my current website until the new one is up and running. The purpose is to showcase various events/activities/news for our classroom. Please check the site frequently for information and updates. The current website can be found by typing www.housmanhappenings.weebly.com into your
browser or you can access it from the Woodland home page. I will let you know when to begin checking the new website!
Homework Routine
Homework will reinforce the skills that we have been learning in school. Completion of assigned homework is important to help maintain those skills. Please return homework the following day it is sent home. Any student not returning homework will attend Power Study Hall during recess or finish at another designated time.
Reflection Cards and Planners
We will use reflection cards as an opportunity for your child to reflect on their social and academic growth. Included on the reflection card will be teacher reflection on social and academic growth for the week and specific comments on each individual. Reflection cards for the week will go home on Friday (or last day of the school week) for you to review and sign. Reflection cards also serve as a communication tool and will be tied to your child's Friday fun time. If not returned, a portion of your child's Friday fun will be spent learning about responsibility. Please return reflection cards on Monday. Planners will be used to help foster organization, communication, and handwriting skills. Please check your child’s planner and take home folder each evening. Please use your child's take home folder to transport notes, lunch money, or other important things from home.
Behavior Expectations
We will learn and practice expectations according to the SOAR model (Safe, Own our actions, Act with leadership, Resourceful) this year. We will also use the Efficacious Learner Framework to help students be Problem Solvers, Resourceful, Responsible, Self-Directed, and Skilled Communicators.
We believe:
*Every member is expected to act with integrity.
*The focus of our student behavior system is to teach, encourage, and promote effective decision making, self-regulation, and positive behavior.
*Realistic and relevant consequences will help guide decision making.
*In taking responsibility for one's actions, making the wrong right, and learning from one's
choices.
We will collaborate to create classroom expectations that will help all children
learn and feel safe. Our classroom uses the “take a break” chair when a child needs a simple reminder to meet school expectations or if they need a safe place to gain control of feelings. Breaks are short and more often than not, students are able to return to activities showing expected
behaviors. Breaks allow the learning of the classroom to continue and students are able to return with integrity in tact. I will contact you if I notice your child needing many breaks or if I need to communicate behavior concerns so we can work together to create a plan.
Monthly Reading Calendars
Each month, a new reading calendar will be sent home. Please keep this in a safe and visible spot to record minutes read each night. I recommend reading to your child or having your child read to you for at least 10 minutes every day. At the end of each month the calendar should be signed and returned to school. Each student that reaches the 300 minute goal and returns their calendar 6 out of 9 months will be given a reading medal at the end of each school year at the awards ceremony. If your child’s reading calendar is misplaced, you may download and print a copy from our classroom website.
Instruction
All students will participate in “core instruction” for reading, writing, and math. I am required to provide grade level core instruction to all students to ensure that I address all Minnesota State Standards for First Grade. Core instruction could be described as a small chunk of time (10-20 minutes) where we focus on a grade level skill or strategy before guided or independent practice begins for the rest of the time. Though all students participate in core instruction, we use data and
observation to form groups and provide instruction and activities that are at your child’s instructional (not too easy, not too difficult) level for guided and independent practice. Our ultimate goal is to help all students grow by differentiating as often as possible as well as addressing all grade level standards. Groups for guided and independent practice will be created that are flexible and based on what your child currently needs to practice and learn. Our classroom motto is “Everyone gets what everyone needs!”
Birthday Parties
We will celebrate your child’s birthday as a class. For children with summer birthdays, we will celebrate towards the end of the school year. However, students are NOT allowed to bring in birthday treats or gifts. In addition, please do not send birthday invitations with your child to pass out at school. Please refer to the Parent Handbook for more information.
Water Bottles
Your child may bring a water bottle to school to have during the day. They can bring it home at the end of the week to be cleaned. Students will be allowed to fill their bottles at the start of each day and immediately following recess. Please make sure the bottle you are sending does not leak before you send it!
Media Book Check-Out
One day each week (Thursdays), our class will be involved in a media lesson and book check out. Your child may not check out a new book until the previous book is returned. Once students are comfortable and familiar with the media center procedures, your child may check out every day if their books are returned.
Book Orders
You can order whenever you want online! Click on the “book order” tab above for directions. This is a fabulous opportunity to buy great books at a reasonable price to keep our scholars reading!
I look forward to having a partnership with you. The support and encouragement your child receives from us both will ensure his or her success at school.
~Mrs. Housman
9:30-9:40 Morning Business (attendance, lunch count, check homework, restrooms)
9:40-10:00 Morning Meeting
10:00-11:00 Math
11:00-11:10 Restroom Break
11:10-12:10 Lunch/Recess
12:10-12:25 Quiet time/Restroom Break
12:25-2:00 Reader's Workshop (Daily 5/Guided Reading)
2:00-2:30 P.E. (days 1, 3, 5)/Music (days 2, 4, 6)
2:30-3:00 Writer's Workshop
3:00-3:30 WIN (What I Need Time)
3:30-3:55 Afternoon Meeting (Daily planners, reflection cards, jobs, lockers)
3:55-4:00 Dismissal
*Media on Thursdays
Absences
Please send a note or email about late arrivals as well as planned absences. Please also call the attendance line at (763) 315-6408 if you know your child will be late or absent.
Communication
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or would like to discuss your child! The quickest and easiest way to contact me is through email at [email protected]. You may also try to catch me before or after school on the phone. If you leave a message, I will try to call you back as soon as possible before or after school. If you have an emergency, please contact the office directly. Please use your child's take home folder for notes. Also, please make sure you tell your child so they know what to turn in right away in the morning.
Transportation
It is very important that you send a note, email, or call the office if your child’s transportation routine changes. Without a note or phone call, I must send your child home according to their normal routine. Please try to contact me early in the day. Emails and voicemails may not be received by dismissal if sent in the afternoon or if there is a substitute teacher. Also, please note in the Parent
Handbook that the only people that can pick your child up from school are people indicated on the emergency form sent home the first week of school.
Wednesday Mail
Instead of a weekly packet going home with your youngest, information will be sent to an email address that the office has on file (form in open house folder). Please read the mail carefully as they often give information about school and community activities.
Website
I am currently transitioning online information to a new website called Schoology. I will be using my current website until the new one is up and running. The purpose is to showcase various events/activities/news for our classroom. Please check the site frequently for information and updates. The current website can be found by typing www.housmanhappenings.weebly.com into your
browser or you can access it from the Woodland home page. I will let you know when to begin checking the new website!
Homework Routine
Homework will reinforce the skills that we have been learning in school. Completion of assigned homework is important to help maintain those skills. Please return homework the following day it is sent home. Any student not returning homework will attend Power Study Hall during recess or finish at another designated time.
Reflection Cards and Planners
We will use reflection cards as an opportunity for your child to reflect on their social and academic growth. Included on the reflection card will be teacher reflection on social and academic growth for the week and specific comments on each individual. Reflection cards for the week will go home on Friday (or last day of the school week) for you to review and sign. Reflection cards also serve as a communication tool and will be tied to your child's Friday fun time. If not returned, a portion of your child's Friday fun will be spent learning about responsibility. Please return reflection cards on Monday. Planners will be used to help foster organization, communication, and handwriting skills. Please check your child’s planner and take home folder each evening. Please use your child's take home folder to transport notes, lunch money, or other important things from home.
Behavior Expectations
We will learn and practice expectations according to the SOAR model (Safe, Own our actions, Act with leadership, Resourceful) this year. We will also use the Efficacious Learner Framework to help students be Problem Solvers, Resourceful, Responsible, Self-Directed, and Skilled Communicators.
We believe:
*Every member is expected to act with integrity.
*The focus of our student behavior system is to teach, encourage, and promote effective decision making, self-regulation, and positive behavior.
*Realistic and relevant consequences will help guide decision making.
*In taking responsibility for one's actions, making the wrong right, and learning from one's
choices.
We will collaborate to create classroom expectations that will help all children
learn and feel safe. Our classroom uses the “take a break” chair when a child needs a simple reminder to meet school expectations or if they need a safe place to gain control of feelings. Breaks are short and more often than not, students are able to return to activities showing expected
behaviors. Breaks allow the learning of the classroom to continue and students are able to return with integrity in tact. I will contact you if I notice your child needing many breaks or if I need to communicate behavior concerns so we can work together to create a plan.
Monthly Reading Calendars
Each month, a new reading calendar will be sent home. Please keep this in a safe and visible spot to record minutes read each night. I recommend reading to your child or having your child read to you for at least 10 minutes every day. At the end of each month the calendar should be signed and returned to school. Each student that reaches the 300 minute goal and returns their calendar 6 out of 9 months will be given a reading medal at the end of each school year at the awards ceremony. If your child’s reading calendar is misplaced, you may download and print a copy from our classroom website.
Instruction
All students will participate in “core instruction” for reading, writing, and math. I am required to provide grade level core instruction to all students to ensure that I address all Minnesota State Standards for First Grade. Core instruction could be described as a small chunk of time (10-20 minutes) where we focus on a grade level skill or strategy before guided or independent practice begins for the rest of the time. Though all students participate in core instruction, we use data and
observation to form groups and provide instruction and activities that are at your child’s instructional (not too easy, not too difficult) level for guided and independent practice. Our ultimate goal is to help all students grow by differentiating as often as possible as well as addressing all grade level standards. Groups for guided and independent practice will be created that are flexible and based on what your child currently needs to practice and learn. Our classroom motto is “Everyone gets what everyone needs!”
Birthday Parties
We will celebrate your child’s birthday as a class. For children with summer birthdays, we will celebrate towards the end of the school year. However, students are NOT allowed to bring in birthday treats or gifts. In addition, please do not send birthday invitations with your child to pass out at school. Please refer to the Parent Handbook for more information.
Water Bottles
Your child may bring a water bottle to school to have during the day. They can bring it home at the end of the week to be cleaned. Students will be allowed to fill their bottles at the start of each day and immediately following recess. Please make sure the bottle you are sending does not leak before you send it!
Media Book Check-Out
One day each week (Thursdays), our class will be involved in a media lesson and book check out. Your child may not check out a new book until the previous book is returned. Once students are comfortable and familiar with the media center procedures, your child may check out every day if their books are returned.
Book Orders
You can order whenever you want online! Click on the “book order” tab above for directions. This is a fabulous opportunity to buy great books at a reasonable price to keep our scholars reading!
I look forward to having a partnership with you. The support and encouragement your child receives from us both will ensure his or her success at school.
~Mrs. Housman