A Day in the Life of a First Grader at Bethany Elementary

1. A Day in the Life of a First Grader at Bethany Elementary (How is it different from Kindergarten?)

2. School Visitor Sign-In Procedure • All schools in PISD are using the Raptor sign-in system to ensure student safety. This system enables schools to run a check on all visitors through a national database. • Who will be required to use this system? • Parents, visitors, volunteers and contractors • What do I need to do when I get to school? • You will need to present a valid state-issued photo • ID to be scanned in the system. You will be • issued a photo badge to wear while at school. • How often will I need to do this procedure? • Each time you visit Bethany you will be required • to present your ID.

3. PISD Attendance Regular daily student attendance is an important part of creating a successful and positive school day for children. • School begins at 7:45 AM. Students should arrive at Bethany in time to provide sufficient time for them to be organized and prepared for the day. • Absences-A signed parent note is required for anyabsence upon the student’s return WITHIN 3 DAYS of the absence. If a note is not received within the 3 days, the absence will be marked UNEXCUSED. All notes are to be brought to the office.  How can parents help their children be on time for school? • Have backpacks ready the night before and placed by the door they use to leave the house each morning. • Have lunches prepared the night before. • Pick out clothes to wear the night before (and find the shoes you will wear). • Do not turn on the TV in the mornings. • Talk as a family about the importance of being on time. • Model being on time and prepared for each day.

4. Attendance • School Day: • 7:45 AM Students are expected to be in the building • 2:45 PM Dismissal/End of school day • Partial Absences/Tardies: Students that arrive after 7:45 a.m. or check out before 2:45 p.m. (Only a doctor’s note can excuse a tardy. Please ask your doctor for this for all student appointments during the school day). • Excused Absences: Students that have a written note in the front office stating the reason for the absence with a cause that is acceptable to the principal. The note must be received within three (3) school days of the absence upon return of the student. • Unexcused Absences: A voluntary absence that has not been excused. • Returning to School: When your student returns to school, you must send a written note with them indicating the reason for the absence.

5. 7:30-7:45 Arrival 7:45-8:00 Math 8:00-10:30 Language Arts (9:00 Snack) 10:30-11:00 Recess 11:00-11:30 Lunch 11:30-12:50 Integrated Curriculum 12:50-1:40 Specials 1:40-2:40 Math 2:40-2:45 Pack up/ Dismissal Specials PE Art Music Library Counselor Schedulefor First Grade

6. Arrival7:15-7:30-7:45 • Students wait safely in the gym from 7:15AM until the bell rings at 7:30AM. • BBTV is at 7:45AM. • Pledge • Announcements • Academic warm-up activity is called Morning Work. • Hot breakfast is now served daily for $1.15.

7. Arrival Procedures7:30-7:45 • Please, allow students to walk in by themselves. • Students need to be ready and working in their classroom by the 7:45AM bell.

8. More Procedures7:30-7:45 • Hang up backpack and personal belongings • Unpack: • Backpack • Lunch Box / Lunch Money • Planner • Take-home folder • Begin Morning Work 7:30-7:50 Students know how to:

9. Math Meeting7:45-8:00 • Math Morning Meeting • This allows students to review and become proficient with skills such as: • reading a calendar • discussing and graphing weather • building values with coins

10. Language Arts8:00- 10:30 • District and Grade Level Assessments • Writing • Spelling • Reading • Handwriting

11. Spelling • Your child will write their spelling words in their planners on Monday. • The spelling test will be each Friday.

12. Reading Guided Reading—in each classroom— • Provides direct instruction and guidance to support learners in their reading with like learners. • Occurs in a small group setting… • …while other students work in Literacy Stations on specific related language arts/literacy practice activities.

13. Literacy Stations • Students work in literacy stations either individually or in small groups to practice reading skills differentiated to their personal needs.

14. Writing-Writer’s Workshop • Writer’s Workshop consists of: • Mini Lesson • Writing • Sharing • Writing Notebooks • Author’s Celebrationof published work • Group of unpublished work sent home periodically.

15. Students can buy or bring their lunches. Destiny Quinney (469)752-0308 Recess / Lunch10:30-11:30 Recess 10:30-11:00 Lunch 11:00-11:30 • For recess, we go outside as often as possible. It is very important that your child have a jacket each day, once the weather turns chilly. Please, label everythingwith your child’s name as many students own very similar items.

16. Science Social Studies Health 6 Overarching Ideas Balance and Stability Diversity Continuity and Change Systems Interactions Communications Integrated Curriculum11:30-12:50

17. Specials 12:50-1:40

18. Math Instruction1:40-2:40 • Students experience a selection of most effective activities and resources. • Developmental Program • Concrete • Pictorial • Symbolic • District and Grade Level Assessments

19. Math Workshop • Small Group Instruction • Technology • Hands-on • “Games” • Rotation Students experience a variety of math activities each day. Many times they will think and say that they just played.

20. Pack-Up/Dismissal2:40-2:45 • Car riders- Front of the Building • Daycare/PASAR- Gym • Walkers- At the back of the building between the 1st and 2nd grade doors to the playground. • Older siblings will walk down to the youngest child (grade) per family. • Send a note to change your pick-up plans or if you have an emergency change of plans for pick-up. If it is necessary to change plans by phone,please, let the office know as early in the day as possible.

21. Planner • Daily Message (Nightly Signature) • Stickers with Information • Spelling Word List

22. Take Home Folders • Come home daily • Communication cards kept here • Please initial card daily • Please keep papers from left side of folder at home

23. Homework Grade Level, Class, or Individual Assignments

24. Bullfrog Beliefs:I will be: Respectful ~ Responsible ~ Ready to Learn • Talk when given permission, in appropriate situations and locations. • Be respectful of self, others and school. • Follow directions the first time given. • Start and complete learning activities, neatly and on time. • Keep self and others safe.

25. 7 HabitsI will strive to become a highly effective person, classmate, and learner. • Be Proactive • Begin with the End in Mind • Put First Things First • Think Win-Win • Seek to Understand then to be Understood • Synergize • Sharpen the Saw

26. Each classroom maintains a good behavior chart to recognize exemplary behavior and motivate each student to contribute to a pleasant and rewarding learning environment. Once students have filled up their chart they will redeem their dots in their classroom to purchase privileges. Positive Behavior Support

27. Communication Card • Each student has a communication card stored in the front pocket of the planner. • Please sign the comments each Friday.

28. Discipline-Expectations • At Bethany, we are: Respectful ~ Responsible ~ Ready to Learn

29. Room 102 (469)752-0337 Room 101 (469)752-0334 Room 105 (469)752-0336 Katy Morris katy.a.morris@pisd.edu Connie Gillmore connie.gillmore@pisd.edu Shannon Compere shannon.compere@pisd.edu General First Grade Information

30. Dear Families, We are so excited and honored to have your children spend their first grade year with us. We have planned many fun, challenging activities and explorations to support them in their journey as Bethany Bullfrogs. Please feel free to contact us at any point, for any reason, with any question. Thank youfor coming tonight. First Grade Team