Welcome to First Grade

1. Welcome to First Grade Coronado Coyotes 2012-2013

2. Volunteers • We love volunteers! We will be sending home a blank calendar so you can fill in the days that you are AVAILABLE. Your child’s teacher will then make a master calendar and send it home to let you know what day or days you will be volunteering. The calendar will have the times that you will be needed. Please mark if you prefer to volunteer morning or afternoon. Parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles are welcome. Please be sure to fill out volunteer paperwork. Pick up a packet in the front office. If you volunteered last year, check with the office to make sure your file is still current. This includes chaperoning on field trips.

3. Home practice (homework) • Homework has a new name! We will be referring to it as Home Practice. Do a little each night. This will make it less stressful on the student and the parents. • A hard copy will be sent home weekly. Visit your teacher’s website for lined paper if you need it. Staple the sheet along with your child’s completed work. Home Practice will be due on Fridays. • Home Practice is a reinforcement of skills that have already been introduced in class. It is beneficial to your child if they are practicing a little bit each day. This should normally be no more than 15 minutes a day. • Please contact your child’s teacher if you have further questions.

4. Classroom management • Please direct your attention to the “Clip Board”.

5. Snacks and Birthday Treats • Your child is welcome to bring a healthy snack for the afternoon. Throughout the year, we will be asking for snack donations for community snack. Some ideas are: pretzels, animal crackers, goldfish, granola bars, individual cheese and cracker packs and raisins. If your child does have food allergies, please supply a daily snack for them. • Birthday treats are always welcome. They must be store bought. Cupcakes are a popular choice. Please consider the mini cupcakes. Please let your child know when your are planning to provide this treat. It helps us plan our snack recess accordingly.

6. Morning arrival Rise to the Challenge! • The playground gates open at 7:45. Students will line up at 8:05. School begins at 8:10. Students should not be in the building before 8:05. • The cafeteria provides breakfast.

7. Daily specials Mrs. Tripathi’s class Mrs. Cain’s Class Monday – Music Tuesday – No special Wednesday – Art Thursday – Library Friday – P.E. (please wear tennis shoes) • Monday – Art • Tuesday – Music • Wednesday – P.E. (please wear tennis shoes) • Thursday – No special • Friday - Library

8. Accelerated reading (ar) • Every first grader will be doing AR this year. This is an area where we would like volunteers. Volunteers would help students log on and read the questions to some of the students. • AR is a comprehension based program. After students read their AR book, they will take a comprehension test on the computer. The test will range from 5 to 10 questions depending on the length and difficulty of the book. • Most books will need to be read 2 to 4 times before the students will take a test.

9. communication Pride in the Pack • The best way to reach your child’s teacher: • Email • Voicemail • Notes • Ways your child’s teacher will communicate with you: • Newsletter • Websites • Email • Daily behavior sheet • Notes • (please check folders daily)

10. Daily curriculum • Morning Meeting • Literacy Block (Daily 5) • Writing • Math and Calendar • Science • Social Studies • Intervention Time (Reading and Math)

11. Spirit fridays Go Coyotes! • Each Friday the students at Coronado are encouraged to show there school spirit by wearing the school colors. Our school colors are purple and teal. School shirts are also available to purchase up at the front office.