ABCs of First Grade

Image provided by Dreamstime.com

A If your child will be Absent, please call the school office and leave a message.
Send a note on the following day to avoid an unexcused absence. The students will
have Art class once a week.
B If you would like to send a Birthday treat with your child on or near her/his
birthday, please send the necessary utensils/napkins/plates/etc, to serve it. We
will recognize summer birthdays at the end of the school year. We have 23
children in our class. Scholastic Book order forms will be sent home about once a
month. You can order online by going to scholastic.com/reading club and use our
class code: FLWX7.
We will have a Big Cheese each full week to learn more about the students in our
classroom. During that week your child will be asked to fill out an All About Me
sheet. They may also share special things that will help our class learn more about
them. The week before your child is scheduled a note will come home with some
options of what they could share.

C Communication is very important for your childs success in first grade. Please
feel free to contact me whenever you have a question, comment or concern. You
can reach me by phone (892-2225 ext. 3520), in person, by email
(sbrzeski@plymouth.k12.wi.us) or with a note. Our library Computer Lab will be
available to our class at least once a week for projects and whole class lessons.
D Discipline is fairly simple. We work hard as a class throughout the year to

ensure that our classroom is a safe place for everyone. The expectations and rules
are in place to help every child reach their fullest potential.
E My school Email Address is sbrzeski@plymouth.k12.wi.us . I always check email
early in the morning. If you have an important message, concerning your child for
that day, please call the office and leave a message. I dont always have time to
check my email throughout the day.
F Due to a limited budget first grade will take one bus Field Trip to Camp
Anokijig at the end of the year. Information will come home in your childs folder
at that time. If we are able to take advantage of other opportunities you will be
informed early enough to join us, if possible.
G Our class will have a 30 minute Gym class three times a week with Mr.
Shutter. The children are asked to wear athletic shoes on gym days or leave an
extra pair of shoes at school. Guidance with Ms. Williams will be integrated into
the core curriculum throughout the year.
H Students will have Homework bags beginning in October. The homework is that
your child will need to read to you and record it on the log provided. Your child will
need to return the bag and the book daily so that it can be exchanged for the
following night.
I Independence builds self-esteem and self-confidence. We encourage
independence at school with things like being responsible for homework and
cleaning up after themselves.
J Journal Writing is valuable and we write every day. Please encourage your
child to write at home for a variety of purposes (making lists, things they do,
special occasions, etc.).
K Keep Updated by reading the classroom bi-weekly classroom newsletters.
Please check your childs Friday folder for other important notes and information.
L Our class will be able to check out two books from the Library every week.

They should return the books by the following week in order to check-out two new
books. We eat Lunch and have recess to follow from 11:30-12:10 daily.
M The children will have Music class twice a week with Mrs. Zimmermann. Our
Math curriculum is aligned to the common core. There are websites for you and
your child to visit on our classroom Weebly. There are math games and various
other activities.
N A bi-weekly Newsletter will be posted on my website and sent home to keep
you informed about what is happening in our class.
O First grade has many Opportunities for learning and socializing throughout the
day.
P When Picking Up your child early, please make sure you stop in the office and
sign them out. Please send a note with your child so we are aware of the change.
Q Questions? Please feel free to call, e-mail, stop in, or send a note.
sbrzeski@plymouth.k12.wi.us

892-2225 ext. 3520

R Report Cards will be sent home at the end of each trimester. The report card
envelope should be signed and returned. You may keep the actual report card at
home. We Read throughout the day. During our guided reading block the children
learn or review strategies and then have an opportunity to practice in small groups
or independently. So much growth happens in reading during first grade!
S Science And Social Studies curriculum will be mainly taught throughout the
day in areas such as our reading and writing. We will also have other times
dedicated to these areas for more in-depth learning.
T If your child has any changes in their Transportation please let the school
know in writing, by email, or through a phone call. The student will be sent home
their normal way unless you contact the school in advance of any changes.

U Our goal is for students not only to Understand, but to be able to apply what
they are learning at school. If your child shares that they are struggling with
specific concepts please let me know as soon as possible.
V Volunteers and Visitors must sign in at the office before coming into the
classroom. We will start our volunteer help about the middle or end of October.
We need a little time alone to establish classroom routines and build a strong
learning community. I appreciate any time that you can come in to help out in our
classroom. You are always welcome to join us when it works in your schedule.
There is a form to be filled out in the office prior to any family Vacations you may
plan on scheduled school days.
W My Weebly (webpage) is accessed through the Horizon web page. Click on
staff and a link to my page will be found under first grade. Please check it
throughout the year for updates and pictures. In the Winter everyone goes
outside if the temperature/wind chill is above 0 degrees. Students must have
boots, snow pants, coats, gloves and hats to play in the snow. Please be sure that
your child has everything labeled with their name or initials.
X Parents and family members should enter through the main school doors at the
upper level or the door on the lower level near the gym. At the end of the day,
children who are walking or being picked up will Exit through the doors upstairs
unless you are coming into school and park at the lower level to meet them. Bus
students exit at the lower level.
Y Your Ideas, thoughts and suggestions are always welcome!
Z Zzzz, make sure that your child gets plenty of sleep at night. We work hard all
day and in first grade there no longer is rest and read time!

Adapted from a variety of sources and rewritten to fit my classroom:

http://www.proteacher.net/
http://fun-in-first.blogspot.com/2011/07/abcs-of-1st-grade.html
https://sites.google.com/a/ifacadets.net/mrswilladsen/abcs-of-first-grade