Welcome to 1st grade! We are off to a wonderful start.  First grade is a time of  tremendous growth for students, and an exciting time for parents and teachers.  First graders will soak up so much knowledge between August and May.  Together we can make this a productive and rewarding year for your child. 

Good behavior is a must in our class so every child will have the best opportunity to learn.  These are the guidelines we will follow to ensure an environment conducive to learning:

·         Respect others and yourself.

·         Treat others the way you would like to be treated.

·         Follow directions quickly.

·         Raise your hand for permission to talk.

·         Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat.

·         Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.

We are using a visual reminder system so students will see how they are doing following the rules           throughout the day.  Each morning your child will begin with their clip at the top of the chart on “Ready to Learn.”  If reminders or corrections are needed, he/she will progress through the following stages of our behavior system: (moving their clip down)

·         Think about it

·         Teacher’s choice (loss of privilege like recess or talk time at lunch, etc.)

·         Parent contact

·         Timeout or referral to principal

Students start each week with a conduct grade of 100.  Five points will be deducted from that grade if there is movement down the chart. Students will also be rewarded for great behavior.  They have the opportunity to move up the chart for more positive rewards.  (“Great Job” & “Super Student”)  Conduct reports will be sent home in the signed paper folder.  If your child needs closer monitoring of behavior, I will contact you and we will set up a daily reporting system.

Your child will have a folder to take home each night.  It will include homework assignments, the week’s spelling and sight words, teacher notes, and school news.  Please check your child’s folder each night.  If you need to send a note, please place it in the folder to insure I will see it.  Return the folder each day.

Homework will be assigned except for on Fridays.  Typically homework will involve review of classroom skills.  It is also important that you read with your child for 15 or more minutes each night.  From time to time I will send specific books that I want your child to practice.  Students will have library books that can be read at night as well.  If no book is sent home, your child may choose a book to read from home.  This can most certainly include you reading to/with your child.  It is very important for your child to hear what a fluent reader sounds like in addition to reading themselves.

Signed papers will be sent home bi-weekly or weekly depending on time to prepare folders and reports.  Look for a folder to come home with graded and practice assignments.  This folder will also have the weekly conduct report. Please go over the work with your child, sign the conduct report, and return the folder to school the next day.  All papers need to be returned with the folder so I will have an ongoing portfolio of your child’s performance.  If you have any questions about the week’s work please don’t hesitate to ask.

Communication is of the utmost importance.  Please contact me with any questions you have about your child’s performance or what is going on in our classroom.  You can reach me at the school’s number 706-796-4646.  Email or REMIND will be the quickest way to contact me, and the quickest way for me to respond.  I check it throughout the day.  My email is bostode@boe.richmond.k12.ga.us  .  You may also send notes in your child’s daily or signed paper folders.

This year your child will have the opportunity to have two teachers to help with their learning.  Many of you had an opportunity to meet Mrs. Williams at open house.  I will be working closely with AU College of Education as Mrs. Williams’ Master Teacher.  She will be learning, guiding, and teaching with me for a period of time before she will take over the main instruction for our classroom.  I will be overseeing all instruction while she is with us at Goshen Elementary. Please send all communications as stated above.

I am looking forward to working with each of you.  I am already enjoying your child and our class.  This is my 31st year of teaching elementary school, and 1st grade is one of my favorite grades to teach. It is very rewarding to see the growth between the beginning and the end of the school year.  Let me know if I can help in any way.  

Thank you for your support,