Some frequently asked questions by parents of first graders:

1. Should I be correcting my child's spelling when he/she writes something?
2. Should I be helping my child with his/her homework?
3. What should I do if my child complains about something a classmate is doing at school?
4. What should I do if my child forgets to bring his/her homework back to school?
5. What should I do if my child forgets to hand in his/her lunch money?
6. How should I handle any questions about what is happening in the classroom?

Should I be correcting my child's spelling when he/she writes something?

That depends!  If the word is a sight word that is being 
practiced in school (is/are/he), then you should ask your child 
to find the error his/herself and correct it.  If the word is a 
more challenging spelling word, then you should allow your child 
to "sound it out" and spell it phonetically.  If the word is a 
vocabulary word (monarch), then you can help your child learn 
dictionary skills by looking the word up together.

If you try to make your child correct every single error, so that 
his/her paper is "perfect", then you run the risk of your child 
shutting down and becoming discouraged about writing.  Spelling 
is a process that your child will become more independent with 
over time.  Allow your child to enjoy the activity of writing 
itself, and not focus on whether or not it is "perfect"!

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Should I be helping my child with his/her homework?

YES!  The homework is an extension of what your child is learning 
in the classroom.  Just as I am available to assist your child 
during lessons here at school, you are expected to be available 
to him/her at home.  

If your child is able to do the assignment independently, please 
encourage that he/she does and then review the completed sheet 
together.  

If the assignment is too difficult for your child, please send it 
back to school with a note attached.  I will work on it with 
him/her in the classroom.

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What should I do if my child complains about something a classmate is doing at school?

Try to use the same approach I use with your child at school. 
 
I tell the students, "If something that someone does bothers you":

First, try to use your "words" to let the person know what 
exactly is bothering you.  They might not even know you don't 
like it!

Second, try to move away from the person.  Play with someone else 
if the situation occurs at recess or Choice time.  Move to 
another area of the classroom if you are allowed to during that 
time.

Third, if the behavior hasn't stopped, tell the teacher who is 
with you (classroom teacher, recess teacher, lunch teacher) about 
the situation. An adult will intervene if you have tried the 
first two options already.

The only time that your child should skip to #3 is if he/she 
witnesses a behavior that is potentially dangerous to anyone.  
The child should go IMMEDIATELY to a teacher in this situation!

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What should I do if my child forgets to bring his/her homework back to school?

Please do not get in the car and drive it to school for your 
child!  Homework is about learning responsibility.  Your child's 
homework will still be accepted the next day without penalty.  
However, it is important for your child to recognize that he/she 
forgot it and needs to try to remember it everyday.  If you "save 
the day" by dropping it off, it will send a message to your child 
that it is not very important for him/her to remember the 
assignment since you will just bring it in anyway!

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What should I do if my child forgets to hand in his/her lunch money?

Send it to school the next day and I will send it down to the 
cafe for your child's account.  He/she will still be able to buy 
lunch.  A negative balance will show on his/her account until the 
amount is paid.

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How should I handle any questions about what is happening in the classroom?

As mentioned at Open House, please email me FIRST!  If you do not 
hear back from me within 2-3 days, then call after school and ask 
for your call to be transferred to my classroom.  Please, always 
ask me your question or address your concern before speaking with 
the administration. Sometimes concerns are easily solved with 
communication.  

As tempting as it may be, I ask that you not come up to the 
classroom unexpectedly before, after, or during the school day.  
I have limited planning time and may not be able to stop 
preparing the lesson materials to assist you with your concern.  
It is important to me that your needs are met on a timely basis.  
However, it is equally as important that I am prepared for the 
day of teaching for your child!   

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