Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
- Do the kids have enough time to eat their lunch?
- Should I correct my child's handwriting in their homework book?
Do the kids have enough time to eat their lunch?
The short answer is yes, but here's a long answer-
First graders are new to the lunchroom and may be distracted, and also may be
busy talking to their friends. Sometimes our own Ms. Morning, who is on duty
in the lunchroom, will have everyone be silent for a short while if she sees
they are not eating. But if your child is still coming home hungry and with
most of their food in their lunchbox, these are their options:
1. Encourage them to eat more at our 10:20 snack time. They might eat half a
sandwich, a small yogurt, hard boiled egg, cheese- some protein in the morning
might help.
2. Children may stay in the lunchroom after the alloted time but because
another class will need the table, they are asked to move to sit in a chair at
the edge. Some like this and stay with a friend for awhile, eating, but most
first graders want to run out to after-lunch recess with their class.
3. I will allow children to get left-over food from lunchboxes to sit and eat
in our classroom at our choice time later in the afternoon. Again, some enjoy
doing this but many would rather get busy with other things.
4. In short, we try but your child may still be hungry at dismissal time. I
know I am! Some parents meet their child at 3:15 with a healthy snack in hand.
Finally, our lunch time of 20 minutes seems short, but from our experience,
lengthening it is not a solution. Try some of these other ideas and speak
with me if it is still a problem.
Should I correct my child's handwriting in their homework book?
I suggest that in the beginning of the year you correct them if you see them
start to write anything from the bottom line. ALWAYS START AT THE TOP, you
can tell them. Also, we really work on number writing early in the year, so
correct oddly written numerals. Later in the year, after we have gone through
our handwriting book, it will be OK to gently remind children of correct
letter formation. BUT, first graders are often inconsistent in writing and we
urge them to keep going- keep expressing their ideas- even if the handwriting
is not perfect. And a big consideration is you and your child- don't let
homework become a struggle between you. Let me know if you have continuing
concerns.
