Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and
parents.
- How can I sign up to be a parent volunteer
- Will my child's birthday be celebrated?
- How can I get in touch with you?
- What is Scholastic?
- How can I support my child if s/he is stuck on a word while reading?
- What are target words?
- Why is each class a different animal?
- What is the Crab of the Day?
- What is the class pet?
How can I sign up to be a parent volunteer
The sign-up sheet will be available at Back-to-School Night. If
you are
unable to volunteer your time during the school day but would like
to help
out from the comfort of your home, please let me know. I would be
thrilled
to have you volunteer from home by sending cut and paste projects
for you.
I appreciate your help in any way you are willing and able to
provide it!
Will my child's birthday be celebrated?
While we recognize each child on his/her birthday, we are unable
to have
birthday parties in class. If you and your child would like to
celebrate
during school, please send in an individual treat for each child
(cupcake,
cookies, etc).These treats must be store bought according to new
MCPS
regulations. Please note food allergies before sending in treats.
If the
birthday treat contains ingredients from the allergy list, please
feel free
to send in a separate treat for students with allergies. You are
more than
welcome to pass out the treats and celebrate with your child
during lunch.
However, if you are unable to do so, I would be more than happy to
pass out
treats during lunch. We eat lunch at 10:50. On another note,
please do not
send birthday party invitations through your child's backpack.
Sending them
through the mail helps to eliminate hurt feelings. Thank you for
your
understanding and support.
How can I get in touch with you?
Email is the best way to get in touch with me. I check my email
often, and
am usually able to respond within a 24-hour time period. Please
feel free
to write a note or call me at school. Phone calls are difficult,
due to the
demands of my schedule, but I try to return all phone calls within
36
hours. If you send in a note, please let me know the best way to
get in
touch with you. Please remember that the fastest way to get a
response is
via email. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not
hesitate to
share them with me!
What is Scholastic?
Scholastic is a wonderful company that offers books for sale at
unbeatable
prices! From great read-alouds and picture books to hands-on
learning
materials and titles perfect for students learning to read,
Scholastic book
orders provide parents with an affordable way to grow their
child's home
library. Each month I will send home 2-3 book orders for you to
look over,
along with a letter noting information about each club order form
and the
due date. You will usually have about one week to look over the
book orders
before they are due. You may order by sending in a completed
order form(s)
and a check made out to "Scholastic," or you may order
online. The username
is Grotsky and the password is Giraffes. Please know that
participation in
the book clubs is purely voluntary. You are under no obligation
to order
books from Scholastic.
How can I support my child if s/he is stuck on a word while reading?
Never tell your child a word without letting him/her try it first!
She/he
must learn this to become an independent reader. When he/she is
stuck, say
these things to help:
�"Look at the picture. Are there clues in it?"
�"What word would fit in that space? ... Does the word
you said match the
one on the page?"
�"Go back to the beginning and try it again."
�"Look at the first letter. Get your mouth ready to say
that word."
�"Skip that word. Read the rest of the sentence." ...
"Now, what is
missing?"
�"Think about the story. What is happening?"
�"What are the characters/author talking about?"
What are target words?
Target words are sight words that come from our first grade word
wall.
At the start of each week, your child will bring home a list of
five target
words that s/he is expected to practice reading and writing. Each
Friday, a
target word quiz will be given to make sure students have been
practicing
their words. By the end of first grade, students are expected to
be able to
read, write, and spell each target word. At the end of each week,
the
target words are placed on the word wall in the classroom.
Why is each class a different animal?
In an effort to build community within each classroom, teachers
adopt an
animal name. We are the Kalargyros Crabs. Our class mascot helps
us
identify with one another, and work together as a
"family" of crabs.
What is the Crab of the Day?
Each day, we choose one special friend as our Crab of the Day.
During
this time, our crab helps the class read the Daily Message by
pointing to
each word in the message as s/he reads with the class. Then, s/he
hops into
the special red chair where an interview is conducted. The Crab
of the
Day answers each question in COMPLETE sentences! :o) We learn
important
and interesting information about our Crab of the Day! Then, s/he
fills
out the interview sheet. After all students have had a chance to
be the
Crab of the Day, we will make a class book out of all interview
sheets.
The Crab of the Day also gets to take home the Daily Message.
What is the class pet?
Each first grade class has a different class pet (a stuffed
animal) that is
taken home by a student in our class each night on a rotating
schedule.
When your child brings home the class pet, the class pet has to
write in his
journal about the time he spent with your child. BUT there is a
problem!
Our class pet has no fingers, so he can't hold the pencil. That
means your
first grader has to write for our class pet! S/he will write from
the point
of view of the class "pet." Our class pet is SO excited
to tell the class
about the adventures he had at home with your child, so please
make sure
your child helps our class pet by writing every detail of their
adventures
in the journal! The next day, your child will share the journal
entry with
the class.
After each child has had one chance to take our class pet home,
the sharing
will count as a speaking grade. A rubric for speaking will be
sent home
before grading begins.