Welcome to Ms. Smakula's website!  You will find a wealth of information about school and class events such as reminders, weekly target words, homework assignments, and student links to educational websites.

I strongly believe that parent-teacher communication is essential for a child's academic success.  This website can be a useful tool in enriching your child's 1st grade year as well as teaching technology skills that will be beneficial throughout his or her whole life.  Therefore, in order for this website to be truly effective, I encourage you to visit this website frequently with your child.   

In addition to this website, another way to ensure that you'll be kept up to date on the events in your child's education is through our monthly 1st grade newsletter. This newsletter will be sent home with students so please be sure to check the backpack daily for other reminders and communication. The newsletter will cover any upcoming events, current units of study, our monthly schedule, and reminders for parents, etc.

Classroom Management

My goal as a teacher is to create a classroom environment in which children want to learn, want to behave appropriately, and want to achieve.  An important part of this is teaching students what it means to be a productive stakeholder of our class.  I teach that being a stakeholder means achieving a level of responsibility that results in the internal motivation to do what is expected.  In this way, students are supported in learning how to make good choices inside the classroom and hopefully contributing to their overall social development.

Individual:

I believe that it is important to reward those students who exhibit consistent good behavior, complete their assignments, and do their absolute best work. These rewards will range from earning stickers and taking positive progress notes home to being rewarded with coupons for free time, reading with a stuffed animal, computer time, etc.

Whole Class:

Students in my class learn from the beginning of the year to work together in groups.  They are not only seated in table groups.  They also are divided into flexible groups to complete assignments, do center-work, or work collaboratively in group projects. Table groups will earn points/compliments each day when caught working together, being kind to one another, and staying on task. Once a table earns 10 compliments, those seated at it earn a trip to the treasure chest.

 

Students also work together as a class to work productively, follow directions, and contribute to the lessons and discussions.  As the class works together cooperatively, follow directions, and earns compliments from other staff members and myself, they will earn marbles. Students will earn a "big" reward such as a class party once they fill their marble jar.

Please always talk to your child about his/her day. My goal is to create a good relationship and communication with parents so that every student's academics and behavior will be successful. It is always helpful to let me know when there is a situation at home that may be causing your child some anxiety.  Many times students react at school about incidents which have occurred at home, and I can better help him/her if I am aware of these issues.   

 

Mission for the Class

Following the Baldridge system at Woodlin ES, we will create a mission statement together. We will discuss our expectations as well as identify our class goals and our core values together. We will spend the first couple of weeks getting to know each other and learning routines in the classroom which will help create a community of learners.

Check back after the first week to see our mission statement!