Homework

If you would like some additional enrichment activties because you feel your child needs more of a "challenge" at home, please contact me and I will provide some great activities.

Homework will be sent home in your child's blue **Daily Folder** every Monday and will be due the following Monday.

//I will not be taking up weekly homework until the Monday it is due, but feel free to keep homework that has been completed early in this folder.//

__ Homework Reminders __
 * Write first and last name
 * Write the date
 * Use pencil only
 * Use complete sentences
 * Attach completed work with the homework form
 * Use standard letter conventions
 * Write neatly on the lines
 * Work should be completed by the first grader only
 * Parents – sit with your child and guide him/her with each assignment, sign/initialeach box when complete

**What your student should be doing at home** **Math** When students do have word problems on their homework, they should be completing all of the following first grade expectations for each word problem: circling their answer, writing a number sentence for the problem, showing at least 2 strategies to solve the problem (i.e. drawing a picture, using a tool or manipulative of some sort, skip counting, etc.), and explaining how they solved the problem or **justifying** their answer. These expectations are required both inside and outside of the classroom for daily problem solving. ** Math Vocabulary we are using daily: greater than, greater, more, less than, less, fewer, sets, tens, ones, equal to, same as, justify, digit, least, most, order, before, after, between, add, addition, sum, altogether, in all, join, plus (+), equals (=), graph, data, tally chart, bar graph, pictograph, pie graph, horizontal, vertical, labels, title, most, least, count on, addend, sum, money, value, heads, tails, quarter, nickel, dime, penny, doubles, doubles +1, subtraction, subtract, take away, differenceReading **

As many of you have noticed, your student has been bringing home their reading level books to practice reading at home. We do read these in small groups each day and have a short lesson as well to learn various reading strategies and work on fluency and comprehension. These books are to be read each night and recorded on the log provided inside the colored book pocket. **__Please return these book pockets and their contents daily. Students cannot get another book until the previous on has been returned__**. With these books, many of the students will also be bringing home a spiral notebook labeled "Reader's Response Journal" in which they are to answer questions and make entries in about certain key points in their reading (favorite part, characters, setting, predictions, etc.) If this goes home in their reading pockets, please have them complete any unfinished activity and return the next day.

Spelling **    As we begin the school year with our fabulous first grade spellers, we do not have weekly spelling tests over a list if specific words. Our approach will be to provide parents and students with a phonemic pattern weekly, such as –ug/-un, and use it as it is embedded in literature written and read in class. You can still expect us to address a weekly phoneme and to instruct students in the use of that pattern in their writing, as well as how to recognize it in reading. At home, you will see suggestions for practice on the weekly homework. As we progress in the school year, you will notice that your child will be studying a specific phoneme based on what I have assessed and noted that he or she may need. All of their learned phonemes will be kept in a notebook at school so it can be used as a reference tool during their reading and writing time. Every student is unique and every student has different needs! Thanks! Mrs. code format="owner" Thank you!**
 * [[image:http://teacherweb.com/Controls/DHtmlEditor/Images/emstar.gif align="center"]]
 * Some things WANTED for our room!

code ||
 * > **X** ||>  ||   || AA Batteries (we use portable CD players daily to listen to stories read aloud) ||   ||
 * >  ||>   ||   || Hand Sanitizer (Alcohol Free please) ||   ||
 * >  ||>   ||   || Buttons of assorted shapes, sizes, styles, etc. for counting ||   ||
 * >  ||>   ||   || Sharpie Black Markers ||   ||
 * >  ||>   ||   || Blue painter's tape ||   ||
 * > **X** ||>  ||   || Wide-ruled Notebook Paper ||   ||
 * >  ||>   ||   || Sticky Tak ||   ||
 * >  ||>   ||   || Clorox Wipes ||   ||
 * >  ||>   ||   || 4 sets of headphones to plug into laptops ||   ||
 * > **X** ||>  ||   || Tennis Balls ||   ||
 * >  ||>   ||   || White children's socks ||   ||
 * > **X** ||>  ||   || White paper plates ||   ||
 * >  ||>   ||   || Colored copy paper ||   ||
 * >  ||>   ||   || Primary colored cardstock (yellow, blue, green, and red) ||   ||
 * > **X** ||>  ||   || Envelopes (various sizes, shapes and colors) ||   ||
 * > **X** ||>  ||   || Clear page protectors ||   ||
 * > **X** ||>  ||   || Yellow highlighters ||   ||
 * > **X** ||>  ||   || Brown bags with handles from Central Market or Whole Foods ||   ||
 * >  ||>   ||   || 1 quart Ziploc baggies ||   ||
 * >  ||>   ||   || 1 gallon ZipLoc baggies ||   ||
 * > **X** ||>  ||   || 2 boxes of 1/2 gallon ZipLoc baggies for Book Bags ||   ||
 * > **X** ||>  ||   || 2 boxes of 1/2 gallon Ziploc baggies for Library Bags ||   ||
 * >  ||>   ||   || **And any donations for our Treasure Chest are always appreciated! (Dollar trinkets are the best: pencils, stickers, erasers, etc.)** ||

Howdy!
code format="owner" I am excited to be teaching 1st grade for the 2011-2012 Teravista Elementary school year!

I graduated from Texas State University with my Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, Early Childhood through 4th grade. (Go Bobcats!) I was nominated for Student Teacher of the Year during my final year. Everything about Teravista Elementary feels like "home" and I was only too thrilled to have officially joined the wonderful faculty.

I reside in Round Rock with my husband, whom I refer to as "Mr. Maggart", our dogs, Chopper and Hog, and our cat, Harley.

I am excited to be working with all of your students and we have such an exciting year ahead of us!

I try to incorporate all learning styles in my classroom. I believe that at this age, students are discovering which learning style works best for them so I will introduce all types of kinesthetic, auditory, and visual activities into all subject areas so students can become familiar with each and develop as learners. I strongly believe in independence at this age and challenging students. Although they may be young, this age group is capable of some amazing things and you will see this as their school year progresses. I utilize a lot of small group instruction and differentiated activities. Students have different strengths and interests because each student is unique and my goal is to meet the needs of your student as an individual as well as in a collective group. code

We're In It Together!
code format="owner" I strongly believe in a partnership built on good communication between the classroom teacher and the parents of all of my students. We both want only what is best for your child and together, we are going to help your child reach their fullest potential this school year in every aspect: physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually.

I will strive to communicate with all of my students' parents on a regular basis and keep you up-to-date on your child's progress in the classroom. Whenever you receive an email or phone call from me, please don't be anxious! I try to regularly keep-in-touch to talk with you about your child and I would love to hear what you are seeing as well! code