Welcome to

First Grade
Information Packet
Mrs. Swartzentrubers
Class
2016-2017
Dear Parents,

Please keep this information in a safe

place. In this packet you will find
information regarding our daily
schedule, routines, procedures,
homework, reading program
information, snack, etc.
I am sure that you will refer to this
important information throughout your
childs year in first grade. I look
forward to having a great year!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Swartzentruber

Table of Contents
Mrs. Swartzentrubers Welcome Letter
First Grade News

Creative Writing
Additional Supply List
Discipline System
Daily Schedule
Additional Information
Lunch Money
Recess
Field Trips
Snack
Birthdays
Take-Home Folders
Parent Helpers/Volunteers
Homework
First Nine Weeks Reading Information
Read-Together/Take-Home Reading Folder
What is a Word Wall?
Word Wall Homework
Handwriting Information

Dear Parents,
I want to welcome you, as well as your child, to the 20162017 school year! I am so excited to have your child in my
classroom this year. I feel 1st grade is such an important year, and
I want to make a contribution into your childs life that hopefully
lasts a lifetime!
The 2016-2017 school year will be my fourth year of
teaching. I feel that it is important for you and your child to know

a little bit about me! I graduated from James Madison University

in 2013 with a Masters Degree in Elementary Education. I grew
up in the Harrisonburg area and I absolutely love living in the
Valley! I live just outside of Harrisonburg with my husband and
our rescue dog, Wilson. In addition to teaching, I also enjoy
reading, spending time with my family and friends, going on
walks, and coaching soccer.
I like to see our task as parent and teacher as a real
partnership. I desire to create a learning environment that will
encourage all my students to participate in our classroom
community - a place where we care for one another and bring out
the best in each other.
I want to learn to know your child so I can teach them in a
fun, effective way. I am always open to your suggestions of ways
you think your child would best learn a certain subject. I love
when children offer to bring in items that enhance our unit times.
Your child will re-teach our units to you at the conclusion of every
Science and Social Studies unit. Stay ready to learn with them. We
are all life-long learners!
I will also try to keep you informed of our classroom activities
and concerns with notes, newsletters, and on our classroom
website (http://connectmyclassroom.weebly.com). You may call
me anytime at school (289-3004) during the day. My e-mail
address is jswartzentruber@rockingham.k12.va.us. I look forward
to a great year!
Sincerely,
Jamie Swartzentruber

First Grade News

Welcome to First Grade! I am looking forward to working with
you and your child this year. Together we can make it a
successful year!
Going back to school for your child means new friends and new
learning experiences. To make these experiences really count,

your child needs reinforcement at home. I feel that it is important

for you to spend about 15-30 minutes with your child each night
going over schoolwork. The child who gets help from home
usually achieves much faster than the child who does not. Some
suggestions are:

Review your childs papers with him/her every night.

Read to your child and listen to him/her read.
Review spelling words and their patterns.
Go over math facts.
Encourage creative writing.
Practice handwriting.
Get a good nights rest!

Check with your child regularly to see if they need school

supplies and replace them as needed. Your child should bring all
money to school in a sealed envelope with his/her name, lunch
number (if it is lunch money), amount of money, and what it is for
written on the front. If you are sending a note about a bus
change or how your child is getting home, please include your
childs first and last name, the bus number, and my name on the
note. This information helps the cafeteria and office staff when
we send the notes and money to them in the mornings. If you call
the school with a bus or walker change, please try to call by 2:30
if possible.
All of these suggestions will help ensure that your child has a
happy and successful year in first grade. Thank you for your
cooperation!

Creative Writing
Creative writing is very important in first grade. The primary
goal of creative writing is to get children to put their thoughts on

paper. This may start with just one letter, a group of letters, one
word, a phrase, or a sentence. Children use invented spelling and
they write the word as it sounds to them. You will see that as the
school year progresses, your childs ability to put down thoughts
will improve and they will progress through definite stages of
spelling.
As your child makes progress in reading and writing stories, I
will ask him/her to correct some of their words. The words that
we will correct most often are words that are used most
frequently in first grade. I have a list of the most frequently used
words on a chart in our classroom for the children to refer to as
well as our Word Wall. I will assist each child with learning to
correct his or her writing on an individual basis according to the
childs development.
Be enthusiastic about what your child writes. Even though
those words may look strange to you, they are your childs
thoughts and he/she was not afraid of putting them down on
paper and they are very proud of their work!

Additional Supply List

Below are some additional supplies that were optional
items on the school supply list. If possible, I would like for each
student to bring into school the Clorox wipes and a box of tissues.
You do not have to send them in right away. I understand that

you have just purchased supplies, but the Clorox wipes will help
keep our room illness free by allowing us to wipe down desks,
play areas, and computer keyboards. Thank you for your support!
1 Large Canister of Clorox Wipes
1 Travel Size Bottle of Hand Sanitizer
1 Big Box of Tissues
Supplies Every Child Should Have at Home
Pencils/erasers
Crayons
Markers
Writing paper
Childrens scissors
Construction paper
Glue/glue stick
Ruler
Junk box (Household odds/ends)
Old magazines/newspapers (creative writing/word study activities)
Addition/Subtraction Flash Cards
Picture dictionary

Classroom Discipline System

Class Dojo

I use the Class Dojo classroom management app.

Students can earn or lose Dojos for their behavior. At
the end of each day, the Top Point Winner will receive a
special prize and have his/her picture taken for our class
story (also on the Dojo app). For each point lost
throughout the day, students will have to either walk a
lap around the playground (if we can go outside) or sit for
a minute of recess (if we must stay inside). If a childs
behavior is exceptionally poor, I will contact the parent
via e-mail or phone call.
Parents/guardians can connect to our Class Dojo by
following the instructions on your parent invitation. Let
me know if you need another copy of the invitation!

I have very high expectations for student

behavior. I expect that all students are
RESPECTFUL, HONEST, CARING,
TRUSTWORTHY, and SAFE.

Mrs. Swartzentrubers Daily Schedule

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Unpack/
Morning
Responsibilities

Unpack/
Morning
Responsibilities

Unpack/
Morning
Responsibilities

Unpack/
Morning
Responsibilities

8:30
8:45

Unpack/
Morning
Responsibilitie
s
Morning
Meeting

Morning
Meeting

Morning Meeting

Morning Meeting

Morning
Meeting

8:45
10:15

Reading
Groups

Reading Groups

Reading Groups

Reading Groups

Reading Groups

10:15
11:00

Music

Art (1st
Semester)
Computer (2nd
Semester)

Library (Dont
forget library
books!)

P.E. (Dont
forget to wear
appropriate
shoes!)

11:00
11:30

Reading
Groups

Reading Groups

Reading Groups

Reading Groups

P.E. (Dont
forget to
wear
appropriate
shoes!)
Reading Groups

11:31
11:56

Lunch

Lunch

Lunch

Lunch

Lunch

12:00
12:30

Writing

Between the
Lions

Writing

Writing

Writing

12:30
12:50

Recess

Recess

Recess

Recess

Recess

1:00
1:20

Shared
Reading/
Snack
Math

Shared
Reading/
Snack
Math

Shared Reading/
Snack

Shared Reading/
Snack

Math

Math

Shared
Reading/
Snack
Math

Social
Studies/Scienc
e
Pack
Up/Dismissal

Computer Lab
(1st Semester)

Social
Studies/Science

Guidance

Reading
Rainbow

Pack
Up/Dismissal

Pack
Up/Dismissal

Pack
Up/Dismissal

Pack
Up/Dismissal

8:05
8:30

1:20
2:10
2:10
2:45
2:45
3:00

**I will keep you informed of any changes in our daily schedule.**

Additional Information
Lunch Money:

It is very important that your child brings lunch money in a sealed

envelope, labeled with his/her name and lunch number. This
envelope should be put in your childs Take-Home Folder.
Full price lunches are $2.20 and breakfast is $1.25. If your child
packs and needs to buy milk or juice, the cost is $.35. Adult
lunches are $3.00. If you are planning on eating lunch with your
child, please let us know as soon as possible so we may add you
to the lunch count. Please encourage your child to be familiar with
their options before coming to school.
Recess:
When weather is suitable, we will have a recess period daily.
Please keep this in mind as the days get cooler this fall. We go
outside nearly every day. If your child does not wear appropriate
clothing for the weather, they will not be allowed to go outside for
recess.
Field Trips:
In first grade we usually take 2 or 3 field trips. We go on 1 in the
fall and one or two in the spring. I will request chaperones and
will do my best to get different parents to go on each trip. Since
you are supervising children, you will be asked to read, sign, and
return to me a Chaperone Guidelines form provided by the
school/county. Only prepared chaperones, staff and students
participating in the class are allowed to ride the bus to and from
the field trip. More information will be coming home closer to the
dates of the trips.

Snacks:
In first grade, all students are responsible for his/her own snack.
There will not be a snack calendar in first grade! Students
will eat snack during our read aloud time in the afternoon. If you

want your child to have snack, please send in nutritious items

that can be eaten in 5-10 minutes. Children will not be
allowed to share snack with any other students!
Birthdays:
Birthdays are special in our class. Parents may bring a birthday
snack to school on this day for the children to enjoy during our
lunch period. These days are reserved for cupcakes, cookies, or
other sweet treats. Drinks are fine if you are celebrating your
childs birthday or when we are having a party. We celebrate
summer birthdays closer to the end of the year. Also, please note
that if birthday invitations are sent to school, an invitation MUST
be passed out to EVERY student in the class. School directories
will come home soon. If you choose not to invite the entire class
to your childs party, you may get addresses and phone numbers
from the directory.
Take-Home Folders:
Your child will have a green take-home folder for the year. I will
send all school information, papers, homework, etc. home with
your child daily in this folder. Please take a few minutes every
evening to look through this folder. This will also make our
communication easier. I check the folders for homework, notes,
bus information, lunch money, etc. each morning. Please send
this folder back to school each day!

Parent Helpers/Volunteers:
I will let you know when we are planning special events and if you
would like to help, we would love to have you. I will start to
accept parent volunteers in the classroom after the first month of
school. Sometimes you may go to the workroom and cut out
things or laminate items. Please let me know if you would be

interested in volunteering in our classroom and we can work

together to find a date/dates that work.
Homework:
We feel that it is important for you to spend 15-20 minutes with
your child each night going over schoolwork. Please make sure
your child does homework with a pencil. Check over it and make
sure they have done their best work. Your child will have many
new learning experiences this year. To make these experiences
really count, your child needs reinforcement at home. Please
remember, a little help from home goes a long way towards your
childs success later on in life. The child who gets help from home
usually achieves much faster that the child who does not. Some
suggestions are:

Set aside a special time and place for homework to be done.

Make sure your child has homework supplies to complete the work.
Review your childs paper for neatness/mistakes before returning it to
school.
Read to your child and listen to him/her read every night.
Discuss what happened in the story and why it happened.
Talk often with your child to build listening and talking skills.
Review spelling words and their patterns. (Word Study)
Go over math facts.
Encourage creative writing.
Practice handwriting.

Your child will be expected to complete Word Wall homework

every week, beginning around late-September or early-October.
There will also be short math homework assignments 1 night per
week.
Read-Together/Take-Home Reading Folder
The first six weeks is a review of what your child did in
kindergarten. We will move through this rather quickly, reviewing
the alphabet, letter sounds, and basic sight words. The following
weeks, first grade reading will begin.

Your child will be bringing home a Read-Together Reading

Folder. This folder should be brought back to school each
day.
In this folder you will find:
Word Lists - These word lists contain words for each unit (a new one will
be added each 9 weeks) and a High-Use 25 word list. Your child should
know
these words by the end of the 9 weeks.
Trade Books - Your child may also have trade books (small reading
books) in
his/her reading folder. Please listen to your child read these books and
return
them in your childs Read-Together Folder each day. We use these in class
in
our reading groups and during independent reading time.
Word Cards- You will find word cards in the pouch of your childs
Read-Together Folder. Each unit I will add new words. Review these
words each night and return them to school daily in your childs folder. We
use
these in class for activities as well.
Sight Word Phrases This booklet contains lists of common sight word
phrases
that your child will see in their reading. When ready, your child will read
the
lists (one at a time) to an adult here at school. After they have mastered a
list,
they will earn a sticker and move on to the next list.

WHAT IS A WORD WALL?

Our Word Wall is a list of words that First Graders frequently use
when writing. These words are introduced at the rate of 5-7 per
week. These words should become a part of your childs sight
word vocabulary and we like to see these words spelled correctly
in any writing they do, unlike spelling words that need to be
memorized/learned. Word Wall words dont fit into easy spelling
patterns. These words are reviewed weekly and are used to add
more words to their written work.
Word Wall activities you can do at home:

Use each word in a sentence.

Find rhyming words.
Cut out words using magazines.
Find words in our stories and other books, papers, etc.
Write stories using words.
Place on refrigerator to look at all week.

Word Wall Homework

Starting around mid September, I will be sending home Word Wall
Homework with your child. The homework will come home on
Monday. You will find the Word Wall Activities for the week stapled
to the front. Your child will need to complete the activities and
return it to school on Friday.
This will count for homework credit. Please have your
child put forth their best effort in completing this, since it
is a graded assignment.

Handwriting Information
Please find a copy of our Zaner-Bloser Handwriting style that we
use in First Grade. I thought this would be helpful for you and
your child to reference at home while doing various homework
and writing activities.