TO
FIRST GRADE

WITH

MRS. BRONSON

2007-2008

 Welcome to my first grade room at Palos East!  I am very excited to be teaching six and seven year olds.  There is so much happening at this grade level.  I am very happy to share my love of reading, writing, and discovering this big world with the first grade class.

I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Elmhurst College and a Master of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from Governors State University.  I am married and have two daughters who go to school in School District 118.   Some of my favorite things to do are to read, take walks outside, make quilts, go to the beach, eat popcorn, and be around animals.  

  Classroom Rules

                ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST!

1.                  Respect others.

2.                Listen to others.

3.                Raise your hand when you want to say something.

4.                Keep your hands and feet to yourself.

5.                Work quietly.

6.                Clean up area.

Red Take Home Folder

Your child will bring home a red take home folder every night.  This folder is a courier for information between home and school.  Please take time to look through the information each night and then send it back to school the next day.  If you have any special notes for me, please put it in the Bring Back section of their folder.

Great Job Slips

At the end of the school day, if your child has stayed on a green light, they will receive a great job slip.  It is their responsibility to take their slips home and put them in a special place.  Please check each night and make sure that your child has received a slip.  This is your way of knowing how they behave at school on a daily basis.  Once they earn 15 slips they get to pick a prize out of the treasure box.  I will only allow the children to choose out of the treasure box on Friday of every week, so please do not have your children bring their slips until that day.

Homework

Homework in first grade will consist of 3 daily assignments.  Each child must:

1.       Read for 15 minutes every school night and record books on their reading log.

2.      Practice his/her assigned math facts each school night.

3.      Practice his/her assigned spelling words each school night and complete the weekly spelling assignment.

Beginning in September, I will be sending home a “Mystery Word” worksheet.  Your child will receive one every Monday.  It should be completed and returned to me by Friday.  This is not a mandatory assignment but is something that is fun to be done at home with the help of family members.

Cardinal Courier

Every Friday, your child will bring home extra information in his/her red take home folder.  This information will have been distributed by the Central Office and/or the PFA.  Please look through this information and let me know if you have any questions.

Communication

At least once a month, you will find a copy of Room 43 News in your child’s red folder.  This will keep you up-to-date on events happening in our classroom and school.  It will also inform you about the activities we are working on in the classroom. 

Please watch for the Home/School Connections  letter that will be sent home every Friday.  This letter will update your family on the story, strategies, and words that we have been working on in Reading each week.  Each page will have word cards that can be cut out and practiced throughout the year.

Again, please make sure to check your child’s folder on a daily basis because you never know when an important notice might be sent home.  If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Reading Logs

Reading logs will be distributed to each student at the beginning of each week.  The logs are a place for you to document your child’s at-home reading.  Reading Logs are collected every Monday and a new one is given out.  At the end of the month, if your child has turned in a Reading Log each week, they will receive a bookmark and get to choose from the prize cart.  The bookmarks are created by Palos East students!

Free Flow in First Grade

Free Flow was designed to give each student the opportunity to check out a “Just Right Book” every single day from the Media Center.  First graders choose from a group of books in the Media Center that are labeled with a red, yellow, green, blue or black dot.  Every child will have the opportunity to Free Flow each day, as long as they have read and recorded his/her dot book on their reading log.  Free Flow is an easy way for your child to read a new book at his/her reading level each night!

Field Trips

First grade will go on several field trips this year.  We will send home information about field trips several weeks in advance.

Star of the Week

Each child will have the opportunity to be “Star of the Week” once during this school year.  Once you get the schedule, make sure to mark the week on your calendar because this is always a fun time for your child.  I will send home an envelope containing a note describing the week’s events and a short worksheet for your child to complete and illustrate.  Please send the envelope and completed materials back to school on or before Monday of your child’s special week.  Thanks for helping your child be a star!

Birthdays

Each child will have the chance to celebrate their birthday in my classroom.  If your child has a summer birthday, we will celebrate on his/her half birthday.  You may also send in a story of the day your child was born.  Please take time to discuss this with your child so they are able to read/tell the story to the class.

School Lunch

School lunches are $2.30 and include milk.  Milk is $.30 if you bring a cold lunch.  Tokens can be purchased on Thursdays.  You can send in your money any day of the week, however, and I will see that the lunch staff receives it.

On selected Tuesdays throughout the year, the PFA sponsors special Hot Dog Day lunches.  These special lunches must be ordered and paid for at the beginning of the school year.  A lunch must be brought from home if a child is not participating in Hot Dog Day.  There is no other lunch service available on these days.  No drinks are provided on Hot Dog Days, so your child needs to bring his/her own drink.

Car Riders

If your child has a change in their after school schedule, please send a written note.  Without a note, your child will have to follow their normal schedule.

Late Arrival

If your child arrives late to school, you must sign your child in at the office.  This lets the office know that your child is here so that they can correct the attendance.

Vacations

If your family is going on a vacation in which your child will miss school, it is the school’s policy that we do not give missed work out until after you return from your vacation.  Your child should practice their math facts, journal, and continue to read every night while on vacation.

Parent Volunteers

There are three ways to volunteer in my classroom.  The first way is to come into our class occasionally to do scheduled activities with the children. The second way is to be an at home volunteer.  If you choose to be an at home volunteer, occasionally I will send small projects home with your child for you to complete.  Finally, you can sign up to be a donation helper and as needed, send in small items for the children to use for projects and/or lessons.  Volunteers are welcomed in my classroom and are greatly appreciated!

Specials Schedule

Mrs. Bronson

Room 43

2007-2008

Music

            Thursday  ---   1:15-1:55

  Gym

            Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday  

                              1:15-1:55

Computer Lab

                      Tuesday --- 10:40-11:40

   Art

                Monday ---   1:15-1:55

  Media Center

                   Thursday ---  1:55-2:35

Please have gym shoes for your child on the days he/she has gym.

Contact Information:

School Phone:  708-448-1084

E-mail:  dbronson@palos118.org

Return to the First Grade Page.
Return to the Palos East Page.
 

Web page designed by Dawn Bronson and maintained by Deb Balayti and Marcy Basch
Last updated: September, 2007