Welcome to
Miss Margalus’
First Grade Class!

Contact info: 708-448-1084

jmargalus@palos118.org

BIO: This is my second year teaching first grade at Palos East. During the 2005-2006 school year, I taught fifth grade, which makes this my third school year in Palos School District 118.  I have earned a B.A. degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in language arts, science, and Spanish from Benedictine University.  Currently, I am working on receiving my Master of Education Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Olivet Nazarene University. My degree will be completed in April 2008.

 

*Classroom Information*

The Rules:                                    

1. Listen when others are talking.
2. Follow directions.
3. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
4. Work quietly and do not disturb others.
5. Show respect for school and personal property.
6. Work and play in a safe manner.

Stoplight System:

1.        Student will be given a verbal warning

2.      Student will have to move the behavior clip from the green light to the yellow light.

3.      Student will move the behavior clip from the yellow light to the red light.

Weekly Routine

Take Home Folder:
Your child will bring home a red 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 your child has a change in their after school schedule, please send a written explanatory note inside your child’s red folder.  Without a note, your child will have to follow their normal schedule.  I will check their red folders every morning and will receive these important notes put in there! 

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

1.    Read for 20 minutes every school night.

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

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

Additional Homework may be assigned throughout the school year.  All homework assignments will be labeled “homework” on the top of the paper.  Assignments will be discussed in class and placed in the red folder.

Parents will be notified through a note or phone contact that a student has not completed/turned in a homework assignment.

Reading Logs:

Reading logs will be sent home every Monday with your child.  It is found on the back of the Stoplight Behavior Sheet.  You child is responsible for filling in what was read each night.  I will collect each reading log on the following Monday after it is sent home.  Students who turn in a month of completed reading logs indicating they read the required 20 minutes nightly will receive a bookmark and could win an ice cream party at the end of the school year.

Cardinal Courier
Every Friday your child, if he or she is the youngest child within the school, will bring home an extra packet of information in his or her red Take Home Folder.  Please take time to look through the information, and let me know if you have any questions. This is a communication device between the district and you! 

Newsletters

I will be sending out a classroom newsletter every Friday to keep parents updated on academics, special occasions, and other future events.  It will always be printed on colored paper, so it will be easy to spot in the red folder. Please find time to read through this.

Book Orders:
I will send home at least one book order each month in your child’s red folder.  Each order form will have a note attached that states the date the order is due.  Please send checks only!  Please make checks payable to "Scholastic Book Clubs.”  Each order that I send in gives our classroom bonus points.  These bonus points are used to purchase items for our classroom, such as books and tapes!  Thanks in advance for contributing to our classroom!

School Lunch
School lunches are $2.30 and include milk.  Milk is $.30 if you choose to bring a cold lunch. Tokens can be purchased on Thursdays, however you can send in your money any day of the week and I will see that the lunch staff receives it.  I will send the tokens home with your child when I receive them.  Please send your child to school with his or her lunch token on the day(s) that he or she would like to purchase lunch.

All About Me
All students in my classroom will have the opportunity to be recognized as the “All About Me” student of the week once during this school year.  I will send home a poster on the Friday before your child’s week with additional information.  All components should be returned to school by Monday of that week.  Thanks for helping your child to know that he or she is special! 

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

Special Occasions

Conferences
In November everyone is invited to a parent-teacher conference with me.  However, in January, conferences are by invite.  This does not mean that I cannot schedule conferences at other times throughout the year as well.  If you ever would like to sit down and discuss anything in person, please contact me.

Birthdays
Each child will have the chance to celebrate their birthday in my classroom.  If your child has a summer birthday, we will celebrate prior to summer break.  You may send a small treat with your child before school. 

Vacation
If your child needs to miss school for an extended amount of time, please let me know in advance.  So much of the first grade curriculum consists of hands-on and in class experiences that cannot be made up at home.  The best way for your child to make-up homework while on a vacation is to keep a journal and READ!

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