First Grade
Class  Overview

 Check out my website at www.gpschools.org/mason
Click on Class Web Pages~Krausmann

How to Get in Touch with Me
 1. IF IT IS AN EMERGENCY, AND YOU NEED TO GET A MESSAGE TO ME RIGHT AWAY PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE AT 432-4400.  We are not able to receive direct calls.

2. CALL MY VOICE MAIL AND I WILL RETURN YOUR CALL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  #432-5475

3. E-MAIL:  Kari. Krausmann@gpschools.org

Please note that my door is open to questions and concerns you may have.  I believe it is important to keep a strong line of communication between home and school.  Please keep in mind that I also have a family and I may not be able to have “impromptu conversations” about your child before or after school without notice.  If you would like to set up meetings or conferences to discuss concerns etc. about your child throughout the year, please let me know a few days before you wish to talk so that I can make special arrangements.  Tuesdays are meeting days at school, so please try to avoid this day for conferences.  After school meetings are more manageable for me.  I am very good about calling if I have concerns or I just want to let you know your child is doing great!

STUDENT PLANNERS:
Please use this as one of the best ways to communicate with me along with e-mail.  Write in the space provided to let me know of any special plans such as being picked up early from school, going home with someone different, play dates, if you are meeting your child in a different location, and most importantly their LUNCH CHOICE.   Please try not to lose the clip that is used as a bookmark for the planner.  I use the clip for various things such as clipping important notices to the front when the office sends specific notices to certain families.  If I am sending home a notice to everyone in the class, it will be stapled into the inside of the planner.  YOU MAY TAKE OUT THE PAPERS AS YOU RECEIVE THEM.  IF YOU DON’T, THE PLANNER BECOMES VERY THICK!!  PLANNERS GO BACK & FORTH EVERYDAY!

LUNCH ROUTINE & DAILY SNACKS

  • PLEASE PUT YOUR CHILD’S NAME & MY NAME ON THEIR LUNCH BOX.  If your child’s lunch box falls out of our gray bin, or accidentally gets placed in another classes bin, it is helpful to have my name on your child’s lunch box so it finds its way back to our room!!
  • Hot lunch tickets can be bought in the office by you or your child for $2.50, milk costs $0.50.  We keep them in our pocket chart in our room.
  • We head down to the gym at 11:30 a.m. for lunch.  You may pick your child up at that time if they are going home for lunch.  The children eat from 11:35 to 11:55/noon, and then they go outside to play (weather permitting).
  • If you can keep their snack in a separate bag with their name on it, that would be very helpful!!  Both a.m. and p.m. snacks can be kept in the same bag.

SPECIAL CLASSROOM NUMBER
 YOUR CHILD WILL HAVE THE SAME SPECIAL NUMBER ON EVERYTHING!!   The number on their nametag and planner is their official number!

HOW’S YOUR DAY GOING? 
Behavior Management Card System

  • A PURPLE OR BLUE FLIP IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT.  IF YOUR CHILD RECEIVES A YELLOW OR GREEN CARD, I MAY CALL OR WRITE A SPECIFIC NOTE INYOUR CHILD’S PLANNER.  A RED CARD FLIP MEANS YOU WILL HEAR FROM ME AND POSSIBLY THE PRINCIPAL.
  • DeBug System: A system designed and used at Mason School for all students to try and handle a situation on their own before going to the teacher.  Please help encourage your child to try and do the following when they encounter a “non-dangerous or non-physical” situation.

    1.IGNORE
    2.MOVE AWAY  -  if that does not work
    3.TALK FRIENDLY-  if that does not work
    4.TALK FIRMLY-  if that does not work
    5. GET ADULT HELP

    STUDENT PAYCHECKS / TREASURE BOX

The children will earn a paycheck each week in first grade for “doing their job.”  Whether you work outside of your home, or you are at home working taking care of all the families needs, you are all working hard!   I have explained to the children that they also have a job to do, and if they do it well they will receive a paycheck on Friday and an opportunity to buy something special with their money they have earned. The children understand that they need to do their personal best on their class work as well as act appropriately within the whole school to earn their money.  They will earn a penny a day for doing their job. They will bring home their paychecks on Friday which will reflect the amount they earned for the week.  There will be a comment for why they might not have earned their 5 full pennies.  The children may then purchase items from my treasure box.  The items are varied in price so that they may want to “save” some of their paycheck for a bigger item the following week(s).

**ANY DONATIONS TOWARDS THE TREASURE BOX ARE GREATLY APPRECITAED!!  Ex. old fast food toys, pencils, stickers, gadgets, playdough, card games, plastic rings, rubber bracelets, matchbox cars, candy, $1.00 store items, stuff you know kids would love and you want out of your house!

 

STUDENT OF THE WEEK  
 (S.O.W.  DONE IN # ORDER)
I will send a specific note home the week before your child is S.O.W.

  • CAN BRING IN A TREAT IF YOU WANT (NOT REQUIRED)   
  • YOUR CHILD’S TURN FOR “SHOW & TELL” ITEMS (one item per day)
  • POSTER MADE FROM HOME ABOUT YOUR CHILD OR JUST PICTURES TO ADD TO OUR CLASSROOM POSTER.
  • EXAMPLE ITEMS; Trophies, special toys, blankets stuffed animals, rock collections, things your child is proud of!!  Please only one item per day!

HOMEWORK

Please check in your child’s backpack daily to see if they brought home their “Homework” folder home.  It will not come home everyday, but it is important that you get in the habit of looking to help keep yourself and child organized.  This folder may also contain checked/finished work.  On the inside of the folder you will see a label with either DONE or NOT DONE.  Only the items on the NOT DONE side need to be returned.  Your child will bring home a homework folder when there is math work that needs to be done, or if they did not finish their class work that day.  I will send home on Friday’s with my newsletter a “Homework” sheet that will contain assignments that can be worked on throughout the week.  Those assignments can be sent in as they are completed, or need to be returned by the due date listed. 

 COMPUTER LAB

The children will go to the computer lab on Fridays at 12:45 p.m.  This year your child will be learning many new reading and math programs.  They will also learn basic computer skills.

HANDWRITING
You will find in the handouts a copy of how to hold pencils correctly for neat writing as well as examples of how to write the letters correctly.

SPELLING & WALL WORDS (WORD FAMILIES)
 /chunking/ Theme based words & “High Frequency” words

1.Monday: 3x’s
2.Tuesday: ABC order
3.Wednesday: activity/game
4.Thursday: More spelling activities.
5.Friday spelling and wall words test.

 BAG-A-BOOK

Periodically your child will be bringing home a book in a bag.  It may be a book they can or can’t read.  In the beginning of the year I send home two different book series that usually need to be read and discussed with your child.  One series is called The Best I Can Be! It encourages children to reach for the stars within themselves and become the best people they can be.  The other series is called No Bullies Please which discusses how to handle difficult situations such as being bullied, teased or left out of games.  On the back cover of both series it gives you examples of how to have good discussions with your kids.  I hope that you find these books helpful and that they bring up good, healthy talks with your children about difficult life experiences that they may face.

As we progress through the year your child will bring home books in a bag that will focus on practicing their reading skills.

 MR. KELLER is a community volunteer that worked with the a.m. kindergarteners last year and will be helping us again this year on Monday and Friday mornings from 8:30 to 10 a.m.  Then he will go into the kindergarten room and help there until lunch.

CLASSROOM VOLUNTEERS
 Let me know how you would like to help!  I have many needs that can be done at school, or after hours at home.  Thanks!  Note in planner or e-mail!

Special Request
 When you have a minute, please take some time to write me a short letter about your child.  Please tell me about things they like to do outside of school, hobbies, sports they may play, special talents, worries they may have, things that really bother them and anything you would like to share about your family. 

First grade is a huge year socially, emotionally and academically.  The more I know about your child the quicker and easier I can get to know them!!

**  Please make sure that your child is going to bed at an appropriate time.  They need their energy here in first grade!! (suggested 8:00 p.m.)

PLEASE TRY TO IF POSSIBLE: 

  • SEND IN WATER BOTTLES WITH SPORT TOPS-FEWER SPILLS!! 
  • NO RED JUICE DRINKS-STAIN. 
  • NO PETS - ALLERGIES IN AND OUTSIDE OF OUR CLASSROOM 
  • SNEAKERS FOR GYM IN LOCKER SO THERE ARE NO TEARS!!
  • Send in extra clothing especially socks and underwear!

WELCOMED CLASSROOM ITEMS

·        Pennies

·        Clorox wipes

·        Emergency snacks (goldfish, pretzels)

·        Plastic spoons

·        Treasure Box items