General Classroom Information
Welcome Parents to First Grade - Mrs. Logan’s class - Room 417!
Welcome to East! My name is Mrs. Jill Logan and I will be your child’s first grade teacher. I look forward to getting to know you and your child and working with you to help him/her to have a successful year.
I am a graduate of Western Michigan University, where I received a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. I have also completed my Master’s Degree in Education. I have been teaching in Holland for twenty years. I have taught First Grade and Seventh Grade; Science and Communication Arts. Prior to teaching in Holland I taught Kindergarten for five years in Florida.
**This will explain classroom routines and procedures and hopefully answer questions you may have. If it doesn’t answer all of your questions please ask. Thank you for taking time to read it!
First grade is an exciting year! I enjoy being a part of the process that helps get your child started on the road of being a lifelong learner. Students will be encouraged to be responsible, respectful, problem solvers and quality producers. I know together we will make it a great year in which your child will experience many successes.
Communication is Key!
Good communication between school and home will make this school experience a success. Please contact me with any questions you may have about our classroom. Feel free to call - 494-2472, email - [email protected], or drop me a note. Email is the best way to contact me.
ATTENDANCE: - Hotline # 494-2430
Daily attendance is important but if an illness prevents your child from attending please call the office to let us know. Please do not send your child to school if he/she is ill. This puts everyone at risk. Your child needs to stay home if he/she has: * has not been fever free for 24 hours *pink eye *severe cough and/or congestion/runny nose *has vomited within the last 24 hours.
TARDINESS
School begins at 8:02. Being at school on time is very important. If your child is late he/she will have to go to the office first to receive a pass to come to class. We begin our day right away and we don’t want your child to miss anything. Please make every effort to have your child to school on time.
PICKING UP YOUR CHILD
School dismissal is at 3:04. Please follow new school policy to pick up your child. We will be lined up outside along the driveway near the bike racks. If your child’s after school routine changes or someone else will be picking your child up, PLEASE, write me a note or call the office to inform me of the change. I am responsible for your child’s safety and I will follow your child’s normal schedule unless I am notified by you of any changes.
SNACKS
If your child would like a snack then he needs to bring a snack from home. There will be time each morning for your child to eats his snack. Please remember this is just a snack, lunch is an hour after snack time. Please make sure it is a snack your child can eat quickly and with little mess. PLEASE send a HEALTHY snack.
SNACK IDEAS
Granola bars
Bag of Pretzels
Mixed cereal snacks
Fruit snacks
Cheese sticks ( I have a refrigerator they can be stored in)
*No cookies , chips, sugary treats or juice
BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays are a very special time. Feel free to send in a treat for your child’s birthday. You may send in cupcakes but no sheet cakes please. If you choose to send in a treat, it will be shared as it fits best into our schedule for that day. Please let me know ahead of time if you are planning to send in a treat. Thank You!
VOLUNTEERS
You received a volunteer form. If you would like to volunteer to help out in the classroom, as a helper to check out books, or to attend a field trip you MUST have a form filled out and on file. If you have more than one child in school you need to only fill out one form. If both parents are interested in helping then both parents need to fill out a form. Volunteer forms must be fill out each new school year. Volunteer forms must be filled out ahead of time (2 weeks) to allow for time to be processed. It is best if they are filed out and sent in the first week of school and then, based on approval, you are all set for the whole year.
RED FOLDERS
Your child will be given a red folder to transport information/work and homework home in. This folder should be emptied and returned daily. I appreciated your help in this matter.
READ AT HOME/TAKE HOME BOOKS
Shortly we will be checking out books for homework. These books will be at your child’s independent reading level and will be excellent reading practice to build fluency and comprehension. Your child should read the books more than one time (to his/herself, to parent, sibling, grandparent, etc) Reading a book more than once helps your child build confidence, practice reading with expression and read with accuracy. You can work on comprehension by asking your child to make predictions as he/she reads or by asking him/her questions about what they read to check his/her understanding. You may ask about the characters, setting, problem and how it was solved. Most of all enjoy the special time spent reading with your child.
HOMEWORK
Your child will have math homework each night. A sheet that will review the days math lesson will be in your child’s Red Folder. Please help your child get into the habit of putting his name on the homework sheet, completing it in pencil, and returning it each day. Read at Home and spelling will also be a part of nightly homework. Please help your child develop good homework habits now as a first grader. More information will follow regarding Read at Home and spelling.
RECESS
Recess is an important part of our day. Children need free time to unwind. Students will have recess everyday after lunch and in the afternoons. In the beginning of the school year we will be taking a short break in the morning. This morning recess will be for the first few weeks only. Please be sure to watch the weather to dress your child appropriately for the day.
SPECIALIST SCHEDULE
Monday - Technology 12:51-1:31
Tuesday - Art 2:21-3:01
Wednesday - Music 12:51-1:31 and Library 2:30-2:50
Thursday -
Friday - PE 12:06-12:46 (gym shoes must be worn. You may keep a spare pair in your child’s locker)
LITERACY TIME
Our literacy time will focus on reading and writing. Your child will participate in whole group, small group, partner, and individualized activities. There will be activities - “Workstations” - that your child will have to complete. These activities focus on improving your child’s reading and writing skills.
I enjoy using this type of structure for our mornings. I feel these “Workstations” help to develop a strong self-concept, a sense of self-direction, and self-discipline; an internalized respect for the rights of others, along with students making progress in their reading and writing skills.
Please keep in mind that these “workstations” are practice driven and not necessarily product driven. Also, as I get to know the students’ strengths and needs I may make changes to the morning routine to better meet everyone’s needs.
We have a new reading series this year and I am very excited about it!
MATH
We have a math workbook that we work in daily. Each math chapter will conclude with a math test. Math homework will coincide with what we are covering in class. Math homework will be sent home daily.
WRITING
Writing takes place 4-5 days a week. We are following Lucy Calkins’ writing methods. Stories will be self driven and based on your child’s own personal experiences.
SPELLING
We will have weekly spelling tests. Tests will be on Friday. In first grade we have a list of 100 words that students are responsible for learning to read and spell by the end of the year. These are called our “No-Excuse” words. The other words on the list will coincide with our story of the week from our Language Arts curriculum. I will be sending a monthly note with ideas for practicing spelling words at home. On the back side will be spelling words for the month. Each list will have a date so you know which list is for which week.
CLASSROOM RULES
In order to provide my students with the educational climate they deserve we, as a class, will develop rules that will help to ensure this for everyone. I would like the classroom atmosphere to be one that allows for a positive and safe learning environment. Once we develop these rules I will share them with you so you can help reinforce them at home. We will use our school rules to help develop our classroom responsibilities.
Earn Respect
Act responsibly
Stay safe
Try your best
There will be a large fish bowl on the wall in the classroom. Each child will have his/her name on a fish. The goal is to not have your fish move out of the water.
If a child chooses to not act responsibly and is having a difficult time he/she…..
Step 1: will be given a clear warning and reminder regarding what is expected.
Step 2: If the student continues to make poor choices, the student will be asked to move his fish up to the next level of the fish bowl.
Step 3: Another offense will require the student to move his fish up a level again, and I will determine a consequence appropriate to the problem.
Step 4: If the student needs to be spoken to again concerning his behavior his fish will be moved out of the fish bowl and the student will receive a FOOW (Fish Out Of Water) slip. At this point the students parents will be contacted. Further problems may result in being sent to the Principal’s office, and/or a meeting with the child’s parents.
**Severe misbehaviors (causing physical harm, severe disrespect, etc.) will result in moving immediately to Step 4.
I appreciate your support in these important areas as we work together to help your child grow, learn and have a great year. Thank you for sharing your child with me. I look forward to a terrific year and working with you and your child.
Again, if you have questions please feel free to contact me by note, email ([email protected]) or phone (494-2472 - I check my messages before and after school.)
Jill Logan
`
Welcome to East! My name is Mrs. Jill Logan and I will be your child’s first grade teacher. I look forward to getting to know you and your child and working with you to help him/her to have a successful year.
I am a graduate of Western Michigan University, where I received a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. I have also completed my Master’s Degree in Education. I have been teaching in Holland for twenty years. I have taught First Grade and Seventh Grade; Science and Communication Arts. Prior to teaching in Holland I taught Kindergarten for five years in Florida.
**This will explain classroom routines and procedures and hopefully answer questions you may have. If it doesn’t answer all of your questions please ask. Thank you for taking time to read it!
First grade is an exciting year! I enjoy being a part of the process that helps get your child started on the road of being a lifelong learner. Students will be encouraged to be responsible, respectful, problem solvers and quality producers. I know together we will make it a great year in which your child will experience many successes.
Communication is Key!
Good communication between school and home will make this school experience a success. Please contact me with any questions you may have about our classroom. Feel free to call - 494-2472, email - [email protected], or drop me a note. Email is the best way to contact me.
ATTENDANCE: - Hotline # 494-2430
Daily attendance is important but if an illness prevents your child from attending please call the office to let us know. Please do not send your child to school if he/she is ill. This puts everyone at risk. Your child needs to stay home if he/she has: * has not been fever free for 24 hours *pink eye *severe cough and/or congestion/runny nose *has vomited within the last 24 hours.
TARDINESS
School begins at 8:02. Being at school on time is very important. If your child is late he/she will have to go to the office first to receive a pass to come to class. We begin our day right away and we don’t want your child to miss anything. Please make every effort to have your child to school on time.
PICKING UP YOUR CHILD
School dismissal is at 3:04. Please follow new school policy to pick up your child. We will be lined up outside along the driveway near the bike racks. If your child’s after school routine changes or someone else will be picking your child up, PLEASE, write me a note or call the office to inform me of the change. I am responsible for your child’s safety and I will follow your child’s normal schedule unless I am notified by you of any changes.
SNACKS
If your child would like a snack then he needs to bring a snack from home. There will be time each morning for your child to eats his snack. Please remember this is just a snack, lunch is an hour after snack time. Please make sure it is a snack your child can eat quickly and with little mess. PLEASE send a HEALTHY snack.
SNACK IDEAS
Granola bars
Bag of Pretzels
Mixed cereal snacks
Fruit snacks
Cheese sticks ( I have a refrigerator they can be stored in)
*No cookies , chips, sugary treats or juice
BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays are a very special time. Feel free to send in a treat for your child’s birthday. You may send in cupcakes but no sheet cakes please. If you choose to send in a treat, it will be shared as it fits best into our schedule for that day. Please let me know ahead of time if you are planning to send in a treat. Thank You!
VOLUNTEERS
You received a volunteer form. If you would like to volunteer to help out in the classroom, as a helper to check out books, or to attend a field trip you MUST have a form filled out and on file. If you have more than one child in school you need to only fill out one form. If both parents are interested in helping then both parents need to fill out a form. Volunteer forms must be fill out each new school year. Volunteer forms must be filled out ahead of time (2 weeks) to allow for time to be processed. It is best if they are filed out and sent in the first week of school and then, based on approval, you are all set for the whole year.
RED FOLDERS
Your child will be given a red folder to transport information/work and homework home in. This folder should be emptied and returned daily. I appreciated your help in this matter.
READ AT HOME/TAKE HOME BOOKS
Shortly we will be checking out books for homework. These books will be at your child’s independent reading level and will be excellent reading practice to build fluency and comprehension. Your child should read the books more than one time (to his/herself, to parent, sibling, grandparent, etc) Reading a book more than once helps your child build confidence, practice reading with expression and read with accuracy. You can work on comprehension by asking your child to make predictions as he/she reads or by asking him/her questions about what they read to check his/her understanding. You may ask about the characters, setting, problem and how it was solved. Most of all enjoy the special time spent reading with your child.
HOMEWORK
Your child will have math homework each night. A sheet that will review the days math lesson will be in your child’s Red Folder. Please help your child get into the habit of putting his name on the homework sheet, completing it in pencil, and returning it each day. Read at Home and spelling will also be a part of nightly homework. Please help your child develop good homework habits now as a first grader. More information will follow regarding Read at Home and spelling.
RECESS
Recess is an important part of our day. Children need free time to unwind. Students will have recess everyday after lunch and in the afternoons. In the beginning of the school year we will be taking a short break in the morning. This morning recess will be for the first few weeks only. Please be sure to watch the weather to dress your child appropriately for the day.
SPECIALIST SCHEDULE
Monday - Technology 12:51-1:31
Tuesday - Art 2:21-3:01
Wednesday - Music 12:51-1:31 and Library 2:30-2:50
Thursday -
Friday - PE 12:06-12:46 (gym shoes must be worn. You may keep a spare pair in your child’s locker)
LITERACY TIME
Our literacy time will focus on reading and writing. Your child will participate in whole group, small group, partner, and individualized activities. There will be activities - “Workstations” - that your child will have to complete. These activities focus on improving your child’s reading and writing skills.
I enjoy using this type of structure for our mornings. I feel these “Workstations” help to develop a strong self-concept, a sense of self-direction, and self-discipline; an internalized respect for the rights of others, along with students making progress in their reading and writing skills.
Please keep in mind that these “workstations” are practice driven and not necessarily product driven. Also, as I get to know the students’ strengths and needs I may make changes to the morning routine to better meet everyone’s needs.
We have a new reading series this year and I am very excited about it!
MATH
We have a math workbook that we work in daily. Each math chapter will conclude with a math test. Math homework will coincide with what we are covering in class. Math homework will be sent home daily.
WRITING
Writing takes place 4-5 days a week. We are following Lucy Calkins’ writing methods. Stories will be self driven and based on your child’s own personal experiences.
SPELLING
We will have weekly spelling tests. Tests will be on Friday. In first grade we have a list of 100 words that students are responsible for learning to read and spell by the end of the year. These are called our “No-Excuse” words. The other words on the list will coincide with our story of the week from our Language Arts curriculum. I will be sending a monthly note with ideas for practicing spelling words at home. On the back side will be spelling words for the month. Each list will have a date so you know which list is for which week.
CLASSROOM RULES
In order to provide my students with the educational climate they deserve we, as a class, will develop rules that will help to ensure this for everyone. I would like the classroom atmosphere to be one that allows for a positive and safe learning environment. Once we develop these rules I will share them with you so you can help reinforce them at home. We will use our school rules to help develop our classroom responsibilities.
Earn Respect
Act responsibly
Stay safe
Try your best
There will be a large fish bowl on the wall in the classroom. Each child will have his/her name on a fish. The goal is to not have your fish move out of the water.
If a child chooses to not act responsibly and is having a difficult time he/she…..
Step 1: will be given a clear warning and reminder regarding what is expected.
Step 2: If the student continues to make poor choices, the student will be asked to move his fish up to the next level of the fish bowl.
Step 3: Another offense will require the student to move his fish up a level again, and I will determine a consequence appropriate to the problem.
Step 4: If the student needs to be spoken to again concerning his behavior his fish will be moved out of the fish bowl and the student will receive a FOOW (Fish Out Of Water) slip. At this point the students parents will be contacted. Further problems may result in being sent to the Principal’s office, and/or a meeting with the child’s parents.
**Severe misbehaviors (causing physical harm, severe disrespect, etc.) will result in moving immediately to Step 4.
I appreciate your support in these important areas as we work together to help your child grow, learn and have a great year. Thank you for sharing your child with me. I look forward to a terrific year and working with you and your child.
Again, if you have questions please feel free to contact me by note, email ([email protected]) or phone (494-2472 - I check my messages before and after school.)
Jill Logan
`