Lakeshore Elementary School
Mrs. Fitzhenry’s
1st Grade
Class Handbook
2014-2015
Contact Information:
Email:
School Phone: 281-641-3557
Table of Contents
My Philosophy and Beliefs / 3Class Schedule / 4
Academics / 5-6
Take home folders / 6
Homework / 7
Classroom Management / 7-9
Conferences / 9
School Procedures / 10-11
Classroom Parties / 12
Birthdays / 12
Website / 12
Meet the Teacher / 13
Contact Info
Lakeshore’s Main Line: 281-641-3500
Attendance : 281-641-3591
Fax: 281-641-3517
Lunch Menu: 281-641-5838
My Philosophy and Beliefs
Our first grade classroom is a risk-free and a positive learning environment. The students feel comfortable in their surroundings and know that they can be themselves and make mistakes freely. I strive to create a warm and inviting classroom. From the first day of school to the last day of school, we focus on building a classroom community. Everyone signs the classroom social contract, which tells us that we know that it is a place where we truly care about and respect each other, our learning, our classroom, and our school. Expectations are also a huge part of our classroom environment. We spend time reviewing expectations for behavior, actions, and classwork. I believe in every single one of my students. Each of them has the potential to succeed in school and in life. I encourage my students to strive to be their best.
Our classroom is an exciting place to learn. Our curriculum is ever changing, so I spend time creating engaging, student-centered lessons. These differentiated lessons encourage student comprehension and make learning fun. Most of the lessons require lots of planning and preparation outside of the normal school day. I enjoy and take pride creating these lessons and activities, which promote student achievement.
I have a passion for teaching first grade and for learning. School should be exciting and fun, and I work extra hard to make it that way. I know that I am instilling that same passion for lifelong learning in my students.
Our Class Schedule
7:30 – 8:00 / Morning Journal8:00 – 8:15 / Morning Announcements
8:15 – 9:00 / Writing
9:00 – 9:15 / Interactive Read Aloud/Phonics
9:15-10:15 / Reading Rotations
10:15-10:45 / Recess
10:45-11:15 / Lunch
11:15-11:30 / Den Time
11:30–11:45 / Calendar
11:45- 1:00 / Math
1:00 – 2:00 / Specials
2:00 - 2:45 / Science/Social Studies
2:45-3:00 / Handwriting/Snack
3:00-3:15 / Dismissal
Academics
Reading
During reading, I take a small group approach. Students work in small, collaborative reading groups with me. When they are not reading with me, then they are working on reading around our classroom. In our cooperative learning groups, our students are working on fluency, comprehension, word work, and accuracy.
Math
During math, we work in a workshop model. We begin with a mini-lesson, and then break into groups. After groups, we come back together to summarize our learning. While I meet with students in small groups, the other students are working individually and collaboratively on math journals, seatwork, or math tubs. Working in small groups in math encourages communication, collaboration, and comprehension.
Writing
During writing, we do a workshop model as well. We begin with a mini- lesson, and then break into groups. After groups, we come back together to summarize and to share our learning. While I meet with students in small groups, the other students are working individually and collaboratively on their own writing.
Social Studies and Science
I teach our science and social studies curriculum with lots of hands on activities to enhance engagement and achievement.
Take Home Folder
Each day your child will bring home a folder with their conduct chart to show how their day went. Please sign this and send it back to school the following day. Any work from the week will also be sent home in the folder. Also, fill out the reading log with books your child has read. Have your child read books to you. Remember to give specific praise as you listen. “I noticed you...” Also be sure to ask questions about the story to help build comprehension. If you need ideas on how to help your child with reading at home, go to my web page on the school website and look under helpful documents.
Homework
Your child will have a monthly homework calendar to work through. This calendar will cover all subject areas. It will be sent home in your students take home folder at the beginning of each month. You can also find it on my school website. Your child can choose any activity in the calendar to complete and you have the option of doing something every day or just a few activities a week. If their homework was a game on a website, please write down the site and how long they were playing. Their homework notebooks will be due and checked every Friday. We will begin homework in September.
Classroom Management
At Lakeshore we practice a classroom management system called Capturing Kids Hearts. Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH) is a program, which promotes and sustains the social-building of relationships between teachers and students. CKH believes if educators reach a student’s heart, the educator also has his head. Creating positive relationships make a difference in student achievement.
One step in creating such relationships is to view the learner as an equal part in developing the classroom social contract. As a class we make a Social Contract at the beginning of the year that serves as the framework for the behavior expectations in our classroom. We build our social contract by asking four key questions: How do you want to be treated by the teacher? How do you want to be treated by others? How do you think the teacher wants to be treated by you? How do we treat each other when there is conflict? We then brainstorm the words that come to mind and write them down on the contract. These become our classroom rules.
Through the social contract students take ownership for their learning and when expectations aren’t met, consequences aren’t surprises since they helped create them. When the social contract is infringed, five questions are asked: What are you doing? What should you be doing? Were you doing it? What are you going to do about it? What will the consequence be if it happens again?
We have a color chart and the students will move clips if they are having trouble following our social contract. The colors are green (excellent), yellow (satisfactory), red (needs improvement), and orange (unsatisfactory). Please keep in mind that children learn through mistakes. It is not reasonable to expect your child to have excellent behavior every day. Please encourage your child to take responsibility for mistakes and not blame others. Praise your child for the ability to admit mistakes and find solutions.
Positive reinforcement is an important component in our classroom. The students can work hard to earn tickets from me and from any other adult in the building. We expect students to be ready, to be respectful, and to be responsible. When we see these desired behaviors, we will give the students tickets. These tickets can be saved or spent on a variety of prizes.
We make sure to celebrate group achievements as well. When the students work together as a class or receive compliments from other adults in the building they can receive “Brownie Points” to earn a special prize that they can enjoy together.
Conferences
One conference will be held in October. One or two weeks before the conference, I will e-mail a schedule for you to select a conference time. Conferences are a very important time for us to discuss your child and how he or she is performing in school. If you are unable to attend, please send a note or call the school, so we can reschedule your conference.
At any other time in the year, I will be very happy to meet with you about your child’s progress. Please send a note in your child’s take home folder or send an e-mail and we can arrange a date and time.
School Procedures
Arrival
Students can begin to arrive at 7:30 a.m. The driveway facing West Lake Houston Parkway will be utilized for car rider drop off. Please do not use the drive on Breakwater Path, as this is for bus drop off. Children will be sent directly to the classroom. Breakfast foods must be consumed in the cafeteria prior to going to the classroom.
Tardy
Students arriving after 8:05 a.m. are considered tardy and will need to be escorted to the office for check-in by a parent or guardian.
Early Checkout
For the safety of your child, anyone checking out a student must be listed on the emergency card and will be required to show a Driver’s License. Students are unable to be checked out 30 minutes prior to dismissal (2:30 p.m.)
Temporary change in transportation
A hand written and signed note from the child’s parent or guardian indicating the change in his/her transportation is required on the morning of the change. Permission will not be granted for verbal requests by the child. E-mails must have a scanned copy of the guardian’s driver’s license for an identity check. In the absence of a hand written note from the parent/guardian, children will be sent home via their usual modes of transportation.
Absences
Please call the absence hotline to report an absence. You are required to send a note upon your child’s return.
Snack
Please send a healthy snack to school daily with your child. Please be mindful of those who have food allergies. Please send snacks that do not require spoons. You are encouraged to send a labeled water bottle (sport top) to school, especially in the warmer months.
Car Rider Procedures
Car rider dismissal will begin at 3:10 p.m. Display your car rider plaque (with child’s name and grade level, with big print in black marker) in the passenger side window or hung on a hanger on the rear view mirror. Pull in the side parking lot (rear of the building/faculty parking lot) of the school and remain in your car while waiting to advance forward to pick up your child or children.
Dismissal *Early Release days dismissal is at 12:00 p.m.
3:20 p.m. – Walkers and bike riders
3:15 p.m.– Bus and daycare
3:10 p.m. – Car riders
Class Parties
Classrooms are allowed to have 2 parties per school year. There is a winter party around holiday season, and we will also exchange valentines on Valentine’s Day.
Birthdays
Your child's birthday is special, and we want to celebrate! On each student's birthday, I make sure to make the children feel extra special! If you would like to buy ice cream for the class in the cafeteria it is .50 cents each when purchased for a classroom . The kids can enjoy their yummy treat after they eat their lunch! It is against district policy to pass out birthday party invitations at school.
Website
http://www.humble.k12.tx.us/Domain/112
My teacher page has some useful resources for parents and fun interactive games for the students. I also have homework calendars posted each month. I am still in the process of updating my class webpage so please be patient with me!
Meet the Teacher
Hi! My name is Mrs. Fitzhenry and I am thrilled to be your teacher! It’s going to be a fun year full of lots of learning and new adventures and I can’t wait to see what the year has in store for us. I want to know ALL about you, but first I will tell you a little about myself.
I am a graduate of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. WHOOP! This will be my fifth year teaching. I have two dogs, Max and Zoë, whom I absolutely adore. My husband and I are expecting our first baby in January. We cannot wait to meet our new little girl!
But most importantly, I am so excited to be YOUR teacher and for you to be a part of this AWESOME group in room 618. It’s going to be a GREAT year!!!
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