to Ms. Zimmer’s to Ms. Zimmer’s First Grade Classroom!First Grade Classroom!

Please come in & write a note to your Please come in & write a note to your child!child!

Please Note: This Please Note: This schedule is schedule is

subject to change subject to change unexpectedly.unexpectedly.

7:45-8:00 = Get Ready for the day and D.E.A.R8:00-8:15 = Morning Meeting

8:15-8:25 = Calendar8:25-8:45 = Word Study

8:45-9:10 = Shared Reading – Weekly Reading Skill9:10-10:10 = Guided Reading/Centers

10:10-10:20 = Read Aloud10:20-10:55 = Writing Mini-Lesson, Writing, & Sharing

10:55-11:10 = Recess11:10-11:14 = Prepare for Lunch

11:14-11:44 = LUNCH11:44-12:00 = Math: CGI/Problem Solving

12:00-12:15 = Math Instruction: Introduction of Skill12:15-12:30 = Math: Guided Practice

12:30-12:45 = Math: Independent Practice12:45-1:25 = Math: Assess Skills / Guided Math / Math

Centers1:25-1:45 = Social Studies, Science, and Health

1:45-2:30 = Special Areas (Music, Art, P.E.)2:30-2:40 = Pack Up2:40 = DISMISSAL

ThursdaysThursdays8:30-9:10 = Spanish8:30-9:10 = Spanish

FridaysFridaysEvery other week Every other week

12:15-12:55 = Library12:15-12:55 = Library

Clayton Cardinals are expected to be...Clayton Cardinals are expected to be...

nnRESPECTFULRESPECTFULnn

nnRESPONSIBLERESPONSIBLEnn

nnMOTIVATEDMOTIVATEDnn

nnKINDKINDnn

nnHONESTHONESTnn

BBEEHHAAVVIIOORR

CCHHAARRTTSS

The monthly behavior chart The monthly behavior chart will come daily in the will come daily in the

“ZOO” book.“ZOO” book.PLEASE INITIAL AND RETURN ITPLEASE INITIAL AND RETURN IT

EACH DAY!EACH DAY!

When a student must be When a student must be out because of illness or out because of illness or family business, please family business, please send a note stating the send a note stating the reason for the absence reason for the absence

the day your child returns the day your child returns or the absence will be or the absence will be considered unexcused.considered unexcused.

Students will be given Students will be given the same number of the same number of

days to make-up their days to make-up their work as they were work as they were

absent. For example: 3 absent. For example: 3 days absent = 3 days to days absent = 3 days to complete make-up work.complete make-up work.

School begins at 7:45. School begins at 7:45. If your child arrives after If your child arrives after

that time, they must check that time, they must check in at the office in order to in at the office in order to

receive a tardy permit.receive a tardy permit.

•Homework packets will be given to the Homework packets will be given to the students on Friday.students on Friday.•Homework is due the next Friday morning by Homework is due the next Friday morning by 7:45.7:45.•If homework is late or incomplete, no credit If homework is late or incomplete, no credit will be given.will be given.•Homework is for completion.Homework is for completion.•I will not be able to give extras for students I will not be able to give extras for students who loose their homework. (It will be available who loose their homework. (It will be available on our website) on our website) •Homework grades will be shown in the Homework grades will be shown in the personal development portion of the report personal development portion of the report card. card. •In addition to the Homework Packet, students In addition to the Homework Packet, students should read for 15 minutes and study math should read for 15 minutes and study math facts daily. facts daily. •Students should document their daily reading Students should document their daily reading by coloring in their monthly reading sheet. by coloring in their monthly reading sheet. •If their reading sheet is not initialed they will If their reading sheet is not initialed they will not receive credit for that day.not receive credit for that day.

Homework grades will be shown in the Homework grades will be shown in the personal development portion of the report personal development portion of the report card. Here is the breakdown of the grade:card. Here is the breakdown of the grade:

90%-100% of Homework Complete and On 90%-100% of Homework Complete and On time time

= 4 on report card= 4 on report card80%-89% of Homework Complete and On 80%-89% of Homework Complete and On

time time = 3 on report card= 3 on report card

70%-79% of Homework Complete and On 70%-79% of Homework Complete and On time time

= 2 on report card= 2 on report cardbelow 60%-69% of Homework Complete and below 60%-69% of Homework Complete and

On time On time = 1 on report card= 1 on report card

HERE IS WHAT EACH HERE IS WHAT EACH HOMEWORK PACKET WILL HOMEWORK PACKET WILL

CONSIST OF...CONSIST OF...

CCOOVVEERR

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WWOORRDDSS

MMAATTHH

MMIINNUUTTEE

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LLAANNGGUUAAGGEE

Reading Comprehension & FluencyReading Comprehension & Fluency

Learning.com is a website that helps to Learning.com is a website that helps to develop and enhance learning across the develop and enhance learning across the curriculum. With Learning.com, students curriculum. With Learning.com, students

learn to select and use the right learn to select and use the right technology for any project. And, at the technology for any project. And, at the

same time, Learning.com helps your child same time, Learning.com helps your child meet national technology standards and meet national technology standards and

develop skills that will help them develop skills that will help them throughout their education, careers, and throughout their education, careers, and

beyond. Students will be given one beyond. Students will be given one Learning.com assignment to complete Learning.com assignment to complete

each week.each week.

On Mondays (Tuesdays if On Mondays (Tuesdays if Monday is a holiday), students Monday is a holiday), students

will take a “pretest” over will take a “pretest” over words taken from Spelling List words taken from Spelling List B. The percentage correct on B. The percentage correct on

this pretest will determine this pretest will determine their spelling list for the week.their spelling list for the week.

Percent Percent Correct on Correct on Pre-TestPre-Test

Spelling List Spelling List for the Weekfor the Week

Below 80%Below 80% Spelling List Spelling List AA

80% and 80% and aboveabove

Spelling List Spelling List BB

Students will receive their spelling lists on Students will receive their spelling lists on Monday. Then, on Friday, they will be Monday. Then, on Friday, they will be

tested over the Spelling, High Frequency, tested over the Spelling, High Frequency, and Challenge Words. For Spelling List A, and Challenge Words. For Spelling List A, students will have the opportunity to earn students will have the opportunity to earn

1 extra point for each of the 2 bonus 1 extra point for each of the 2 bonus words. For Spelling Lists B, I will choose 5 words. For Spelling Lists B, I will choose 5 bonus words at random, and students will bonus words at random, and students will be able to earn 1 extra point for each of be able to earn 1 extra point for each of

these words. If students misspell a bonus these words. If students misspell a bonus word, no extra points will be given and no word, no extra points will be given and no

points will be taken away. points will be taken away.

RREEAADDIINNGG

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Students will receive a Reading Sheet every Students will receive a Reading Sheet every month. Students should document their daily month. Students should document their daily reading by coloring in their monthly reading reading by coloring in their monthly reading sheet. If their reading sheet is not initialed, sheet. If their reading sheet is not initialed,

they will not receive credit for that day. they will not receive credit for that day. Students who receive credit will have their Students who receive credit will have their sheets stamped for the day. At the end of sheets stamped for the day. At the end of

each month, each month, students who have completed their reading students who have completed their reading for each day will receive a “Book It” for free for each day will receive a “Book It” for free

Pizza and 100% Pizza and 100% for their reading homework grade.for their reading homework grade.

In grades K-2 the criteria on the scale below In grades K-2 the criteria on the scale below are used to reflect achievement in each are used to reflect achievement in each

subject area.subject area. HolisHolistic tic

GradiGradingng

Academic/Academic/

Performance Performance LevelLevel

DescriptionDescription

44 AdvancedAdvanced Consistent high level performance/mastery Consistent high level performance/mastery of grade level work or above.of grade level work or above.

33 SkilledSkilled Consistent performance/mastery of grade Consistent performance/mastery of grade level work.level work.

22 Basic Basic UnderstandingUnderstanding

Basic performance on grade level work.Basic performance on grade level work.

11 Needs Needs ImprovementImprovement

Limited performance on grade level work.Limited performance on grade level work.

In addition, AISD utilizes the following In addition, AISD utilizes the following scale to reflect progress in specific scale to reflect progress in specific

areas of personal development areas of personal development (behavior and self-management):(behavior and self-management):

  4-Consistently4-Consistently3-Frequently3-Frequently

2-Occasionally2-Occasionally1-Rarely1-Rarely

Here is what the grades look Here is what the grades look like in percentages:like in percentages:

A grade of a 4 = 90%-100%A grade of a 4 = 90%-100%A grade of a 3 = 80%-89%A grade of a 3 = 80%-89%A grade of a 2 = 70%-79%A grade of a 2 = 70%-79%

A grade of a 1 = below 60%-A grade of a 1 = below 60%-69%69%

I try to give stickers to students I try to give stickers to students who receive a grade of a 3 and who receive a grade of a 3 and up on an assignment. If there is up on an assignment. If there is just a stamp or check mark, it just a stamp or check mark, it was a completion grade. I will was a completion grade. I will

write the percentage of problems write the percentage of problems correct and the grade (4,3,2,1) in correct and the grade (4,3,2,1) in the top right hand corner of the the top right hand corner of the

paper.paper.

Every Friday I hope to email your Every Friday I hope to email your student’s grade report in each student’s grade report in each

subject area. We have a new grading subject area. We have a new grading system this year and I do not know system this year and I do not know

the complete details of the system’s the complete details of the system’s capabilities. At the end of the nine-capabilities. At the end of the nine-

weeks I will drop the lowest grade in weeks I will drop the lowest grade in each subject and all of the other each subject and all of the other

grades will be averaged together to grades will be averaged together to get the final grade.get the final grade.

Sharing Sack: Sharing Sack: During the week before a student is During the week before a student is

Top Banana, a “Top Banana Bag” will Top Banana, a “Top Banana Bag” will be sent home with the child. Students be sent home with the child. Students have a week to collect special items have a week to collect special items

with which to fill the bag at home and with which to fill the bag at home and bring it back to share with classmates bring it back to share with classmates on Monday. Students can also bring on Monday. Students can also bring

up to 12 photos of their choice to up to 12 photos of their choice to display. The Top Banana will also take display. The Top Banana will also take

home an All About Me Poster to fill home an All About Me Poster to fill out and decorate that will be out and decorate that will be displayed in the classroom.displayed in the classroom.

Favorite Book: Favorite Book: The “Top Banana” brings one The “Top Banana” brings one of his or her favorite picture of his or her favorite picture books to read to the class (or books to read to the class (or have the teacher read to the have the teacher read to the

class).class).

Parent Letter: Parent Letter: Parents will write a letter to the class telling us Parents will write a letter to the class telling us how special your child is to you. Send the letter how special your child is to you. Send the letter in a sealed envelope to school with your child, in a sealed envelope to school with your child, and I will read the letter to the class at class and I will read the letter to the class at class

meeting. The content of the letter is up to you, meeting. The content of the letter is up to you, but you may want to choose from the following but you may want to choose from the following ideas: Describe special or funny stories about ideas: Describe special or funny stories about your child for the class to hear, write a silly or your child for the class to hear, write a silly or

serious poem about your child, tell us some serious poem about your child, tell us some neat things we may not know about your child, neat things we may not know about your child,

send silly or special pictures with a letter send silly or special pictures with a letter describing the pictures, or write a short story describing the pictures, or write a short story

with your child as the main character.with your child as the main character.

Lunch Buddy: Lunch Buddy: If possible, join your child in the If possible, join your child in the cafeteria for a special lunch on cafeteria for a special lunch on

this day. You may also choose to this day. You may also choose to invite a sibling or a favorite invite a sibling or a favorite

relative to be your child’s lunch relative to be your child’s lunch buddy. You can have the buddy be buddy. You can have the buddy be a surprise or let your child know a surprise or let your child know

ahead of time.ahead of time.

Banana Buddies: Banana Buddies: The “Top Banana" will be The “Top Banana" will be

presented with a friendship presented with a friendship poster created by his or her poster created by his or her classmates. The poster will classmates. The poster will include the Top Banana’s include the Top Banana’s picture, surrounded by picture, surrounded by

compliments written by his or compliments written by his or her classmates.her classmates.

Mystery Readers are guest Mystery Readers are guest readers that will be a surprise readers that will be a surprise

for the students until they for the students until they arrive during our scheduled arrive during our scheduled

Read Aloud time on Fridays. If Read Aloud time on Fridays. If you would like to be a Mystery you would like to be a Mystery

Reader please feel free to Reader please feel free to send me an email with your send me an email with your

top 3 choices for dates, or you top 3 choices for dates, or you can sign up today!can sign up today!

Birthdays are special occasions for young Birthdays are special occasions for young children. On your child's birthday, we will children. On your child's birthday, we will sing "Happy Birthday" and celebrate this sing "Happy Birthday" and celebrate this

special day with them in our classroom. On special day with them in our classroom. On Monday, each student with a birthday for Monday, each student with a birthday for

that week will be called to the stage during that week will be called to the stage during morning assembly so that the school as a morning assembly so that the school as a whole can sing Happy Birthday to them. If whole can sing Happy Birthday to them. If you would like to bring a dessert to share you would like to bring a dessert to share

with the entire class, please bring it during with the entire class, please bring it during lunch. Please also make sure that it is an lunch. Please also make sure that it is an individual snack. For example, we would individual snack. For example, we would prefer cupcakes instead of cake because prefer cupcakes instead of cake because

lunchtime is limited and it is easier to hand lunchtime is limited and it is easier to hand out cupcakes instead of cake. If your child out cupcakes instead of cake. If your child

has a summer birthday, please let me know has a summer birthday, please let me know what day you would like to celebrate their what day you would like to celebrate their

birthday during the school year.birthday during the school year.

Here are a few of the Here are a few of the Field Trips we are Field Trips we are

hoping to go on this hoping to go on this year...year...

A Concert at the Long A Concert at the Long CenterCenter

Inner Space CavernsInner Space Caverns

TBD – Related to Frog TBD – Related to Frog and Toad Lifecyclesand Toad Lifecycles

Two things need to be kept at Two things need to be kept at school or in a backpack: a school or in a backpack: a

sweatshirt in case the room is sweatshirt in case the room is too cool for your child and a too cool for your child and a rain slicker (not an umbrella) rain slicker (not an umbrella)

in case of rain. Because of in case of rain. Because of daily P.E., students should daily P.E., students should

wear tennis shoes and bring a wear tennis shoes and bring a water bottle, labeled with water bottle, labeled with

their name, daily.their name, daily.

There are always items that can There are always items that can enhance or supplement instruction in enhance or supplement instruction in

our classroom. If you would like to our classroom. If you would like to donate an item to our classroom, they donate an item to our classroom, they

are posted on our door. Please feel free are posted on our door. Please feel free to take a posted item home with you to to take a posted item home with you to

serve as a reminder. If you have any serve as a reminder. If you have any questions about any of the items please questions about any of the items please feel free to ask me. Or, if you would like feel free to ask me. Or, if you would like to donate something that is not listed, to donate something that is not listed, just check with me and I'll let you know just check with me and I'll let you know

whether or not we could use it in our whether or not we could use it in our classroom! Thank you so much for your classroom! Thank you so much for your

thoughtfulness and generosity!thoughtfulness and generosity!

http://http://zimmerszoo.xf-zimmerszoo.xf-

s.coms.com

That is all for now!That is all for now!Thanks for coming! Please Thanks for coming! Please write a letter to your child write a letter to your child so they have something to so they have something to

read from you in the read from you in the morning. Sign up sheets morning. Sign up sheets are located on the kidney are located on the kidney bean table and “wishes” bean table and “wishes” for the class are located for the class are located on our classroom door.on our classroom door.