MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSROOM

ATTENDANCE 

Please ensure that your child attends school each day, even during the summer months and arrives to school by 8:05am.  Each day will begin with a Morning Meeting; a time where the classroom gathers to set a positive tone for the day.  During the Morning Meeting, students greet one another, share interesting news from home, participate in a group activity, and read a message board that lets the children know important information about the school day.  The children benefit greatly from this positive start to the day, which is why it’s so important your child arrives to school by 8:05am.

RESPONSIVE CLASSROOM APPROACH 

We use the Responsive Classroom philosophy in our classroom.  One of the underlying beliefs of this approach is that academic learning happens best within a positive social context.  Therefore, much attention is paid to helping children develop positive social skills.  Positive social interaction is taught and practiced through a daily Morning Meeting, Collaborative Rule Making and Problem-Solving and continual modeling and practicing of daily rituals and routines.

CREATING RULES

The teachers and the children will work together to create the rules for our classroom.  The children will understand that our rules are in place so that each student has the opportunity to learn and have fun.  Positive behaviors are continually modeled and practiced throughout the school year.

LOGICAL CONSEQUENCES 

If a rule is broken, the consequence for the behavior will always be respectful and related to the behavior.  Logical consequences are not meant to be a form of punishment, but are an opportunity for learning.  Part of this learning process is giving the child an opportunity to fix his/her mistake and avoiding the same mistake in the future. 

CLASS BREAKS 

There are times when a child may be asked to “take a break”.  When children take a break in the classroom, they remove themselves from the group and spend a few quiet moments in the class break chair.  Our break chair is located in an area of the room that allows for students to be aware of what is happening in class even though they are not participating in the group activities at the time of the break.  Breaks are used for little disturbances that prevent others from learning (i.e., talking during lessons, bothering classmates with hands and feet, etc.).  Classroom breaks are a useful way to teach children to refocus and return to the group as quickly as possible.  If a break in the classroom is ineffective, a student may be asked to take a break in a “buddy room” (classroom next door).

CURRICULUM

Reading: One hour of daily instruction including large and small group lessons that emphasize vocabulary, comprehension and fluency. 

Skills Block: Thirty minutes of daily instruction emphasizing letter recognition, letter sounds and word recognition.

Writing: One hour of daily instruction that emphasizes correct letter formation, sound spelling, spacing between words, punctuation and the variety of purposes for writing.  Sound spelling is encouraged as the ultimate goal is to get the children to feel comfortable with writing and putting their ideas on paper.

Math: One hour of daily instruction.  Some key concepts include: counting, patterns, number writing, graphing, coin identification, measuring, symmetry, tally making, telling time the hour and half hour, adding and subtracting. 

QUIET TIME

If you think your child would like to nap during Quiet Time, please send a large beach towel to school.  Those who do not wish to nap will have the opportunity to look at books.

SNACK 

We ask that each family provide snack (no drinks please) at least once a month.  Please send enough snacks for 25 children.  Examples: goldfish crackers, graham crackers, raisins.

V.I.K. DAY

Your child will have multiple opportunities to be the V.I.K. (helper) for the day.  You will receive a V.I.K. schedule to help you determine your child’s special day.

TOYS  Please ensure that your child does not bring toys to school.  Thank you!

FRIDAY FOLDER 

This folder will be sent home weekly and contains important information for you to review.  Please make it a habit to check this folder every Friday and have your child return it to school the following Monday.

HOMEWORK 

A Small homework packet will be sent home every Friday, beginning with the first full week of school.  Please assist your child with reading the directions and have him/her return the packet by Wednesday of each week.

COMMUNICATION

E-mail: michelle.brunswick@spps.org.  If your child is to ride a different bus home or is not to ride the bus on a specific day, please send a note to school.