Chairs

Updated:  Dr. Heughins said we will need to wait on the school district to purchase chairs for the students.  This will likely not happen any time soon.

Classroom norms

The first week of school we focused on establishing our classroom routines, rules, and values.  I prefer to think of them as norms: this is the normal behavior that scholars should expect in our classroom.

We talked about how it is ok to make mistakes and that mistakes are opportunities to learn.  No one knows everything, and we can always keep learning more.  If you never make a mistake that means you are never trying challenging things and you aren't being a true scholar.  It's important to me that the scholars feel safe taking academic risks in our classroom.

We also discussed our class norm that some things will be hard for us and that's ok.  The important thing is not to give up when something gets hard.  It's ok to ask for help, take a break, or try a different strategy to solve the problem.  It's not ok to give up or put yourself down by saying things like "I'm bad at this" or "I can't do it."

We learned our first icon of depth and complexity, rules, in the context of our classroom rules.  We discussed that rules keep us safe and help us remember the right way to do things.  Rules are here to help us.

Universal Theme: Order

I introduced the Universal Theme of order using a concept attainment lesson: showing the class pictures and asking them if it does or does not look like order.  Based on the pictures they developed their own definitions of order before we heard from "the experts" about what order meant.

I can tell by their homework that the scholars all have a good grasp of what order is.  We will look for order throughout our learning this year and connect back to this concept as it arises.

Class Dojo

Thank you to the parents who have already signed up for Class Dojo.  If you have not already signed up, please check the invitation in your child's Friday Folder.  Class Dojo is a tool I use to communicate with you about your child's work habits, track behavior, and to reinforce my expectations.  I primarily use it to recognize positive behaviors.  For the last two years over 97% of all of the points I awarded were positive and less than 3% were negative.

I will talk about Class Dojo in more detail at Back to School Night.  Please don't worry about the number of points your child receives, on some days they may earn 10 and others only 3.  The number is not important, it's the KIND of points they are receiving and patterns in their behavior.

Positive points add +1 to their running point total.  These are behaviors that I specifically want to encourage.  For example, if you see them earning points for being prepared you know that they are following my directions the first time and are ready with their materials.  If they receive points for good carpet manners, you know that they are keeping their hands to themselves, listening attentively, and participating actively when we work as a class on the rainbow rug.  If you see them earning points for providing evidence, that means they are explaining their thinking out loud to the class or their table group (ex/ "I know that 5 is odd because if I split it into two groups the groups are not equal" rather than just saying "5 is an odd number.")

Negative points subtract -1 from their running total.  These are choices that are negatively impacting your child's learning and the learning of their classmates.  I don't want you to think of these points as your child being "in trouble" or "bad," but more as behaviors they need to improve.  If your child receives a negative point, have a discussion together about how to make a better choice.  Also, please know that I only give negative points after warnings and reminders.  For example, if you child is shouting out and interrupting my lesson and they don't stop after a reminder, they will receive "interrupting teaching."  If they are rude or mean to another scholar they will receive "disrespectful to classmate" unless they sincerely apologize.  Apologies are always encouraged first.  If they are playing around in class or distracting a classmate with off topic chatting, they will receive "wasting learning time."  "Bad carpet manners" means that when I am teaching a lesson at the rainbow rug they are doing things like lying on the floor or poking a classmate.  Again, please remember that I always give a warning and chance to improve the behavior before I give a negative point.

This will be my third year using Class Dojo and the response from my parents in the past has been overwhelmingly positive.  They appreciate being able to have a window into their child's work habits to praise them and support them as needed.  I reset the points on the first of every month.  Some parents choose to reward their child based on Class Dojo, such as taking them for frozen yogurt or picking out a new book if they reach a certain number of points in a month.  I think that is a great idea.  Please use positive reinforcement rather than making them feel nervous or upset when I communicate with you about their behavior.  In the beginning you will probably see an occasional negative point while your child learns what is an isn't acceptable in a first grade classroom, especially if they are coming from a different educational environment.  Please remember that negative points are simply opportunities to correct behavior and make a better choice next time.

Your child may enjoy Class Dojo even more if you help them to customize their monster avatar.  Directions are on the paper I sent home in Friday Folders.

Please see me if I can clarify anything about Class Dojo before Back to School Night!

About the Students' Planners

This is the first year that students in first grade GATE have been given planners by our PTA.  We will be using them to write down important notes and record homework assignments.  Parents, you do NOT need to sign your child's planner.  Unlike in other grades, I won't be checking it daily.  If you do write a note to me in your child's planner please tell them to show it to me, otherwise I won't know about it.

Instead of having a homework folder like in past years, the scholars will be keeping their homework inside the pocket at the back of their planner.  I will show them how to fold assignments vertically so they fit in the pocket.

Scholars should keep their planner in their backpacks when they go to and from school.

Room 14

Over the summer all of the classrooms were given new numbers.  My classroom number is now 14.  It is still the same classroom that I was in last year, the old room 5.  If you are coming from the school office, you will see my classroom in the 2nd building on your left, directly across from the MPR.

Also, please note that all paperwork from the school uses my full name, Mrs. Graves Smith, but I prefer to be called Mrs. Smith.

Welcome first grade scholars!

 You should all be receiving my welcome letter this week!  I hope it will help to begin our communication with each other.

Dear First Grade GATE Families,

            Welcome to an exciting new school year at Ethan Allen!  My name is Mrs. Smith and I will be your child's teacher this year for first grade GATE.

            I would like to tell you a little about myself.  This is my 9th year of teaching, and I absolutely love it!  Working with gifted children is a very rewarding job.  Each day is exciting and interesting for both my scholars and for me.  When I am not teaching I love spending time with my son Sebastian, playing with my three dogs, enjoying the great outdoors, and reading.

            I am so thankful to be a part of such an amazing school.  If you are new to Ethan Allen you are in for a treat.  This school is filled with the most wonderful students and teachers imaginable.  Everyone works hard, and we also have many fun celebrations and activities.  One very nice thing about our class is that all of the scholars are new to GATE and many of the children are also new to our school, so everyone will be making lots of new friends.

            Since you know your child better than anyone, I would like to ask you to write me a short letter telling me a little about them.  Does your child have a special talent or interest?  What do you feel they will need the most help with this year?  Was there a particular moment when you realized that your child was gifted?  Is there anything important about your child that I should know?  I appreciate you taking the time to write this letter.  You can email it to me or your child can bring it on the first day of school.

Jump Start is a great chance to have your questions answered and for your child to meet me and their classmates.  Jump Start will be on Friday, September 4 at 11:00 in the Ethan Allen MPR. In the meantime, feel free to visit my classroom blog at www.ethanallenscholars.blogspot.com.  My blog contains a calendar of events as well as photos and descriptions of previous students’ work.  It can help give you an idea of what to expect during this new school year.

                                                                                    Sincerely, Mrs. Smith lgravessmith@ggusd.us