-
Classroom ABC's
lassroom 
's
Here is some helpful information about our classroom procedures and policies. If you don't see the answer to your question, please e-mail me so I can add it to our Classroom ABC's.
Absences
Please notify the office at 732-521-1000 in the event your child is going to be absent and send a note to school once your child returns.
Arrival
Our school day begins at 9:05.
Ask Me About
"Ask Me About" will go home every Friday to encourage communication between you and your child.
Attendance
Please make sure your child attends school every day if they are able to. Your child's presence is an essential component for academic and social growth.
Backpacks
Please have your child bring his/her backpack to school every day. In addition, when you are selecting a backpack, please keep in mind our small closets. A backpack without wheels is preferred.
Behavior Management I believe that positive reinforcement encourages good behavior and good behavior promotes an optimum learning environment. I enjoy recognizing the children in my class who are making good choices and are eager to follow their class rules. I have established a plan that focuses on the children individually (clip chart), in a team (team tallies) as well as, whole class (compliment strip).
The children also learn how to make decisions when it comes time to selecting a reward. Some of the rewards have been:
Movie
Free Time
Lunch with the teacher :-)
Disco Party
However, if the rules are not followed there are consequences that take place. Please discuss with your child the importance of following the class rules.
Birthdays
Your child’s special day is important to us. We do many things to recognize birthdays in class. If your child is having a birthday and you would like to send in a treat, you are more than welcome to do so! Please contact me in advance to make arrangements.
Book It! The Pizza Hut Book-It! program begins in October and ends in March. It will kept in your child's C.A.M.P. Binder. Each month your child will have a different reading goal and once he/she hits his/her goal, they will receive the pizza coupon. A letter will be sent out in October explaining the program. Breakfast
Please make sure your child eats a well-balanced breakfast before school. We have a busy day, and a good breakfast will ensure optimum learning!
C.A.M.P. Binder This 3-ring binder houses EVERYTHING students and parents need to keep up-to date with what is going on at school. Gone are the days of wrinkled papers and lost notes, newsletters, calendars. No more searching the house to find homework or notes. Everything you need is in one book!!
C.A.M.P. Binders are important!!! They help students to establish good organizational skills...skills that can carry on throughout their time in school.
Camper of the Week Starting in October, I will be selecting a “Camper of the Week”. Your child will fill in a poster that is all about them and display some of his/her special memories (pictures) outside of our class. Each day a new activity will take place. A letter with more detail will come home the week your child is selected. Clip Chart
I use colored “clip chart” to monitor student behavior and classroom choices. Your child will have a clip that they will physically move up or down the chart, depending on their choices. Please keep in mind that you child may not move every single day! In order to move up, students must go above and beyond in their behavior choices.I believe that this system will be a positive way for students to monitor their choices and will give them behavior goals to strive for! Please sign your child’s behavior log weekly. This will be kept in your child’s “C.A.M.P. Binder”.
Clothing
Please make sure your child is dressed appropriate for the weather. They continue to go outside in the winter.
Communication
Communication is the key to a successful parent-teacher relationship. You can contact me several ways; email, phone, or send a note to school in your child's C.A.M.P. Binder. I value the importance of parent/teacher communication.
Conferences
We have conferences in the Fall and Spring. During our conference, we will review your child's report card, writing portfolio, and reading assessments. We will also discuss what I have observed regarding your child's learning abilities, social skills and classroom behavior.
Delayed Opening
Please check our district website for updates on delayed openings. If we have a delayed opening, the hours for students are 11:05 AM - 3:34 PM.
Differentiation
I will be differentiating my lessons throughout the school year to meet the needs of all different learning styles.
Dismissal
The end of the day is at 3:34.
Early Dismissal
If you need to take your child out of school at an earlier time, please sign your child out at the front desk. A note would be appreciated so I can have your child packed up and ready.
E-mail
If you need to contact me you can email me at danielle.sano@monroe.k12.nj.us and I will try to respond as soon as possible.
Field Day
Come out and cheer us on at Field Day! We have Field Day at the end of the year, usually in June.
Four-Hour Session
Please check our district website for early dismissals. Our four-hour session is from 9:05 - 1:05.
Gloves and Mittens
Please make sure your child has gloves or mittens for the colder months of the year. They will be going outside. Brrrrrr!
Grading Scale
Classwork & Homework Rubric
· Star = Great
· Smiley Face = Good
· Check = Satisfactory
Gym
Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately so they can participate in gym.
Homework
Homework assignments are meant to be a brief reinforcement of the skills taught in class. Homework should only take between 15-30 minutes. Please indicate if your child had any difficulty. This is a great opportunity for parents to see what the children are learning in class, as well as, giving them a chance to get involved.
Homework Folders
This is part of our home-school connection. Please keep this folder in your child's C.A.M.P. binder at all times. This folder will be used to bring home homework and corrected classwork.
Illness
If your child is ill, please keep him or her home until they feel better. Please contact our school nurse.
Just Ask
If you ever have any questions or concerns, please ask and I would be more than happy to assist you.
Kind
Please encourage your child to be kind to others and to use their manners when they are in the classroom.
Label
Please label your child's belongings.
Library
We have library once a week. Please remember to return your library books, so you can take more books out. Also, remember to take very special care of your library books.
Literacy Centers
Students will have an opportunity to go to our Literacy Centers several times a week. Each center relates to the skills that the students have been working on or will be working on. The centers include phonics, reading, writing, listening, math, language, technology and art.
Lunch Time
We have lunch/recess at 12:24-1:08.
Math Practice Each day after lunch your child will have a Math Practice. These are math problems that range from easy to challenging arithmetic. I will work with the children in class to try to solve these problems. However, your child would benefit from additional reinforcement at home if you notice that he/she is having trouble with these concepts. These math papers will come home on Monday.
Morning Meeting
Every day we will have a Morning Meeting. We go over the calendar, weather, money, time, tallies, counting and more. All of these skills are tied into our math curriculum.
Money
If you are sending in money with your child, please make sure it's in a marked envelope with your child's name, my name and the reason. Please put in your child's money pouch in our C.A.M.P. Binder.
Mystery Reader
This is a fun way for you to get involved even if you can't come to school. Shhhhh! Please contact me if you are interested.
Newsletter
Every Monday, I will send home a Weekly Newsletter with our homework assignments, important dates, spelling and sight lists and more. You may keep this in the front of your C.A.M.P. Binder.
Notices
If you are sending a note to me with your child, please remind them before they leave to put the note in our "Notes Basket".
Outside
The child will go outside if the weather permits. Please make sure your child wears appropriate clothing.
Parties
Our classroom parties are run by our Room Parents. We typically have the following parties in our classroom: Halloween, Thanksgiving Feast, Holiday Party, Valentine's Day, First Grade Nonfiction Museum and End of the Year.
Positive Behavior Lottery Tickets
Encourage your child to earn a Positive Behavior Lottery Ticket for demonstrating appropriate behavior in the classroom.
Progress Reports
Progress reports will be sent home every quarter if I feel your child needs additional help in specific areas.
Quality
Please encourage your child to hand in acceptable homework and classwork.
Questions
If you have any questions about things going on in our classroom, please send me a note. I value your communication.
Read
Please read with your child at least 10-15 minutes a night.
Recess
The children will go outside every day if weather is permitted.
Report Cards
Report cards are issued 3 times a year.
Restroom
At the beginning of the year, we discuss our bathroom rules. There are two passes. A boys pass and girls pass. If you child needs to use the restroom, they are allowed to go if the pass is free.
Rules
As a class, we created 5 rules:
1. Listen politely when others are speaking.
2. Raise your hand to share something.
3. Keep your hands, feet and objects to yourself.
4. Use kind words and be kind to others.
5. Walk in the halls and the classroom.
6. Always have fun!
Scholastic Book Orders
Each month, I will be sending home a book order form. If you would like to order books for your child, please fill out the book order form and return with a payment by the due date. Please do not send in cash! Scholastic will only accept checks or money orders made out to Scholastic. You may also order books online. Please click here to view our Scholastic page.
School Supplies
Snack We will have a snack every day. Please send in healthy choices. 
Tardiness
The morning bell rings at 9:05. If you child comes to school after the bell, please have them sign in at the office.
Technology
We will use laptops at least once a month on topics we are learning in class. The children will also have several opportunities to use our classroom desktops.
Toys
Please remind your child that we are very busy in first grade, therefore they are not permitted to bring any toys to school.
Students should not bring toys to school. They can become lost or be a distraction during the learning process
Tuesday Folders
Your child's Tuesday Folder is very important. All communication from the school, the PTA and graded tests will be coming home in this folder. It is extremely important that everything is removed and reviewed. The folder should be sent back empty on Wednesday morning.
Unique
Every child is unique in their own special way.
Visitors
In order to protect the children, it is important that all visitors use the main entrance and sign in to obtain a visitor's pass.
Sight Words
Please practice sight words daily.
Volunteers
Volunteers can help in many ways. If you are interested in volunteering, please check out our list of opportunities.
Water Bottles
The students are allowed to have water bottles in the classroom as long as the bottle is labeled with their name and a cap is on it at all times. They also need to take the bottles home everyday to have them cleaned out. Otherwise, they will not be able to reuse them.
Website
Make sure you visit our website often. I will be making changes on a regular basis.
Wish List
X-tra
Every child has an x-tra special spot in my heart.
You
You are a very important part in your child's education!
Zz Zz Zz
Make sure your child gets enough sleep every night.
Graphics by 
