Welcome to Mrs. Fran Harney’s Grade 1 class

2015-2016

Introducing Myself

• I have been married for 35 years to Norm• Norm is a production planner, buyer in the wood industry• I have two daughters who both hold 2 university degrees

each• This is my sixteenth year as a teacher and I was an

Educational Assistant for 9 years before that• I finished my B.A. in Sociology part-time• I am fully bilingual, I spoke French at home and at school

and did not speak English full time until I was 19 years old.

My daughters

Allison, the eldest, is a Ph.D in Bio-Chemistry. She is doing breast cancer research in New York City at the Einstein School of Medicine. She received her B.Sc. at Guelph and her Ph.D. at Northwestern University in Chicago, Ill.She is married to David.

Evelyn has a degree in Health Sciences from McMaster and Midwifery from Ryerson. She practises in Penticton, British Columbia.

My passions• Children: they are innocent but full of

potential. In grade 1, they are full of energy and enthusiasm for learning

• Literacy: it’s difficult to get by in our society without a basic level of reading

and writing• The environment, nature, animals,

plants/our footprint, preservation of natural habitat, gardening….

• Chocolate: self-explanatory

Agenda: IMPORTANT

- please check and initial every day

- two parts: front pocket and inside- The agenda will be our #1

communications tool Agenda

Classroom routines and breaks:

Routines • Routines are set for

morning entry, coming to the carpet, recess, deskwork, lunch time, bathroom.

• Transition songs help the students move from one activity to the other with the least amount of resistence

Bathroom breaks• during recesses

but are allowed to go during class time.

• Best time: during their "deskwork" times.

• bathroom pass

School is fun, learning is fun, work is fun.We learn best when we

work as a team.Be the best you can be.

 

How we learn• We observe

(look and listen)

• We try, we talk

• We compare, we remember

Success is accomplished with

Hard work and

perseverance

Just Right• If it’s too hard or too easy Mrs.

Harney will make it just right.

• Each student works at his/her own pace at school and at home.

In Grade 1, the students are expected to:

- follow the rules of the class/school- treat others with respect- be attentive and follow directions- do the work assigned to the best of their ability

and quietly- help each other- we are a community

The parents/guardians are expected to:

 - help with homework - read newsletters, report cards, agenda - communicate big changes in the family such

as death of a close relative, separation, divorce,

- participate whichever way you can with field trips, volunteer in class and/or send in treats for celebrations

The teacher is expected to: 

- communicate often - be available to the families for extra

help or any concerns- be organized and follow a long range

plan - provide extra help to those students

who need it

Homework is an art

• Area: find a good place to do the homework

• Rewards: give rewards for all attempts – large or small

• Time: find a good time that works for you and your child

• For example while you make supper, you can be present and watching while doing your own thing. Reward with praise, stickers, tv time, computer time, healthy snack, etc.

September Homework (not all in one night)

In order of priority:1. read every day

2. have students read the word boxes

3. Sound book

4. have students write their sight words 3 times and once in the agenda (Monday)

5.phonics dictations (students work at their own pace, usually sent on Tuesday and Thursday)

6. All homework is due Friday.

7. Practise skills such as ,counting by 1,2,4,10, ABC’s, sounds, days of the week, months of the year, coins identification, time

- Parents know their child more than anyone

- students who get homework support from their parents do better in school

-   when school work is important to the parents, it is important to the students too

-   parents are teachers too

-   establish a routine as quickly as possible (if you pick your battles: this is one you want to fight and win)

-   offer rewards for good work and good effort

-    some flexibility as long as there is some effort and/or continuity

-    work at child’s ability and pace

** if you do not want to participate in any or all of the homework program please let me know

Homework:Homework is optional but strongly recommended.

Assessment:• -observation, conferences,

sample work, checklists, rubrics, some self-assessment and peer assessment

• - yellow folder: student profile: upper case letters, lower case letters, word list, phonemic awareness, reading record, spelling, writing sample

• Portfolio: contents: all tests, some work samples sent home at the end of the year and viewed at each interview 

• - home projects are not assessed but the presentation is

 

• Progress report card goes home on Nov. 5, 2013

• Report cards go home twice per year: Feb. 8, 2014 and June 24, 2014

• if students are having difficulty during a unit, you will be contacted.

Reporting:

Communication with the home:

• agenda, • newsletter and calendar at the

beginning of each month.• a progress report card in the fall and

2 report cards (February and June)• notes in agenda or phone call if the

child is having difficulty 

Motivators:

• Praise/rewards (stickers, free quiet activity time, privileges)

• token system: sometimes needed     

 

• Oct. St. Jacob’s Market• Nov. (or March)   Centre in the

Square     • June Rare and year end

trip

Planned field trips:

Volunteering:

-Volunteers are welcome and much appreciated even if you can give only 1 hour per week

- Nature walks (usually on Tuesday afternoon) field trips or in the classroom

-All Stars reading is another possibility

Safe School:

• drop off and leave. Stranger danger: you are the stranger to all the other children.

• Enter the school at the front doors and sign in. Please do not enter through any other door.

• If you need to speak to me you can call to make an appointment to see me or speak to me on the telephone. I am available almost every night but call first to make sure that I can meet with you and give you the attention that you deserve. 

Curriculum areas:

MathematicsLanguage Arts: 4 Blocks: reading, writing,

guided reading, word study (+ shared reading)Language Arts also includes: Oral

Communication, Media Literacy Social StudiesReligion and Family LifeScienceVisual Arts

Last thing: a short lesson on nutrition

• Real children need real food

• =Well nourished students do well in school

because they can concentrate better.

Good nutrition means healthy kids with less allergies and less behavioural issues

• Always read the ingredients and quantity of such

• It’s a great idea to feed fresh fruit or vegetables to your child for their health and for the environment

• Cut food up in small pieces and put it in a

reuseable container

• Small children like to eat small things

Small portions of a variety of foods are more likely to be eaten.

Allergy concerns: peanuts and milk

• Please be aware that peanut and milk allergies can be life threatening.

• We will honour the families who have children with serious allergies to these foods. Let me know if your child has serious food allergies. Please realize that if this were your child we would do the same for you!

• It is our job to protect and include everyone.

Outside play• Humans need to be outside, not just for

fresh air but for being connected to nature

• People who go outside regularly are happier and have a better outlook on life

Thank you for your support.

Our team is composed of:

the parents, the students and the teacher.

I look forward to working with you so that your child will attain his/her highest possible potential in my class.

Have a great school year!