Welcome toMrs. Squance’s1st Grade Class

Wilson Elementary SchoolAugust 11, 2015

About Mrs. SquanceAbout Mrs. Squance

Bob and I have been married for almost 6 years. Our families have been friends since before I was born. We are huge

Cincinnati Bengals and Cincinnati Reds fans! We also LOVE going the beach…

especially Destin, Florida.

I was born and raised in a small

town called Oxford, Ohio.

I moved to Tennessee with

my husband, Bob, 8 years

ago.We have a dachshundnamed Clancy and a

beagle/dachshund mix named Dudley. They are our “children.”

About Mrs. SquanceAbout Mrs. SquanceMy family is the most important

part of my life. I have two amazingparents who were both teachers and are

my inspiration in life. I have two older brothers who I am

lucky to call my close friends. I also have two brothers-in-law and five sisters-in-law. I am grateful to have an awesome mother-in-law who is truly like my second

mom.

My two nieces, Stella (left – 5 years) and Madeline (right – 3 years), are two

of the brightest stars in my life.

About Mrs. SquanceAbout Mrs. Squance I am from Oxford, Ohio. I’ve lived in Murfreesboro

for 8 years. I am 28 years old. This is my fourth year

teaching first grade. I graduated from MTSU

with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education.

My husband, Bob is a musician. He graduated from MTSU with a music business degree, and he now works as the Senior Coordinator of A&R Administration at Round Hill Music in Nashville.

My hobbies: writing, reading, photography, hiking, the outdoors, music, movies, and scrap booking.

I am extremely family oriented.

Both of my parents are (retired) teachers. They are the greatest inspiration in my life.

My oldest brother, Joshua, is a musician. He plays piano and is a singer/songwriter, currently working for Ben Folds and the Nashville Ballet. His wife, Kelly, is the choral conductor for the Nashville Symphony. They have a daughter, Stella, who is 5.

My middle brother, Jamie, is a manager at a book store in Ohio and also has a degree in creative writing. He is extremely talented in the ways of electronics.

My family and my husband’s family are very close – our parents have known each other longer than I’ve been alive. We are so lucky!

Just remember…

Don’t believe everything your child says about me, and I won’t believe everything your child says about you….

Please don’t hesitate to ask me for any clarification you may need about things that are happening in our classroom.

Teaching Style Rick Morris’ “New Management” (

www.newmanagement.com) Sign language Musical/sound cues Positive Encouraging Hands-on Various learning styles STRUCTURE Independence Student-driven

Communication We will communicate daily through the

binder/agenda. If you have any other notes (i.e. excuse

notes) please place them in the zipper pouch.

Feel free to call or e-mail me anytime. Email address: squancej@rcschools.net. You may also call me at school: 615-904-3840 ext. 28948.

Remember: we are in this together.

Expectations

High, yet attainable expectations for each child.

Push each student so he/she may do his/her best.

Need parental support and involvement.

You know your child best…

Student Responsibilities (A.K.A. “Rules”)

1. Listen when your teacher is talking.

2. Follow directions quickly.3. Keep your hands, feet, and objects

to yourself.4. Raise your hand to speak or stand.5. Be safe, be kind, be honest.

Consequences

1. Verbal warning2. Move clip down - recess

time lost (5 minutes for yellow, 10 minutes for red)

3. Parent contact (note in agenda, email, phone call)

4. Principal’s office

Behavior PolicyClip Chart (School-Wide Behavior Policy)

Each child begins the day on GREEN: “Ready to Learn.” This is where the students are given the responsibility of making good choices. Your child may clip down for showing negative or inappropriate behavior. Depending on the degree of the behavior, he or she may have the opportunity to clip back up during the day (i.e. talking out, off task, etc.). Serious offenses such as physical violence or bullying will not be tolerated, and therefore the student will not have an opportunity to clip back up.

One simple, direct verbal warning will be given before a student is asked to clip down. If it is a major offense (physical violence, disrespect, etc.), there will be no warning given and the student will not have the opportunity to move their clip back up. However, if the offense is minor (talking out, off task, etc.), I will give the student the opportunity to move back up if the situation presents itself. I will choose the appropriate consequence for each action. The color that your child ends on every day will be noted in his or her agenda. If he or she ends on yellow or red, I will write a short note about what behavior(s) took place. I may also contact you by email or phone.

I ask that you please take time to review this with your child daily and initial the agenda. DON’T FORGET TO PRAISE YOUR CHILD FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR! Please feel free to write any questions or comments in your child’s agenda. I will write a note, email, or call if/when the need arises.

AbsencesIt is VERY important for your

child to come to school every day!

If your child is absent, please send an excuse note on a separate paper (not in agenda) stating the reason for the absence.

Please be on time, too! Students are tardy after 7:30.

Money

Please send all money in a labeled envelope with your child’s name, my name (Mrs. Squance), amount, and the money’s purpose (i.e. lunch, field trip, Scholastic, etc.)

Place it in the zipper pouch in the front of the binder.

Snack Please send a snack for your child each

day until the snack calendar begins. Snack Calendar will be sent out soon.

Each month I do my best to send these out before the following month begins.

Please make sure snacks are individually wrapped (no homemade goodies). Also, please choose healthy snacks! You may send drinks if you choose.

If you cannot participate in the snack calendar when it is your turn, please let me know ahead of time.

You can send in extras if you’d like so that we may keep a few in the room in case someone forgets.

Binders Check all folders/pouches in binder every

night. Sign agenda every night. Front Pocket: SIGN AND RETURN items the

following day unless otherwise noted. Back Pocket: KEEP AT HOME work that needs

to be reviewed with your child. Always praise good work! Go over all missed items and keep the completed work at home.

Red Folder: HOMEWORK. Nightly homework will include reading with your child for 20 minutes and practicing spelling & vocabulary words! This red folder will be used for any unfinished work or missed work from absences. Please help your student complete the work and send it back to me in the red folder.

Daily Schedule7:30 –

Announcements7:35 – Word

Work7:45 – Special

Area8:25 – RTI 9:10 – Reading

& Language Arts10:30 – Lunch 11:10 – Reading

& Language Arts

11:50 – Social Studies

12:20 – Recess12:50 – Math 1:50 – Science 2:20 – Snack &

Dismissal Procedures

2:30 – Dismissal

Grading Scale

1 – Beginning to develop the standard. Not yet able to produce grade level work.

2 – Progressing toward the standard. Producing the required grade level work with teacher direction and assistance.

3 – Meeting the grade level standard and producing quality work.

4 – Exceeding the grade level standard. Producing quality work consistently.

Testing

We will test these things weekly:• Spelling, TCAP Weekly,

Vocabulary• These tests are graded using

the 1, 2, 3, 4 grading scaleBenchmark reading testQuick Checks Aimsweb Universal Screener (RTI)

Projects and Family Nights Community Projects - Each child builds

a community building; put them together to make classroom community

Animal Projects - Each child makes a poster of assigned animal facts; accompanied by a field trip to the zoo

Recycled Robots – Each child builds a robot made of recyclable materials

Family Literacy Night – to be announced

1st Grade Focus: READING!Students’ reading success in 1st grade has a direct connection to their reading success in 11th grade!

It is extremely important to read at home with your child EVERY SINGLE NIGHT!

Percentile

Independ-ent

Reading

Words Read Per Year

98% 65 min. 4,358,000

90% 21 min. 1,823,000

50% 4.6 min. 282,000

20% 0.7 min. 21,000

10% 0.1 min. 8,000

Scholastic Scholastic is a GREAT way to get your child

reading books that he/she likes! These books are offered at really low prices and the shipping is free when you place your order by going online or sending the order form and a check to school with your child! Go to scholastic.com/readingclub and enter our class code: L4GD2 to order. I will send home fliers every month so you can see what’s new! Your orders also earn our classroom bonus points so we can get cool prizes like books, games, and technology for our classroom!

Volunteers Needed!

Help tear out workbook pages (need two volunteers for this)

Read to classCut out laminationSchool eventsClassroom parties

**Please sign up if you’re interested in helping out throughout the year! Thank you in advance!

Other Notes…Box Tops and Labels for Education

- please collect and turn in!After Labor Day, please do not

walk your child to class (this is a school-wide rule).

Conferences will only be scheduled if I feel your child needs one. I will be happy to meet with you if you would like to, even if I do not request a conference.

Remind 101

Text: (270) 245-1557 with the message “@mrssquanc”

This will allow me to send you messages straight to your phone.

PTO Information

The PTO is offering FREE enrollment to parents who would like to join this year!

You can be as involved as you would like to be… from bringing food for teacher luncheons to helping with all PTO events.

If you are interested in joining, contact either of our PTO Co-Presidents: Ashley Rogers or Autumn Baer.

Wish List Painter’s tape White card stock Liquid soap refill

bottles (we need LOTS of these!)

Printer Ink – HP #61 Color & Black

Printer labels Page protectors Stepladder Puzzles (age-

appropriate) Ziplock baggies –

sandwich and snack size

Wooden clothespins

Electric pencil sharpener

Also, if you have any gently used board games, puzzles, or books that you would like to donate to your student’s classroom, we would greatly appreciate it!!!

EXPO dry erase markers

Large bag of assorted candy

Play-Doh Clorox wipes Small plastic beads Glue sticks Scrap paper

Questions??