Jill Lang

Room 7 News

Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year and first grade! I am looking forward to a great year with you and your child.

 One of my main goals as an educator is to provide a caring, cooperative, and supportive community, where all students are accepted and respected. It is very important to create an environment where students feel safe and are not afraid to make mistakes or take risks. When this is established, students will receive a quality education that lays a foundation for life-long learning.

 Classroom Guidelines:

 In order to maintain a classroom environment that is equitable and enjoyable for all students, the first few weeks of school are devoted to learning routines and rules, and establishing a community. These rules are also our school Four Pillars of Excellence:

 1. Be RESPECTFUL 

2. Be RESPONSIBLE 

3. Be SAFE/Make Good Choices

4. Be ENGAGED

 Our class has a behavior chart that has seven levels. Students can move their clips up for good behavior, or down for poor choices. All students start on “Ready to Learn” every day. They can move up to “Good Idea,” then “Great Choice.” The highest level a student can go is “Wow!” Students who make it to “Wow!” will receive a note home telling about this achievement. I much prefer to be positive with children, and will happily allow them to move their clips up for good behavior, helpfulness, hard work, etc. While it is fine to ask your child how high they moved their clip up during the day, it is more important to ask whether or not he/she had to move their clip down. I am much less likely to have a student move their clip down than up. If a child has to move their clip down it indicates that they have not responded to reminders or have behaved in a way that interfered with their learning and/or the learning of others. The levels below “Ready to Learn” are “Warning,” “Teacher’s Choice,” and “Parent Contact.”

 Curriculum:

My teaching will reflect the Common Core Standards, which has been adopted by California. These standards clearly communicate what is expected of students at each grade level.  To see the specific first grade Common Core Standards, please visit http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards to learn more. On this site, you can select Math and/or English-Language Arts Standards and then choose first grade. Here are are main units of study for science and social studies:

    Science

• Solids/Liquids
• Weather/Seasons, Space Systems: Patterns and Cycles
• Plants/Animals
• Light and Sound Waves

Social Studies

• Rules and Laws
• Maps/Globes
• Everyday Life: Past and Present
•  Communities, Economy, Kid Town
• American Symbols

 Wednesday Envelopes:

 Every Wednesday, your child will bring home a yellow envelope containing important school information (notes from me, the principal, PTA, the district, corrected papers, etc.).  Please look through this carefully and return any necessary forms as soon as possible.  If it is not Wednesday and I need to send something important home I will send it in a blue “Home Folder.” Again, please return it as soon as possible.

 Snack and Lunch:

 In order for your child to stay healthy and active throughout the long school day, it isvery important that your child have a healthy snack every day.  Fruit, crackers, cheese, granola bars, etc are all great snacks. Please avoid sending candy. Your child can bring a lunch or buy a hot lunch at school.  If your child wants to buy a hot lunch, I encourage you to pre-pay for lunches by sending cash in a marked envelope or a check payable to San Mateo-Foster City School District.  You can also pay online at http://www.smfcsd.net/en/nutrition-and-school-meals/pay-online.html.

Your child will get a computerized lunch card that will automatically debit the amount each time they decide to buy lunch. Children are encouraged to keep a water bottle at their desks at all times.

 Clothing:

 Please send your child to school wearing comfortable play clothes.  Your child will also need sturdy, safe shoes for PMT.  Please label all jackets, sweaters, sweatshirts, backpacks, lunchboxes, etc. with your child’s name.

 Contacting me and Communication:

 My email is jlang@smfcsd.net. You can also send in notes or talk to me after school. My class phone number is (650)-312-7500 ext. 4086.

A great way to get information about our class is by checking our class page regularly. You can access this page going to the Audubon website  http://audubon.smfcsd.net/classroom-pages/first-grade/jill-lang.html. I update this page weekly, usually Fridays.

 Birthdays and Parties

 Birthdays are very exciting and special for children. Our first grade team celebrates birthdays by focusing on the child instead of treats and goody bags. Families are encouraged to come in and read a special book to the class for their child’s birthday. I am happy to read a book if it is not possible for a family member to do so. Goody bags and treats will not be allowed so please do not send them in. Also, class parties are centered on meaningful activities and not treats so our parties do not involve food.

 Classroom Pets

 We have an assortment of classroom pets that children will be learning about this year! Although I maintain the enclosures, children are welcome to bring in food for our animals. The tortoises love different types of lettuces, while the tarantulas, geckos, and frogs love crickets. Also, gift cards to pet stores or Amazon are much appreciated to help with the pet supplies needed such as lighting, food, and substrate.

 My dog, Milo, is certified with Share a Pet to go to schools and hospitals. When Milo is at school he remains in his crate under my desk until recess or lunch when he comes out for a quick stretch or a short walk. The children love to sit by his crate and read to him. He also does double duty as the official Audubon geese chaser to help keep the grass area in front of our classroom clean.

 Additional Notifications:

 ·      playgrounds and structures are closed in the mornings before school, students are welcome to line up quietly at their classrooms and socialize with friends

 ·      there are no toys allowed at school, if toys are for use during after school care, they must stay in students’ backpacks during the school day

 ·      minimum days: 12:40 dismissal on Wednesdays

 Again, welcome!  I am looking forward to an exciting and rewarding year!!

 Sincerely,

 Mrs. Jill Lang

Word Wall Words

Students should be able to read and spell these words.

the, I, to, a, is, my, go, me, like, on, in, so, we, it, and, up, at, see, he, do, you, an, 

Daily Schedule 

• 8:20        Morning Routines, Read to Self
• 8:35       Partner Reading 
• 9:00       Reading Workshop 
• 10:25     RECESS
• 10:50     Math/PMT
• 12:10      Lunch
• 1:10        Writer’s Workshop 
• 1:50        Science 2:30        Regroup/Read Aloud
• 2:40        Home

Tuesdays: Music

Wednesdays: Computer Lab

Thursdays: Library

Art in Action: Monthly 

Buddies: Monthly