Parent Information

Basal readers – in small & whole groups

Class literature books ( Frog & Toad, A Chair for my Mother, Henry & Mudge etc)
Use the “guess & go” method as well as personal dictionaries where we add words and use the words given.
All of the reading materials that comes home are shared between the classes – please return them each day!
Small book groups – or Guided Reading which is reading leveled books, working on specific sounds, reading strategies and skills.
Weekly dictations – on letter sounds.
Weekly writing for publishing board – applying learned letter skills. (instead of a writing journal)

Building number sense, learning to talk about their strategies and discuss their method for solving problems. They are not allowed to say “ I just knew it”..
Working together in small groups of 2 or 4.
Lessons are introduced in the classroom and the workbook pages follow.
Topics to include: Number sense, How Many of Each, Patterns, Addition and Subtraction strategies ( getting to a friendly place), Time, money, measurement, geometric shapes.

Our Community – Pingry & NJ Farm
Antarctica penguin community.
South America – People of the rain forest, the animals and the ecosystem
Australia – Australian Aborigines (modern day & past), the animals, the environment.

Volunteering, community service, giving back to people in need.
Bridges – Donating school supplies, Fill the Truck (gently used clothing)
Taking care of our environment, global care of planet
Recycling – how it helps the community

We are a team and have to work together. If you should have any questions about something said at home and want to touch base about it, please please shoot me an e-mail. I always try to read my e-mails from home each night. You will not hear about every little problem that happens. If you have not heard from me…. DO Not Worry!

We work hard to make sure that your child is part of the problem solving process. If it is bigger than they can handle, then we step in, but we teach them how to handle conflicts step by step.

Believe ½ of what you hear about school – sometimes things are exaggerated because they are tired or struggling with social & academic things. Please use the 24 hour rule – take a deep breath, wait 24 hours and see if the issue is still an emergency!

Tired, hungry students are not happy students! Please make sure they eat before school. If you have had to rush out the door. Let me know and we can get them something here.
Early bedtime is very important. In fact, there are nights I will give “going to bed 15 minutes earlier” as an assignment.

Appropriate shoes & clothes for playground
No dangling jewelry – necklaces, earrings, bracelets and watches. They should not be a distraction.
Name in ALL CLOTHING including boots!

Send in snack & napkins only. No drinks are necessary.
Be sensitive about food allergies and please send in 16 of the exact same item! (Not half vanilla, half chocolate!)

Inform your child how they are going home daily. Help empower them to be responsible and in control of this part of their lives.
No Dr. Appointments during the school day. 8:10 – 11:10 are the key teaching times of the day. Your children need to be in school & on time to start the day late. They Hate coming in late! They are embarrassed. Please try to avoid. If you need to make a Dr.’s appt please make it after 12:00noon. Most important learning takes place in the morning.

Changes in dismissal plans must be in writing. Emails to me & the office are fine. Last minute changes in dismissal plans need to go thru the office. After 2pm there is no guarantee that I will get the email, so please call the front office.

Call/Email office or teacher for homework assignments.
If your child is too sick to do the work, don’t worry about it.
Have a buddy family who will bring work to you if your child is out for an extended period of time or we can get caught up when they return.
Give me at least until noon to gather homework and get it to the office for you to pick up.
Travel plans – should not take place during school year. Parents need to contact Mr. Corvino to ask about missing school for vacations.

Please email me at school. mogden@pingry.org
Email with as many details as possible – rather than asking me to call you. I can usually find out what has happened if I have details, and then can get back to you.
Questions for the Specials Teachers – please email them directly and copy me on the email if it is appropriate. Go to Pingry.org and click on faculty/staff for the correct email addresses:
Gym – Mr. LaFontaine & Ms. Miller
Library – Mrs. D’Inncenzo
Science – Mrs. Cilli
Spanish – Sra. Yorkshire
Art – Mrs. Baydin
Music – Mrs. Finn
Technology – Ms. Ferris-Rights

Are written four (4) times per year.
There are two (2) parent conferences – in fall & spring.
Major differences in Kindergarten & First Grade report cards. The work gets increasingly harder during the year and they may go down a number in the middle of the year. That is normal, as new skills and concepts are introduced. Also, my expectations go up each marking period.
Do not equate numbers with letter grades. They are not the same and the numbers mean what they say.
Edit what you tell your child about report cards. They do not need to SEE the report card. They are written for you. Select 1 or 2 things you want to highlight or tell them, if you feel you need to share report cards with them.

These conferences will be about 20 minutes and they are for us to get a chance to chat about your child. I will have a folder of work to give you at that time and a write up about your child’s progress to date.

Ms Smith- Willis and I usually start conferences for first grade parents before the date the school has scheduled. I will try to schedule siblings on the actual conference day for your convenience.

* Spring Conferences take place on: FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2010! (no school for students, but conferences will take place, so please plan ahead!)

There is no need to scream, yell or cry about first grade homework! If you or your child are having a melt down about homework, simple stop, take a deep breath and pack up the unfinished work. I will help your child get the assignment finished at school.

If it makes you feel better, send me an email about the problem. I am a parent too, and I understand that sometimes life gets in the way. Let’s keep our eyes on the big picture!

Your child should pack his/her backpack each night – THEY are responsible for their library books, homework folders, etc.

If they forget something, do not bring it to school for them. They need to learn from their mistakes and deal with the consequences.

Please do not pop in for visits. They become distracted and it is sometimes difficult to re-group quickly. Thank youJ

We work very hard to empower your child to make good decisions and to be in charge of themselves. Our philosophy is to foster good self esteem, independence, and responsibility for themselves and their belongings. I know that you are leaving your most precious possession in our care. Trust that I/we will take good care of your precious cargo!

Lunchroom volunteers will begin coming to help sometime in October. There are MANY people who want to come for lunch, so you may only get to come once every few months. Thank you to every parent who volunteers their time for this duty!

When you arrive, please meet us in the cafeteria. You will sit with your child and be in charge of the table where they are sitting. We have worked very hard setting up the “routines” of lunch with your child! Please don’t undo what we have done!

Your child should be getting their own lunch, sitting in their chair and using the lunch room manners that we have taught them. Please do not have your child sit on your lap, play table games with them or have them playing with your cell phone, etc. during lunch time. They know the rules of how lunch takes place and we appreciate your cooperation! And remember, whatever you hear and see at lunch, stays at lunch!

That is it! We are going to have a wonderful year together! I love teaching 1st grade and hope that this is the start of a lasting relationship as you go through your years at The Pingry School.