Your First Grader: Week 1

The First Week of School
For every first grader, the first week of school presents a major challenge. The BIG day is here. Most young children approach the first week of school with feelings of excitement and fear. At one moment, they want to shout for joy, so proud of growing up so fast. The next moment they are ready to cry, fearful of what the future may have in store for them. For parents too there can be mixed feelings: proud to have a child in the first grade, yet sad at the same time that the pre-first-grade years are now over.

What You Can Expect:
Most children approach first grade with joyous abandon, but at times they display contradictory behaviors:

• They're brash and combative one minute; hesitant, dawdling, and indecisive the next.
  
• They're affectionate now; antagonistic later.
• They're over-demanding and explosive this morning; delightful, co-operative, and polite this afternoon.
  

What is happening? Nothing more or less than being a typical growing child. Remember, first grade is a year of transition physically and mentally. Your child will be losing milk (baby) teeth and gaining their permanent teeth. Their body chemistry also changes making them more prone to infectious diseases. Infections of the inner ear as well as nose are frequent. Developmental changes are also occurring in their vision, nerves, and muscles.

Besides physical changes. Your child is now exposed to a much wider world than he or she can easily handle with his/her limited experience. Helping your child achieve balance requires tender and wise management. Praise is the magic tonic. Praise helps your child choose which of the many directions he/she will take. These weekly "Growing Up" advice posts will contain information about first graders that can help you understand and encourage your child in a successful transition from home to school.

*Compiled from the Growing Up Newsletter

Our Classroom Behavior Management Model

Hello Families!
I wanted to introduce you to the behavior management model that we use in Room 4 First Grade. I believe that each student in our class is special, valuable, and unique and it is my job to help them as they navigate school life and learn important social skills. Here are the values that you will see supported in our classroom:

• You are in charge. You can become the person you want to be. You can make good decisions.
  
• You are responsible for your feelings and actions. Your choices impact others. You can show respect to others.
  
• You can solve problems. Conflict is part of life. It presents us with opportunities to learn a missing skill or let go of a limiting belief.
  

Welcome Little Sparklers & Families!

I'm so glad that you are going to be a part of our classroom community this year. We will have many classroom adventures. You will be able to read and see pictures from the classroom on this website. I can't wait to get to know you!