Hello! My Name Is Lynn Crain. I Will Be Your Child S Teacher for the 2016-2017 School Year

Welcome To Sorrick Elementary K-1 Instructional!

Mrs. Lynn Crain, teacher Mrs. Carolyn Faber, aide Mrs. Nancy McGivney, aide Room 125 Hello! My name is Lynn Crain. I will be your child’s teacher for the 2016-2017 school year. Our classroom aides are Carolyn Faber and Nancy McGivney . This is my thirty fifth and final year of teaching! I can not think of a better way to end my career than developing and teaching this very important program for our students. I truly believe the first six years of a child’s life are the most important. I look forward to getting to know your child and working closely with you this year. You are always welcome in our classroom. Please don’t hesitate to call me or set up an appointment to meet with me if you have any questions or concerns.

Mrs. Crain (708) 233-8077 [email protected] Our Day

Each day we will follow a consistent schedule. Having a consistent routine helps the children transition to different parts of their day and helps them feel secure in knowing what is going to happen next. The children will know at the beginning of day if there is a change to their typical schedule.

Sample Schedule

Arrival/Silent Reading Morning Meeting/Calendar Reading Small Groups Free Choice/Drink Break Phonics/Sight Word Movement Literacy Stations Lunch/Recess Unit Study/Writing Math Small Groups Math Stations Specials Dismissal Snack Break

Everyday our class will take a few minutes out of instructional time to have a small break. Your child is able to bring in a small healthy snack and beverage for this time. This can include finger foods like veggies, a granola bar, crackers and raisins with a juice box or water bottle. I ask that you avoid sending in snacks that are messy/need a spoon, soda or glass containers. Please keep these items separate from the student’s lunchbox so we know what you intended for snack.

Food Policy/Birthdays

North Palos School District 117 has a policy in regards to bringing food into the classroom. We love to celebrate birthdays, however, parents are asked to send in a non-food item to share with the class if desired. Therefore, a pencil, a bottle of bubbles, etc. would be good examples of something your child can pass out to the class. It is certainly not required, but if your child would like to share something with his/her classmates, then the above items are acceptable. I highly recommend that your child bring in his/her favorite story on the day of their birthday and I will read it to the class.  These new policies are implemented to help and raise awareness for students who have food allergies.

Please do not allow your child to bring toys to school unless they are requested as a part of a special project.

Lunch Your child will have the option of purchasing lunch from school. If your child does not choose to purchase a lunch from school, he/she must bring a sack lunch. You will need to check with the office if you have been approved for a free/reduced lunch during the first week of school. If you are unsure whether you have been approved or not, please send your child with a lunch just in case. The cost of a daily lunch is $2.75 including the milk. You can also purchase a lunch card for up to 20 lunches. If your child wants to purchase milk only during lunchtime, it is $0.60. Please send your child’s lunch money in a sealed envelope with their name on it. Also, please put the envelope in your child’s folder to avoid any problems with missing change. A lunch menu will be sent home at the beginning of each month. Please discuss your child’s lunch choice the night before, so they know what they are going to have for lunch the next day. (See menu link on Sorrick or Crain websites) Sorrick Library

Each week your child will be given the opportunity to choose a book from our school library to bring home. Please take time to read this book with your child or have him/her read it to you. Point out text features and familiar words as you read. You can also have your child retell the story in his/her own words. Ask your child comprehension questions about the story. This is a great opportunity to spend time with your child, while promoting literacy and a love for books. Please keep the book in a safe place in your house, away from toddlers and pets. Your child will keep the book at home for one week and return it to school their next library day. Wednesday is our Library Day!

Specials

Our class will be participating in Fine Arts and P.E. with our First Grade peers. P.E.: Monday, Tuesday and Friday Fine Arts: Thursday (one week art/one week music)

Classroom Website

Check our classroom website each week for classroom news, photos and fun activities. The site can be accessed from our district website: choose Sorrick; classrooms; Crain or accessed directly at http://www.npd117.net/Domain/747

Scholastic Book Orders

Your child will bring home Scholastic Book order forms every month. Please take time to look through these order forms to see if there are any books you would like to purchase for your child. Our class earns points for every book bought. These points go towards purchasing books and other materials for our classroom. You can send cash or checks made payable to Scholastic Book Clubs. You may also order books online through our classroom account. This information will be given to you with the first order form. Weekly Reading Log:

Each week your child will bring home a reading log. Each day please record the book you read to your child or your child read to you. Return the log to school each Friday.

Homework

Homework will be sent home when needed. I will send home a packet of papers that will help your child practice what we are learning in class at the beginning of each week. The packet of papers will be sent home on Tuesday and will be due back to school on Friday of the same week. That way, you and your child can pace themselves and do one paper per night, in addition to reading and handwriting! I will occasionally send home an activity that can stay at home for more practice and reinforcement, I may also send home a special project for upcoming themes that will be completed and returned to school. Homework packets will not be sent home during the first few weeks of school. Be a Sorrick Cougar!

It is very important to reward a child for appropriate behavior. I will be praising every child in the class. If a child is displaying inappropriate behavior, I will discuss the misbehavior with the child and redirect him/her to a more appropriate behavior. Our school mascot, the Cougar, will assist us with teaching appropriate school behavior. Our three rules are: Be Safe Be Respectful Be Ready to Learn

Each child will earn breaks, rewards and free choice activities throughout the day for completed work. Home/School Connection

Communication between home and school is essential for a successful school experience. Each child is required to bring a backpack and folder to school everyday. The children are responsible for emptying out his/her backpack and placing any mail/homework in the correct bin and at the end of the day collecting any mail that needs to be brought home.

Remember to check your child’s folder everyday and return it to school everyday!