Parents
Ms. Strong’s 2017-2018
1st Grade Syllabus
Hello, my name is Nina K. Strong and I will be your child’s teacher this year. I am a graduate of Troy University, where I earned a Master’s of Science in Elementary Education. I have worked with children for over nine years, first as a paraprofessional and later as a classroom teacher. I have one daughter, Mercedeez, who is a senior at Spelman College. I have always held a passion for working with children and with that passion, they become my children. I enjoy reading and doing crafty projects. I love cups, paper mate InkJoy gel pens, Bath & Body Works fruity/tropical creams & candles, bath & body works wall flowers & refills, kit kats, peanut m&ms, cheez-it, gum, gummy bears, chocolate covered almonds, fruit, lip gloss, any Ticonderoga products, and silly socks. I am a New England Patriot/Tom Brady fan. I enjoy shopping at Michaels, Walmart, Hobby Lobby, and Kirkland’s. I love to eat at Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, the Cheesecake Factory, & Papa Johns. My favorite holiday is Christmas.
Welcome to 1st grade! First grade is an exciting time as children embark upon new adventures in the world of learning. I am delighted to have your child in my first grade class this year. My goal is to provide your child with a warm, nurturing, and challenging learning environment. I believe that children should be actively engaged in the learning process. Your child will participate in many rewarding learning experiences this year.
I am looking forward to a fun-filled and productive year with you and your child. First grade is a very important grade because it is where the foundation skills learned in kindergarten are more defined. First grade builds upon that prior knowledge to enhance schematic connections that will help your child throughout their learning journey. This year can be a great one with your support, cooperation, and involvement. I believe that together we can make a difference in your child’s life.
I set high expectations for all of my children and I help provide them with the strategies and tools needed for them to be successful in reaching those expectations. I can’t do it alone, therefore I need your help. It is extremely important and very crucial for us to work together as a team in order for our children to reach their full potential and achieve their goals. I look forward to working with you and your child this year and I know this will be a very productive and prosperous year. I am more than excited to be working in a wonderful school & district. I want to make a difference in your child’s/family life and help them gain knowledge that they can use to become lifelong learners.
If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions during the year, please feel free to contact me by note, phone, text, in person, Remind 101, or by email. I like to keep an open line of communication with the parents of my children so that I can provide them with the best education and care possible. School Phone: (334) 732-1160 Cell: (706)761-7090
Email: [email protected]
Daily Folders/Homework
Students will bring home a turquoise plastic folder daily. This folder will include a behavior chart, Dojo tracker sheet, multiple charts to help them when completing homework, weekly words to learn, and any important information from the teacher, principal, and school. The inside pockets will be labeled keep at home & return to school. Your child's daily homework assignments will also be in this folder. Please check your child’s folder each night and remove any items that are to be kept at home. Students will have homework every night except on Friday night. I want them and you to enjoy the weekend without the urgency of getting homework completed. Homework will be minimal and consists of math and reading and/or language arts. I want the students to continuously remain connected to the daily learning skills that are going on in the classroom. There is an enormous deficiency in reading among students. They tend to struggle drastically in reading therefore, I stress the importance of nightly reading and quickly learning their fry/sight words.
Student behavior expectations
Students are expected to follow classroom rules. I will also be using the daily behavior point deduction chart as well as Class Dojo. The students will ONLY receive positive points from Dojo.
1. Follow directions.
2. Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
3. Raise your hand and wait to be called on.
4. Be Respectful.
5. Work together, don’t fight, and play nice.
In addition to regular rules, our class will also use the “GIVE ME FIVE” approach. When they are off task and I need their attention, I will raise my hand and they will understand and know how to react appropriately to give me five.
1. Eyes Looking
2. Ears Listening
3. Mouth Closed
4. Body Still
5. Mind Thinking
The behavior chart shows the day of the week, the loss of points for behavior for that day, and the offense as well as the consequences. There is a space for the Parent Signature and an area for comments (both teacher and parent). Please sign and return this folder daily.
Points lost will accumulate for the entire nine weeks. Behavior grades will count toward the Positive Behavior Activities held at the end of each nine weeks. If your child does not maintain the required percentage for each nine weeks, they WILL NOT be allowed to attend the activity.
Please see the explanation below for the behavior chart.
Behavior Plan for First Grade
Student behavior expectations
Students are expected to follow classroom rules: Follow directions, Raise hand before talking, Raise hand before getting out of seat, Listen to the teacher.
Class II and Class III offenses, as defined in the Phenix City Schools Code of Conduct, will be referred immediately to an administrator. Class I disciplinary offenses (with the exception of dress code violations and unauthorized electronic devices) will be handled by the classroom teacher using the following progressive behavioral management plan:
A conduct point will be taken away for every step after warning
1st Occurrence– Warning
2nd –Loss of conduct points
3rd – Removal from situation
4th – Loss of privileges
5th – Parent contact
6th – Office referral
Points lost will accumulate for the entire nine weeks. The behavior plan will start over daily (so that each student begins each day with 0 points lost)
Positive Rewards for good behavior
1. Extra technology time
2. Homework passes
3. PAT time (Preferred activity time/games)
4. Incentives (stickers, treasure chest, treats, etc.)
5. Positive Behavior Activity (one each nine weeks)
Restroom Policy
Sometimes we go to the restroom as a class, but usually we go to the restroom as needed. If there is an issue and the student needs more frequent breaks, please let me know so I can accommodate them.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Our team will do everything possible to ensure that the parents of our students remain informed. You will be contacted via phone call, e-mail, written note, student planner, Remind 101, etc. In the event you would like a parent teacher conference, please contact the school at 334-732-1160. Teachers will be given a 24 hour notice of the conference. Teachers will not be removed from instructional time to conduct a conference.
You may also contact me at my email address: [email protected] or my personal cell: (706)761-7090.
1st Grade Syllabus
Hello, my name is Nina K. Strong and I will be your child’s teacher this year. I am a graduate of Troy University, where I earned a Master’s of Science in Elementary Education. I have worked with children for over nine years, first as a paraprofessional and later as a classroom teacher. I have one daughter, Mercedeez, who is a senior at Spelman College. I have always held a passion for working with children and with that passion, they become my children. I enjoy reading and doing crafty projects. I love cups, paper mate InkJoy gel pens, Bath & Body Works fruity/tropical creams & candles, bath & body works wall flowers & refills, kit kats, peanut m&ms, cheez-it, gum, gummy bears, chocolate covered almonds, fruit, lip gloss, any Ticonderoga products, and silly socks. I am a New England Patriot/Tom Brady fan. I enjoy shopping at Michaels, Walmart, Hobby Lobby, and Kirkland’s. I love to eat at Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, the Cheesecake Factory, & Papa Johns. My favorite holiday is Christmas.
Welcome to 1st grade! First grade is an exciting time as children embark upon new adventures in the world of learning. I am delighted to have your child in my first grade class this year. My goal is to provide your child with a warm, nurturing, and challenging learning environment. I believe that children should be actively engaged in the learning process. Your child will participate in many rewarding learning experiences this year.
I am looking forward to a fun-filled and productive year with you and your child. First grade is a very important grade because it is where the foundation skills learned in kindergarten are more defined. First grade builds upon that prior knowledge to enhance schematic connections that will help your child throughout their learning journey. This year can be a great one with your support, cooperation, and involvement. I believe that together we can make a difference in your child’s life.
I set high expectations for all of my children and I help provide them with the strategies and tools needed for them to be successful in reaching those expectations. I can’t do it alone, therefore I need your help. It is extremely important and very crucial for us to work together as a team in order for our children to reach their full potential and achieve their goals. I look forward to working with you and your child this year and I know this will be a very productive and prosperous year. I am more than excited to be working in a wonderful school & district. I want to make a difference in your child’s/family life and help them gain knowledge that they can use to become lifelong learners.
If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions during the year, please feel free to contact me by note, phone, text, in person, Remind 101, or by email. I like to keep an open line of communication with the parents of my children so that I can provide them with the best education and care possible. School Phone: (334) 732-1160 Cell: (706)761-7090
Email: [email protected]
Daily Folders/Homework
Students will bring home a turquoise plastic folder daily. This folder will include a behavior chart, Dojo tracker sheet, multiple charts to help them when completing homework, weekly words to learn, and any important information from the teacher, principal, and school. The inside pockets will be labeled keep at home & return to school. Your child's daily homework assignments will also be in this folder. Please check your child’s folder each night and remove any items that are to be kept at home. Students will have homework every night except on Friday night. I want them and you to enjoy the weekend without the urgency of getting homework completed. Homework will be minimal and consists of math and reading and/or language arts. I want the students to continuously remain connected to the daily learning skills that are going on in the classroom. There is an enormous deficiency in reading among students. They tend to struggle drastically in reading therefore, I stress the importance of nightly reading and quickly learning their fry/sight words.
Student behavior expectations
Students are expected to follow classroom rules. I will also be using the daily behavior point deduction chart as well as Class Dojo. The students will ONLY receive positive points from Dojo.
1. Follow directions.
2. Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
3. Raise your hand and wait to be called on.
4. Be Respectful.
5. Work together, don’t fight, and play nice.
In addition to regular rules, our class will also use the “GIVE ME FIVE” approach. When they are off task and I need their attention, I will raise my hand and they will understand and know how to react appropriately to give me five.
1. Eyes Looking
2. Ears Listening
3. Mouth Closed
4. Body Still
5. Mind Thinking
The behavior chart shows the day of the week, the loss of points for behavior for that day, and the offense as well as the consequences. There is a space for the Parent Signature and an area for comments (both teacher and parent). Please sign and return this folder daily.
Points lost will accumulate for the entire nine weeks. Behavior grades will count toward the Positive Behavior Activities held at the end of each nine weeks. If your child does not maintain the required percentage for each nine weeks, they WILL NOT be allowed to attend the activity.
Please see the explanation below for the behavior chart.
Behavior Plan for First Grade
Student behavior expectations
Students are expected to follow classroom rules: Follow directions, Raise hand before talking, Raise hand before getting out of seat, Listen to the teacher.
Class II and Class III offenses, as defined in the Phenix City Schools Code of Conduct, will be referred immediately to an administrator. Class I disciplinary offenses (with the exception of dress code violations and unauthorized electronic devices) will be handled by the classroom teacher using the following progressive behavioral management plan:
A conduct point will be taken away for every step after warning
1st Occurrence– Warning
2nd –Loss of conduct points
3rd – Removal from situation
4th – Loss of privileges
5th – Parent contact
6th – Office referral
Points lost will accumulate for the entire nine weeks. The behavior plan will start over daily (so that each student begins each day with 0 points lost)
Positive Rewards for good behavior
1. Extra technology time
2. Homework passes
3. PAT time (Preferred activity time/games)
4. Incentives (stickers, treasure chest, treats, etc.)
5. Positive Behavior Activity (one each nine weeks)
Restroom Policy
Sometimes we go to the restroom as a class, but usually we go to the restroom as needed. If there is an issue and the student needs more frequent breaks, please let me know so I can accommodate them.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Our team will do everything possible to ensure that the parents of our students remain informed. You will be contacted via phone call, e-mail, written note, student planner, Remind 101, etc. In the event you would like a parent teacher conference, please contact the school at 334-732-1160. Teachers will be given a 24 hour notice of the conference. Teachers will not be removed from instructional time to conduct a conference.
You may also contact me at my email address: [email protected] or my personal cell: (706)761-7090.