I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you and your child to
Mrs. Donohue's Language Arts class.The purpose of this communication is to
inform you of some of the policies which will be implemented in my class for the 2009-2010
school year. I will be teaching Reading, Phonics, and Spelling in a Language Arts block of time
(one and one-half hours each day).
FOLDERS: I have made special Language Arts folders for the children in which
they will keep their papers. The folders will protect the papers as
well as aid the children in keeping organized. In one pocket they will keep
their seatwork papers. The other pocket will hold homework papers (say
hi to Homer the Homework Robot).Language Arts homework assigned by me
will not be listed on Ms. Moxey's homework paper. The homework will
be found in the folder with Homer! Look for the folder every night.
MATERIALS: Each student must have with them at all times 2-#2 pencils, a red pencil, a 6-inch
ruler, and a Reading copybook.
PHONICS AND READING SKILLS: My students will begin the year reviewing kindergarten phonics skills,
especially short vowel sounds. I will be implementing the Orton Gillingham method of phonics instruction
(a multi-sensory approach) in conjunction with Modern Curriculum Press Phonics to review consonant
sounds and short vowel sounds. We will work on these skills, and then we will begin work on the level
1.2 Reader. The review of these skills will serve as an important foundation for the building of future
concepts. Phonics concepts introduced in the Reading series will be supplemented with the MCP
Phonics workbook throughout the school year.
READING VOCABULARY FLASH CARDS: Initially, the children will be bringing
home flashcards of basic consonant-vowel-consonant patterned words.
Later, the cards will contain sight-words based on the vocabulary to which they
will be introduced. Make sure that you practice these every night. Some
suggested activities would include having the children print the words on
primary-lined paper, printing the words in shaving cream spread thinly on a
tray (in the classroom, the children will trace their new words in salt on
trays), and creating their own sentences and/or stories using as many words
as possible. As we progress through the units, the number of
vocabulary words will increase.
READING TESTS: Students will be given a Reading unit test at the end of each Reading unit.
These tests are provided by the book company and are an assessment of the student's aquisition
of concepts taught. The students are NEVER tested on the contents of the stories in the Reader.
The concepts tested are those found in the workbook and the Skills Practice pages that come home
in weekly packets. I highly recommend that you review concepts on an ongoing basis throughout
the school year. Other than formal tests, the students' skills are assessed by means of daily Skills
Practice pages, workbook pages, and through informal, anecdotal means.
LANGUAGE ARTS PACKETS: Once a week, usually on Wednesday, I will send home a packet of
papers of the previous week's work. There will be a parent signature slip to be sent back to me the
next day. Should you have any comments, please feel free to use the back of the paper. Occasionally,
a paper may be stamped Parent Signature--Please Sign and Return. These papers will be placed in the
student's portfolio.
I'M HERE TO HELP:This year I will have the opportunity to work with individual students in the
morning or at lunchtime on specific skills with which they may be having difficulties. Some students
may be seen on a fairly regular basis, others will be seen on an as needs basis. You will be
informed when I have seen your child during one of these sessions.
I hope that this communication has made some of my policies clear. Should you ever have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at any time at mdonohue@stjohnhydes.org.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Please sign and return.
I have read Mrs. Donohue's First-Grade Policy.
___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________
(Parent Signature) (Student-Grade)