Taylor VanMeighem

[PORTFOLIO
ASSIGNMENT B]
 August, 2016

Dear Parents and Students of Room 1,

Welcome to first grade! I am looking forward to sharing this year with

you. I reside in Richland and I'm a graduate of Washington State University in
Pullman. GO COUGS! I enjoy spending much of my time outdoors hiking with
my family, horseback riding, and attending the local farmer's market. This
will be my first year teaching first grade and I can't wait to get the year
started!

Our school day begins at 8:40 AM each day. Students will line up
outside our classroom door. School will be dismissed at 3:17 PM each day-
except on Wednesday when release time is at 2:00 PM. Students will be
escorted to the appropriate bus line or crosswalk area. If your child is picked
up, please park in the designated "pick up" spot, or meet your child by the
flag pole.

First grade lunch time is at 11:27 AM with recess following. You are
welcome to join your child for lunch in the cafeteria any time. A lunch menu
will be sent home at the beginning of each month. As we are getting used to
the school schedule, some students enjoy a mid-morning snack until they
become used to eating lunch at this time. Students may include extra food in
their lunches to be eaten as a snack. Please make sure the snacks are
nutritious finger foods that are not messy such as grapes or crackers.

Your student will bring home a folder on a daily basis. This folder will
contain some of the work he/she has completed in class as well as any
paperwork needing to be returned to school. In addition, you will see a
monthly calendar that is always on the "Return to School" side. It is
important that the calendar travels back and forth between school and
home. Homework comes home every day except Friday. Please watch for it
daily. This especially becomes the case if your child frequently does not finish
his/her work in class. Thank you in advance for your flexibility!

Our classroom rules are listed at the bottom of the monthly calendar. If
your child is not following a classroom rule, that number is marked on the
calendar. Please look at the behavior calendar daily - and reinforce good
behavior choices, and provide a consequence for poor behavior choices.
Thank you!

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,
Ms. VanMeighem
taylor.vanmeighem@ksd.org
Example of Calendar (Modeled from a classroom observation)

(Front)
October
Wednesd
Sunday Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday
ay
1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31

Classroom Rules
1. Be safe
2. Show Respect
3. Make Good Decisions
4. Solve Problems

Parent
Signature:______________________________________________________________
 (Back)
Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports
Classroom Hallways Gym Bathroom Playground Bus
Be alert and Silent Show good Use space Include others Visit quietly
engaged sportsmanship appropriately
Walk on the Listen to paras Listen to
Raise hand right side Give attention to Allow privacy driver
Show the speaker Listen to other
Respect Eyes on speaker Hold doors for Quiet voices ideas Be a helper
Respect others others Encourage each to others
ideas other

Stay on task Hands to self Follow Golden Use in timely Be back to Leave toys at
Rule manner door on time home
Do your best Stay in line
Make
Eyes on speaker Use vessels, Include others Choose seat
Good
Be example to Face forward water, and wisely
Decision
others Show empathy paper Stand up for
s
Whisper talk if appropriately each other Face forward
Be prepared working

Look for clues Be a role Ask for help Wait your turn Walk away Sit by good
model from issue kids
Ask for help Rock, paper, Clean up after
Stay with scissors yourself Be assertive Ask for help
Work as a team class
Solve
Take turns Report Ask for help Report issues
Problems
Go straight to important from others to adult
destination issue to adult
Report
important
issue to adult
Bags and coats Walk Walk to your Wash and dry Follow rules Stay properly
hung up spot hands seated
Looking Use
Walk forward Follow rules One person equipment Backpacks
per stall appropriately out of aisle
Be Safe Push in chair Arms distance Use equipment
between appropriately Hands/feet to Follow whistle Hands/feet to
walkers self alert self

Keep rough Walk to buses

play at home

Parent/Teacher Communication:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Over the summer I was able to observe in many different classrooms as a
para-educator substitute. There was a specific classroom that I felt had great
parent-teacher communication and I modeled my parent letter off of that
experience. In my parent letter I discuss a calendar that I would have my
students keep in a folder. This calendar would be looked at every day by
parents. By doing this parents could check in with their child and see how
they are doing in class. Located on the calendar are classroom rules,
behavior expectations, and a spot specifically for parent-teacher
communication. I could see myself using this in class because it is a
consistent way for parents to stay up to date with what is going on in the
classroom and with their child. Parents will also have access to my email
address for any other questions and concerns. I really like the idea of having
a "Get To Know You" worksheet filled out by parents and their children. As a
teacher I could use this worksheet to strengthen my relationship with my
students because I will be made aware of what my students are like when
they are at home, what I could do in order to better instruct them, and any
other specific needs. I've found that a lot of children take time to open up.
Therefore, this worksheet will prepare me to build and strengthen
relationships with my students. As for instructional expectations, I will inform
my students what the expectations are from day one. I will include posters
around the class and also make sure that my students are aware of the
expectations on their calendar just as their parents are.
(I've attached samples of the calendar and worksheet)

In our textbook, Classroom Management for Elementary Teachers, Emerson

describes three types of communication skills for addressing student conflict.
These are constructive assertiveness, empathetic responding, and problem
solving (Emerson p.204). The skill I am most comfortable using is
empathetic responding. I feel that when I am working with students I try to
see their point of view and work with them to come up with a list of possible
solutions to a problem. Arguing with students will get you know where and
the situation will often blow up when it doesn't need to. By staying calm and
patient with a student, emotions are less likely to go haywire and the conflict
will defuse itself. The skill that I feel needs to be developed the most is
constructive assertiveness. I think I tend to be a little bit of a push over and I
know that needs to change in order to be the best teacher I can be. I never
want to be the bad guy in a situation, but there is a difference between being
mean and being assertive. After reading this chapter I can see that more
clearly. In the future I will practice being more assertive and eventually hope
to encompass each skill sufficiently in order to become a well rounded
teacher.
 GETTING TO KNOW YOU!

Students Name_____________________Prefers to be called___________________

Mothers Name_______________Occupation________________Ph. #_____________

Fathers Name_______________Occupation_________________Ph. #_____________

Home phone______________Cell phone #________________email_________________

Best times to call:______________________

Other children in the family: Grade (or age) School

______________________ _____________ _____________

______________________ _____________ _____________

______________________ _____________ _____________

______________________ _____________ _____________

______________________ _____________ _____________

Describe your child:_____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Some things my child is looking forward to doing in school this year

include:_____________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Several interests my child enjoys both in and out of school

are:___________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

Some things (if any) that seem difficult for my child are:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Some things my child does very well (in or out of school) are:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

How will your child get home?

______________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(See the backside)

Are there any food allergies or other health conditions that I should be aware of?
_________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Does your child have any specific needs that you would like me to know about?
_____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Please list any suggestions you have that would help me work most effectively with your
child._________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Do you have any special talents or ways you would like to contribute to classroom learning
this year?
______________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Would you like to volunteer in the classroom regularly?_______

Or do you prefer helping at home with teacher tasks?________

Is there any other information that you would like me to be aware of which may affect
your childs school day?
_________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Thanks so much for your insights. I appreciate the time you spent on this.
 Work Cited
Everston, C, & Emmer, E. (2013). Classroom management for elementary
teachers. United States of America: Pearson.