Welcome
First Grade... Where You'll Wath Your Child Grow!
A Letter for Parents
Congratulations! You are the parent of a first grader at Morton Elementary School! You will be amazed at how much your child will grow his year. Most likely, your child has had the seed of reading and writing planted. During first grade, those seeds will grow and blossom, making your child an accomplished reader and writer! You will see changes in your child's thinking, as he/she becomes familiar with abstract concepts and symbols. The change will be dramatic - just compare a tiny seed with a full-grown sunflower! That's the kind of growth you'll see this year!
Ways to Help Your Child Bloom
The most lovely flowers usually have the best gardener - and that's you! Staying involved in your child's education is the key to a successful year. Engage your child in conversation about his/her day, but know that children won't always give out much information. I will send home a weekly newsletter on Fridays detailing our activities for the week. You can use this as a springboard for discussion; instead of saying 'What did you do at school today?' The answer is often 'nothing!'. You can say, 'Oh, I see you're learning about... what did you find out?' Some parents save these newsletters as a special remembrance of their child's first grade year.
Another way to stay involved is to check your child's Parent-Teacher Communication folder EVERY evening. You'll usually find it PACKED with school and homework projects, flyers, notices from the office, as well as notes from me. As daunting as it may be, try to sort through them, and read each one; they often contain important information and reminders. Your child should come to school the next day with a fairly empty folder - just homework or notes to me!
 
Parent-Teacher Communication
In addition to progress reports, report cards, and conferences, I am always available to meet or speak with you. If it is not urgent, please write a note and I will respond as soon as possible. You may call the school or e-mail me as well. In return, I will contact you by note or telephone if there is something that I'd like to discuss.
School Phone Number (219) 989-7736 Extension 7045, Room Number 201, Pod C, My School E-mail Address rssterczek@hammond.k12.in.us, Classroom Website www.missrsterczek.com, Classroom Blog www.missrsterczek.blogspot.com, Facebook Page - First Grade Rocks
Today your child brought home the magnet featured below. Place it on your refrigerator. This will remind you of the parent-teacher partnership that will be encouraged throughout the year. By working together (as a team), we will help your child reach his/her fullest potential and become a lifelong learner!
An apple for the teacher Is really nothing new, Except when you remember Parents are teachers, too!