I graduated from Texas A&M- Commerce. I am  married to my husband, Blake. We have one son, Brady, who will be five in October. He LOVES playing sports, cars, trucks, riding his bike, and being outside!!! Brady is in  Pre K 4! He brings so much JOY in our lives!! He keeps me busy, but I enjoy being outside, cooking, reading  and shopping.  This will be my eleventh  year  of teaching at Miller Grove. I absolutely love teaching first grade and being a Miller Grove HORNET! 

**Helpful Information for First Grade**

Some important information to start off the year:

***Attendance is important in first grade. What we do in class involves active participation, it is very important that your child attends each day. However, I do realize that sickness, family emergencies, and doctor’s appointments do occur. Whenever possible, your child’s schoolwork will be saved for him/her to complete upon their return to school. 

Online students Please make sure you log in daily to your google classroom. 

Toys and personal valuables should not be brought to school. If they are, they are at school at the child’s risk. All personal belongings should be clearly labeled with your child’s name.

Water Bottles… Your child needs to bring a refillable water bottle labeled with their name. At this time it is necessary that each student has their own water bottle because we will not be using the public water fountains. Students will be bringing their bottles home everyday to be washed and sanitized. 

Notes about Getting Home

Whenever someone is picking up your child that normally does not pick up your child, or your child is riding home a different way than they normally do, SEND A NOTE either in your child’s binder or you can CALL the office. Without a note or phone call, I will send the child home they way they go every day. I am very strict about this! This is not an area for flexibility. Your child’s safety is the most important thing. 

Snack Please provide a snack for your child everyday.

Homework will require some parental involvement at this level. Your cooperation is essential in developing a positive homework habit. First and foremost, you can encourage your child by showing interest and demonstrating helpful attitudes toward homework.
Some additional suggestions for homework:
• Provide a noise-free, well-lit place to work
• Establish a regular “homework time” in the home and have a special place free from excessive noise.
• Help your child organize adequate time to complete activities neatly and carefully.
• Encourage your child to ask for help when he/she doesn’t understand something or is frustrated. Teachers, like parents, can help only if they know there is a need.
• Decide if it becomes too frustrating of a task to stop and take a break. Any work done under duress or frustration is not a positive or healthy learning experience.

Online Learning

With this age group, it is imperative that parents understand their responsibility in their child’s online education. 

  • You must log in every calendar school day
  • You must complete assignments by the given due date
  • Communication is key, if you have any questions or concerns please email me.  If your child is struggling with a concept we need to schedule a meeting. 

We ask for grace and understanding during this time of uncharted territory and we will do the same for you. 

S.T.A.R Binders

 Your child’s S.T.A.R. Binder is a very important part of my teaching because it is a means of communicating with you! Your child will be responsible for taking it home each day and returning it the following morning. Please check your child’s S.T.A.R. Binder regularly for important information. 

Data Folder

Your child will bring home a Data Folder every Monday. This folder will have your child’s progress in reading, sight words, AR goals, MAPS testing, and I-Station assessments. Please check your child’s folder every Monday night, sign and return. 

Book Bags 

Everyday your child will bring home a book bag.This bag has books that your child should be able to read independently and with you. These books do belong to the school and need to be returned daily. If the books are damaged or lost, there will be a replacement fee. I would love for you to devote 15-20 minutes each night for reading with your child. 

Scholastic Book Orders

Book orders will be sent home at various times. If you purchase through Scholastic, our class receives points that will enable us to receive free books and materials for our classroom. 

Birthdays

We love to celebrate birthdays. Please let me know in advance if you plan on bringing in a treat for your child to share with the class. The ideal time for the party would be at the end of the day (1:10-1:25). At this time parents will not be allowed to stay for the party. You may drop off your special treat in the office for us to celebrate. Summer Birthdays will be celebrated with a “Birthday Bash” in May. I would be glad to deliver invitations to your child’s personal birthday party. However, in order to not hurt any child’s feelings in our classroom, please do not distribute party invitations in our classroom unless every child is invited to the party. This ensures that children in our class will not be placed in an uncomfortable situation or get their feelings hurt.

Conferences

My conference time is at 12:20-1:05. If you ever have a concern or question, please schedule a conference with me. It is very difficult to discuss these concerns during morning drop off or afternoon pick up. Your child is very important to me and I want to give your concern or question all the attention it deserves. 

My Contact Information

Phone Number: (903)-459-3288 ext. 304

E-mail: abirchfield@mgisd.net


That is it for now! Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns as the school year gets started.  With your support, we are going to have a FANTASTIC year in First Grade!!!   Mrs. Birchfield