First Quarter Accomplishments!

All First Graders have ...
  •  welcomed each other to Nativity! They have built a positive classroom community!
  •  learned how to create pictographs and bar graphs in Math!
  •  learned addition and subtraction strategies which has made them awesome problem solvers!
  •  developed as writers. Their daily journaling is off to a great start!
  •  learned about the four seasons in science!
  •  visited their heart home and have built strong relationships with Jesus!
  •  challenged themselves on their reading level by checking out books weekly in the classroom library.
  •  had Chinese culture instruction!


Second Quarter…Ready Set Go!

All First Graders will ...
  • study birds!
  • continue to learn addition and subtraction strategies.
  • continue to become excellent readers.
  • understand topic, main idea, and details within daily reading.
  • learn to be descriptive writers.
  • learn about the birth of Jesus and will share a breakfast in Bethlehem.
  • be attending the Cincinnati Symphony.

Welcome to Grade One
2008-2009 School Year!

I am very excited to be your child ’s teacher. First grade is a time of excitement and learning. This is my fourth year teaching at Nativity. I graduated from The College of Mount Saint Joseph in 2005 with a Bachelor’s of Art in Inclusive Early Childhood Education. I have started my Masters program at Xavier University and hope to have my Masters in December! I am seeking a Special Education Mild to Moderate Licensure. I have never doubted the profession teaching. I have always wanted to be a teacher. Growing up my favorite past time was to play school. Here I am many years later currently in the position of which I have always dreamed.

I live in Harrison Ohio with my husband Jason and our dog Blue. I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, sports (GO BENGALS!!!), and of course shopping. I have four nephews and two nieces which keep me very busy. I have found the comforts of home in the Nativity community. The students, families, and staff make coming to school an enjoyable experience.

This year I hope to accomplish many goals with my students. The first goal is to build a community within the classroom so that each student feels ownership of the room. We will accomplish this feeling of community and ownership of our classroom by spending the first weeks of school learning, modeling, and practicing the rituals and routines of First Grade. God will be our focus point to reveal love, community, and faith within each of us in our classroom. The second goal is to make sure I am challenging each learner and meeting the needs of every child in my classroom. Children in schools today learn best through their own learning styles. I will strive to teach using a variety of methods and materials so that each child can comprehend the material being presented and challenge them to use higher level thinking. I promise to teach with great enthusiasm, and will do anything in my power for the children and the families in which I will serve.

Evaluation and assessment will be made throughout the school year. Whether it is a running record, chart, rubric, or anecdotal notes, I will gather the data needed to track progress of my students. This data will help me evaluate grades and progress reports.

My discipline plan is designed to help students achieve community as well as develop individually. The plan is designed to reward students as well as teach them consequences for inappropriate behavior. I will be stressing the fact that we are a caring and sharing class. I will teach the students how their words and their actions impact others feelings as well as their own. There will be more information on this plan in your child’s home folder.

Feel Free to Contact Me…
If parents feel the need to check in with me to see how there child is doing or for any other concerns feel free to email or call. I will also communicate through the use of the Friday folders. I look forward to a great collaboration with you.
kelbien@yahoo.com or 458-6767 Ext. 414

Homework
 • First grade students will be given homework nightly. Reading nightly is also very important to develop fluency throughout the    year. I ask that the child please read 10-15 minutes each night.
 • Each student will be given a Read to Succeed Booklet. One page each week is to be completed and signed by a parent or guardian.    The page will be due and graded on each Friday. Listen and guide your child as he or she is learning to read.
 • The children will be responsible for bringing home their Home Folder every night. Please be sure to check the folder for important    information. The daily homework will be in the home folder.
 • On Fridays the Home Folder will not be sent home. Instead your child will be bringing home a Friday Folder. In the Friday Folder will    be information on the material we have covered that week and any important information for the parents, including the behavior chart.    The majority of the student’s work will also be in the Friday Folder. Please empty the Friday folder before returning it to school. The    Friday Folder and the Behavior Chart need to be signed and returned by the following Monday.

Absent Work
When a child misses a day or days of school the make up work will be sent home with the student the day he or she returns. The make up work is due back completed within two days of the absence. If a student will be missing school for a longer period of time due to a vacation, etc. please notify me one week in advance. I will be happy to gather the missed work ahead of time.

Missing Work
If a student does not complete homework or does not bring the homework to school, the work is considered missing. An incomplete will be marked in the grade book and the child will complete the missing homework on their free time or will be expected to return the homework the following school day.

Grades:
O- Outstanding progress
S- Satisfactory progress
N- Needs improvement

Our Textbooks
 • Religion: Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts, Authors: Barbra F. & James P. Campbell M.A., D. Min
 • Reading: Houghton Mifflin Reading, Authors: David J. Cooper & John J. Pikulski
 • Phonics: Words Their Way, Authors, Donald R. Bear, Marcia Invernizzi, & Francine Johnston
 • Math: Houghton Mifflin Math, Authors, Dr. Carol Greenes, Dr. Matt Larson, Dr. Miriam A. Leiva, Dr. Jean M. Shaw, Dr. Lee Stiff, Dr.     Bruce R. Vogeli, & Dr. Karol Yeatts
 • Science: Weekly Readers & teacher planned materials
 • Social Studies: Readers & teacher planned materials

Helpful Links to Visit
       www.starfall.com This site is great for beginning readers!     www.rainforestmaths.com This site is a wonderful tool for math review!

Mrs. Bien’s Behavior Chart Policy

Each week students will be given a Behavior Chart. The behavior chart is to stay in their home folder. Please sign and/or comment on the behavior chart each night. The Behavior Chart is designed to match the classroom behavior system. Each student will be assigned a number. Above the number in the classroom will be space for a card that will display the happy face (excellent behavior). The student may be asked to change their happy face to a straight line face (satisfactory behavior), or a sad face (unsatisfactory behavior) within the school day.

Below are some examples of each type of behavior.
A student will be rewarded Excellent Behavior if…
 • All rules and directions are followed within the school day
 • Student tries his or her best throughout the entire school day
 • Student displays an excellent positive attitude
 • Student is helpful and caring towards his or her peers

A student will be rewarded Satisfactory Behavior if ...
 • Student has missing homework
 • Student does not follow directions, but has improved effort in the school day

A student will be rewarded Unsatisfactory Behavior if…
 • Student refuses to follow directions and classroom rules
 • Student is disrespectful to his or her teacher or peers
 • Student shows no effort to improve his or her behavior

The chart will be filled out daily by Mrs. Bien. Mrs. Bien will communicate any important behavior information in the column named School Time Comments. The column named Parent Comments & Signature is the space provided for you to communicate any important information to Mrs. Bien and for you to sign each night.

Each Friday the Behavior Chart will be removed and placed in the Friday Folder to be taken home and reviewed over the weekend. Please sign the Behavior Chart and the Friday Folder note and return both on the following Monday.