All about me:  2023-24

Hi!  My name is Tammy Odgers. I am a graduate of Dallas Baptist University. I have been married for 35 years this January. My husband and I have lived in the Maypearl school district for 24 years. My son and daughter both began Kindergarten and graduated from MaypearlISD. My son and daughter are now married. Paden and his family live in North Dakota.  My daughter and her family live in Fort Worth. We have 3 grandchildren and 1 grand dog!

I have taught 1st grade in Maypearl for 21 years.  I love our school and I know you will too. I love teaching 1st grade! It is a year of such tremendous growth for the students. We learn so much and have a lot of fun doing it! I feel very blessed to have your child in my class. 

Things to know:

-School starts at 7:55. Students are tardy if not in the room at 8:00. I suggest arriving at the doors no later than 7:45. This allows for students to "settle in" before getting to their class and starting work.

-Students are dropped off each morning at the sidewalk that leads into the cafeteria. (by the awning and ramps)

-Students will be picked up at the same place as drop off.

-PE:  10:50-11:10

-Our lunch: 12:20-12:50

-Recess: 12:50-1:20  

-Specials (art, music, counseling and computer) and my conference time. 2-2:45

-Dismissal: 3:25

-Students must have tennis shoes for gym. I would suggest leaving a pair in their backpack if they don't wear them daily.  Tennis shoes are also much safer for playing outside.

HOMEWORK: Make it fun!  Ideas: Use shaving cream or textured material to practice spelling patterns or sight words. Use beans, leggos, small toys to count up or take away with math. Make flash cards with spelling words, math facts, sight words, etc. and play card games with them. It really makes a difference. ♥

-Spelling words will be coming home on Mondays. They will be in a clear sheet protector in your child's folder. Students receive a reward for bringing back spelling practice done at home. If your child is struggling, I suggest doing practice a minimum of 3 nights a week. If your child is overwhelmed, pick 3 or 4 words a night for them to write/spell. After the first few weeks of school, your child will come home with a leveled spelling and sight words list , as well as a leveled baggie book. 

-Math fact practice sheets are sent home on Mondays. There will be a focus page with flash cards for fact practice each week. They are due by Friday.  Corrections, reteach pages and/or strategy practice sheets may come home as needed and are all due by Friday.

Please let your child do these independently. If they are struggling, give them small items to use to count together or apart, a number line (I will send this home).  Remind them to circle the larger number and count up/down depending on addition or subtraction. These are all strategies being taught in class. Flash cards are fun to play memory or timing games together.

-Baggie books will be sent home on the 3rd week of school.   Depending on how your child is reading, your child will bring home a book or books on their level. If your child is not reading yet, they may have letters to practice sounds and build words. Students need to  know the SOUNDS of all letters to practice BLENDING WORDS TOGETHER. These baggie books are to be returned each Friday with the form signed (finished or not).  I will return them to finish or give a new book to start as needed. 

CONTACT - You can call the front office to get a message to me right away at 972-435-1099. You can send a text through REMIND101.  I check my email before school, at my conference time and after school at todgers@maypearlisd.org. 

I believe you and I are a team when it comes to guiding your child to success. 

 We are going to have a lot of fun learning together!

Sincerely,

Tammy Odgers (Mrs.O)