Rules:
Consequences:
Assignment Notebook:
Grading Scale:
A = 92 - 100
B = 84 - 91
C = 74 - 83
D = 65 - 73
F = 64 and below
Online Grades:
Supply List:
Being Prepared:
"Take Home" Folder:
Classroom Library Books:
Spelling Folders:
Homework:
Vacation:
- Listen
- Follow directions
- Respect the rights and properties of others
- Cooperate with teachers, classmates, and other adults
- Be responsible for your work and actions
Consequences:
- For discipline, I follow the “three strikes and you’re out” method. On a beehive chart in the classroom, each student has a bee with his/her list number on it. Each time a student breaks one of the classroom rules, the student moves his/her bee. If the bee has been moved into the third and last hive, it constitutes as a detention. If the student continues to be disruptive after the third hive, that student will be sent to the office. Under certain circumstances, if behavior is a danger to other students’ safety, the beehive method will be skipped, and student will be immediately removed from the room.
Assignment Notebook:
- The school has provided each student with an assignment journal again this year. Each student is encouraged to take the assignment journal home daily and show it to the adult in charge each evening, discuss what was done in the lessons, discuss what still needs to be worked on at home (*Any Homework that still needs to be completed SHOULD BE CIRCLED by your child indicating they have not completed that work yet or am bringing it home to check through before handing in.*), and answer questions from the adult about the day. The student should then ask the adult to sign the journal in the indicated spot. At the beginning of the next school day, each student will open his/her assignment journal and place it on his/her desk. Students who have adult signatures from the previous school day will have their journals stamped by the teacher. At the end of the week, those students who have obtained signatures for every school day that week may be eligible for a reward. This assignment journal will help your child stay organized and can be a great tool when discussing school day activities and functions. I encourage parents to write any short notes or questions in planners as well. It is an easy way to communicate back and forth as this planner should be at school each day and go home each afternoon as well.
Grading Scale:
A = 92 - 100
B = 84 - 91
C = 74 - 83
D = 65 - 73
F = 64 and below
- I use the point system when grading. This means that I will record all scores as points in my grade book instead of percentages. I do this because I believe that this method better calculates your child’s actual grade on total work completed. It often works out (percentage wise) to be more beneficial for your child’s grades as well. Example: If your child gets 19 out of 20 questions correct, he/she receives 19 out of 20 points. If he/she gets 2 out of 5 on the next assignment, he/she receives 2 out of 5 points. That equates to 21 out of 25 total points for a total percentage of 84% (21/25 = .84). However, if this was recorded as two percentage scores, your child would have received a 95% (19 out of 20) and a 40% (2 out of 5) for an average of 68% (95% + 40% = 135% divided by 2 scores = 68%) As you can see, the point method gives an accumulated grade of 84%, while the percentage method records a 68%. This allows students to score lower on low point assignments and not worry about missing a problem or two that would significantly lower their total grade. I firmly believe that the point method creates greater accuracy for your child’s grades, thus, that is the method I will use. On each paper, however, I will put the point totals and a corresponding percentage, so that students will be able to see how they fared on that sheet according to the grading scale. I will only record point totals in my grade book.
Online Grades:
- If you have internet access, you can view your child’s grades and assignments from your home computer. Please be aware that I usually update grades on a weekly basis, almost always on the weekend. I simply do not have the time to do so each day. For daily updates pertaining to any missing work or homework, please refer to your child’s assignment notebook.
Supply List:
- 20 #2 pencils
- Pink eraser
- Elmer's school glue (no gel)
- 2 LARGE boxes facial tissue
- Box of 24 crayons
- Set of eight washable markers
- Assorted colors 4-pack THIN EXPO Dry erase markers
- School box (remember our desks are small)
- Sharp scissors
- Set of colored pencils
- 2 large containers disinfectant wipes
- 2 heavy-duty two pocket folders, 3 hole punched
- 1 box QUART SIZE Ziploc bags
- 1 package loose leaf WIDE RULED lined notebook paper
- 1 2-pack of Elmer’s WASHABLE STICK GLUE (purple)
Being Prepared:
- I expect your child to come to class prepared with materials such as pencils, erasers, rulers, paper, and other supplies from our class list. If your child is in need of any of these materials, please let me know in advance so that I can make arrangements to provide your child with the appropriate materials prior to class beginning.
"Take Home" Folder:
- Along with the planner going home each night, a “Take Home” folder should also go home each night and back to school the next day. Each student will take any finished and graded work home with them as well as any homework or paperwork that needs completed for that evening. Please look for the “HOMEWORK” and “TAKE HOME” stickers on the inside pockets signifying which pile is to be completed and returned and which pile is to stay at home. Coming back to school the next day should be any finished homework or an empty folder if no homework was assigned.
Classroom Library Books:
- I have compiled a classroom library of my own books. I have purchased these books out of my own pocket for your child to read. Each book will be checked out just like a library book is done. I have a box in my room where all book cards will be kept and recorded. I please ask that if your child takes a book out of the classroom library, that he/she takes extra care of these books. Many of my books are soft cover which means that they are more liable to be damaged if not handled properly. Taking care of these books will allow them to last longer so that more children will be able to enjoy these wonderful books. I do understand that books wear out over time, but if your child has returned a book that was fairly new and is now torn apart beyond repair, your child may lose the privilege of checking books out of our classroom library.
Spelling Folders:
- Each student will be given a Yellow Spelling folder. Inside the Spelling folder will be a list of the current week’s words, a 3x sheet, and a pretest/test sheet. At the beginning of each week, we will take a Spelling pretest. This will not be for a grade, but just as a baseline for students’ previous knowledge of the words. Students will self-check these words and correct any misspellings. Throughout that week, students are then required to write each word on the pretest three times each correctly (3x sheet). This sheet is to be handed in before the final test at the end of the week. If misspelled words are not written on 3x sheet before the final test, the student will lose percentage points off their final test grade.
Homework:
- I understand that each student comes from different backgrounds and situations at home. Time can be difficult in getting work done at home with your child. I know there are one-parent families and families that work late and are very busy. I try not to assign very much homework. It is my belief that a student’s best opportunity of getting work finished is at school. I try my best to give students time to work at school and have the teacher and other peers there to help with any questions. I feel that students are in school for a great portion of the day and they need time in the evenings and weekends to just be kids. However, this does not mean that there won’t be work to do at home. Please be attentive to your child’s education. Ask them questions about their day and about the subjects we study. Extra review and discussion always helps. With that being said, when I assign work, I expect it to be completed. My policy is if the work is not turned in on the due date, the student has the option of staying in at recess to work on it or bring it in the next day. (I also understand that finished homework gets forgotten at home or emergencies come up when there is no time to complete work. Excused absences do not count as late work if a note is sent to school from a parent/guardian) If the work is not turned in the second day after it was due, the student will miss recess until work is completed. If student cannot complete in a timely manner, other consequences will be rendered (ie. Detention). If the assignment is not turned in on the third day after it was due, a zero will be recorded in the grade book, but the student must still complete the assignment. Great communication between parents, students, and the teacher by means of the planner, email, and simply talking with your child can eliminate this problem before it arises.
Vacation:
- If you are aware that your child will be gone from school (vacation, personal reasons, etc.), please send a note a few days ahead of time so that arrangements can be made for homework. This will save your child from cramming too much homework into a short amount of time when they return.