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Classroom
Procedures
Our
Routines
Students are expected to come to school ready to work.
Wednesday folders will be distributed weekly. Please check these
for flyers from the office, fieldtrip forms, cafeteria information
and corrected schoolwork. A form is included for you to write
questions or comments if so desired. Folders should be returned
on Thursday so your student can earn his or her reward.
The cafeteria menu now offers choice. Students can choose from
several main courses including sandwiches. They MUST select a
minimum of three items. However, they can select up to four other
choices like fruit, dessert and chips.
Management
Plan
The
students and I discussed basic class goals during the first week
of school. We came up with the following 4 Ps and will use them
to help guide our behavior throughout the year.
- Everyone should PARTICIPATE.
- Everyone should be PREPARED.
- Everyone should be POLITE.
- Everyone should strive to reach
their full POTENTIAL.
The 4
Ps form the basis of our behavior plan. We will use the following
to support the students in obtaining these goals.
- Individual behavior is monitored
using the "Color System."
We have a pocket chart displayed in our room in which each child
has a "packet" of colored cards. All students start the day
with their green card showing to indicate a fresh start. If
they forget one of the 4 Ps, they change their cards as follows:
- First Reminder:
Flip to the yellow card.
- Second Reminder:
Flip to the blue card and miss 5 minutes of recess.
- Third Reminder:
Flip to the red card, miss 10 minutes recess and a behavior
report is completed by the student and sent home to
be signed by parent and/or visit to principal's office.
Every Wednesday, a report will
be sent home indicating your child's card color at the end
of each day the previous week. You are to sign and return
this form. In addition, the students are awarded "Banana
Bucks" for each day they end on green. These bucks can
be traded for privileges and rewards.
-
Group behavior
is monitored using a "Compliment Chain." Links are
added to the chain when the class is complimented by an adult
for staying on task, working quietly and/or being exceptionally
kind to one another. Once the chain reaches a designated length,
the class will celebrate.
- Music Box: A music
box is wound on Monday each week. It is opened throughout the
week when students are off task and remains open until they
settle down. Depending on how much playing time remains at the
end of the week, students earn an extra recess.
Home
and School Communication
Open communication between home and
school are key to your child's success in school. To reach this
end, expect regular correspondence from me during the year. I
also encourage you to contact me whenever a question or concern
arises. But don't limit our communication to that... let me know
the good stuff, too!
You can get in touch with me by:
I will communicate with you by:
Email- Biweekly newsletters
- Wednesday folders
- This web site
- Notes
- Phone calls
Library
Visits
We
will visit the public library twice a month. I will let each child
check out two books on my card but these books will stay at school
in book boxes. If students want to take library books home or
check out more that two books at a time, they will need to send
their own library card to school. I hope to find regular library
volunteers to accompany us on the walk to and from and/or to drive
during inclement weather.
Book
Orders
Once a month I will send home book order forms. Participation
is strictly OPTIONAL. Payment should accompany the order with
checks made out to Scholastic. Delivery generally takes less than
2 weeks. I will try to make recommendations from the inventory
to help you with book selection. The prices are reasonable and
we do earn bonus points for each item ordered. These points will
be redeemed for books to improve our classroom library.
Homework
Everyone
will be provided a homework folder to help them stay organized.
It will be sent home daily and should be returned the following
day. Inside, you should find a homework log. This is completed
by the students each afternoon and lists any homework for that
day. If there is no homework assigned, the student should write
"none" in the appropriate box. There is a place for
you to initial this form each day.
I expect all students to read at home
everyday. Your child will have math homework regularly as well.
There will be additional assignments periodically throughout the
year.
Students
are also expected to share (orally) one item of current events
each week. This assignment depends on support from you as the
students will need help understanding and explaining their news
item to the class. Students can get their information from the
TV, radio, newspaper or magazine. A written statement is not required
but may help with recall of information. Your child is expected
to give the following information about the news event: WHO the
article is about, WHAT happened, WHERE the event happened, WHY
the event was newsworthy, the SOURCE of the news item and whether
the item is local, state, national or international in nature.
One goal of homework is to help your child become responsible
for his or her own learning. However, if your child is unable
to complete an assignment for a legitimate reason, just send in
a note of explanation... we all have days when we are not at our
best!
Parents often wonder if they should help their children and "correct"
mistakes. Certainly point out mistakes in a gentle way and help
clarify understanding of a particular skill. And be sure to let
me know if you see a pattern of misunderstanding or problem area.
Homework
will rarely be assigned on weekends or holidays.
Birthday
Celebrations
I'd like to break from tradition and
offer an alternative for our birthday celebrations. Since our
classroom is starting fresh, we will need a lot of "stuff"
to complete our learning community. Perhaps your child could pick
out a small gift for our room in lieu of treats. Suggestions include
a book for our class library, craft supplies, or a learning game.
The benefits will be much longer lasting...
The
birthday student will still be treated like royalty throughout
the day!
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