Parent
Information
Homework
Policy
I believe homework is important because it is a valuable aid in
helping students make the most of their experience in school.
I give homework because it is useful in reinforcing what has been
learned in class, prepares students for upcoming lessons, extends
and generalizes concepts, teaches responsibility and helps students
develop positive study habits. I will assign homework Monday through
Thursday nights. Only on rare occasions will students have homework
over the weekend (projects, long-term assignments). Homework should
take students no more than 40 minutes to complete each night,
not including studying for tests and long-range projects. I expect
students to do their best job on their homework. All homework
should be done neatly, and in pencil only. I expect for students
to do their work on their own and ask for help only after they
have given it their best effort. Parents may sign their child's
agenda each night after checking over the completed assignments.
If students choose not to complete their homework, they also choose
to lose certain privileges.
Daily
Schedule
Please consider our schedule when making doctor's appointments.
If at all possible, please attempt to make appts. after lunch,
because our reading and math blocks are in the morning.
Classroom
Management Plan
Social Curriculum- In the first few weeks of school, we will be
talking about our hopes and dreams for the year and the rules
that we'll need to help us reach them. We want to make our classroom
a safe and caring place so that all of our hopes and dreams come
true. To make our classroom safe, we remember The Golden Rule:
Treat others as you would like to be treated. Students will work
together to generate class rules that will help them achieve their
hopes and dreams for the year.
Students
will also learn how and continue to resolve conflicts with one
another through a step-by-step process called "Talk It Out."
For more information on the social curriculum we have adopted
this year, please visit http:www.responsiveclassroom.org. Students
will also earn "Bayou Bucks" for good behavior and work
habits. This money can be used for extra classroom privileges,
as well as spent at the class store each quarter.
B.E.E.
Books
(Bring Everything Everday)
BEE is an acronym for "Bring Everything Everyday." The
BEE folder contains the sections listed below. Entries are made
daily, so please look at all of the sections. Also, see that your
child returns this notebook daily.
|
Plastic
Top-Loading Sleeves
Class
News
Newsletters will be sent home each Monday, containing Homework
& Test Schedule.
EMPTY THIS WEEKLY
School Notes
This section will contain any notes from school, our principal,
PTA, or any other school personnel or organization. Please
also place doctor's excuses in this section.
EMPTY THIS NIGHTLY
|
Zipper
Bag
Place all monies for school in this bag. Don't forget to put
all lunch money in an envelope with the student's lunch number
and name on it. |
At
Home Reading Log
Please initial each entry your child makes. Students should
be readinga home for 1 hour per week (preferrably 3 20-minute
sessions). Research shows that your child's reading level
will increase DRAMATICALLY if he/she follows this schedule,
reading books on his level. Logs will be checked every Friday. |
Bayou
Bucks
Bayou
Bucks is a class tender that is used to encourage positive behavior.
Students earn bucks based on which step they ended up on that
day. Also, if a student is "caught" doing something
right, he can earn Bayou Bucks. This money can be spent on several
things:extra bathroom/water visit, school supplies, homework passes,
etc. At the end of eah quarter, I will open a store from which
students can make purchases. However, this can only be done after
each child pays his INCOME TAX! That's right! Students are responsible
for filing, just like mom and dad! CRS (Classroom Revenue Service)
Agents will be hired to aid in this process. Adding this element
makes the Bayou Buck system an even richer learning experience.
Students begin to see what paying taxes feels like, and it opens
the door to many discussions as to why we NEED taxes--like 'em
or not.
Graded
Papers
Graded papers will come home on Wednesdays. They will come home
in your BEE Book (folder). Please review the papers with your
child, and sign and return them the next day.
Volunteers
If
you are interested in volunteering in our classroom, please check
this section frequently. I will be needing volunteers for upcoming
classroom activities,as well as field trips, and I will post those
activities, dates and times here, as well as the class newsletter.
You are also welcome to come in and lend a hand at any time. I
appreciate your help very much!
AR/RR
Program
Reading Renaissance is program designed to improve reading achievement,
through the use of Accelerated Reader (AR) books. Each school
day, students will read to/with someone, or read independently
for at least 30 minutes. Each day's reading will be accompanied
with a "Power Lesson" taught by me, which will focus
on one specific reading skill. Students will work at their own
reading level, and will be quizzed on each book read. Parents
will receive data showing how the student is progressing every
9 weeks. Students achieving their goals will be rewarded with
"Lollipop Friday." At the end of each quarter, students
who have met all 3 goals will receive a special treat. Please
read below to find out more about Reading Renaissance (RR) using
AR books below (taken from www.renlearn.com):
Gets
kids excited about books.
Accelerated Reader (AR®) helps to focus attention on careful
reading of books, which improves students’ critical-thinking
skills and builds the intrinsic love of reading.
Provides teachers and parents with reliable, objective information
regarding student's reading achievement. Three different types
of assessment give valuable data on students’ reading practice,
literacy skills development, and performance on classroom assignments.
Makes
managing the classroom easier.
Teachers who use AR report higher attendance, fewer discipline
problems, and improved attitudes toward school.
Helps
keep each student challenged.
Using AR, teachers can continually match kids to appropriate books
within their zone of proximal development (ZPD). That means the
teacher can ensure every student is challenged without being frustrated.
Morning
Meeting
There's a wonderful new beginning to your child's
school day! It's called Morning Meeting and it's a great way to
build community, set a positive tone, increase excitement about
learning, and improve academic and social skills. Morning Meeting
usually takes between fifteen and thirty minutes. First thing
each morning, the children and I gather in a circle. We begin
by greeting each other. Every day, your child hears his or her
name spoken by a classmate in a friendly and cheerful manner.
Next, a few students share some interesting news followed by a
conversation with the class. This helps students listen carefully,
think about what they hear, formulate good questions, and learn
about each other. When your child shares, s/he'll have a chance
to feel that his/her ideas are valued and that the other children
care. After sharing, there is an activity for the whole class.
We might sing or recite a poem or play a math game. The activity
time helps the class feel united as a group, reinforces academic
skills, and helps the children learn how to cooperate and solve
problems. Finally, we read the news and announcements chart, which
helps students think about the day ahead. Sometimes, I use this
time to teach a reading, punctuation, or math skill. Morning Meeting
lets children know every day that school is a safe place where
everyone's feelings and ideas are important. We'd love to have
you visit a Morning Meeting. Just give me a call or email to arrange
a good time. You'll see for yourself why we're all so excited
about this start to our day.
