Expectations and Policies
1. Wear a clean mask every day and bring home used ones so they can be washed. Parents need help too, so see if washing masks could be a way for you to help your family!
2. Bring a full water bottle. Hydration is so important when you are learning. Water helps our brains transmit and receive information. Wash your water bottle every day.
3. Fuel your body with energy-rich foods. Proper nutrition will not only help our bodies grow, but build a strong brain.
4. Take time to wind down at the end of the day. Read books, listen to soft music, and pray. Getting adequate rest will help you get ready to learn and play.
5. Remember to be patient with your classmates and teachers. This new way of learning is hard on everyone, so we need to do out best to let people go at their own pace.
6. Laugh and play! Spend time doing things you love outside of school. I look forward to working on my addition on my home with my husband, spending time with my girls, and spending time outside.
Homework Policy
I believe homework is a valuable tool that helps students reinforce and extend concepts taught in school, prepares students for upcoming lessons, teaches responsibility, creates a connection between home and school, and helps students develop regular study habits. I believe parents play an important role in developing a positive attitude toward homework, and students will benefit from a regular homework routine. Therefore, I ask parents to provide the necessary supplies and environment, set up a daily homework time, provide support, and contact me if they notice a problem.
Assignments will be given Monday-Thursday. Homework assignments will fit into one of the following categories: practice homework, preparation homework, extension homework, or creative homework.
Practice Homework
Practice homework helps students master skills and reinforce in-class learning. Learning spelling words and completing math worksheets are examples of this type of homework.
Preparation Homework
Preparation assignments prepare students for an upcoming lesson or quiz. Reading an article, completing a KWL chart or reviewing material are examples of this type of homework.
Extension Homework
Extension homework helps students take what they learn in class and connect it with real life. It requires students to transfer specific skills and concepts to new situations. Journal writing and conducting experiments at home are examples of extension homework.
Creative Homework
Creative homework helps students integrate multiple concepts and promotes the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills. This type of homework often takes the form of open-ended questions and long term projects that allow students a choice.
Daily assignments will be written on the board. Students are responsible for copying them into their assignment books, which will then be signed by me. Parents are asked to check the planner daily or weekly depending on the student's level of responsibility.
Homework should typically take the students between thirty to fifty minutes to complete with the exception of studying for a test. Homework is due the next day unless otherwise stated. Students may have time to start homework in class if they use their time wisely. Students will have projects occasionally in different subject areas. There will be one book project assigned each trimester that students will complete outside of class. Students will not be assigned homework over the weekends, but unfinished class work or missing homework may be given. Students are expected to budget their time wisely to complete long-term projects, so completing tasks over the weekend/vacations is encouraged.
Homework should always be meaningful, and fit into one of the homework categories listed above. All homework is expected to be turned in on time. It is a student's responibility to complete and turn in assignments. Students are expected to turn in work the following day for full credit. If homework or classwork is not turned in the day it is due, there will be a ten point deduction daily for up to five days. After that point, a student will no longer be able to turn that assignment in. If the purpose of spelling homework is to prepare for a test, it seems foolish to allow a student to make it up after the test is taken. If an assignment has been photocopied twice and has not been turned in, that student will no longer have an opportunity to make up that work. Projects will lose 10% for each day that it is late. On the fourth day past the due date, the project will become a zero. If a student is consistently missing assignments, a meeting will be requested with parents to come up with a plan to increase homework success.
No name papers are a nuisance, and waste valuable teacher time. By fifth grade, this should no longer be an issue. If a student continually forgets to write his or her name on every assignment, he or she will be required to write his or her name on assignments ten times for the remainder of the year.
Students are expected to stay on top of their grades by checking them online with parents. Grades are updated every week on Tuesday evening. I will also send all graded work home on Friday. Please check your child’s folder for graded work. Return folder on Monday, empty.
Grading Policy
A+
Work Quality
Fifth graders are expected to take pride in their work. Below is a list of expectations for work quality in fifth grade.
· Name on paper/Class Number
· Date
· Written neatly, and when assigned, in cursive.
· Proper use of capitalization and punctuation
Work in Math should be complete, and all work should be shown, especially in problem solving.
Work should be completed in pencil, or blue or black pen unless students are completing an assignment that requires color.
Work that does not meet these expectations will be redone.
Extra Credit/ Grade Modification
Grades are final. However, I understand that extenuating circumstances do arise and those situations will be addressed on an individual basis. Each trimester, students will be allowed to complete one extra credit activity to be included in their overall grade in the areas of Language or Math.
Homework Club
If I feel a student needs more support on an assignment or there is a behavioral concern, I will meet with that student from 2:45-3:15 on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Parents will be informed at pick-up if their child needs to stay that day or the next. Homework Club is not an open time, and is not always available, and is only scheduled by the teacher.
Tardies/ Absences
Fifth graders come into the building at 7:50. Our day starts with a check-in, morning message, attendance, and morning work. Students are expected to be settled and working by 8:00. It is important that your child arrives on time so that they are ready to begin the day and do not fall behind with morning work, which is used to reinforce reading and math skills, to extend topics we are covering, or catching up on class work. In the rare event that a student may be tardy they must check in at the office before coming upstairs. They will still be responsible for the work they missed.
When a student is absent, homework can be picked up in the office at the end of the day if requested by 9 am; otherwise, students will be given their missed work when they return. Students will have the same number of days they were absent to turn in the missed work. The student is responsible for turning in their missed work on time. No additional reminders will be given. It can become difficult for students to catch up if they are repeatedly absent and/or tardy.
If students are missing school due to a planned vacation they will not have an opportunity to receive class work before their trip. They are encouraged to read, journal, and read ahead in their textbooks. Students will be given work when they return, and will have the same number of days to complete it as they were absent.
Behavior Management
Classroom Economy
This program has the same overall objectives for all grades—to instill basic financial responsibility and teach the value of delayed gratification. Students earn and spend money in a simulated microeconomy. Using classroom “currency,” students earn money for jobs and pay rent for their desks. They can earn bonus cash by participating in extracurricular activities, helping others, and earning excellent grades. On the other hand, students who don’t meet classroom expectations will be fined some of their classroom dollars. That could happen, for example, if they don’t complete assignments or don’t listen when other students are speaking. The classroom economy helps students learn valuable life skills such as organization, the value of saving, and delayed gratification. Rather than being told about the importance of these skills, they actually experience them. In addition, the system fits in well with our curriculum. We’ll also have a little fun with it. After paying rent, students can save money to spend at monthly auctions where they get to bid on popular prizes such as sit next to a friend, homework pass, or indoor recess. The students will certainly enjoy themselves, and I know you will appreciate the skills and knowledge they learn along the way.
http://myclassroomeconomy.org/
Uniform Infraction
Student appearance is very important! If a student is not in compliance with the uniform policy, they will receive a warning. Further infractions will result in detention. Please refer to the family handbook regarding our uniform policy.
Uniform Policy: http://cksvt.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Uniform-Policy-18-19.pdf
Field Trips:
Field trips are a wonderful way to extend concepts taught in school, and are a great way to connect with wonderful educational programs available to us here in Vermont and beyond. Some field trips students can look forward to are: STARBASE, The UVM Perkins Geology Museum, the Flynn, the Audubon, and the Ethan Allen Homestead.
Birthdays/Class Parties:
We love to celebrate birthdays! Please notify me in advance if you plan to bring in a treat for your child and when. We have 14 students in our class this year. Food allergies will be announced at the beginning of the school year. We ask that birthday treats be individual sized for easy distribution and consumption☺. (No sheet cakes etc.) If your child has a summer birthday we can arrange for a birthday celebration during the school year. We do not celebrate half birthdays in fifth grade.
We will have class parties for the following holidays: Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day. Look for more detailed information from our room parents.
Masses:
All school Masses will be held every Wednesday, with the exception of masses on Holy Days of Obligation.
2. Bring a full water bottle. Hydration is so important when you are learning. Water helps our brains transmit and receive information. Wash your water bottle every day.
3. Fuel your body with energy-rich foods. Proper nutrition will not only help our bodies grow, but build a strong brain.
4. Take time to wind down at the end of the day. Read books, listen to soft music, and pray. Getting adequate rest will help you get ready to learn and play.
5. Remember to be patient with your classmates and teachers. This new way of learning is hard on everyone, so we need to do out best to let people go at their own pace.
6. Laugh and play! Spend time doing things you love outside of school. I look forward to working on my addition on my home with my husband, spending time with my girls, and spending time outside.
Homework Policy
I believe homework is a valuable tool that helps students reinforce and extend concepts taught in school, prepares students for upcoming lessons, teaches responsibility, creates a connection between home and school, and helps students develop regular study habits. I believe parents play an important role in developing a positive attitude toward homework, and students will benefit from a regular homework routine. Therefore, I ask parents to provide the necessary supplies and environment, set up a daily homework time, provide support, and contact me if they notice a problem.
Assignments will be given Monday-Thursday. Homework assignments will fit into one of the following categories: practice homework, preparation homework, extension homework, or creative homework.
Practice Homework
Practice homework helps students master skills and reinforce in-class learning. Learning spelling words and completing math worksheets are examples of this type of homework.
Preparation Homework
Preparation assignments prepare students for an upcoming lesson or quiz. Reading an article, completing a KWL chart or reviewing material are examples of this type of homework.
Extension Homework
Extension homework helps students take what they learn in class and connect it with real life. It requires students to transfer specific skills and concepts to new situations. Journal writing and conducting experiments at home are examples of extension homework.
Creative Homework
Creative homework helps students integrate multiple concepts and promotes the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills. This type of homework often takes the form of open-ended questions and long term projects that allow students a choice.
Daily assignments will be written on the board. Students are responsible for copying them into their assignment books, which will then be signed by me. Parents are asked to check the planner daily or weekly depending on the student's level of responsibility.
Homework should typically take the students between thirty to fifty minutes to complete with the exception of studying for a test. Homework is due the next day unless otherwise stated. Students may have time to start homework in class if they use their time wisely. Students will have projects occasionally in different subject areas. There will be one book project assigned each trimester that students will complete outside of class. Students will not be assigned homework over the weekends, but unfinished class work or missing homework may be given. Students are expected to budget their time wisely to complete long-term projects, so completing tasks over the weekend/vacations is encouraged.
Homework should always be meaningful, and fit into one of the homework categories listed above. All homework is expected to be turned in on time. It is a student's responibility to complete and turn in assignments. Students are expected to turn in work the following day for full credit. If homework or classwork is not turned in the day it is due, there will be a ten point deduction daily for up to five days. After that point, a student will no longer be able to turn that assignment in. If the purpose of spelling homework is to prepare for a test, it seems foolish to allow a student to make it up after the test is taken. If an assignment has been photocopied twice and has not been turned in, that student will no longer have an opportunity to make up that work. Projects will lose 10% for each day that it is late. On the fourth day past the due date, the project will become a zero. If a student is consistently missing assignments, a meeting will be requested with parents to come up with a plan to increase homework success.
No name papers are a nuisance, and waste valuable teacher time. By fifth grade, this should no longer be an issue. If a student continually forgets to write his or her name on every assignment, he or she will be required to write his or her name on assignments ten times for the remainder of the year.
Students are expected to stay on top of their grades by checking them online with parents. Grades are updated every week on Tuesday evening. I will also send all graded work home on Friday. Please check your child’s folder for graded work. Return folder on Monday, empty.
Grading Policy
A+
- Student greatly exceeds the standard for the grade level and demonstrates superb work that shows mastery of concepts, processes, skills, and effort.
- Student exceeds the standard for the grade level.
- Student grasps, applies and independently extends key concepts, processes, and skills above grade level.
- Shows 95% accuracy and/or effort.
- Student is meeting the standard.
- Demonstrates proficiency, and with limited errors, grasps and applies concepts, processes, and skills.
- Shows about 85% accuracy and/or effort.
- Student is making progress towards meeting the standard.
- The student is beginning to grasp and apply key concepts, processes, and skills.
- Shows about 75% accuracy and/or effort.
- Student is making minimal progress towards the standard.
- The student is working below grade level. Improvement is needed.
- Shows about 65% accuracy and/or effort.
- Missing assignments.
- Grade of 60%
Work Quality
Fifth graders are expected to take pride in their work. Below is a list of expectations for work quality in fifth grade.
· Name on paper/Class Number
· Date
· Written neatly, and when assigned, in cursive.
· Proper use of capitalization and punctuation
Work in Math should be complete, and all work should be shown, especially in problem solving.
Work should be completed in pencil, or blue or black pen unless students are completing an assignment that requires color.
Work that does not meet these expectations will be redone.
Extra Credit/ Grade Modification
Grades are final. However, I understand that extenuating circumstances do arise and those situations will be addressed on an individual basis. Each trimester, students will be allowed to complete one extra credit activity to be included in their overall grade in the areas of Language or Math.
Homework Club
If I feel a student needs more support on an assignment or there is a behavioral concern, I will meet with that student from 2:45-3:15 on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Parents will be informed at pick-up if their child needs to stay that day or the next. Homework Club is not an open time, and is not always available, and is only scheduled by the teacher.
Tardies/ Absences
Fifth graders come into the building at 7:50. Our day starts with a check-in, morning message, attendance, and morning work. Students are expected to be settled and working by 8:00. It is important that your child arrives on time so that they are ready to begin the day and do not fall behind with morning work, which is used to reinforce reading and math skills, to extend topics we are covering, or catching up on class work. In the rare event that a student may be tardy they must check in at the office before coming upstairs. They will still be responsible for the work they missed.
When a student is absent, homework can be picked up in the office at the end of the day if requested by 9 am; otherwise, students will be given their missed work when they return. Students will have the same number of days they were absent to turn in the missed work. The student is responsible for turning in their missed work on time. No additional reminders will be given. It can become difficult for students to catch up if they are repeatedly absent and/or tardy.
If students are missing school due to a planned vacation they will not have an opportunity to receive class work before their trip. They are encouraged to read, journal, and read ahead in their textbooks. Students will be given work when they return, and will have the same number of days to complete it as they were absent.
Behavior Management
Classroom Economy
This program has the same overall objectives for all grades—to instill basic financial responsibility and teach the value of delayed gratification. Students earn and spend money in a simulated microeconomy. Using classroom “currency,” students earn money for jobs and pay rent for their desks. They can earn bonus cash by participating in extracurricular activities, helping others, and earning excellent grades. On the other hand, students who don’t meet classroom expectations will be fined some of their classroom dollars. That could happen, for example, if they don’t complete assignments or don’t listen when other students are speaking. The classroom economy helps students learn valuable life skills such as organization, the value of saving, and delayed gratification. Rather than being told about the importance of these skills, they actually experience them. In addition, the system fits in well with our curriculum. We’ll also have a little fun with it. After paying rent, students can save money to spend at monthly auctions where they get to bid on popular prizes such as sit next to a friend, homework pass, or indoor recess. The students will certainly enjoy themselves, and I know you will appreciate the skills and knowledge they learn along the way.
http://myclassroomeconomy.org/
Uniform Infraction
Student appearance is very important! If a student is not in compliance with the uniform policy, they will receive a warning. Further infractions will result in detention. Please refer to the family handbook regarding our uniform policy.
Uniform Policy: http://cksvt.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Uniform-Policy-18-19.pdf
Field Trips:
Field trips are a wonderful way to extend concepts taught in school, and are a great way to connect with wonderful educational programs available to us here in Vermont and beyond. Some field trips students can look forward to are: STARBASE, The UVM Perkins Geology Museum, the Flynn, the Audubon, and the Ethan Allen Homestead.
Birthdays/Class Parties:
We love to celebrate birthdays! Please notify me in advance if you plan to bring in a treat for your child and when. We have 14 students in our class this year. Food allergies will be announced at the beginning of the school year. We ask that birthday treats be individual sized for easy distribution and consumption☺. (No sheet cakes etc.) If your child has a summer birthday we can arrange for a birthday celebration during the school year. We do not celebrate half birthdays in fifth grade.
We will have class parties for the following holidays: Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day. Look for more detailed information from our room parents.
Masses:
All school Masses will be held every Wednesday, with the exception of masses on Holy Days of Obligation.