Schedule
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 7:39 AM – 2:45 PM
Wednesday: 7:39 AM – 2:15 PM
Students are able to enter the building at 7:24 AM
Students are considered tardy if not present at 7:39 AM
Lunch: 12:05-12:45
Wednesday: 7:39 AM – 2:15 PM
Students are able to enter the building at 7:24 AM
Students are considered tardy if not present at 7:39 AM
Lunch: 12:05-12:45
Homework
In 4th grade, students should expect to have homework every night of the week. Typically, I will not give out assignments on a Friday, unless there is the occasional chance of a quiz/test on the following Monday. Homework is expected to be completed and turned in on the date that the assignment is due, as students enter the classroom that morning. I will "check in" homework assignments each day at the start of our morning. Typically, I will then grade the assignment for a graded score. By 4th grade, I expect my students to take on a high amount of responsibility when it comes to completing their assigned work. Students will always be given advance notice of homework assignments or upcoming quizzes/tests, which will be written in their assignment notebook each night. Please initial at the bottom of each day, indicating that you have seen their assignments. In addition, assignments will be posted under the "homework" tab of this website each week. Those students who turn in all of their homework assignments each week will earn their spot in the "Homework Club". Students in the "Homework Club" will get extra free time at the end of the week!
Late work policy: If a homework assignment is turned in ONE day late, I will accept the assignment but automatically take 10% off of the total score. If a homework assignment is turned in TWO days late, I will accept the assignment but take 20% off of the total score. This percentage being taken off will continue in the same pattern thereafter. After 10 days of being late, the student will receive a zero for the assignment. I will input a "zero" value for the grade until I receive it, and then change the grade based on how late it is.
Make-up work from absences: Students will be given two days of time to make-up work for every day of absence. For example, if a student is absent on a Monday, he or she will have Tuesday and Wednesday to complete their make-up work. For full credit to be given, the student must then turn in their work on Thursday. If a quiz or test is missed due to an excused absence, it will be the student's responsibility to return to school after the absence and be prepared to take the quiz/test. These policies may vary on based on the situation, and I will communicate with both students and parents about what fits best.
Late work policy: If a homework assignment is turned in ONE day late, I will accept the assignment but automatically take 10% off of the total score. If a homework assignment is turned in TWO days late, I will accept the assignment but take 20% off of the total score. This percentage being taken off will continue in the same pattern thereafter. After 10 days of being late, the student will receive a zero for the assignment. I will input a "zero" value for the grade until I receive it, and then change the grade based on how late it is.
Make-up work from absences: Students will be given two days of time to make-up work for every day of absence. For example, if a student is absent on a Monday, he or she will have Tuesday and Wednesday to complete their make-up work. For full credit to be given, the student must then turn in their work on Thursday. If a quiz or test is missed due to an excused absence, it will be the student's responsibility to return to school after the absence and be prepared to take the quiz/test. These policies may vary on based on the situation, and I will communicate with both students and parents about what fits best.
Classroom Volunteers
I very much welcome any parents or family members that would like to volunteer in our classroom! A few opportunities for helping in the classroom could include being a guest reader, helping with art projects, assembling materials, or attending a field trip. Our school district has a specific process for volunteers. Please see the district webpage for information on this process.
Celebrations/Birthdays
Celebrations: Throughout the year, we will have a few celebrations. More information and any requests for supplies will come as time progresses!
Birthdays: Students are welcome to bring in treats to celebrate their birthdays. If a student has a birthday during the summer, they may bring treats on their half birthday. I ask that I receive notice at least one day prior to a student bringing in treats so that I can plan ahead. PLEASE SENT PLATES, CUPS, NAPKINS, ETC. WITH YOUR CHILD'S TREATS. I DO NOT HAVE THE SUPPLIES AVAILABLE FOR THIS!
IMPORTANT: Birthday invitations are NOT to be brought to school unless there is an invitation for every student in our class. In the case of boys/girls only parties, an invitation must be brought for every boy/girl in our class.
As stated in the Elementary Student handbook:
"Only individually wrapped, store bought items are permitted in the classrooms during the school day when students are in attendance (i.e. room parties, birthday treats, etc.).
● Any baked goods from home or from a bakery will be sent home.
● All snacks and treats intended to be shared with classmates must be nut free.
● Some classrooms may be designated as nut free for all students.
● Every school cafeteria has a designated nut-free table."
Birthdays: Students are welcome to bring in treats to celebrate their birthdays. If a student has a birthday during the summer, they may bring treats on their half birthday. I ask that I receive notice at least one day prior to a student bringing in treats so that I can plan ahead. PLEASE SENT PLATES, CUPS, NAPKINS, ETC. WITH YOUR CHILD'S TREATS. I DO NOT HAVE THE SUPPLIES AVAILABLE FOR THIS!
IMPORTANT: Birthday invitations are NOT to be brought to school unless there is an invitation for every student in our class. In the case of boys/girls only parties, an invitation must be brought for every boy/girl in our class.
As stated in the Elementary Student handbook:
"Only individually wrapped, store bought items are permitted in the classrooms during the school day when students are in attendance (i.e. room parties, birthday treats, etc.).
● Any baked goods from home or from a bakery will be sent home.
● All snacks and treats intended to be shared with classmates must be nut free.
● Some classrooms may be designated as nut free for all students.
● Every school cafeteria has a designated nut-free table."
Communication
I will be sending home a monthly newsletter of the happenings in 4th grade. I will be sending these virtually through a website called Smore. It will be sent to your email with a link. Please let me know if you do not receive this! The best way to contact me is through email, as I check it regularly throughout the day. I will be using the Remind App this year, so please download it and get connected with me so that you can see any reminders or important information that I send!
Behavior
This year, I have decided to utilize a behavior “clip chart” system. You may have heard of this type of behavior management system before, as it has become very popular! I have included a picture of our “clip chart” below.
Each day, every student starts fresh on the behavior clip chart. Every student will come into the room and begin on “Ready to Learn” or the color green. Good choices and setting a positive example for others can result in moving up on the chart. Students will earn different kinds of rewards for “clipping up”! On the other hand, poor choices can result in moving down on the chart. Students will then earn different types of consequences for “clipping down” on the behavior chart.
At the end of each day, I will indicate in your student’s assignment notebook what behavior color they had earned for the day. Please discuss this with your student and initial or sign below the color to indicate you were made aware of their choices for the day. If a student returns the next day with no signature, they will be clipped down to yellow.
In addition to this, I plan to have additional types of incentive tools for behavior. Our class will earn objects into a class jar when students get compliments from other faculty/staff in the building, line up quickly, follow directions extremely well, or overall just display excellent work. Once our jar is full, a special reward will be given to the entire class! I will also use various group incentive tools for when students display that they can work well with others in our classroom. With all of these tools, students will receive rewards/incentives for positive behavior, positive choices, and following behavior expectations, and consequences will be issued for those who do not display appropriate behaviors.
If following behavior expectations becomes an issue for a student, further actions will be taken to not only identify the cause of the behavior, but prevent it from continuing to occur. For example, this could include requiring a student to complete a behavior log each day and having a parent/guardian initial this at the end of the week. This type of further action will be decided on a case by case basis, and I will communicate regularly with parents on working with behavior issues.
Each day, every student starts fresh on the behavior clip chart. Every student will come into the room and begin on “Ready to Learn” or the color green. Good choices and setting a positive example for others can result in moving up on the chart. Students will earn different kinds of rewards for “clipping up”! On the other hand, poor choices can result in moving down on the chart. Students will then earn different types of consequences for “clipping down” on the behavior chart.
At the end of each day, I will indicate in your student’s assignment notebook what behavior color they had earned for the day. Please discuss this with your student and initial or sign below the color to indicate you were made aware of their choices for the day. If a student returns the next day with no signature, they will be clipped down to yellow.
In addition to this, I plan to have additional types of incentive tools for behavior. Our class will earn objects into a class jar when students get compliments from other faculty/staff in the building, line up quickly, follow directions extremely well, or overall just display excellent work. Once our jar is full, a special reward will be given to the entire class! I will also use various group incentive tools for when students display that they can work well with others in our classroom. With all of these tools, students will receive rewards/incentives for positive behavior, positive choices, and following behavior expectations, and consequences will be issued for those who do not display appropriate behaviors.
If following behavior expectations becomes an issue for a student, further actions will be taken to not only identify the cause of the behavior, but prevent it from continuing to occur. For example, this could include requiring a student to complete a behavior log each day and having a parent/guardian initial this at the end of the week. This type of further action will be decided on a case by case basis, and I will communicate regularly with parents on working with behavior issues.
Student of the Week
Each week, one student will be featured as the "student of the week"! This student will get to take home a special poster on Friday, complete it, and bring it back to school the next week. This will be hung up on a board in our classroom, and this student will be able to present their poster on the following Friday at our morning meeting.
Grading Scale
As stated in the Elementary Student handbook, the 3-5 grading scale is outlined above. Parents will have access to their student's grades through Powerschool online.
Cell Phones/Technology
As a school, we understand that in some instances, there is a need for a student to bring a cell phone to school with them. This being said, there are school rules about the usage of cell phones in the building. If a student brings a cell phone to school, there are two key rules that need to be followed. 1) Cell phone is turned OFF, not just silenced. 2) Cell phone remains in backpack from point of entering the building to point of exiting the building. If a student chooses not to follow these two rules, there will be consequences. See below for details on this.
As stated in the Elementary Student handbook:
"First offense: parent/guardian notified, cell phone is kept in the office, student may pick it up at the end of the school day.
Second or repeated offenses: parent/guardian notified, cell phone or personal communication device is kept in the office until a parent/guardian comes to the school to pick it up."
As stated in the Elementary Student handbook:
"First offense: parent/guardian notified, cell phone is kept in the office, student may pick it up at the end of the school day.
Second or repeated offenses: parent/guardian notified, cell phone or personal communication device is kept in the office until a parent/guardian comes to the school to pick it up."
Chromebooks
As explained at the Chromebook meetings this summer, there are a few basic expectations of the utilization of these tools this year:
- Chromebook is to be brought to school EVERY day, FULLY charged
- Chromebook is to be used appropriately according to district guidelines
- Chromebook is to be kept clean and free of stickers or marks
- Chromebook is to be in its case at all times not in use
- Repair problems with Chromebooks need to be directed to [email protected], NOT to the classroom teacher