I am so excited to be starting another school year! I am thrilled to have the privilege of sharing this year with your child. I have listed some of the goals and expectations for our class. I expect a lot from my students, including good work habits and appropriate behavior. The major expectations for my students are:
* To RESPECT themselves and their classmates at all times. * To be RESPONSIBLE for themselves, their actions, and their work. * To be SAFE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT SYSTEM/IN-CLASS LEARNING: In all fourth grade classes, it is required that each student respect others and their right to learn. Fourth grade will be using an approach to discipline based on Jim Fay’s philosophy of “Love and Logic.”
The principles of Love and Logic are based on the following TEACHER guidelines:
· I will treat students with dignity and respect at all times. · I will guide students to OWN and SOLVE their own problems. · I will advise students to make decisions and then live with the consequences. · I will use logical consequences instead of punishment when possible. · I will treat the problem behavior as an opportunity for the student to grow.
The principles of Love and Logic are based on the following STUDENT guidelines:
· I will not cause a problem for myself or others.
A verbal warning will always be issued first to re-direct the student. If for some reason, students are not able to come up with a solution on their own, the following consequences may be implemented by their teacher:
STEP ONE:1:1 Student Intervention STEP TWO: Phone Call Home to Family STEP THREE: Administrative Involvement
*There are some behaviors in which an automatic office referral is given, particularly when a teacher or child is put at-risk. The principal may implement one or more of the following for consequences:
CLASS DOJO:Positive behavior will be rewarded with points on Class Dojo. Class Dojo is "a school communication platform that teachers, students, and families use every day to build close-knit communities by sharing what’s being learned in the classroom home through photos, videos, and messages." Positive points can be earned in various ways by all teachers. Some of the ways in which students can earn these points are as follows:
1. Homeroom attendance - 5 points 2. Character Act - 5 points* 3. Following our school matrix/expectations - 1 point 4. Completing assignments/homework - 1 point 5. On-task/participation - 1 point 6. Prepared for class - 1 point
If students are not following the expectations, they will not lose the points they earned; rather, they simply will miss an opportunity for points. It is rare that I take points away, but sometimes it is necessary. In addition to personalized class initiatives, there will be a school-wide reward for students who reach a certain amount of points by the end of the month. The schedule and number of points required for this is as follows:
September - October - November - December - January - February - March - April - May - June -
CHARACTER COUNTS: Every month we will celebrate a unique character trait that will help us to grow and be successful people. Teachers will select one student that they feel best displayed this trait so they can be recognized by the whole school! This schedule is:
September - October - November - December - January - February - March - April - May - June -
ASSIGNMENTS: First and last name, homeroom number, grade level, and the date should always be written at the top of every formal assignment and test. For homework, students will only be required to write their name and date it.
PAPER: NEATNESS COUNTS!!! Any assignment that is sloppy or crumpled will be given back to the student and they will be asked to REDO the assignment. Assignments should be done on a whole piece of white lined notebook paper with either pen or pencil. Please do not use a crayon, colored pencil, marker, etc. unless you absolutely do not have any other supplies. In that case, tell your teacher so she can give you a couple things to bring home.
HOMEWORK: All daily assignments will be discussed during class and posted in the classroom. They also will be posted via Class Dojo and Schoology. If I begin to see a pattern develop in which kids are routinely not turning in assignments, I will call home to work out a plan for improvement, such as requiring a parent signature or sending the homework schedule to parents directly. The parent signature would indicate that the parent is aware of the assignments. It does NOT mean that the parent has checked all of the work for accuracy; however, it does provide the opportunity for parents to check that all homework has been completed. Time may be provided during the school day for students to work on homework assignments. Students can expect a small amount of homework every Monday through Thursday. If they are struggling with an assignment, it is suggested that they first contact a friend in class. If neither the friend nor you are able to clarify the assignment, please jot me a note for further explanation. I will work with the student to ensure understanding, and get the assignment in on time.
Assignments must be completed and turned in at the beginning of the class BY THE END OF THE WEEK (Friday). If a student completes the work late, they may turn in the assignment without penalty up to ONE WEEK following its due date. After that, any late work may receive a ZERO. Any assignment turned in without a name will go in the "NO NAME" basket and will receive a zero, until claimed.
Attendance MAKE-UP Work Regular attendance is vitally important to your child’s success in school. Please check the BPS website for the procedures for reporting an absence, requesting homework, tardy arrivals, and early pick-up (MUST BE CALLED INTO THE MAIN OFFICE BY NO LATER THAN 1:30 PM). After being absent, it is the student’s responsibility to get missed assignments. Students will have two days to make up work for every day they were absent. Students will be held responsible for all long-term assignments.
GRADED WORK: All students are responsible for and bringing home their graded work regularly. It is a good idea to save all of your work for the quarter. Grades can be checked daily using Infinite Campus.
PARENT VISITS: Currently, BPS has restricted schools to staff and students ONLY. Guests arenot allowed in the building unless they are picking up their child, in which case someone from the office will come out to greet you or allow you in, case depending. If this changes, we will notify you!
CELL PHONES & PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY: While cell phones are permitted, we ask that students DO NOT bring their phones out during class time, unless the teacher has directed the students to do so. Due to loss of academic time spent sorting out technology issues after lunch, the 5th grade requests that no technology accompany your child to specials or lunch. We ask that students put their personal belongings in their locked lockers at the start of the day until dismissal.
BIRTHDAYS: The children may bring birthday treats if they wish. Please let me know ahead of time so that I may plan accordingly.
Grade 4 Standards
By the end of the year, students will be able to...