Welcome to fifth grade,

          Fifth grade is a very busy year filled with fun and challenging activities.  Students will become increasingly responsible and independent learners.  Expectations for class-work and homework completion will be made clear, as will expectations for behavior.  The teacher will work with students and parents to enable students to make sufficient progress in order to be successful this year and during the years that follow.

          This packet is meant to inform the students and their parents about the homework/class-work policy, discipline policy, and the consequences and rewards systems that are in place.  Please keep this packet in a safe place for future reference.

Teacher school e-mail address:    ktaylor@mohonasen.org

Teacher school phone number for voice mail:  356-8430

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Homework:  Students are expected to complete all homework assignments.  Homework includes subject assignments (for example, math homework, spelling homework, etc.), nightly reading for a minimum of 20 minutes (Monday through Thursday and at least one session on the weekend.), and all required parent signatures.

Rewards:  Students who bring in all assignments on the day they are due will receive a Fantastic Student raffle ticket.  These students will also participate in Fun Club on that day, assuming behavior has been acceptable.

Consequences: Students who do not bring in all assignments on a given day will not receive a raffle ticket.  In addition, students who have not completed assigned homework will attend Study Club rather than Fun Club until all work is caught up.  Also, parents will be notified.  In addition, a student will attend one Homework Hotseat session each time three homework assignments have not been handed in on the due date.  Parents will be informed.

Personal Home Reading:  Research has shown that independent reading is very important in a student’s development of reading skills.  Students will read at least 20 minutes each day at home Monday through Thursday and at least one 20 minute period during the weekend.  Students will keep track of their at-home independent reading on the “Personal Home Reading Log.” A completed log will be returned to the teacher at the end of each month.  The teacher will check the Reading Logs daily.

Behavior/Discipline Plan:  The one expectation for behavior in my classroom is RESPECT.  If an individual respects self, others, and the property of others, my behavior expectations are being met. The students will brainstorm examples of respectful behaviors during the first week of school so that the message is clear.

Rewards: Each day a student completes behaving in a respectful manner for the entire day, he/she will earn a Fantastic Student Raffle Ticket.  Tickets will also be earned for homework completion.  In addition to earning the raffle tickets, students in good standing (behaviorally and with regards to homework and class-work completion) will attend the next scheduled Fun Club.

Consequences:  *The first time a student is spoken to about inappropriate behavior is a warning.  The student will not earn the  Fantastic Student Raffle Ticket that day.

                  *The second time a student is spoken to about inappropriate behavior is a caution.  In addition to not earning the ticket, the student will lose 15 minutes of the next scheduled Fun Club.

    *The third time a student is spoken to about

inappropriate behavior he/she is in the “Danger Zone”.  He/she will sit-out the entire next Fun Club in addition to losing the ticket.  Also, the student will fill out a discipline form that will be signed by the teacher and the parent.

          If it becomes necessary, a student may be sent to the office to meet with the principal or the assistant principal.  If a student is chronically disruptive, a parent-teacher-student conference will be scheduled.  After school detention may also be part of a behavior disciplinary action.

***I prefer handing out Fantastic Student Raffle Tickets and making Good News Calls rather than having to engage in disciplinary action.  Let’s work together to have a great year.  

Parent Signatures:  It may be inconvenient to have to sign certain items, but it is a great way for a teacher to keep parents informed of each student’s progress.  When a parent signature is requested, IT IS A HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT.

*What needs to be signed?

·        Nightly- The Assignment Notebook, when all completed homework has been seen by a parent/guardian.

·        The at-home Reading Record (Reading Log) sheet.

·        Any graded paper with a grade below 80% or below a B-.

·        Other communications that are sent home with a parent signature slip or otherwise marked indicating a parent signature is required.

Fun Club:  This is a half-hour period scheduled daily during which time students in good standing (all work is caught up and behavior is appropriate) have the opportunity to participate in game playing, drawing, reading, or other fun activities.

Study Club:  This is a half-hour period scheduled daily (at the same time as Fun Club) during which time students with missing work (including parent signatures), or those who have been disruptive, will work in a quiet setting to complete assignments, or reflect on ways to improve behavior.  In certain cases, the teacher may use this time to work with children who need additional instruction in a particular area.  Please note, these re-teaching times are NOT meant as a form of punishment.  They are intended to help a student be more successful.

Fantastic Student Raffle Tickets:  These tickets are awarded for positive performance.  There will be two drawings a year.  One drawing will occur in January and the other will occur in June.  During the January drawing, 6 students will be selected to attend an after-school pizza and video party at Pinewood.  During the June drawing, 6 students will be selected to attend an after-school make your own sundae party at Pinewood.  Students earn tickets in a variety of ways!

I hope this packet answered some of the questions you had about being a fifth grade student (or the parent of a fifth grade student) in my classroom.  Feel free to ask questions at the Fifth Grade Open House.