Classroom Rules Update (Newsletter 3, September 2007)

We are still working on our classroom rules, but are making good progress and will share them with you soon. (You may have noted that your child did have a homework assignment regarding the big topics of respect and responsibility, which we are using to formulate rules and establish our shared values, as a way of establishing guidelines for behavior.)

Friday Folder (Newsletter 3, September 2007)

All completed work will be sent home on Friday in your child's Friday folder. Please review the folder, sign the attached form, make any comments you desire on the back, and have your child return the folder to school on Monday. It is your child’s responsibility to show you their Friday folder and to return it to class on Monday.

Any work that is not completed will be noted in the student's Friday folder. It is the student's responsibility to complete that work over the weekend and return it in his or her folder on Monday.

Your child will not receive credit for incomplete assignments as homework or class work. However, I do still want them to complete the work for their content grade, i.e. reading, spelling, grammar, math, etc. It is important that they do their work to show me what they are learning. I am teaching them to be responsible, their homework and class work grades, as well teaching them subjects like math and grammar. Even if they don’t get credit for the assignment as homework, it does not have to lower their content grades as well, if they make it up.

Spectrum of Behavior (Newsletter 3, September 2007)

In the Friday folder, you will also note a Behavior Update for the past week. Everyone starts each day at the baseline of Green (0). For each misbehavior, actions that are disrespectful or irresponsible, they move into the negative numbers, from Yellow to Orange to Red. For good behavior, students move into the positive numbers, from Blue to Indigo to Violet.

Communication (Newsletter 3, September 2007)

I have to apologize. Even though I have already given you my e-mail address and the blog address for my classroom, I have not checked or updated either so far this year. I currently do not have Internet access in my new classroom and I have been unsuccessful in getting it fixed. I will try to access the Internet in the school’s computer lab, but please be patient with me until the district technology people can help me fix this problem. Thank you.

Student Responsibilities

These are some of the Student Responsibilities that come from the district’s Student and Parent/Guardian Handbook. I have already discussed these responsibilities with the students and am sharing it with you now for your information.

1. It is your responsibility:

• to be prompt to school and to class.
• not to be absent from school without parent’s knowledge and consent.
• not to leave a classroom without teacher’s permission.
• not to leave campus without school permission.

2. It is your responsibility:

• to be prepared for class with appropriate materials.
• to participate in class activities.
• to follow classroom procedures.
• to complete assignments, including assigned homework.
• to meet proficiency standards.
• to progress toward promotion and/or graduation requirements.

3. It is your responsibility:

• to demonstrate cooperation and responsible behavior in the classroom and at school activities.
• to show respect for staff members, teachers, adult supervisors, classified employees, guest speakers, substitute teachers, and other students.
• to learn and carry out the rules and regulations prescribed in the school handbook.
• to use proper mannerisms and channels of communication to resolve conflicts.
• to respect the property of others.
• to be honest.
• to use acceptable language.
• to show concern for the welfare of the school and student body.
• to have pride in one’s work, and the work of others.
• to have respect for the differences of others.
• not to use rudeness, defiance, or disrespectful words or gestures.

4. It is your responsibility:

• to keep the campus clean and free from litter.
• to keep the restrooms clean.
• to keep the walls of your campus free from writing, carvings, or slogans.
• to keep all equipment, lockers, desks, and books free from being defaced or damaged.
• to keep loiterers away by reporting them to the proper authorities.
• to use school property only when permission is granted.
• to follow check-out procedures for school equipment.
• to safekeep and use school equipment properly.
• to return school equipment promptly and in good condition.

5. It is your responsibility:

• to take home all information sheets and printed material.
• to return to school all requested forms.
• to ask visitors to report to the school office.
• to dress and groom appropriately.
• not to give false identification nor practice forgery.
• not to violate rules and regulations prescribed in the student handbook.

Classroom Rules (Newsletter 2, August 2007)

This year we will be formulating classroom rules together. I have ideas for what our classroom rules should be, but I want to work with my students so that we can decide them together. In order to do this, we will be discussing shared values, what makes a good student, how we want to be treated, our rights, and our responsibilities. When we have formulated our rules, I will share them with you. The students will also have copies for their reference.

Hallway Rules (Newsletter 2, August 2007)

• Always walk quietly.
• Without your class = partner + pass.
• Look at, do not touch, students’ work.
• No detours.

Yard Rules (Newsletter 2, August 2007)

1. Watch out for others.
2. Keep your body parts and hurtful words to yourself.
3. Stay in the yard at all times (except to use the bathroom).
4. Stay away from the bungalow, yard gates, ramps, elevator, and stairs.
5. Do not kick or sock balls.
6. No dodgeball games.
7. Run only in the track area, or the basketball court if you’re playing basketball.
8. Freeze when the bell rings. Walk to your line when the yard teachers ring the handbells.

Bathroom Rules (Newsletter 2, August 2007)

1. Always carry a hall pass with you.
2. Go to the bathroom with a partner and stay together at all times.
3. No playing.
4. Flush the toilet after use.
5. Wash your hands with soap and water.
6. Use paper towels for drying hands only.
7. Walk at all times.

Cafeteria Rules (Newsletter 2, August 2007)

1. Stay seated until dismissed.
2. Clean up after yourself.
3. Keep food in the cafeteria.
4. Talk quietly.
5. Walk. Don’t run.
6. Don’t waste food.
7. Recycle and compost.

Organization and Supplies (Newsletter 1, August 2007)

Option A:
Students may organize their school materials in a binder. This binder must include dividers so that they can organize handouts and notes by subject: language arts, mathematics, history, science, etc. They will have to provide their own binder paper. They must also have a homework folder. This is where they will put any papers for homework and their homework log to take home and then return to school. Students may also provide their own Friday folder if they wish; otherwise, I will provide one.
Required: (1) binder, (2) dividers, (3) binder paper, and (4) homework folder.

Option B:
Students may organize their school materials in folders and notebooks. They will need one notebook for each of the core subjects: language arts, mathematics, history, and science. They will need a folder for each of those subjects to store handouts. They will also need a small supply of binder paper so that they may turn assignments in without turning in their notebooks or ripping pages out of their notebooks. They must also have a homework folder, and they may provide their own Friday folder if they wish.
Required: (1) Four subject notebooks, (2) four subject folders, (3) binder paper, and (4) homework folder.

Other supplies: (1) A backpack is very helpful for carrying binders or notebooks and textbooks from home to school. (2) A box of pencils. If students bring mechanical pencils, they must provide their own lead (graphite). (3) Erasers. We all make mistakes.

Welcome! (Newsletter 1, August 2007)

I am using this blog to communicate information to you regarding what your child is learning in fifth grade. In this blog, I am copying my newsletters, weekly in these early weeks of the school year. They will explain my policies and procedures and set expectations. Later newsletters and posts to this blog, monthly or so, will keep you informed on what the students are learning.

Look for my newsletters either in the Wednesday envelope or the Friday folder. As I said, I will also be posting these newsletters on my classroom blog.

You may also communicate with me via e-mail.

I recently changed classrooms from room 27 to room 23, but I am keeping my existing e-mail address and blog address. I’ll apologize in advance for any confusion.