Procedures: Homework & Classroom

HOMEWORK POLICY

Homework is typically assigned Monday through Thursday nights. Everyday students are instructed to write their assignment into their agendas by copying it from the board. Homework should not take longer than 40 minutes to complete. Please communicate with me if it is taking your child longer than this. Projects are designed to be multi-step and should take more than 1 session to complete. Please remember... it is your child's work. However, you may provide support and guidance to help them do their best. Organization and time management are learned skills. Projects are designed to be part of a learning process for them, utilizing many higher order thinking skills. Students write homework in their agendas daily; parents should review and initial it daily. Studying for major tests should be done on a regular basis leading up to a test. Please develop study habits, cramming the night before a test isn’t ideal, or a good habit to form.

Homework is collected each day. If homework is incomplete or not turned in, the student will lose free time or privileges as a consequence. Missing work should be turned in the following day.

Throughout the year, students may receive a homework pass as a reward for various achievements. A homework pass may be used in my class for one homework assignment. For example, if there is a math assignment and a spelling assignment for homework, a student may choose to use the homework pass on only one of the two assignments. Homework passes may not be used for assignments that are assigned with several days/weeks to complete. I will always tell the class in advance about any assignment that a homework pass cannot be used on.

Daily Grades, Quizzes, and Tests

  • Spelling tests will be given on Thursdays unless notified differently in the weekly update. On Fridays after the spelling test, a new spelling list will be sent home. Students have a week to study the new list of words. We complete activities in class daily to learn the new words, and practice at home is necessary for students to reach proficiency with the words. Suggestions for practicing spelling words include typing the words, spelling them aloud to a parent, writing them on a dry erase board as a parent calls them out, or alphabetizing them. A menu of choices will be provided.
  • Grades in all other subject areas will be taken on a regular basis through daily classwork, quizzes, and tests. You will be informed of any major tests in advance to allow for adequate study time. Please be sure to utilize study guides that are sent home as test questions come directly from these!

*Grades are calculated based on the following percentages:

Math, Science/Health, Social Studies, Reading – Daily Grades 60%, Test Grades 40%

  • Language Arts – Spelling 10%, English/Writing Daily Grades 50%, English/Writing Test Grades 40%
  • Grading Scale: 90-100= A, 80-89= B, 70-79= C, 60-69= D, 59 or below= U

School Arrival Time & Attendance

Class begins promptly at 8:00 and ends at 2:30. The earliest a child may enter the building is at 7:15. Parents may not drop students off unattended until that time. Students arriving before 7:45 may either go to the cafeteria for breakfast, or go to our 4 th grade hallway. While waiting for classroom time to begin, students are expected to sit quietly in the hall. Please bring a book or quiet activity that can be done independently while waiting. Students arriving after 7:45 but before 8:00 should go directly to their classroom. Any student arriving after 8:05 will need to go to the office to obtain a tardy slip before entering the classroom. Early dismissals will not be allowed after 2:00. Please make every effort to have your child at school on time and at school every day except in cases of illness or emergency.

Morning Routine

Students will enter the classroom quietly, unpack backpacks, sharpen pencils, choose lunch, go to the bathroom if needed, turn in homework and other necessary items, and begin their morning activity.

Restroom Procedures

Students are provided with restroom breaks throughout the day. Students should always leave the restroom clean for the next visitor and should always wash their hands after using the restroom. During instructional times, students are asked to wait for a transition time (when possible) for restroom breaks.

TRANSPORTATION

If your child will be riding home with someone different than their usual routine, please send me a note or an email that day. If an email is sent, it must be before 2 pm and a confirmation email will be sent to you so that you can ensure that I've read your note. I am teaching and busy with student needs, which can make immediate email communication difficult at times. It is important that we have written documentation of this to ensure each child’s safety.

SCHOOL LUNCHES

The cost of a school lunch is $2.50 this year, $12.50/ wk. All Greenville Co. Schools are providing a Universal Free breakfast to students.

Please put money in a sealed envelope with your child’s first and last name on it with their account number. On occasion, the cafeteria manager may have to change the menu without prior notice. Due to our schedule, please be aware that students will not be allowed to call home if they do not like the choices offered. Please send a doctor’s note if your child has a food allergy. Please see our section, "What's for Lunch?" on the school webpage to see lunch choices of the day. "School Lunch"

SNACKS

Students are encouraged to bring a quick, healthy snack each day to eat during our daily snack time. Students should not bring candy or dessert type snacks for snack time. The children are allowed to bring a lidded daily water bottle or thermos. However, it must be water, not kool-aid, Gatorade, etc. It's to be stored in the side pocket of their backpack to protect textbooks, etc. Please be aware of peanut allergies among other students.