Grade level curriculum may be modified based on each student’s Individual Education Plan.   IEP goals will be taught in accordance with their grade level standards when applicable.

Instructional Materials and Resources/Required Texts:

• Houghton Mifflin Reading Text

• Variety of Children’s Literature

• Go Math:  Math series by MacMillan McGraw Hill

• Math manipulatives

• Calendar Math Kits by Everyday Counts Calendar Math

• Pearson’s Interactive Science and Social Studies Texts/ Workbook

• Various Computer Programs

• Reading Incentive Programs

• Grade appropriate ETV programs

• Roper Mountain Science Center

• Grade Appropriate Field Trips 

• Fountas and Pinnell Reading texts and Assessments

• Spire Reading 

• Sounds Sensible 

K5 Grading Scale and Calculation of Grades/Major Assessments

Report card marks are based on a combination of grades on unit tests, quizzes, teacher observations and anecdotal notes, and rubrics

Report Card Marks

(M) means consistently meets or exceeds end-of-year expectations for the standard

(P) shows expected growth/ progress in meeting the end-of-year standard

     (B) beginning to progress towards meeting the end-of-year standard

     (N) needs intensive support at school and home to develop this end-of-year standard

If the boxes are left blank, the standards have not been addressed or assessed during that particular reporting period.  

1st Grading Scale and Calculation of Grades/Major Assessments

Report card marks are based on a combination of grades on unit tests, quizzes, teacher observations and anecdotal notes, and rubrics.  Parents are welcome to view and discuss student’s test and scores at any time.  According to the items listed above, the teacher will give the students the following marks on their report card: 

Report Card Marks

(M) means consistently meets or exceeds end-of-year expectations for the standard

(P) shows expected growth/ progress in meeting the end-of-year standard

(B) beginning to progress towards meeting the end-of-year standard

(N) needs intensive support at school and home to develop this end-of-year standard

If the boxes are left blank, the standards have not been addressed or assessed during that particular reporting period.  

2nd- 5th Grade and Assessment

Students will be graded in all areas of the curriculum.  Students will be graded on tests, quizzes, projects, labs, and specific journals.  The grading scale is:

100-90   A

90-80    B

80-70    C

70-60     D

69 or below   U

Major tests or projects in Math and Reading will be given at least twice per quarter. Minor grades will be taken at least once a week. In Science and Social Studies at least one major test will be given each quarter. Minor grades make up 60% of the student’s grade and major tests or projects make up 40%.  Major writing projects or language tests are given at least twice per quarter. Any grades lower than a 60 will show up on a grade report as a 60 and not lower.

Yearly Assessments

Certain assessments will be given at the beginning of the year, the middle of the year, and at the end to establish benchmarks and later to show growth in learning.  These assessments are, the Greenville County School Math Assessment, the Aims Web Assessment, Word Wall and Spelling Assessments, Writing Benchmarks, Reading Benchmark Books and computer tests.  

Language Arts/Guided Reading

In a conference setting, with the teacher, students will be tested on comprehension, coupled with different comprehension strategies.  Reading progression will be monitored, using running records and the balanced literacy reading model and reading continuum. 

Writing

There will be focused and unfocused writing assignments. Rubrics will be used to grade these on a variety of criteria, students progression in organization, clarity and conventions.    

Math 

The district math curriculum is broken into units.  Each unit contains a unit test that will be given when the material is covered.  Students will also work on mastery in the areas of addition and subtraction fact fluency. 

Science/ Social Studies

Informal assessments will be used throughout individual units of study {checklists, daily written,  tests, and oral activities}. Unit tests will be used to assess performance on each unit. Social Studies and Science will be taught in rotation.

Homework Policy

Students need practice to reinforce what has been learned in the classroom. Homework, though not extensive, sets the groundwork for good study habits in the future. Parents also benefit from their child’s homework, because it allows them to see what is happening in the classroom and how each child is progressing. Students will have homework every Monday – Thursday. Homework may consist of:  math, reading and spelling. We will send home something specific for you and your child to read together during the week. All of this will be found in their student folder. In addition to this, there will be some Science and Social Studies projects throughout the year. Students should be able to complete their homework in about 30 minutes.  The parents will sign the reading and communication log daily.  Students will bring home their red folder each night.  Please check it for any notes, classwork, and assignments.

A behavior report will be sent home daily.  Parents need to sign and return.

Attendance, Tardy, and Make-Up Work Policy

Students should be in class at 7:45 each day. Children are considered tardy after 7:45 and will need to be signed in by a parent in order to go to class.  There is an early morning activity planned daily that reviews and enriches curriculum.  That activity begins at 7:30 and often cannot be reproduced.  When students are absent they miss many learning opportunities in the classroom that are difficult to duplicate at home. For this reason, we feel that every effort should be made to ensure that students are in class whenever they are well. If a student is absent due to illness, a medical excuse should be sent to school the day that the student returns to school.  By District Policy, only 10 absences are allowed in one year.  Any written work that the student has missed will be sent home then the student returns to class. It should be completed and sent back to school within a reasonable time-frame.

Communication with Parents

At the beginning of the school year parents receive a letter welcoming their child into the classroom which will include the learning expectations, a list of classroom rules and consequences, and a list of needed supplies. Weekly newsletters are sent home to keep parents up to date about the events in the school. A Homework folder will include homework, behavior charts, and all communications.  At the end of the first quarter, the parents will be invited in for individual conferences. At this time, academic progress, social adaptation, and overall performance will be discussed. During the conference parents may ask questions and present their concerns. Conferences can also be held as needed or requested.

Notes will be written and phone calls will be made, as needed, throughout the year. A log will be kept of all phone calls, conferences, and other contacts with parents. Teachers will attempt to communicate with parents on a regular basis. Parent notes and phone calls will be returned in 24 hours, per district policy.

Behavior System:

In our classroom, students earn points throughout the day that can be redeemed for access to preferred reinforcers or activities.  When implementing this system, clear expectations and how students are to earn points will be given.  Expectations will be concise, stated each time a new activity or task begins, and visually displayed for easy reference.  Teachers will reinforce the behaviors they want to increase immediately attending to them.  A reinforcement system will be in place to help motivate students. Reinforcers may be tangible, activity based, social, or intangible.  A behavior point sheet will be sent home daily for parent review.  

As the teacher, I will handle behavior issues within the classroom.  A parent and/or administrator will be called or a note will be written home when behaviors occur several times.  

Every student is expected to follow not only the classroom rules, but the school rules as well.  You will find below expected classroom rules and the plan on how problematic behaviors are handled in the classroom, if they occur.    

Classroom Rules:

The students are expected to follow four classroom rules.  I use a picture chart to review rules daily. 

1. I will show respect to others.

• • • Students are taught that respect is shown when you keep your hands and feet to yourself.  

2. I will use nice words.

• • • Students practice daily common courtesy phrases:

"Please", "Thank you", "I need help", "May I have that please?" and "No, thank you."

3. I will use classroom materials appropriately.

• • • Students are taught how to put away materials. 

4. I will take turns so everyone has a chance to share. 

• • • Turn taking skills are practiced.  

Plan for responding to problematic behavior:

1. Planned ignoring of the behavior

• • • The student is NOT ignored.  Rather the behavior is given little attention.  

2.  Provide a verbal correction in private.  

• • • Used as a teaching moment to urge the student to take a break.

3.  Temporary removal of student.

• • • Adult request the student to take a break.

4.  Removal of the audience (i.e. other students)

• • • Other students will be escorted from the area while the escalating student will be monitored by an adult.  

5.  Crisis Management Procedure:

• • • At any point if the student becomes a danger to self or others, crisis management procedures will be used.  Our classroom follows specific Greenville County School District guidelines.  This may include seclusion and/or restraint.

Procedures for Non-Instructional Routines.

1. Arrival: 

   • Upon arrival to school children should report to the cafeteria, if it is before 7:30.  Teachers will take roll at 7:45 and children reporting to school after that time will be counted late.  If you are late, you should stop by the office to get a late pass.  

2. Morning Routine: 

   • Students will unpack their book-bag each morning, placing their folder in a specific basket and will sign up for lunch.  Students will have time to each morning to use the restroom and get settled before the day begins.  

3. Packing Up:

   • A reminder will be given to the students what items are needed, but children will be expected to pack their book-bag on their own.  

   • Children will line up to be dismissed at the end of the school day.  Bus riders will go on the first bell which is at 2:05. Car riders and walkers will be dismissed at 2:15.

4. Recess:

   • Please remember that children may not wear flip flops or any kind of backless shoe to school.  This is for their safety at recess. 

5. Restroom: 

   • Children may go to the bathroom during independent work times and designated times before lunch and related arts.  They may not go during instructional times, unless it is an emergency.

6. Breakfast:

   • Breakfast will be free for all students this school year.  

7. Snack:

   • We will serve a morning snack and students are welcome to bring a snack for themselves or a snack to share with the entire class. I will keep goldfish and animal crackers on hand for students unable to bring their own snack.  

8. Lunch: 

   • The lunch choices will be displayed on the Promethean board  each morning and on our classroom lunch pocket chart.  The students will choose from A, B, Soup/Salad, Yogurt, or lunch from home.   

   • Children will be expected to eat quietly (red cup) for 15 minutes and then will be allowed to whisper (green cup) for the remainder of lunch.  

   •  If your child would like to purchase anything additional (chips, drinks, or extra lunch) please send money in an envelope or baggie labeled with my name, your child's name, and the purpose for the money (e.g., lunch money, field trip money).  Or you could load money onto your child's School Bucks account.  

   • In order to enhance our focus on being a School District CATCH School  (Coordinate Approach to Child Health), Plain Elementary is not allowing visitors to our Plain Cafe' to bring in food or drinks from outside eateries (fast food, etc.).  

   • Parents are invited to have lunch with their child at any time.  Parents eating in our cafeteria are expected to to purchase a school lunch (regular meal or salad) or to bring lunch from home.  The Plain Cafe', just like any other restaurant, request that food items from outside eateries(fast food, etc.) not be brought to our restaurant.  Nourishing, well-balanced meals are served each day for students and staff by Food and Nutrition Services.     

Presentation of Rules and Procedures

1.   First day of school

2.   Open House 

3.   School handbook

4.   Posted in classroom and on website