ALL ABOUT 5M

This is a quick reference of our classroom policies and procedures.

Nurse- Students are encouraged to solve minor health discomforts first, using strategies, such as: using the washroom, taking a break, getting a drink or eating a snack prior to visiting the nurse. If your child does visit the nurse for any reason, he/she will use a nurse's pass. I ask students to place the nurses pass in their mailbox when they return. This pass also serves as a notice to you that your child visited the nurse on that day.

Behavior-

CHAMPS-Students are pre-taught all of the classroom expectations using the CHAMPS model of behavior instruction. If students do not follow the classroom expectations, they will receive an "CHAMPS" slip. The "CHAMPS" slips are a reflective tool to help students review the CHAMPS expectations.

OOPS: If a child is struggling keeping their hands and feet to self, uses disrespectful language or mishandles supplies in an unsafe manner, he/she will receive an "OOPS" slip. These slips are more of a parent communication tool to encourage students to talk with their parents about their behavior. The format of the oops slip is:

Oops!- I have to talk to you about my behavior. I received a warning when I ______________ and next time, I will ________________________.

The parent must sign the "OOPS" slip to note that the student did approach them to talk about their behavior in class. The student should return the slip to class the next day.

If your child receives 2 "oops" slips in one day, or participates in a major behavior situation, such as physical contact, cheating, swearing, graffiti or other severe behaviors, then I will definitely send the parents an email to make the parents aware of the situation. They will be written up in a REFERRAL to the principal and the consequences will be determined by the office staff.

Golden Feathers: When children follow the behavior expectations, they receive a GOLDEN FEATHER, which is like a raffle ticket. They fill out their information on the Golden Feather and place it into our class raffle jar. The school provides 1-5 prizes a week for every student whose name is pulled. These prizes range from having lemonade, or chips, to an extra recess, or prize. In addition, I pull raffle prizes for our class as well. These class prizes include sitting in a fun chair, pencils, erasers, and special privileges.

When the whole class displays exemplary behavior, then they receive a stamp on our class gameboard. When the students make it to the finish line on the game board, the class earns an "educational" party planned by the students. Party themes could include animals, cultural party, science party, etc.

Practice Work/Homework - For the most part, practice work/homework is intended to be an extension of materials and skills taught during the course of a school day. New skills will never be introduced on these assignments. The assignments are a way for students to practice what they’ve learned and for teachers to assess student learning.

It is likely that your child will have some sort of practice work/homework each day, as well as occasional practice work/homework on the weekend.

Usually it's math homework everyday, spelling homework every week and speech homework every month.

In addition, each 5th grader should read at least 20 minutes each night and record the minutes on the monthly reading log website.

The 5th grade teachers recommend practicing multiplication and division facts with your child 15 minutes/ week.

If your child is absent for 3 days, missing work will be assigned upon his/her return to school. If the absence is longer than 3 days, arrangements must be made with your child’s teacher to pick up the work. Work can be provided for shorter absences on a case by case basis, but please allow one full school day to compile work.

Monthly Speeches- Some months your child will be assigned a short speech on a certain topic. Your child is responsible for completing all related work at home.

Assignment Expectations-Students are expected to complete all assignments and turn them in on time. They are also responsible for any work missed due to an absence. If an assignment is not completed on time, your student will bring home a YIKES Slip which must be signed by an adult, and returned with the missing work the next day.

Organization-A strong focus in 5th grade is the development of organization, responsibility, and independence. Students are expected to keep an assignment notebook that is used to track assignments and behavior. The assignment notebook should be taken home each day, discussed with parents, signed, and returned.

Each child will bring home a home folder with a section for notes/mail to leave at home and a section for homework to be returned to school. The take home folder and assignment notebook should come back to school each day. Students are also expected to be responsible for bringing materials, books, work, and lunch to school. Our goal is to teach them to be responsible, independent learners prior to entering Middle School.

*PLEASE remember to check your child’s assignment notebook and empty your child’s take home folder nightly.

The rule is 50 minutes Homework/Day for 5th graders. The students generally will receive math everyday, spelling once a week, and a speech once a month. Daily homework is not collected for a grade