Welcome to The Tank!   The 2023/2024 school year will be full of many exciting events and activities.  You will find important class information listed here.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Student Supply List:  There is NO "supply list" for the Tank this school year.  I am providing all of the students with the required school supplies for the year.  Students are welcome to bring their own supplies such as pencils, markers, hand sanitizer, and travel size tissue.

Class Wish List (Amazon)

Feel free to browse our wish list on Amazon by clicking on this link.  Items may be delivered to the school directly or sent to school with your child.  

Thank you for supporting The Tank!

Daily Schedule

Daily Schedule: Minimum Day Schedule:

8:05  Opening/Morning Work   8:05 Opening/Morning Work

8:30  Spelling/Grammar   8:30 Math

9:00 P.E. (M, T, W, F)   9:25 Recess

9:25 Recess   9:40 Language Arts/Writing

9:45 Math/Language Arts   11:35 Lunch/Extra 10

11:45 Lunch   12:00 SEL 

12:20 Writing   12:35 Dismissal

1:00 Recess

1:20 Science/Social Studies

2:10 Dismissal

Birthdays

Your child’s birthday is an important day that I do like to recognize in class.  As a class, we will acknowledge and sing to the birthday student at the end of the school day.  If your child would like to bring something to share with classmates, I ask that it be a non-edible item such as pencils or stickers due to food allergies.  

Homework

Studies have shown that there is almost no correlation for students in elementary school between the amount of time spent on homework and student achievement. There will be minimal, yet relevant homework assigned Monday through Thursday. Students should be able to independently complete homework in approximately 15-20 minutes each night. Please check that your child completed the assignment to the best of their ability.  I ask that you DO NOT correct or do the work for your child.  I would like to see which concepts students are struggling with, and parent corrected/completed work will not show this information to me.  

*I do not assign homework on Fridays unless a student has unfinished work.


I expect all homework to be turned in on time.  Each morning we do a homework check, and missing or incomplete work is recorded.  All homework is corrected, and mistakes should be reviewed.  However, most homework does not count towards a final grade.   I believe homework is practice -- all students must do it, but it is the grades that they earn on tests, projects, and in-class assignments that will determine their actual grade.  


I will tell students in advance if a particular homework assignment will count towards their grade. Work or projects that count toward the grade must be turned in on time to receive full credit.  Students have 5 days to turn in missing assignments. After 5 school days, it will no longer be accepted and be counted as a zero in the grade book. In addition to the regular homework, I expect each student to read for 20 minutes each day. Class time will be given for daily reading, and students may choose to read at home.

Grading Policy

Grades are calculated as the weighted average earned on all assignments entered into the grade book.  Items such as tests, quizzes, and projects are weighted more than classwork and homework. 


The percentage breakdown is:


O 100% - 90%

S+ 89% - 80%

S 79% - 70%

S- 69% - 60%

N 59% or Less.


All corrected work that has been entered into the gradebook will be sent home on Fridays in the student Friday Folder.  It is very important that you review work and grades with your child.  Families may log in at any time to PowerSchool to see grades. If you see that I made a typo in the gradebook based upon the grade assignment sent in the Friday Folder, please let me know as soon as possible.  Friday Folders should be emptied, signed, and returned to school the following Monday.



Mustang Code of Conduct

Our Code of Conduct allows for students to connect their behavior to our school-wide behavior matrix.  Our code of conduct is “A Curious HERD!”


Expectations for Room 20 will follow the school wide Code of Conduct found inside the student agenda (pages 6-11). Teaching and enforcing these expectations will allow me to create a happy and safe environment for all of the students in the Tank. This year, we will learn, practice, and teach others respectful, responsible and safe behavior for all school activities. Students who make good choices will be recognized in class and school wide throughout the year for showing Mustang Pride.


In order to guarantee your child the excellent learning environment they deserve, the following Growth Mindset discipline clip chart will be utilized inside the classroom daily.  The clip chart has 7 levels: pink, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red.  Each student will begin their day on green - ready for a challenge.  Based upon daily behavior, students will move up or down on the clip chart.  Students demonstrating positive behavior will be encouraged to move up the chart each time a positive behavior is demonstrated.  The levels moving up the chart from green are blue - thinking smart, purple - fantastic, and pink - be proud.  Students demonstrating negative behavior will be asked to move down the chart each time a negative behavior is demonstrated. The levels moving down the chart from green are yellow - don’t give up, orange - slow down, and red - time to adjust.


Top of the Chart

Bottom of the Chart


Green through Pink on the clip chart signifies that the Code of Conduct has been followed throughout the day. Yellow represents that a warning was given, and is documented in the classroom Code of Conduct binder.  Orange represents that the student needed an additional reminder.  They will sign the Code of Conduct binder and fill out a Rethinking Letter.  The Rethinking Letter will be signed by parents and returned to school the next day.  If misbehavior continues, the student will switch their clip to red on the chart which will result in a referral to the principal.  The purpose of the behavior clip chart is to focus instructional time on the students who are following directions and ready to learn.


I like to reward students who demonstrate a positive growth mindset with privileges.  Individual privileges that can be earned are: a great big thanks,  free time,  computer privileges,  or classroom money.  Groups can earn table points for stickers,  book marks, or free choice time. The class can work together to earn points towards a class reward.


I believe that my students always comply with our classroom rules to the best of their individual abilities.  Likewise, I know that students can occasionally make wrong choices.  I do not tolerate certain behaviors such as cheating, lying, or stealing.   Cheating is generally an automatic “0”, but will be dealt with on an individual basis.   Other inappropriate behaviors will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.