Mrs. Parris' Classroom Syllabus
Communication
Phone: 355-6843 Email: rmparris@greenville.k12.sc.us (preferred method of communication)
- You should receive a weekly parent email on Monday informing you of important dates, weekly assignments, and more! I will also attach the Newsletter for the week and a hard copy will also be in your child’s daily folder. (If you have not received an email within the first 2 weeks, please reach out immediately)
- Folders will be in your child’s backpack daily! Please check for important papers and information! Every Friday, you should clean out the folder to start the next week. Your child will be responsible for bringing their folder to school every day and taking it home each evening!
Resources and Materials
- Please reference the supply list & Amazon Wishlist
- There will be many opportunities to support our classroom throughout the year. I’ll share Amazon lists, or Google Docs to help with needed items.
Schedule
Your child will spend the majority of their day with me, Mrs. Parris learning science, reading, language arts (writing, grammar, and phonics), and social studies. Ms. Cruse will teach your child math everyday for an hour and 15 minutes.
Reading
We will be reading weekly stories and focusing on weekly skills. Students will take weekly reading quizzes based upon the stories and the skill for the week. There will occasionally be IXLs students can use as a guide to study however, unlike subjects that rely heavily on memorization of facts, reading is more about skill development—like comprehension, inferencing, and critical thinking. These are built over time through consistent practice.
That’s why "studying" for reading often looks more like regular reading, discussing texts, and working on understanding rather than traditional review. There will be no study guides for reading quizzes and tests.
Grading Breakdown
- The district digital grading program is PowerSchool. The grading scale for Greenville County is posted online. – http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/parents/main.asp?titleid=grades
- The parent/guardian is responsible for checking Backpack to stay up to date with your child’s grades.
- Grading Scale (A: 100-90, B: 89-80, C: 79-70, D: 69-60, F: 59 or lower)
- Each subject has different weights for the grading scale. Please reference the charts below.
Major Assessment refers to tests, projects, etc. Minor Assignments refer to quizzes, daily activities, homework, etc.
Spelling: The spelling test will be based around phonemic awareness. The spelling test will be given on Friday or the last day of the week for shorter weeks. The spelling phonemic rule for the week can be found on the weekly newsletter sent by email and in the front of your child’s folder each week.
Absences, Late Arrivals, and Early Dismissals
- School begins at 7:45am. If you drop your child off at 7:45am or later, you will be required to walk your child to the office. The front doors will be locked.
- Please send in a doctor’s note or a parent's note via email to cgrant@greenville.k12.sc.us when your child is absent – include the date, teacher’s name, and student’s full name on parent email.
- If your child needs an early dismissal, you must email your child’s teacher, arcraig@greenville.k12.sc.us, and achilds@greenville.12.sc.us. Please include who will be picking them up and what time and for what reason.
E-learning: If the district chooses to do an e-learning day for any reason, your child is required to participate in the e-learning assignments. If they do not participate, they may be marked absent. E-Learning assignments will be found in your child’s HOMEROOM Google Classroom in one place for both teachers so the students are not having to jump around. They will only do a Google Meet with their homeroom teacher.
Missed/Make-up Work: Your child is expected to make up missed work within a week of returning to school. Additional time can be discussed and may be given depending on the circumstances.
- After 3 consecutive unexcused absences or 5 total unexcused absences, our system automatically generates a Truancy Referral.
Homework Policy
- Homework assignments are an extension and reinforcement of class instruction.
- Classwork that is not completed during the day will automatically become homework, in addition to any regular homework assigned.
- Students should read for 20 minutes each day!
- Knowing multiplication facts is a big part of success in 4th grade math. I strongly encourage regular practice at home to help your child build confidence and fluency.
- Math worksheets will be sent home each day to be completed as reinforcement of the learning that took place that day.
Chromebooks/Google Classroom
- Chromebooks should be charged fully when brought to school each morning. If this becomes an issue, your child may have to leave their chromebook at school to prepare for the next day.
- Many assignments will be posted in Google Classroom. Science tests and several other assessments will be completed using Google Forms. Science quizzes, tests, and grammar assessments can be viewed at home so you and your child can review their progress and learn from any mistakes.
- Please keep Chromebook chargers in backpacks each day—we don’t have extras in the classroom.
- To ensure the privacy and safety of our students, and to protect data and our resources, we ask parents and students to become familiar with policies and regulations that have been established for technology use in the district. The district’s Acceptable Use Policy (Board Policy and Administrative Rule EFE) is available on the district website - https://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/departments/main.asp?titleid=etsaup
Classroom Rule
If what you are doing interferes with someone’s learning, hurts someone’s heart, or prevents you from being your best shelf, you shouldn’t be doing it!
Snacks and Water Bottles
- Your child may bring a snack each day. This should be eaten quickly and with minimal mess.
- Water bottles should close tightly and be leak-proof (no Stanleys, please!). Only water is allowed—no other drinks to avoid sticky spills.
Non-instructional Routines
- When students arrive in the morning, they will unpack, sharpen pencils, and collect materials for the day. Students will watch the morning news show, at which time they will hear daily news, lunch choices, and important information. Class will begin shortly after.
- During bathroom breaks, we go to the restroom as a class. If a student has an emergency and has to use the restroom at a time other than the classroom visits, he/she will be allowed to go as needed.
- If you feel that your child needs to have a cell phone at school, the expectation is that it will remain in their backpack and be turned off throughout the school day. The school is not liable for the loss or damage of the phone when at school. If the phone is out during the school day it will be confiscated and returned at the end of the day.
- Your child is responsible for taking home their daily folder and returning it to school the next day.
- Chromebooks should be charged fully when brought to school each morning and chargers in backpacks, for use.
- Graded materials will be sent home throughout the week. Each child will have a mailbox where all of their graded materials/ paperwork will be. It is each child’s responsibility to occasionally check their mailbox and bring home materials.
- Many tests and quizzes are given on the Chromebook. Therefore many grades will be put into Powerschool and parents will not see a physical copy. If you would like a physical copy of a graded test or quiz, it can be printed and sent home with your child, or emailed.
Lunch & Breakfast
- Breakfast and lunch are free for all students. However, additional servings, ice-cream, snacks, and special drinks will be an additional charge. Students will not be allowed to purchase these items unless they have money in their accounts. Breakfast will be eaten in the cafeteria before class begins. Students will alternate between whisper time and listening time while at lunch. This ensures that students are focusing on their eating.
Emergency Drills, Situations, and Weather
- Emergency Drills are held monthly and practiced in order for students to obtain a level of confidence about their ability to move without stopping to think in an emergency situation.
- Please refer to local news, radio, school messaging system, and social media for all closings, delays, and important messages concerning our school. If you are on social media, like our Facebook Page and Instagram for regular school updates.
- All drills, including lockdown, secure, and hold will be reviewed at the beginning of the school year, typically within the first week. This can be a sensitive topic and some may find it unpleasant. If you see fit, please discuss these precautions with your student beforehand.
Subjects & Units
Each subject has different units. If there are fewer units, we spend more time on them. If there are more units, we spend less time on each one. For the reading units, please refer to Mrs. Parris’ syllabus.
Greenville County Year Unit Schedule & South Carolina Standards