Classroom Expectations & Procedures

Welcome Explorer Crew to HIS! 

Dear Students, Parents/Guardians,

Welcome to 5th grade at Howland Intermediate School!  We are excited you are here and to begin a new school year.  You are on the Explorer ship and your core subject teachers are:  

Mrs. Harrington for Math

Mrs. Heinselman for Science and Social Studies.  

Mrs. Messina for ELA

Mrs. Termine Intervention

Mrs. Santee 

As a team, there are many expectations for all of us to ensure a successful school year.  This includes you, the student, your teachers, and your parents/guardians.  

Finding Success in 5th Grade! 

     The key to success in 5th grade is to be on time, on task, and prepared for class each day. Each time you are absent, late to class, or forget your materials, you’re missing valuable classroom instruction that can mean the difference in learning the day’s objective or not. Missing a few minutes of class each day adds up to a large deficit by the end of the year. 

Each time a student doesn’t have the correct materials or completed assignments, a charged Chromebook, or late to class that student will receive a strike. Three strikes will signal that the student needs to sit with one of us and try to figure out what the issue is and how it can be corrected. Contact with parents will be made if needed. After the first month, we will implement our Explorer Ship “Baseball Training Camp.”

*Every effort will be made to help students learn how to become more organized and learn how to get to class on time with the proper materials. Students will use the time together with a teacher to clean out classroom folders, and/or discuss strategies to help with their organizational needs. Working together can usually fix the problem.

Behavior Policy 

Positive Reinforcement: 

1. Students will have the opportunity to earn “Tiger Tickets” for individual behavior.  Tickets will be awarded to students who consistently show appropriate classroom behavior. Tickets will also be awarded for consistent homework completion and for going above and beyond in the classroom. 

2. Tiger Tickets can be turned in for treats or activities as rewards for positive behavior!

3. There will also be opportunities for classes to work together to earn a whole class reward as well.  

Behavior Consequences: 

1. Students will always be given a nonverbal and/or verbal warning as a first step to remedy inappropriate behavior.  

2. After multiple warnings, students who continue displaying inappropriate behavior more severely, may be removed from an activity, or sent to the principal’s office, or given detention.  Parent contact will be made. 

3. We will communicate with you about your child’s behavior (negative or positive) through your child’s planner or "take home" folder,  via phone, email or mail. Please check your child’s planner and folder daily. 

Homework Policy 

     All written homework must be completed nightly and returned to school on the assigned date, unless otherwise noted.  Most written homework assignments are worth 2 points if completed and turned in on time.  Late or missing homework assignments will result in the consequences defined below.

Homework Consequences:

1. Late assignments will receive a 1-point deduction if they’re turned in the next day. After the following day, the assignment will receive a zero if not turned in. Students will not be allowed to call home if they forget their work. Students should pack their book bags at night with all the materials needed for the next day. Organization is the key to success!

2. After the first missing homework assignment each quarter, students will be given a gentle reminder about the importance of homework completion. After a second homework is missed each quarter, parents or guardians will be contacted in an effort to help create a solution. 

3. All homework is counted for a total grade each quarter.  For example, if there were 10 graded homework assignments given in the quarter, but the student only completed 7, they will receive 7 points for their homework grade for that quarter. 

Positive Reinforcement: 

1. Homework is part of a student’s quarterly grade.  Students who complete quality work on a consistent basis will see a positive impact in their grades and will feel good about themselves. 

Assignment Communication

Google Classroom:

1. Assignments will be on the “Week at A Glance” which is in our Google Classrooms as well as our teacher websites. 

2. Students are expected to write in their planners daily, so the assignments will be there too.

3. Parents can access their child’s Google Classroom information by signing into their student’s Gmail account.  After signing in, click the waffle and choose Google Classroom.

4. We will also communicate with parents and guardians about missing assignments through Progress Book, email, and phone calls if needed. Please check Progress Book for grades and missing assignments.  

Progress Book:

1. Progress Book will usually be updated weekly.

2. All assignments will be graded using points. The grade will be given as the number of points the student earned over the total points possible. The percentage will be written on the actual assignments, but the points only will show in Progress Book.

3. All assessment grades are weighted at a greater value than classwork or homework. This may vary depending on the core class.  

Classroom Communication  

     We each have a class website and a Google classroom for our classes.  Parents and students can visit the website to view subject expectations, the “Week at a Glance” for daily lessons and homework assignments, test dates, important announcements, etc.  

     Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have throughout the year.  You may also write a note or call the school at 330-856-8250 and leave a message. I will get back to you as soon as possible. 

I am looking forward to a great year with your child! 

Sincerely,

Mrs. Heinselman

Email: michele.heinselman@howlandschools.org