Teacher Contact Information
Ms. Welker – 5th Grade Teacher
Phone: (636) 789-0000 ext: 3153
Email: welker_jennifer@hsdr3.org
*The best way to get in contact with me is by Dojo or email. I check Dojo and my email periodically throughout the day. If you choose to call me please do it during my plan periods (those are whenever the students have one of the following; art, music, gym, or library. If you aren’t sure what times those are please refer to my contact info on my class website) Conferences will need to be set up by appointment.
Classroom Expectations
Before you walk in the classroom…
Before even entering the classroom, I expect that all students are:
1. Ready to learn with a positive attitude
2. On time
3. Well-rested
4. Nourished from a healthy breakfast
5. Prepared with materials/supplies/homework needed for the day
When you’re in the classroom…
During class time, I expect that all students:
1. Respect all classmates, Hillsboro Intermediate faculty, and any visitors that come to our class.
2. Follow directions of adults the first time they are given
3. Raise hands and wait for permission before speaking or leaving their seat
4. Remain focused and listen to peers and adults
5. Participate actively and give their all to the lessons
*During our first week of school, we will go over these expectations extensively so we are all on the same page and so there is no confusion.*
Classroom Management Plan
In our class, students will be recognized for their positive behavior as well as receive consequences for disruptive behavior. I have also included a separate sheet that goes more in depth of the ticket system I will be using. Students who consistently demonstrate appropriate behavior will be positively rewarded with praise, positive notes sent home, small rewards, and other special privileges. On the other hand, students who demonstrate distracting, disruptive, or disobedient behavior will have consequences as follows:
1st Offense - Verbal Warning
2nd Offense – Take Tickets
3rd Offense – Take recess and write in planner/send a Dojo message to parent
4th Offense – Call parent and request conference
5th Offense – “time-out” in hallway
6th Offense – Send to office for principal conference
Let’s avoid the “D-Behavior” (distracting, disruptive, disobedient) so we can all learn effectively together!
Homework Policy
Homework will be generally be assigned each day and should take students no more than one hour to complete. Some long-term projects may require time on weekends. Also, students will be required to complete various IXL skills each week.
Why I assign homework:
I believe that learning happens everywhere, and in order to reinforce the day’s lessons and achieve mastery of our objectives, it will be crucial for students to spend time after school with their homework. I will not give homework just for the sake of giving homework – like our lessons, homework will be purposeful.
Late Work:
It is a student’s responsibility to turn in homework ON TIME. This year’s late work policy will be strictly enforced. When you are given an assignment, you need to make sure that you complete the assignment and turn it in on time. In the event that you are having a technical difficulty with opening an assignment contact the teacher immediately if you wait to contact me the morning it is due I will not be able to assist you before it's due and it will be considered late.
If you fail to turn the late assignment within 1 calendar day, the assignment will no longer be accepted and you will earn a 0%. The reason for the strict policy is because no one benefits from late work. Learning builds on itself, so assignments that are given need to be done in the order that they are assigned. It is the responsibility of the student to keep track of his or her assignments using the planner provided by the school or on the calendar provided through Google Classroom.
Absence
Understandably, there will be times when you will be absent from class. If a student is absent, then students will need to get their missed work from me. I will put together a packet of their missing work, but it is the student’s responsibility to get the work on the day that they return to school. They will have the same number of days that they were absent to make up their missing work. Failure to do so will result in the work being late and, at that time, being subject to the late work policy, which is listed above.
Grading System
Grades will be determined by a weighted grading scale. 80% of the students’ grades will be based tests/quizzes, projects, and a larger writing assignment. 20% of the students’ grades will come from homework, and participation. This is the same grade scale on my classroom webpage.
A 100% - 90%
B 89% – 80%
C 79% – 75%
D 74% – 70%
F 69% and below
If I see grades “slipping” with any student I will be in contact with you however, if you find that your student needs extra help, please don’t hesitate to talk with me about it. I want to see all of my students achieve and will do whatever I can to help.
Learning Happens In AND Out of School!
To be ready for fifth grade, students should be able to…
* Recall multiplication facts 1-12 with ease and by memory.
*Select an appropriate-level reading book and independently read using context clues to assist in difficult sections of the text.
* Write in complete sentences to clearly explain their ideas and answers.
At Home Expectations:
In order to reach the maximum learning potential, students will be expected to complete regular homework assignments and they should have a quiet place and designated time for this. I ask that parents regularly consult their student’s planner to understand what students are accomplishing and what needs to be turned in. Students will be required to have a parent’s signature in their planner every day. I also expect that each student spending time working on their IXL each evening to help boost their SmartScores. This truly helps them fill in any gaps in their learning.
Parent-Teacher Communication:
I am always available by Dojo or email. Phone calls are a bit more challenging and are reserved for when a major issue needs to be discussed .
Appropriate hours for phone calls are after school until 4:00 pm or during my prep period. If you would like to have a face-to-face conversation about your student’s progress, please contact me to set up an appointment. I appreciate a two-way street of communication and enjoy contact even when things are going right, so don’t be surprised if I call home to share good news!
* Education happens both at school and at home! Let’s work together to achieve success! *
School-Wide Policies and Highlights
Birthdays
Parents may bring in individually wrapped, store bought treats for the entire class. Please make sure that they are nut free. Please make sure to coordinate all requests with me ahead of time.
Parties
This is the first year that there will not be holiday parties. We do, however, still celebrate holidays, but we do it by various activities instead. For example, instead of a Halloween Party we spend half of the day at the farm with fun games and the other half of the day participating in a kickball tournament. Unlike parties, these events are just for the students and parents are not able to attend.
Field Trips
Permission slips will be sent home individually for field trip that leave school campus. Parents do not attend our grade level field trip.