EAGLE FOLDERS will go home every day and must be brought to class every morning. Please take time to go through the Eagle Folder every week together, students & parents, cleaning out any papers that are no longer needed. Your child should know what is and is no longer needed. If your child is unsure, please have them ask Ms. Hoyt or Mrs. Bailey.
WEDNESDAY FOLDERS will go home each Wednesday. The folder will be filled with Joe Michell flyers about upcoming events, returned school work, tests, and quizzes. Any work that is returned in the folder is yours to keep. Please take time each week, student & parents, to go through and review the papers. The folders need to be returned no later than Tuesday of the next week.
HOME LEARNING & HOME EXTENSION As a 4th grader you will be required to read 30-40 minutes each day and practice and memorize multiplication facts. There will be work that is due throughout the week, but students are always given time in class to work on the assignments. There should not be much assigned work that comes home to complete. Parents, if you notice quite a bit of class work being brought home for completion, please have a discussion with your child about their use of class work time. Please contact Ms. Hoyt or Mrs. Bailey if necessary.
When students go home each day, we advocate any activity that contributes to student learning, that builds a student’s confidence and interests, and that develops social and emotional skills and attitudes they’ll need for lifelong learning. Sharing class experiences with adults at home, listening as other family members share about their day, and connecting as a family is valuable for a student’s cognitive, social, emotional, and language development. When families take time to reflect back on the day together, it helps lessons learned in school to move from short term into long term memory. Optional home learning projects will be occasional and designed to promote greater love of school and interest in inquiring and investigating.
WATER BOTTLES are welcome in the class. I recommend reusable water bottles. In case of misuse they will be taken away. They may be refilled during the day as long as it is not during instructional time.
HATS are not to be worn in class but may be worn outside during recess or P.E.
BACKPACKS are to be put on the hooks in the hallway. Students are expected to unpack needed items before class begins.
SNACKS may be brought to school to be eaten during the first recess and lunch only. They are not to be eaten in class. We are a nut-free classroom.
BIRTHDAYS are a fun time for the students. Please remember to provide treats that are easy to distribute to each student. If you do not want to bring treats that are food, alternative ideas are pencils, stickers, small trinkets, etc. Please have enough for each child in the classroom.
STUDENT OF THE WEEK Each child will have a week in which they are the “Student of the Week”. This is a special way to celebrate each and every child in the class and their uniqueness. Further information will be sent home.
VACATIONS If scheduled during the school year, please let me know at least a week before, so that I can get some things ready for your child.
TARDINESS Students must be at school and ready to learn at 8:30 am. If your child is late several times, parents will be contacted to see if we can find a solution to the problem.
DISMISSAL will only happen after the students have cleaned up the room and tidied up their desks. I regard cleanliness, politeness and organization as key components to a great learning environment. This is our classroom and it is important we keep it clean and organized.
Sometimes it seems we all need help getting organized. Such help can be amazingly useful to a child who wants to study more effectively. Here are some tips to help children make the most of their study time:
Set aside a time. The biggest challenge might be sitting down and starting.
Set aside a place. Kids study better if they have a certain place where they can work. It doesn’t have to be exclusively set aside for studying-it can be the kitchen table—but it should be the same place every night.
Provide adequate supplies. With your child, stock up on supplies that they will need. Nothing wastes time like a search for a pencil or paper. Ask them to write down what they need to do. This will help them focus. It will also give them a sense of accomplishment when they cross something off a list.
Eliminate distractions. Some homes are just naturally loud. To the extent that you can, create a quiet space.
Help them find their own working style. Some people like to tackle one project at a time. Other people like to go back and forth between projects.
Remember that organized isn’t the same as neat. Some people work best on a clean surface. Other people need a lot of notes and books in front of them. The goal is always learning.
Source: University of Minnesota Extension Service, Creating Conditions for Children’s SuccessSarah Staude, StaudeS@missouri.eduRegional Specialist, 4-H YouthCass County, MissouriUniversity of Missouri Extension