Absences- If a student ever needs to be absent, be sure to email the school office at woesattendance@lvusd.org to let them know the reason and duration for the absence. If the child is able to complete work at home, feel free to email me and I will get back to you with what they can do. The math curriculum in particular moves quickly, so it is important that students keep up with math and daily reading at a minimum (as much as they are able) while away from school. For an absence due to sickness, students have the number of days they missed from school in order to turn in any work missed (for example, if a student misses two days of school, they have two days after they return to submit all missing work). Missed work is done at home, since classwork will continue to be the new material. If a 5 or more day absence is foreseen, see the office. Any work provided before a foreseen absence requires work to be submitted upon arrival back at school.
Behavior - In addition to positive verbal reinforcement, students are rewarded for good behavior, participation, etc. with tickets. Tickets are saved by the student and used to "purchase" desk pets and coupons for fun privileges. Tickets should be kept in a safe place, and have no value if lost. If students exhibit negative behavior in the classroom, verbal and nonverbal reminders will occur. If the behaviors continue, I will speak with the student 1:1. If behaviors continue or if they are significant, a parent/student/teacher email will be sent, or a conversation or conference will be scheduled. Consequences or loss of privileges occur.
Birthdays- We celebrate students birthdays in class all together with a song, and the student receives a birthday goody bag from the teacher. If the student wishes to pass out a non-food item (ie: pencil, slinky) for each person in the class, that is allowed. Please make sure that all items are the same for every student to avoid problems.
Cell Phones (and Smartwatches)- As per district policy, all cell phones, smartwatches, and electronic devices must be off and away in backpacks during school hours. If a student receives a call or uses a phone/smartwatch during school hours for anything other than checking the time, the device will be confiscated and given to an administrator who will return It to the student at the end of the day. If a second infraction happens, the device will be confiscated and the parent/guardian will be required to meet with the principal or designee in order to retrieve the device.
Classroom Codes of Conduct- Our classroom codes align with our four "ROAR" principles here at White Oak. We always try to be: Respectful, Optimistic, Accountable, and Resourceful.
Dismissal- Parents should communicate any changes in pickup locations or people to the teacher at dweber@lvusd.org before school begins on that school day.
Food and Water- Food is not allowed inside the classroom unless it is during indoor recess. Students are encouraged to bring refillable water bottles to school daily, and are allowed to keep lunch boxes and water bottles inside our classroom on our cart. Students can get drinks of water during any independent work time.
Friday Journals- Students will fill out and bring home a Friday journal every Friday, giving their caregivers a peek at what they did that week. Parents and family members are encouraged to write a note back. This journal will be used all year and will be a keepsake to be kept at the end of third grade.
Fun Friday- On most Friday afternoons, students can earn a 20 minute period of choice time from a selection of options. Fun Friday is earned with good behavior and completed work. Students who do not earn Fun Friday will work with the teacher during this time.
Grades- Student grades for all subjects/skills/standards are collected throughout the entirety of each grading period. Grades are collected from assignments, tests, quizzes, teacher observation, and activities in class. Cumulative grades are sent home on the semester report cards in November, February, and June, and reflect the student's progress toward acquisition of end of year standards.
Graded Assignments- All paper graded assignments are sent home for parents to view, sign, and return. If a test or assignment is coming home for a signature, it will be the daily homework for your child to give it to you. Signed tests and assignments are kept in the classroom in the student's file until the end of each reporting period.
Homework Policy- Homework is intended to be an opportunity to practice important skills and will usually just be 20 minutes of reading and the completion of a few math problems. If class work is not completed, it may become homework to finish. All homework is due the next day unless otherwise noted. If your student is unable to complete homework due to outside factors, please email me to let me know.
Math- Our students are learning the Common Core Standards for math. They will be learning and using various strategies that may be new to some parents and caregivers. Before assisting your student with any math work, please take time to flip through the math lesson to see the strategy or procedure they are learning. This will lessen any confusion caused. Parents can also find the appropriate chapter and lesson of Joann's School (a YouTube channel) for full teacher lessons of EVERY lesson we cover all year. Find it here. Lastly, parents and students can refer to the Personal Math Trainer lesson or Math on the Spot video available for every lesson through their child's ThinkCentral account by clicking on the Interactive Student Edition.
Parent Assistance- We will be utilizing digital programs to learn and create this year. All work (digital or handwritten) done at home should be done by the student and not by any sibling, tutor, parent, or caregiver. If a student is struggling with a task, adults and caregivers are welcome to give feedback and direction if needed (ie: "I see a misspelling in this sentence, can you find it?", "Let's watch the video for this lesson together and see if that helps." or "Why don't you double check your work on number 5?"), but the student's work should reflect their accurate ability so that I can see their progress and review/ reteach/ reassess as needed. Please reach out if you have concerns. Thank you for partnering with me in this way!
PE- Our students participate in PE three days a week for 30 minutes each time. Students should always wear closed toe and heel shoes that are appropriate for sports and running. If your child cannot participate in PE for any reason, please email me early in the day letting me know why. If a child needs to miss PE for multiple days, please provide a doctor's note.
Reading- The single greatest indicator of student success is consistent reading. Students will be expected to read a "good fit" book for at least 20 minutes every day for homework. Students will have access to the classroom and school libraries as well as ebooks on Epic for book choice, but can also utilize their home and city libraries. Parents can support successful daily silent reading by creating set home schedules and a quiet space for their student.
ROAR/Rules- Our classroom rules all align with our school guidelines that students should demonstrate the four components of ROAR. They should try to be Respectful, Optimistic, Accountable, and Resourceful.
Spirit Wear/ Spirit Colors- On Fridays, our school comes together as a community to represent our pride in our school by wearing either White Oak spirit wear (available for purchase through the White Oak PFC- find their link on the White Oak website) or our White Oak color (royal blue). Students are encouraged to participate!
Sunday Emails- Emails are sent weekly to parents to keep them appraised of what we are doing and learning in the classroom, any important announcements or dates, and what homework is. Additionally, the classroom website has valuable information.
Technology Use Agreement- Acer use is intended for school tasks at school, and all LVUSD students are provided a student gmail account. Both the Acer and email account are owned and can be monitored by the school district. Student behavior online is held to the same standard as in-school behavior. If a student breaks the Technology Use Agreement (which is required to be signed at registration on Aeries), they will have a reminder and a warning. If the behavior occurs again, or if the misuse is significant, the Acer can be taken for 24 or 48 hours, or indefinitely, depending on the action.