(The ABC’s of
Mrs. Harding’s Class
A is for…
Absences: If your child is absent from school, please call to report the absence. Let me know if their missed work needs to be ready for someone to pick up, or you prefer I give it to your them upon their return. Likewise, if your child is absent due to family travel, classwork can be sent home a day or two before your trip or it can be sent home to be completed after your trip. Let me know in advance which way you prefer.
Accelerated Reader (AR): Students will have an AR points goal that they are working to achieve each quarter. This goal is determined by their personal reading level. To earn, AR points students will take an online quiz over the books they have read. Based on the level of book and the number of questions answered correctly they will earn points. An AR Log will be sent home several times during each quarter for parents to see their child’s progress.
B is for…
Behavior: I use class Class Dojo. This is a web-based program which allows me to track students’ behaviors (positive AND negative) easily and efficiently. The program uses a point system. Students can be given positive points for things like being on task, being respectful, participating, and working hard. On the other hand, points can be taken away if students are off task, talking out, or not doing the right thing.
Birthdays: Birthdays are special days and are fun to celebrate! Students are welcome to bring in a treat for the class. Treats need to be individually wrapped and commercially prepared. We currently have 24 students in our class.
Book Orders: I try to send home book orders once a quarter. The online scholastic code Y87TX. This code will allow you to connect to our classroom and order books. The classroom also benefits when you purchase books. Bonus points are accumulated for every dollar spent and this allows me to order new books and various teaching materials for the classroom.
C is for…
Communication: Communication between home and school is crucial for the success of your child. Please feel free to contact me. Email is my main form of communication. My email is mharding@tsc.k12.in.us You can also message me through the Class Dojo app. Additionally, a class newsletter is sent out weekly via email.
D is for…
Dismissal: It is Wea Ridge’s policy that a parent must communicate to the front office if your child is to go home in a different way than his/her normal schedule. If a note or phone call to the office is not received, then I must send your child home in the usual manner.
Dress Code: The TSC policy on dress and appearance has been adopted with the interest of creating a positive learning atmosphere. School is preparation for adult life and life’s work. Our policy is designed to form proper dress and appearance habits for one’s future. There shall be adequate coverage of the body. Shoulders should be covered. Muscle, tank shirts, tube tops, spandex shorts, and bare midriffs are prohibited. Dresses, skirts, or shorts must be of moderate length. Clothing which displays inappropriate pictures, words, or the advertising of alcohol or tobacco products is not permitted. No hats, hoods, bandanas, or doo rags may be worn in the building.
E is for…
Email: mharding@tsc.k12.in.us I generally check my messages before the start of the day, over lunch, and again at the end of the day. During the week I try to respond to emails within 24 hours.
F is for…
Field Trips: Fourth grade attends 2 field trips per year. One typically occurs in the fall and the other in the spring. These field trips could not occur without the help of parent chaperones. All parents/guardians are invited to help chaperone. Please note that all chaperones are required to have an approved background check on file with TSC.
G is for…
Grading Scale: Tippecanoe School Corporation has a standard grading scale which I follow in my classroom. (A: 100 – 90) (B: 89 – 80) (C: 79 – 70) (D: 69 – 60) (F: 59 - 0)
H is for…
Homework: Homework is important for practice and is the students’ responsibility. Monday through Thursday students will have a quick spiral review in math and language arts. Students will also need to read a book of choice for 15 minutes. Additionally, a quick review of their math facts, spelling words, and vocabulary words should be done as needed. Please be sure your child is getting their homework completed. Class work is what should be done at school. However, if it was not completed at school it will be sent home to be finished. Extra time is built into each academic block, so if students are using their time wisely, they should have no problem finishing their classwork, and possibly parts of their homework as well.
I is for…
Important Papers: Students will be responsible for taking home their RED “Homework Folder” Monday through Thursday and returning it each day. Check your child’s Homework Folder for each night to make sure they are completing their work. On Fridays the students will be responsible for bringing home their GREEN “Take Home Folder” and returning it on Monday. The Take Home folder will contain graded work as well as information from the office about school/district events. Please go through these items over the weekend and return the folder on Monday.
J is for…
Joyful: I want my students to be joyful learners at school! If your child is upset about something, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
K is for…
Kindness: The number one rule in our class is, be kind and courteous to others. This is the first rule because it is the most important rule! Wea’s school motto is “Do the right thing, treat people right.” The importance of being kind to others and ourselves is discussed regularly.
L is for…
Late Assignments: If a student does not turn in assigned work on time, they will have the following options: complete the work during free time at school or take it home to complete. All incomplete work will need to be turned in the next morning. Recess will only be taken away for assignments that are more than a week overdue.
M is for…
Multiplication Facts: This year we will be working hard to master our multiplication facts 0-12. Multiplication facts 0-10 are a third-grade standard, so hopefully students have some knowledge of them already. Fact fluency is important to have because it impacts students’ ability to work with many other math concepts. In the classroom we will take timed “fast facts tests” two/three times a week and tracking our progress. Any student that has mastered their multiplication facts 0-12 before Thanksgiving Break will get to participate in a classroom party. At home, practicing multiplication with flashcards, by skip counting, online games, or any other method the works for your child will be extremely important. I cannot stress enough how essential knowing the basic multiplication facts is! Please contact me if you need practice material.
N is for…
Nightly Reading: It is important for your child to read at home each evening. The more a child reads, the better he/she becomes. For this reason, please make sure your child is completing their reading homework every night and making progress toward their quarterly AR goal. Reading may be done independently, with an adult, sibling, or even with a pet. Whatever method they enjoy most.
O is for…
Organization: Developing good organization skills is a key ingredient for success in school and life. Students will be responsible for organizing their notes, assignments, desk, and supply bin. Collectively the class is responsible for keeping the classroom organized and tidy.
P is for…
Parties: We have two class parties each year. A fall party in October and a Winter party in February. Requests for party contributions will be sent out in advance of each party.
Q is for…
Questions: Students are encouraged to ask questions if they don’t understand something…so are parents! ☺
R is for…
Rewards: Students can use the points they earn through Class Dojo to purchase coupons in our class store. Coupons for purchase include things like wear a hat to school, bring in a show and tell, draw on the whiteboard, lunch with the teacher, talk with a friend in the hallway, DJ for the day, sit at the teacher’s desk, and many more. Class store occurs once every 2-3 weeks.
Rules : We have 5 classroom rules: 1) Be kind and courteous to others. 2) Be respectful of classmates’, teacher’s, and school’s property. 3) Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. 4) Listen and follow teacher instructions. 5) Follow all school and classroom procedures.
S is for…
Sites: Students can access all TSC’s educational sites from home. Simply go to www.tsc.k12.in.us and select “Student” at the top, then select “TSC Tech Links” or Clever. They will use the same login credentials and password that they use at school.
T is for…
Technology: As you know, technology has become a big part of everyone’s lives and a major part of school. We will be using technology daily, and students will be responsible for being trustworthy and doing the right thing while using this technology. Each student will be assigned a Chromebook. The use of Chromebooks are a privilege. Students could lose their privilege for any of the following: using the Chromebook without permission, choosing to do something other than what they are assigned, not following Chromebook procedures, or anything else that shows the student is not using it in a responsible productive manner.
U is for…
Unfinished In-Class Work: An appropriate amount of time is given for students to finish in-class work. However, if a student does not complete their class work in the time given, they are expected to take it home to complete and turn it in the next day.
V is for…
Volunteers: You can volunteer to work with students, assist with clerical work (copy papers, laminate, cut, etc.), or chaperone one of our field trips. All volunteers are required to have a background check on file. To fill out and submit a background check go to www.tsc.k12.in.us click on “Parents” at the top, then scroll down and click on the “Volunteer” icon.
W is for…
Working Together: I am excited to start another school year. The best way to help your child reach their full potential is for us to communicate and work together.
X, Y, and Z are for…
I am eXcited to work with You and Your child this year! Please make sure he/she gets plenty of Zzzz’s each night.
Let’s have a fabulous year!!!