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ASSIGNMENT NOTEBOOKS

     Students will write daily assignments in their assignments notebooks and are to be signed nightly. At times, I may write notes on the assignment page for parents regarding library books or fines, missed or late assignments, or behavior issues.

 

HOMEWORK POLICY

     Homework serves five purposes: a.) to teach individual responsibility; b.) to serve as an extension of what goes on in the classroom; c.) to give the child practice on a new skill learned in class; d.) to finish something begun in class; and e.) to challenge the student by calling for creativity, higher level thinking, or problem-solving strategies in an area where the student has already shown skill mastery.

     Reading to and with your child is also of great benefit each and every night, and the most important long-term investment a parent can make to his/ her child's education.

     Nightly homework will be given Monday through Thursday. Some assignments will be long-term, and may carry over weekends. Each student is expected to complete homework in a timely manner. Special consideration will be given for illness. Work will be sent home with someone designated by the parent(s).

 

BUYING TIME

     Students will be provided with four opportunities per quarter to bring in an assignment to school if he/she has forgotten work. After four late assignments, a note will be sent home to be signed by both the parent and child, to be returned the next school day accompanied by the late work.

 

 

HELPING YOUR CHILD WITH HOMEWORK

     One question parents often ask is how to effectively assist their children with homework. Here are some suggestions for working with your child:

  • Wait for your child to ask for help.
  • Be available and supportive when help is requested.
  • Focus on the process of the work rather than the end project.
  • Understand the importance of the child doing the work, even if the final product is substandard. After all, the child is earning the grade, not the parent. Teachers need to be aware of problem areas, not have them masked by too much parental help.
  • Make sure the student is able to organize time effectively, which may mean investigating with the teacher the amount of work that is getting done in school; if time management is not the source of an apparent overload of homework, then let me know.
  • Be sure that your child has a quiet, organized place to do his/her homework. The homework area should be well-lit and well supplied with the necessary equipment.
  • Help your child to establish a homework routine. Homework will become more consistent if it is done at the same time each day.

   

ACCELERATED READER

     ACR will be 10% of the reading grade. For more on ACR, go to the Library web site.

 

DRILL TEAM

     Math drill team is 10% of the math grade. Requirements are:

First Quarter:                 100 addition problems in 5 minutes

Second Quarter:            100 subtraction problems in 5 minutes

Third Quarter:                100 multiplication problems in 5 minutes

Fourth Quarter:              100 division problems in 5 minutes

 

COMMUNICATION

     This is very important! If you have a question or need information, please send a note with your child or call the school and leave a message. I will return your call as soon as possible. When leaving a message, please leave a number where you can be reached.

 

BEHAVIOR

     Students are expected to come to school knowing that they are to behave at all times. Students will feel much better about themselves when proud of their self-control and achievements. If a behavior issue would arise, a note will be sent home to be signed by the parent. Only issues related to what occurred with that student will be written.

 

CLASSROOM RULES

     On the first day of school, the students and I read and discussed five classroom and school rules. The all understood the following:

  • Raise hand to be recognized, one person speaks at a time.
  • Listen to complete directions the first time given.
  • Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself.
  • Do not prevent others from learning.

Please get in touch with any questions or comments on my site.

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