Welcome to
th
5 Grade
Mrs. Fraas’
Classroom Handbook
2016-201 7
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Expectations for Excellence
Mrs. Fraas’ Class
Over my years of teaching, parents and students ask several common questions
when a child begins a new grade level with a different teacher. This handbook seeks to
answer some of those questions.
What kind of a classroom do I run?
The school experience should be a happy one – inside and outside the classroom.
I enjoy rewarding students for attentive and responsible behavior.
What happens when the rules are not followed?
The school rules are on the district website listed under elementary school
handbooks, and our classroom rules are posted in our room.
I use 3 X 5” cards for students to take home to you. The consequences for
misbehavior increase with each event. First, a verbal warning is given to the student if
the rules are not followed. If there is a second time that day, the student will forfeit a
recess. If misconduct occurs for the third time on the same day, the student forfeits
recess and takes home the card for parents’ signatures. At this point, the principal knows
about the student’s behavior problem. If there is a fourth occurrence, the student forfeits
recess, calls the parent or guardian to explain the behavior issue by phone, and visits with
the principal.
Classroom Guidelines
Do your best work – always!
•
Abide by the school rules
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Treat peers and adults with respect and courtesy
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Listen and follow directions
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Complete homework on time
Consequences
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First, the student will receive a verbal warning
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Second, the student forfeits a recess
Third, the student forfeits recess, takes home a note for parent signatures,
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principal is informed
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Fourth, the student forfeits recess, calls the parents/guardian from school
How much homework should students bring home?
The district guidelines suggest approximately 10 minutes of homework for each
grade level. So 5th graders should expect an average of 50 minutes of homework each
night. Weeknight homework involves lexile reading (a minimum of 20 minutes each
evening), finishing incomplete work, rehearsing math facts, and studying for various
tests. Projects completed at home include research and practice for presentations.
Students complete the Blue Book with me at the end of each school day.
Homework is circled (unfinished work or things to do), and completed work is checked
off. Please review the circles and checks daily with your child to assure work is done.
Parent(s) must sign Blue Book daily so students can earn tickets.
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Usually, I do not assign homework over weekends or holidays. In addition,
homework reinforces skills that are taught in the classroom so students should be
comfortable completing work independently. If homework frequently exceeds these time
guidelines, please contact me for a conference.
How do I grade work submitted to me?
Your child will receive rubric scores of 1, 2, 3, or 4 on progress reports and report
cards to match subjects on Standards-Based Report Cards. The report scale is:
Standards-Based Reporting Scale:
1 = Does Not meet grade level expectations
2 = Almost meets grade level expectations
3 = Meets grade level expectations
4 = Exceeds grade level expectations (above grade level)
What do I do when students’ work is missing, late, or unfinished?
Missing, late, incomplete, or poorly finished work gets a colored slip stapled to the
corner. I attach the note so you recognize work needing to be completed. Work turned in
late in this category receives partial credit. When work comes home with this attached
slip, please sign the slip and make sure work is returned to school the next day. If parents
do not sign the slip, students do not receive credit even if work is completed. In this way,
I know you are aware of this occurrence.
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How often will I send out progress notices or report cards?
During each trimester, mini-reports will come home in a folder for you to see.
Please be sure to sign the report for your child to return to school. Report cards are sent
home 3 times each year in an envelope that requires your signature before being returned
to me. I don’t like surprises, so I will certainly be in contact with you several times prior
to report card time to avoid any surprises for you.
What will students learn this year?
5th grade math covers new material as well as a review of previously taught skills
including multiplication facts, division processes, decimals, data and graphs, geometry,
fractions, measurement, ratios, percentages, algebra, and problem solving. In this subject
area, you will see papers coming home marked with “P” for practice pages and “E” for
evidence which indicates an assessment and that its score is entered as a grade. Students
will take weekly quizzes on multiplication facts beginning with 2’s through 12’s to
refresh their memory of basic facts. They should have mastered through the 9’s by the
end of 4th grade, and we will advance that understanding through the 12’s.
In reading, students learn to gain, gather, and organize information from text.
We will emphasize study skills through study guides, note-taking, and a variety of
graphic organizers. We’ll use the basal reader, science, social studies, literature studies,
and research materials to practice these skills. The Lexile Reading program will further
provide practice in reading skills. Students’ Lexile ranges will guide what books students
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should begin reading for enjoyment. The MAP tests provide this information.
Social
Studies will be very exciting since we will be studying U. S. History from the time of its
early colonization. In 5th grade, science is the study of 4 different topics. Each of the 5th
grade teachers will teach one topic, and classes rotate to study these areas.
The spelling program is based on a 5-day week schedule. On Monday, students
are given a pre-test over the spelling list from the reading textbook series. These pre-tests
are sent home. We adopted a new reading series this year, so will utilize some online
spelling homework. More information to come. On Friday, students take a test.
Spelling schedules change a bit during a 3 or 4 day week.
What help do I need from parents?
Students in 5th grade typically desire fewer in-class parent “helpers” but I
appreciate helpers in many other ways. I have a form that suggests ways that I could use
your support, so be sure to volunteer for these areas if you are interested.
One critical way to help me would be to e-mail or call me if you hear or see your
child:
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Complain that someone bullies or makes them uncomfortable
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Frequent tears of frustration about assignments or concepts Other helpful things
include:
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Reviewing student planners and graded papers nightly
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Providing healthy snacks for each day (fruit, cheese, veggies, yogurt, etc.)
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Consider the book orders as I send them home (not required, but nice for gifts and
home libraries); please write a check to the company, not me or school. You can
also place orders online. Our class code is H3P7Z.
Please take a moment and review this information with your child. To assure you
have seen this handbook, please sign and return this page to me this week. Thank
you for your support. I look forward to a wonderful year with your child.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Fraas
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Please sign and return this single page to Mrs. Fraas. You may
retain the above pages for your records and reference.
Student’s Name:
________________________________________________
I have read the behavior plan and handbook above with my
child.
We
understand
how
it
will
work.
________________________________________________
Parent’s Signature
Date
________________________________________________
Student’s Signature
Date
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