Classroom Overview Classroom Expectations Our classroom behavior chart will consist of six colors: green, blue, purple, pink, yellow, orange, and red. Every day, students will begin on green. Student’s name and photo will be posted for the entire year on our classroom rules bulletin board. Students are expected to follow these rules in order to keep our classroom running smoothly. If a student shows extra acts of kindness, are on task, working extra hard, and keeping a positive attitude their clip will be moved to purple. Pink will rarely be given to students and will only be received to students who do extraordinary acts that day. If a rule is not being followed, I will remind your child of our rules and give him/her a verbal warning. If the behavior continues, I will ask him/her to move their clip from green to yellow. If this behavior continues or another rule is broken, the student will then be moved to orange and if behavior persists the student will be moved to red. If a student is on red at the end of the day, a note will be sent home to you explaining what happened and how to make it better. The note will need to be signed and returned the next day. Throughout the day, the students will have the opportunity to move their clip back to green by showing me they can follow the rules. Each day that a student is on green, purple, and/or pink at the end of the day, they will receive a sticker on their incentive chart. When the chart is filled up, they will be able to choose a prize from the prize box. If there is a continuing problem, I will contact you so we can resolve the problem together. There will be many chances throughout the day for rewards. Students will always be receiving positive and verbal praise from me throughout the day. I believe in being a positive role model for your child and giving a lot of positive reinforcement. I will treat them with the same respect that I expect they treat each other and myself. For whole class rewards, we will have magnetic letters that spell the word ‘compliment’ and a marble jar poster board to be filled with 100 marbles. The students will earn a letter each time a compliment is given to our class, we meet a goal, and when the whole class did an excellent job listening or following directions. Once the word ‘compliment’ is spelled, the whole class will receive a reward! The students will have many opportunities each day to earn marbles to add to the poster board marble jar. Students can earn marbles for good behavior after each subject and by the whole class ending on green for the day. Once the whole marble jar has been filled, the class will vote on a reward! PBIS Cassell School has implemented the PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports) approach school wide. The school has an eagle matrix of positive behavior in all settings including the classroom, lunchroom, hallway, bathroom, and on the bus. This reminds students to practice being responsible, respectful, and safe. When a teacher or staff member observes positive behavior on the part of a student, the student will receive a fly ticket as a reward. The fly ticket can be used, by a student, to purchase a special item at the Eagle Mart. There will also be PBIS dress down days which means students will not have to wear their uniform on that specific day. Attendance Being at school every day is very important to your child’s education. If you know of an extended absence, please let me know so I can prepare work to send home. Doors open at 7:40am. Students are to enter through the Rotunda Doors. If student(s) are eating breakfast they may go to the cafeteria and if not they will go to the Gym. Students must arrive by 7:50am to have breakfast. I will pick students up from the blacktop outside or from the Gym (due to weather) in the morning. The school start bell rings at 8:00am. If a student arrives to school after 8:00am, they must enter through the main entrance, sign in at the office, and will be marked tardy. Dismissal is at 3:00pm unless otherwise noted. Our class will be dismissed at the northeast door near the playground. Your child must let me know that a parent/guardian/babysitter is there to pick them up before they leave. If your child is going home with a friend, I need to have a note beforehand so I am aware of the arrangements. Take Home Folder I will be labeling one folder (green folder) that your child brought in as their take home folder. This folder will be coming home each night. Please be sure to check this folder as it will contain important information or work that your child has completed. The folder will also contain their daily homework assignments. Students will have a homework assignment notebook that will go home each night with their homework written in it for each day as well as their behavior clip color for the day. This will need to be signed each night. The red folder will be the Friday folder with graded work. Corrected papers and tests do not need to be returned unless they say
“Correct and Return.”
Grading Scale A: 90-­‐100 B: 80-­‐90 C: 70-­‐79 D: 60-­‐69 F: 59 & Below Homework Homework will be sent home Monday-­‐Thursday to reinforce skills learned in class. There is no homework on Friday. This homework will be sent home in their take home folder and should come back the next day. Reading log: Each night students will be asked to read 20 minutes. This can be in the form of you reading to your child, your child reading to you, or your child reading independently. Please make sure it is not the same choice every night. A reading log will be sent home every month. Please fill in this log after reading. The reading log will be due at the end of each month. Spelling: Our class spelling list will be sent home on Friday. There will be a pre-­‐test for the words every Monday and then a post test on Friday. Students are to also choose three assignments from a packet of spelling word activities to complete and turn in no later than Thursday each week. Math: There will be a math worksheet sent home each night to reinforce that day’s math concepts. Reading Each week students will preview, predict, and read a different story from their reading
hardcover book. The students will learn new vocabulary words and complete a story
map. Every Friday we will take a reading comprehension test based on that story.
Math
Throughout the year we will learn and practice addition, subtraction, and multiplication
facts. We will start with addition, then subtraction, and next move on to multiplication.
Each math lesson we will begin by practicing our math facts. We will have math
assessments at the end of each unit. We will have an in class review the day before the
actual test to help students prepare. I will also send home a math review for homework
the night before each test for extra practice.
Social Studies/Science
Throughout the year we will be covering topics on a bimonthly to monthly basis.
Scholastic News and designated themed months will be the topics covered and activities
will be planned around these subjects as well.
Classroom Newsletter I will be sending home a newsletter that will fill you in on the skills we have been working on, projects, and important upcoming dates. Specials Room 107 will be with their grade level peers for specials. Gym Please note that our class will have Gym every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Your child needs to be dressed in appropriate gym clothes and shoes. Please refer to the family handbook if you have any questions. PATHS The PATHS curriculum is a program that supports social and emotional behaviors amongst elementary school aged children. This program also reduces behavior problems in the classroom and aggression issues in students while creating an enhanced learning environment. There will be a PATHS person of the day each day until everyone has had a chance. The Paths person of the day has special responsibilities and also is complimented by his teacher, peers, and family. The student is to respond appropriately to his compliments by saying, “thank you.” This program is in support of a healthy emotional response in turn for a healthy school environment to help create academic success. STAR OF THE WEEK During September, we will start to celebrate one child each week as our “star”! During this special week, your child will have a special activity to honor him or her and to help us get to know our special classmate. Description of the Activities
Tuesday: Show and Tell- The star student should collect up to 3 special items to
bring to school in a bag (I will be sending the bag home on Friday in your child’s
backpack). He/She should also bring up to 6 photos of their choice.
Wednesday: Favorite Book- The star student will need to bring one of his or her
favorite books to read to the class (or have me read it to the class) at our class meeting. I
encourage students to practice reading the story aloud at home first. If it is a chapter
book, they will share what the book is about.
Thursday: Parent Letter – Parents, you will write a letter to the class telling us how
special your child is to you. Send the letter in a sealed envelope to school with your child,
and I will read the letter to the class. The content of the letter is up to you, but you may
want to choose from one of the following ideas:
• Describe special or funny stories about your child for the class to hear.
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Write a silly or serious poem about your child.
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Tell us some interesting things we may not know about your child.
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Write a short story with your child as the main character.
Friday: Poster Share- The star student has a poster to color and fill out. Make sure
the poster is colorful and completely filled out before turning it in. I look forward to
learning more about them on this day.
Literacy Bag
The literacy bag includes a stuffed animal Lizard (Lizzy), “The Magic School Bus”
books to be read over the weekend, and a binder to fill with stories and photos/drawings.
Please have your child write and draw on the provided paper in the binder. Please have
your child share their favorite book(s) and weekend experience with Lizzy the Lizard in
their writing and drawing. Please return the literacy bag on the Monday after the
weekend. I will send home a schedule during September. Thank you for taking such good
care of Lizzy and her books!
Birthday Celebrations
If your child would like to bring something special for the class, I recommend items
such as pencils, stickers, erasers or a book/puzzle/game for the class.
Lunch You have the option of either packing a lunch from home or your child may receive a
free lunch daily. The students will be eating lunch in the cafeteria at 11:10- 11:35 each
day. Please pack items that do not require the use of a microwave or refrigerator. If there
is a special dietary need for your child with regards to this please let me know and we can
make arrangements. If a child forgets a lunch he/she will receive a free lunch at school.
Scholastic Book Orders
Every month we will send home a Scholastic Book Order Form. Although you are not
required to order from the catalog, each order grants more points to our classroom library.
The bonus points can be redeemed for class books, educational games, puzzles, and
more. Order away!
Special Classes Schedule
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Monday- Art
Tuesday- Music
Wednesday- P.E.
Thursday- Art
Friday- Music
I am looking forward to a wonderful school year!
Sincerely, Ms. Voegel Cassell School Phone Number: 773-­‐535-­‐2640