Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions 
of students and parents.

1. What should I do if I am going to be absent?
2. How is AR used in enrichment reading?
3. Am I allowed to borrow books from the classroom library?
4. Do we have weekly folders in this class?
5. How can I contact the teacher?
6. What is the discipline policy for our class?
7. Is it possible to get Extra Credit in the class?
8. How will my grades be determined?
9. How do journals work?
10. What are the procedures for nightly reading?
11. How do I manage my planner?
12. What do I need to know about weekly vocabulary tests?
13. What is Word Masters?

What should I do if I am going to be absent?

Please try to attend class every day. If you are sick or absent 
for any other reason, I will prepare a packet of work for you. A 
parent can pick this up after school, or I will send it home the 
following day. Make-up work should be completed by the following 
school day except in unusual circumstances. When we are reading a 
class novel, it is very important that you keep up with the 
reading, even when you are absent.

Back to Top

How is AR used in enrichment reading?

You will have the opportunity to take AR tests during quiet 
reading time at the beginning of class and during DEAR time. If 
it is one of these times, and the computer is free, you do not 
need to ask to take a test; just do it. Sometimes I will require 
everyone to take an AR test on a book that we have read in class, 
and this score will be put in the grade book as an assessment 
grade.

Back to Top

Am I allowed to borrow books from the classroom library?

You are welcome to borrow books from the classroom library as 
long as you promise to treat them with respect and return them in 
a timely manner (within 2 weeks). You will need to sign books out 
on the notepad designated for this purpose. When you return a 
book, please put it back in the proper place and mark your name 
off the sign-out sheet. You will be held responsible for any lost 
or damaged books. You may check out no more than two books at a 
time.

Back to Top

Do we have weekly folders in this class?

You will have a blue folder that will go home each Friday. 
Sometimes it may be sent home on other days as well. On the night 
that the folder is sent home, you should have a parent go through 
the folder. Stuff on the KEEP side can be kept at home. Stuff on 
the RETURN side is due back the next day. Folders MUST be 
returned on the next class day after they are sent home, 
usually Monday.

Back to Top

How can I contact the teacher?

There are several ways of contacting me. The easiest way to reach 
me is via e-mail at geigercl@sbac.edu. You can also call and 
leave a message with the office staff at Talbot (955-6716). I do 
not mind if students e-mail me regarding classroom issues or 
needs. Please do NOT forward me a bunch of cutesy jokes, etc. I 
don't have time to read them.

Back to Top

What is the discipline policy for our class?

While I know it will be unnecessary :), I have the following 
procedures in place for discipline. If you are disruptive and/or 
off-task, you will be given a private verbal warning. If your 
behavior does not improve, you will be given a five-minute in-
class time-out. Upon returning to the group, if your behavior 
does not improve, you will be sent to another classroom for 
time-out, and your parents will be notified either by note, e-
mail, or phone. If this occurs, your parents and I will decide 
together what the next step in the discipline process should be. 
It is imperative that every student's learning time is respected 
and protected. Therefore disruptive behavior will be dealt with 
speedily and consistently. Successful students are RESPONSIBLE, 
RESPECTFUL, and ENGAGED.

Back to Top

Is it possible to get Extra Credit in the class?

From time to time there will be opportunities for extra credit. 
Often I will send home notices about events or exhibits that are 
taking place in the community that I think would complement the 
classroom curriculum or simply provide an enriching experience 
for students. If you choose to participate in one of these 
events, you may receive extra credit by writing a two-paragraph 
response to the activity. The first paragraph should briefly 
summarize the event; the second paragraph should provide a 
reaction to the event (i.e. how it made you feel, what caught 
your attention, what it brought to mind/connections). Reflection 
papers should be neatly handwritten or typed with the elements of 
excellent writing in mind, and they should demonstrate deep 
thinking about the event experienced.  Extra credit points are 
added to the lowest assessment grade at the end of the grading 
term.

Back to Top

How will my grades be determined?

There are three areas that I consider when calculating grades. 
The first component is the nightly reading completion and other 
assigned homework. Because this nightly practice is critical to 
build fluency and practice independent comprehension skills, 20% 
of your grade will be based on this factor. The second 20% of the 
grade is determined by vocabulary tests, homework assignments and 
other class work. The last portion (60%) consists of assessment 
measures. These are given at the end of a series of lessons to 
see if you have mastered the objectives. These assessments may be 
in the form of a test, an FCAT-like passage with questions, or 
some other type of summative evaluation (i.e. presentation, 
project, etc.) Remember, the work we do in enrichment reading is 
designed to challenge you. It will not be easy, and if you have 
always gotten "A"s while working on grade-level reading tasks, it 
may be a little disconcerting for you to suddenly have to put 
forth more effort in reading. Just keep trying your best. You 
will grow as a reader and thinker, but only if we stretch out of 
that "comfort zone" a bit. The grading scale for our class is:
	A 	90-100		        C 	70-76
	B+ 	87-89			D+	67-69
	B 	80-86			D	60-66
	C+	77-79			F 	0-59

Back to Top

How do journals work?

One of the goals of my class is to help you learn to live 
"wide-awake lives." I want you to begin to notice things going on 
around you in your community as well as the world. I want you to 
become thoughtful observers of natural phenomena as well as other 
people and their actions. I also want you to learn to be 
introspective, thinking deeply about your own ideas, feelings, 
and thoughts. Your journal will be a repository for these 
musings. I will be further explaining the purpose and use of the 
journal in class. We will be "Writing to Tell" in class at least 
once per week, and we will share our writings. I will also be 
randomly selecting several journals to read (not aloud) from time 
to time. If you write something personal that you do not want me 
to read, simply fold the page over. I promise to respect your 
privacy.

Back to Top

What are the procedures for nightly reading?

You are expected to read for 30 minutes each night on Monday 
through Friday. This practice has been proven to increase reading 
achievement. It also helps you develop responsibility, 
independence, self-discipline, and the life-long habit of 
reading. I do not accept excuses for incomplete nightly reading 
except in the case of emergencies. In the event of such an 
emergency, you must bring a note from a parent. You can then read 
additional minutes on the following nights to make up for the 
missed reading time.  After reading, you should complete the 
Reading Log which is stapled into your planner each week. Old 
logs are removed and new logs stapled in each Friday. This 
Reading Log will be checked by me each day, and in order to 
receive credit for the reading homework, I expect each section of 
the Log to be completed thoughtfully. Reading summaries and/or 
reflections should contain quality writing. Completion of nightly 
reading comprises a weekly homework grade and impacts overall 
report card averages. Any reading holidays will be announced in 
advance. A Weekly Reading Percentage report will be sent home 
each week in the communication folder.Geiger Greenbacks may be 
used to replace a night's reading assignment. To use a Geiger 
Greenback for this purpose, it must be stapled to your reading 
log before it is turned in on Friday. 

Back to Top

How do I manage my planner?

Fourth graders will have planners which are to be checked nightly 
and signed by parents. In the planner you will list class 
assignments and homework responsibilities. Homework assignments 
should be highlighted. Unless otherwise noted, homework is due on 
the following day.

Back to Top

What do I need to know about weekly vocabulary tests?

We will emphasize improving written and spoken vocabulary skills 
throughout the year. You will have weekly vocabulary tests 
covering a list of words sent home on the previous Friday. I 
suggest that you make index cards over the weekend to practice 
throughout the week. There will cumulative exams of the 
vocabulary, so you should keep all lists and cards and review 
them frequently. Cumulative quizzes will be announced and noted 
in the planner. Because a "word bank" is provided on the tests, 
you are expected to spell words correctly on all tests and 
quizzes; points will be deducted for misspelled words. You should 
study your vocabulary words for a few minutes each night.

Back to Top

What is Word Masters?

WordMasters is a national vocabulary/analogy competition. We will 
have three WordMasters meets throughout the year.  I will explain 
the program more thoroughly in class. However, I want to 
emphasize here that you should not wait until the night before 
the meet to start studying your words. While we will do some 
activities in class to help you learn the definitions of the 
words, the majority of your learning of these words will take 
place on your own. I do not give you a grade for your performance 
on WordMasters. However, Mrs. Cochran does do so in fifth grade. 
It is a good idea to take it seriously so that you are better 
prepared for next year.

Back to Top