Mrs. Michelle Miller's 4th Grade Classroom Family
VeniceElementarySchool
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Dear Students and Families, Welcome to Fourth Grade! I am so very excited to know that you will be a part of my classroom family this year! We have a class filled with exceptional fourth grade students and I am looking forward to a fun, exciting and energetic year with all of you. Your child has been placed into my fourth grade classroom family. What an exciting adventure they are about to embark upon! My goal for the year is to challenge each student to their highest potential academically while helping them grow as good citizens and community members. Fourth graders want to have fun while learning (and I insist on having fun while teaching). I promise to provide a fun, interesting and challenging environment for learning. Through open communication, we will work together as a team to see to it that this happens. This packet of information is designed to answer some commonly asked questions and get some valuable information from you. The first part is information about our class. This information, contained in the “keep for your information” section of the folder, is for you to keep and refer to throughout the year. The second portion, contained in the “complete and return in folder” section, is parent homework. I ask that you complete this information and send it back in the folder by Friday of the first week of school. The information provided to me through these questions helps me to better know and educate your special child. I am proud and excited to have the opportunity to be your fourth grade teacher this year. Let’s work together to make this a year to remember. Welcome to the family! Mrs. Miller :o} Open Classroom I believe that communication and cooperation between teacher and parent plays a large part in the success of a student. It is for this reason that I have an open classroom. This means that parents and grandparents are welcome to visit (don’t be surprised if I put you to work!). I ask that you check with me in advance on a day and time to visit, as we are out of the classroom at various times during a school day. Any volunteer, whether in class or chaperoning, must be PALS approved prior to their visit. Please stop by the front office to register for approval. If you have been PALS approved in years past, you must still register each year to keep your approval current. It only takes a few moments to register and it keeps our students safe and secure. I highly recommend that all parents take some time at the start of the school year to stop by the front office and register so that you are approved for activities and trips throughout the year. When volunteering, please remember to sign in at the front office first. Not only will you be issued a pass, but Venice Elementary gets credit for volunteer hours. Volunteers must have an office pass before coming into the classroom, so remember to stop by the front office first. We love volunteers and I thank you in advance for your participation in your child’s education! Communication Daily communication will be done through our Link to Learning binder. This three ring binder, set up the first few days of class, will be taken to and from school daily by your child as a link between teacher and parent. Its contents and a description of them are as follows: Agenda Book: The agenda book, purchased by you through the school, is where your student will write in homework assignments, notes, and project information daily. When possible, the agenda book will be stamped daily (by myself or other students) to be sure all assignments were copied down, especially at the start of the school year. However, it is the responsibility of the student to copy down assignment information. Likewise, upon returning from an absence, the student should copy the assignments and missed classwork from both “The Book” and the agenda board. The Agenda Book is also a place for you to write me a note if needed. Please remind your student to show me the note that day and I will respond as quickly as possible. If you do not see my signature by the note that means I did not see it. The agenda book should be reviewed and initialed by parents nightly. By reviewing your child’s agenda with them each night you are helping them to grow into responsible students. It is good practice to have them highlight homework as they complete it so they know what they have accomplished. Monthly Calendar: The monthly calendar will contain important dates and information that you need to be aware of. This is also where I will make any notes that need to be noticed by the parents (missing assignments, compliance to classroom and school rules, exciting accomplishments, etc…). These notes are signified by a number, which corresponds to the “FAMILY VALUES” listed on the back of the calendar. This calendar serves as a record for our work habits grade. Each Friday I will write a note indicating how the week went inside our classroom. The calendar needs to be signed over each weekend by a parent to verify that they have reviewed the week’s notations and have seen my note from Friday. I will collect this calendar at the end of each month for my records. This will help me to determine a work habits grade for each student. Homework Folder: This is a folder specifically to keep the week’s homework assignments and information about projects in. This will help to keep them neat and organized. Reading Adventures Log: Students are encouraged to earn RC points to help our classroom achieve our goals toward a pizza party. To help the students achieve this goal, nightly reading is required. Students will be required to read 20 minutes a night (any 5 days during the week). This is very important as research tells us that children get better at reading by reading. A record of their reading will be kept in a “Reading Adventures Log” in their Link to Learning Binder. The Log is due at the end of each month, totaled and signed by a parent. I recommend setting a pattern of time and a place for their reading each evening. As a parent I have found that it is a great thing to do right before bed. Your child will need to record the book titles and minutes read each time they read. It would be very appropriate for you to ask questions such as “What did you read tonight?” or “What do you think will happen next?” The book they read should be on grade level at least, and ideally be on their reading level (given to you at the start of the school year and other times during the year). You may also take turns reading with your child if that is an activity that you enjoy doing. A list of Reading Counts (R.C.) books is available in our library, and on our school’s website under media, if you wish to have one to take to the library with you when you are selecting a book from home. Students enjoy earning R.C. points and being a part of the point tally done by our Media Specialist, as well as earning their class reward. Their book should also be brought to and from school, as they can read it during D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) time and when other classwork is completed. Anything they read can be logged in on their reading log. Some examples might include: magazines, newspapers, books, Bible, etc. Please help your child to vary the genre and text they are reading nightly. I want them to love to read, so allowing them some flexibility in their choices will help. But also, encourage them to read RC books and take tests. They will be so proud if they helped earn the class reward! Friday Folders: On Friday of each week the Friday Folder will be placed, by the student, into their Link to Learning binder. This will contain all work done the previous week for parent review. Please look over the work with your child and review any concepts that you see he/she is struggling with. Approximately half of your child’s work will be checked for completeness, accuracy, and neatness but it will have no letter grade. The other 50% will be graded. These are the grades entered into the grade book. The Friday Folder should be returned empty each Monday. Students are allowed to correct any class work (excluding tests, quizzes, and projects) under 80% for 50% of the missed points back. An example would be a paper in which the student earned a 70%. After that paper is corrected, the score would be 85% (15 out of 30 percentage points given back). All corrected work should be returned on Monday and placed in the Friday Folder. Corrected work will not be accepted after Monday. Subject Tabs: During the first week of school we will insert a subject tab for all classes. This is where important information, notes, and other items will be kept throughout the day. The Link to Learning notebook is intended to organize your child while serving as a daily communication with the parents. It also aids in teaching the students study skills and responsibility. Along with that, I realize that communication is the key. I am ALWAYS open to discussing joys and concerns via email, telephone (486-2111), or by setting up an appointment to discuss in person. Homework There will be weekly homework assignments given. Homework assignments are displayed on the board in our classroom and copied by the students daily in their Agenda book (in their Link to Learning binders). Assignments are always reviewed and explained to the students in full prior to going home. The homework assigned will be used as a review for skills already taught and practiced in our classroom. Homework assigned is due the next day unless otherwise noted. All homework should be returned in their “homework folder” in their Link to Learning binder. Homework is a very important part of the learning process. Research shows that homework is positively correlated with achievement and it teaches and reinforces responsibility. I try to keep homework to a manageable timeframe each night. With that being said, they also need time to be kids. If the homework load seems to be overbearing, please set up a time to talk to me about it. IT IS NEVER MY INTENTION TO OVERLOAD THE KIDS! Any unfinished class work automatically becomes homework, which may be turned in the following day for full credit. If the work is not turned in the following day, the late homework policy is followed as mentioned in the course expectations (half credit). Projects will be counted off 20% per day. When returning from an absence, it is the student’s responsibility to get their missing work. Students can copy missed assignments from the board. We also keep “The Book” in our classroom for student reference. This book is updated, by assigned students, each day as to what was covered in class as well as homework assigned. It is the student’s responsibility to check “The Book” upon their return to school after an absence to see what was missed. Students will also be assigned creative and interesting projects throughout the year. I will send home detailed information about 3-4 weeks before each project is due. Your child will need some guidance from you in planning and gathering materials for these projects, but the projects are intended to be student created and designed. During the project weeks, some of the homework time will be allotted to work on them. Also, homework is never assigned over the weekend (unless they are working ahead on spelling/vocabulary), so weekends are a great time to work on special projects. Projects are a great way to allow students to use their multiple intelligences and higher level thinking skills. Allow them to be creative and remember that I am expecting a second grade level of work, so don’t let them stress over it. It should be fun, creative, and enjoyed by them. I am looking for learning to occur! Website Information Another way to keep communication open and to share information will be our website. I ask that families check the website nightly as important changes and notes may be posted. Consider this a nightly assignment and add it to your favorites after you log on for the first time for ease in finding it. The website contains homework information, pictures, student of the week, important copies of classroom documents, and much more. Parents are asked to log onto the website to read a copy of “Miller’s Minute” when posted. Miller’s Minute is a newsletter written once or twice a month to keep you up to date on the happenings in our classroom. I will email you when there is a new issue to read. There is also a mail icon in the upper right hand corner that will allow you to email me directly. I did have some trouble with this last year. Rule of thumb, if I do not respond within a day or so assume I did not receive your email. Our school website address is: http://TeacherWeb.com/FL/VeniceElementarySchool/MrsMichelleMiller/ My school email address is: Michelle_j_miller@sarasota.k12.fl.us (note: there is an underscore on both sides of the j) Please keep in mind that the website is intended as a resource. While I pride myself on updating it regularly, there are sometimes extenuating circumstances that may prevent this. The website is intended as a backup and should not replace the student keeping up with their agenda. The agenda is the primary resource for keeping track of assignments and due dates. Birthdays Birthdays are a special time for students. If personal beliefs allow, students are permitted to celebrate their special day with their classroom family. Students are able to bring in a special snack to share. Please be sure the snack is ready to serve (no cake or cookie cakes that are uncut) to make it easier for the birthday student. Please be sure to send in plates, napkins, and cups if needed. To help with your planning, send in about 25 snacks. Please write a note in the agenda as to which day the treats will be arriving so I can plan for them. If your child has a summer birthday they are allowed to celebrate anytime during the school year. Media Center Our class will be visiting the media center to check out book every Tuesday from 2:00-2:30. Please be sure to pack their books for return on Tuesdays. Student of the Week Throughout the year students are selected to be the “Student of the Week”. This is a special recognition for exceptional work, effort, or caring inside or outside of the classroom. The student will have their own webpage on our website, be highlighted on a special board inside the classroom, receive a special certificate, and be the special helper for the week. Another highlight is they are able to bring in a show and share the Friday of their week (a special thing from home). It is a great honor and the students love the recognition for a job well done! Snack We will attempt to have a time each day when students may eat a snack. I ask parents to donate individual serving snacks (if possible) at least one time per month. Individually wrapped snacks (packets of crackers, breakfast bars, gold fish, etc…) are easier to pass out and are more sanitary because the student is the only person touching their food. I will send reminders when we run low on snacks for the family. School Times The first bell rings at 8:20 and students are let into the room at that time. The school day officially begins at 8:30. At this time, parents are asked to leave the classroom, unless you are staying to volunteer, so instruction can begin. Students who arrive after 8:30 are marked tardy and must be signed in at the front office. School dismissal starts at 3:05 and is over at 3:15. If you need to take your child out of school before that time, you must go to the office and sign them out. Lunch What a great surprise it is when parents come to have lunch with their child. We eat lunch from 12:30-1:05. Don’t forget to sign in at the front office first and pick up your visitors badge. Specials Schedule We will have specials daily from 9:45 – 10:40. The schedule is as follows: Day A: Art Day D: PE Day B: Spanish Day E: Science Lab Day C: Music Day F: PE There will be a specials schedule for the entire year in your child’s Link to Learning Binder for your convenience. Technology Lab and Extra PE We will be visiting the technology lab from 2:35-3:05 on Days B, D, and F . We will be enjoying an extra PE time at the same time on Days A, C, and E. Our “FAMILY VALUES” We will start using the “FAMILY VALUES”, our classroom rules/pledge, on the first day of school. Although we will learn and discuss these expectations in school, it would be helpful to review them with your child before hand. It is a promise that we will make to each other as a classroom family. These values are posted in our room and on the back of their monthly calendar. They are numbered and the corresponding numbers will be used to note their calendar in the event of a special recognition or breaking the classroom values. School is a great and exciting learning place when these values are followed! “FAMILY VALUES” 1. TREAT OTHERS THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED! 1a. This would included being respectful to yourself and those around you by making sure you do not interfere with the learning of others. Examples of this would include raising your hand to ask a question, make a comment, or to ask for help, using appropriate voice level, refraining from unnecessary talking, and treating books and equipment with care. 1b. This value also includes being courteous at all times. Be to class on time, enter quietly and courteously, take your seat immediately and get started in the morning. Make sure to greet Mrs. Miller and your classmates with a smile and a ‘hello’, use manner words and be a good friend. 2. BE THE BEST STUDENT YOU CAN BE! 2a. This would include being prepared for class. Make sure to bring all necessary books, homework, Link to Learning Binder, and school supplies daily. This also includes having the agenda signed nightly, reading log signed and turned in on Mondays, and calendar signed each weekend. 2b. This value also includes being a contributor to our classroom family. Students should make positive contributions to the class by participating in discussions, volunteering to answer questions or to help others, and possessing a positive attitude towards others and anything we do as a classroom family. 3. BE RESPONSIBLE! 3a. This would include using class time wisely. Begin assigned work immediately and finish required work before engaging in other activities. Always do your best work, but be sure you are working at a pace that allows you to finish on time. 3b. This value also includes following directions and being a good listener. 3c. Last, but not least, take responsibility for your own actions. Making a mistake is a part of life, everyone does it, but be sure to accept responsibility for your choices! These values serve as a covenant that we make to one another as members of a family. By following this basic oath we can be sure that each of us has the best learning experience possible. Consequences for choosing not to follow the FAMILY VALUES: If a student chooses to break a rule, their consequence could be, but are not limited to the following: First offense: Warning and reminders are given for first offense in regards to talking, behavior, and other class choices if possible. Second offense: A number is given on their monthly calendar, which is used to calculate their work habits grade. While I expect numbers on their calendars (as no one is perfect), repetitive numbers will be reflected in their grade. Repeated offenses: A small time out of class participation/recess is given when needed to allow the student to think about their actions and focus their thoughts. A written explanation of the choice to the teacher and parent(s) will aid them in their thought process at times. Other possible consequences will be given, as determined by the teacher in cooperation with the parents. Administration will be involved if necessary. Rewards for choosing to follow the FAMILY VALUES: When a student chooses to follow the FAMILY VALUES, work hard, show great effort, do their homework, have a great attitude, and/or improve in class work/behavior, many rewards are earned. Some of these rewards include encouraging words, a giant smile, a note from the teacher, special recognitions such as Student of the Week, Appreciations, etc… Remember, the best reward for a classroom filled with super students is an enjoyable, interesting, and challenging class. Supply List In the back of this section you will find a supply list for items needed to start our school year. These supplies help us to be successful throughout the year. If, for any reason, you are unable to get the required supplies please let me know ASAP and we will work together to get the necessary items. Report Cards and Grading Report cards come out every nine weeks. Please check and sign the Mrs. Miller’s 4th Grade Course Expectation sheet for detailed information on grading. WOW! I know it seems like a lot, but we will work together and it will become second nature to us all. Remember to keep this section at home for future reference. Now it is time to complete the “Parent Homework” section and return it to me in this folder before the end of the first week of school. Thanks for your time and let’s make this a great year! Mrs. Miller :o}
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