In this letter, I have provided some important information that will help you and your child get through fifth grade.  I will be discussing this information with your child, but I would appreciate it if you would also review it with him/her as well.  Your child will be responsible for keeping a copy of this letter all year long.

The basis of my classroom management centers on the acronym PRIDE. Students will be taught the meaning of showing pride, as well as what each letter stands for.

Positive Attitude:

·         Have an I can attitude

·         Be ready to learn each day

·         Be excited about new challenges

Respect:

·         Your classmates:  Treat others as you want to be treated!

·         Your teacher:  Come to each class on time, prepared, and have all supplies.  Raise your hand to answer a question.

·         Yourself:  Take notes in class.  Do your homework every night.  Ask questions when you don't understand something.

Include Everyone:

·         No one likes to be excluded

·         Go out of your way to make people feel accepted

·         Treat others the way you want to be treated

Display Safe Behavior

·         Follow all school rules

·         Walk in the halls and classroom

·         Remember to follow safety procedures

·         Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself

·         Use materials appropriately

Expect Success

·         You can do anything you put your mind to

·         Give your best at all times

·          Try, Try again

 

Classroom essentials will be added throughout the year. Please keep in mind we have fire drill procedures, severe weather procedures, hall way procedures, library procedures, and cafeteria procedures. I have not included each of these; however we will be practicing them daily to ensure they are followed.

Classroom Guidelines:

Student Expectations:

I expect you to follow all school and class rules. Treat each other the way you would like to be treated. You should express your ideas without interruption, avoiding hurtful remarks, as well as keep all irrelevant conversations and items out of the classroom. You will follow instructions the first time they are given, keep all hands, feet, and objects to yourself, and follow guidelines. You should always try your best. Above all, I expect you to; observe my right to teach and your right to learn.

 

Morning Routines:

 You should come to the classroom by 8:35 with your materials out and prepared to learn. A morning warm up assignment will be given each day. You will be expected to come into the classroom quietly, put your belongings away, and begin work immediately. All materials for the day should be removed from backpacks. You will not be allowed to get materials out of your backpacks during the school day; this must be done in the morning. Morning work should be complete and is graded promptly at 9:00. You will not be able to make up morning assignments.

 

Materials:

You need to have your materials ready for class to start; this includes assignments, books, papers, pens, calculators, and rulers. You will not be allowed to go to your backpack for materials during class time. Being prepared for school means having all materials ready when needed; if you are running low on materials it is your job to get them replenished. You are not allowed to go to the closet/ their backpack or to disrupt other students by asking for needed materials during class time.

 

Homework:

At the end of each day all homework will be listed on the homework board. It is your responsibility to be sure you copy these assignments in your assignment book and take the necessary books home. Homework is to be completed before you enter school.  You will receive a zero for any assignment not turned in and bring home a zero notice to be signed by a parent. You may turn in homework one day late with a 15 point deduction. If you are absent time will be given for makeup work, but it is your responsibility to see that it is turned in to the bottom make up work tray.

 

Absences:

If you are in class on the day an assignment is given, I expect the assignment to be turned in on the due date. If you missed school on the date work was assigned you will be given as many days as you were absent to make-up the missed work. If you miss school on the due date, you are responsible for turning the assignment in on the first day you return to school. If you are absent on the due date for a long-term assignment you are responsible for making sure the assignment gets to school on the due date. We have a “While You Were Out” form for students who are absent. Your desk partner will write down the assignments and class work for you while you are absent. However, it is still your full responsibility to get and do all your absent work.

 

Dress Code:

Students are expected to follow the Dimon dress code. Sagging pants, oversized shirts, large distracting accessories are just a few of the infractions that will have disciplinary action. First offence warning and essay, second offence 30 minute detention, third offence hour detention, fourth, and all other offences will receive a discipline referral.

 

Telephone:

No child is free to use the telephone at will.  Calls are restricted to those which are absolutely necessary.  Children who must make calls need permission from the principal, teacher or secretary. In addition cell phones are not permitted at school. This is a Muscogee County School District rule and it will be strictly enforced. Cell phones will be taken and locked up until a parent comes to pick them up. The student will be given consequences similar to those given for dress code violations.

 

Consequences:

You are responsible for your choices and actions at all times. Those who violate school and class rules despite a warning will face consequences. Depending on the severity of the violation possible consequences include receiving an additional warning, behavior notice, detention, having a student-teacher conference, or a phone call home, and as a last result an office referral. Serious violations of school/class rules will result in an automatic referral to the proper administrator where appropriate actions will be taken.

If a student is suspended they cannot make up any test or quiz given while they were away from school and will receive a zero for that test or quiz. When you return to school from a suspension you may turn in work that was due on the day of you suspension. However, this work will be accepted as late and will result in a lower grade. If you are referred to the office you will be given a packet of work to complete while you are there.

 

Conduct Grades:

You will receive a numerical grade for conduct. You will begin each week will a 100 in conduct. Each time your behavior grade is dropped will result in a deduction of five points. For example; If on Monday your conduct grade was a B (5 point deduction), Tuesday an A, Wednesday a B (5 point deduction), Thursday an A, and Friday a C (10 point deduction) your conduct grade for that week would be and 80%.

 

NOTE: All rules and procedures are subject to revision at anytime during the school year. 

 (In other words, if a loop-hole is discovered and exploited, expect us to close it immediately.)

 

There are several types of learning that will go on in this classroom throughout the school year in order to challenge students, allow for some variety, and show them that the classroom truly is representative of the everyday world.  These styles of teaching include: whole class and small group instruction, cooperative learning and conferring, as well as independent work, and home learning assignments.

     We will normally read one story from our reading book each week and do the workbook pages for that story. There is usually a test over the story on Friday. We will also be reading different novels through the year and doing activities with them. I require 25 AR points each quarter. Fifth grade students must reach 100 points by the end of the school year. There will still be an all-school activity at the end of the year for those making the minimum points. There will be a small reward for those students making their goal each quarter, however to qualify for the end of the year activity you must have a total of 100 points for the year. I realize there are many good books that are not on the AR list. If your child wants to read on of these, they can write 5 questions with answers, and I will make them an AR test.           

I will require 15 AM (accelerated math) objectives for the first quarter. I will determine the required number for the other quarters later. There will usually be math homework every night and a math test once a week. The Georgia Standards for fifth grade are very rigorous and the CRCT is a challenging test. Students will be challenged in math daily to be prepared when they are tested in the spring.

   We will cover Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth Science. There will usually be a test over each chapter. Students will be given study guides for these tests. We may or may not go over these guides in class. I will do a review before each test; however is the student’s responsibility to see that the study guide is completed before these review sessions. In addition all fifth grade students are required to complete a science fair project on a tri-board, and following each step in the scientific method. This will be assigned in late October to be completed before Christmas break.

            We will be studying American History this year. As with science, there will be study guides given out before the tests. For some chapters there will be a different kind of assessment, such as a poster or report. Students will always be given advance notice of these projects.

Student Grades:

Student grades are weighted as follows; Subjects with a project: home learning 25%, class work %, tests %, projects %. Subjects without a project: home learning 25%, class work %, tests %.

 

I hope I have given you a firm idea of what will be expected of your student this school year. Fifth grade can be a challenging year as we work to prepare your child for middle school. I will be sending a nightly email to those of you who have provided an address, in addition I have a class web page with up to date information about our classroom. I will strive to keep you informed. You are an essential part of your child’s success and I look forward to working with each one of you. I hope I have answered some of the questions you may have about fifth grade. If there is anything I can help you with please feel free to contact me anytime (706-718-2432).

                                                                   Thank You,

 

                                                                     Lori Pope

                                                               lpope@mcsdga.net

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