FISH BINDER OVERVIEW
FISH (Family Involvement Starts Here) Binder Rules:
• Take care of your FISH; it will be used all year!
• Clean out the “Daily Work” folder each evening.
• Take your FISH home every day and bring it back each morning.
• Keep your FISH clean.
• Show your FISH to your parents every day. They will be so proud of
your new responsibility!
FISH Don’ts:
• Don’t make any marks or drawings in or on your FISH.
• Don’t put any papers in your FISH that do not belong.
• Don’t eat or drink in front of your FISH.
• Don’t leave your FISH at home, in the car or bus, or at daycare.
FISH Binder Contents: (Listed by Section)
• Back Inside Cover – In this section you will find notes from your
teacher, school office, PTA, community flyers, etc. These are to be checked
and taken out each night. Any correspondence that needs your signature or
completion should be returned here as well. Any practice pages assigned for
homework will be placed here. All homework that is to be returned will be
placed here. Daily homework assignments are listed in the Class News Letter
(front of the binder). All homework is due the following school day unless
otherwise noted.
• Zipper Pouch – Use this pouch for sending all money to school. All
money should be placed in a sealed envelope, labeled with your child’s name,
my name, and its purpose. Money should be sent separately for each purpose.
• Weekly Homework and News – Our weekly homework assignments, class
overview, and news will be placed here, along with a cafeteria menu for the
month.
• Parent/Teacher Communication Form– This section is for our daily
communication. Please sign or initial daily. I will do the same. That way,
we will know that each of us has read this section, even when a response is
not necessary. A Daily Communication Log will show your child’s daily
behavior grade and sometimes a “Word of the Day” to discuss with your child.
This section also will be used for notes between you and me. Please stress
to your child that this is for TEACHER and PARENTS only. I may include
important correspondence here too. (Conference scheduling, time out
reflections, discipline forms or important communication about your child’s
day). These items require your immediate attention. Please date all
correspondence. Once students have established a routine and expectations,
Daily Behavior grades may be changed to weekly.
• Reading Section – In this section, students will use reading list,
reading homework choices, practice stories, and reference pages. Please do
not remove these materials. They will be used in class and for homework.
• Spelling Section – In this section, students will use spelling list,
spelling homework choices, study guide, and a reference guide for Manuscript
handwriting. Looseleaf paper will be here and should be used for homework
assignments.
• Math Section – I will add math reference materials, math strategy
information, and study guides for math facts as needed. These items may
assist you and your child with math homework assignments.
• Front Inside Cover – Daily ungraded work and art work will be placed
in the front inside cover. This is yours to keep. Please remove daily.
HOMEWORK HABITS
Why do I assign Homework? I believe homework is important because it helps
reinforce what has been learned in class, prepare students for upcoming
lessons, teaches responsibility, and helps students develop positive study
habits.
When will Homework be assigned? Your child will have a homework assignment
each night, Monday through Thursday. Your child may take longer to complete
assignments at first, however once they get into the routine of doing
homework; assignments should take no more than about 30 – 45 minutes each
night. If homework is a struggle at home, more than likely, it is a sign of
struggling in school. On occasion, I will assign special family projects
that may be completed over several days.
What are your child’s Homework responsibilities? I expect students to do
their best job on each homework assignment. Homework should be neatly done.
All written work should be done in pencil. I expect homework assignments to
be completed and returned to school the next day. Assignments not completed
will be recorded as incomplete. If there is a legitimate reason why a
student is unable to finish the homework assignment, the parent should send
me a note stating the reason it was not completed. Only then will it be
marked excused.
What are the parent’s Homework responsibilities? Parents are the key to
making homework a positive experience for their children. Therefore, I ask
that parents make homework a priority at home. As parents you will be
responsible to oversee, help, and check homework assignments. Students
should be provided the basic necessary supplies and a quiet homework
environment. Please set aside a time and routine every day for homework
completion. This will help to establish good work habits and aid in your
child in becoming an independent worker. Furthermore, please provide praise
and support. Do not allow your child to avoid doing their homework and
contact me if you notice your child struggling to complete assignments. I
will make myself available to help you and your child with any homework needs.
What about TESTS? Students will be given weekly tests and other types of
evaluations to monitor progress. Students will have a VIP Folder (Very
Important Papers) sent home each Tuesday. With the VIP Folder, parents can
view, monitor, and reinforce achievement with Graded Papers and a Work Habits
grade for the week.
Please read and discuss this homework policy with your child.
CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE PLAN
Classroom discipline is important to each student’s success, confidence, and
well being. All children should be able to come into the classroom and feel
safe and secure. It is important that each student learns to develop self-
discipline and good work habits.
Madisonville Elementary follows school-wide rules and discipline plan. You
can find this plan in the Student Handbook. While following general class
rules, we will use the FISH philosophy, a positive behavior system to achieve
a positive learning environment.
In order to maintain a classroom environment that allows all children to
learn, our class will practice the following classroom discipline plan. We
will use the FISH Philosophy along with the following class rules. Please
read and discuss the following rules, consequences, and rewards with your
child.
FISH Philosophy Principals:
• Choose Your Attitude: Each of us can choose our attitude, every
day. Student’s “choose” how they react to each other and “choose” how their
mood effects the day.
• Be There: We can be there, by being a good listener, staying on
task, using good manners, and being kind to each other.
• Make Their Day: We can make someone’s day with a simple smile,
lending a helping hand, showing respect towards others, and using kind
words/actions.
• Have Fun: We can have fun at school, while learning, and working
with others each day.
CLASSROOM RULES:
• I will listen and follow directions carefully.
• I will speak with permission and stay in my seat.
• I will keep my hands, feet, and objects to myself.
• I will use good manners and always wait for my turn.
• I will do my best work and take care of materials.
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM:
• Green – I had a great day. I tried my best. (Great still Green!) =
E grade.
• Blue – I had a good day, but my teacher had to remind me of the
rules. (Big Breath Blue!) = S grade.
• Yellow – I had a reminder and I continued to make bad choices.
(Yikes! Yellow!) = S grade.
• Red – My teacher continuously had to remind me to make better
choices, but I had a difficult time following the rules. (Uh Oh Red!) = N
grade. If the problem continues a conference will be requested.
• ****Severe misbehavior will result in the appropriate disciplinary
action.****
REWARDS:
I reward good behavior daily with verbal praise, hugs, positive notes,
stickers and/or candy treats. Students may also receive tickets when caught
making good choices. Tickets are placed in a box for daily drawing of
prizes. Your child may get a chance to sign the good book on Friday, if they
remain on green for the week.
Please read and discuss the Discipline Plan with your child. We will
discuss, role play, and practice this plan in class.
GENERAL CLASSROOM PROCEDURES
Money: Please send money in a sealed envelope, labeled with your child’s
name, my name, and the purpose. Your child’s homework binder has a safe
keeping zipper pouch to help with sending money safely.
Supplies: It is important for your child to have the supplies he or she
needs. I will send a note home when supplies need to be replenished. A
$10.00 fee will cover additional materials that are needed to help make our
classroom successful. Occasionally some supplies are need for special
activities and events. Notices will go home for these items at the
appropriate time.
Breakfast and Lunch: .60 for breakfast full price and .30 for reduced
breakfast. Lunch is 1.00 for full price and .40 for reduced. Extra milk
is .30. When sending money for the cafeteria, place money in a labeled
envelope with your child’s name and cafeteria number. It is helpful if money
is paid monthly or weekly.
Labeling: It is not necessary to label classroom supplies, notebooks or
folders. We share many items and will use the supply throughout the year.
It is important to label your child’s backpack, lunch box, coats, sweaters,
etc.
Conferences: If you would like to schedule a conference, the best times are
between 7:00-7:30 a.m. or 2:45-3:15 p.m. You can send an email
(janet.casey@stpsb.org), write me a note, or call the office (845-3671).
Our communication is important to the success of your child.
Attendance: Regular attendance and arriving on time is expected. If your
child must be absent from school, send a written note or doctor’s excuse.
The office will mark the absence excused or unexcused based on the reason for
the absence. All absences with no written communication will be marked
unexcused.
Transportation: Communication is important to insure that your child gets
home safely from school. If at any time, your child’s normal routine is
changed, a written note is required on that specific day. If no written note
is received, or the office has not been notified prior to 1:30, your child
will be sent home by his/her usual method of transportation.
Grading: Every Tuesday, your child will bring home a VIP folder (Very
Important Papers). This folder will contain graded papers from the previous
week. Please sign the record sheet on the inside of the folder and return
the folder the next day. This folder allows you to see your child’s progress
in class. All papers must be returned and will be kept on file for my
records.
Progress Reports: Interim reports are sent home in the 2nd – 4th quarter of
the year for all students. Report cards are sent home at the end of each
quarter (approx. every 9 weeks). The following grading scale will be used
for all first grade students:
1st Quarter – Report card reflects attendance, conduct, work habits, &
handwriting only.
2nd, 3rd & 4th Quarter – Subject grades will be added. E=Excellent (Exceeds
Stated Goals), S=Satisfactory(Meets Stated Goals), N=Needs Support
(Progressing Toward Stated Goals) and U=Unsatisfactory(Not Grasping Stated
Goals). Please note that a grade of U is not a passing grade.
Homework: I believe homework is essential to reinforce what is learned in
school. It will take the teacher, parents, and student working together to
achieve maximum potential. Weekly homework assignments will be placed in
your child’s Homework binder each Monday. Your child will have some type of
homework each night. Homework will be checked for completion each day. The
student’s “best” effort and neatness is required for all homework.
Accelerated Reader: Accelerated Reader (AR) is an exciting computer program
that enhances reading comprehension. A student will first select and
read a book of his/her own choosing from our school or class library. An AR
book list is posted on our school website and books can be identified in our
school library by colored dots. After reading the selected book at least
three times, the student will take a short comprehension test on the
computer. Points are awarded for correct answers and points are added to a
total score. Student in my class are required to read a book on their
reading level once per week and take the corresponding test.
On the Web: To help with communication to our parents and students, we can
be located on the web. Our class web page will keep you up-to-date on news,
homework, spelling and reading list, as well as classroom happenings. Please
visit the following information sites often.
St. Tammany Parish School Board site: http://www.stpsb.org/
Madisonville School site:
http://madisonvilleelementary.stpsb.org/
Our class room web page:
http://www.teacherweb.com/LA/MadisonvilleElementary/JCasey/
Your teacher's email address: janet.casey@stpsb.org
