Syllabus

State Scale 2015-2016
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
U 59 and below

GRADING PROCEDURES

Language Arts grades are weighted in the following manner:
30% Major Assignments – Writing Assessments
10% Major Assignments – Spelling/Word Wall
60% Minor Assignments – Vocabulary

Reading is weighted in the following manner:
40% Major Assignments – Unit Tests
60% Minor Assignments – Comprehension quizzes and Vocabulary tests

Math is weighted in the following manner:
40% Major Assignments – Chapter Test
60% Minor Assignments – Daily Grades, Quick Check, Mixed Practice, Book Chapter Test

Social Sciences (science/health and social studies) are weighted in the following manner:
40% Major Assignments – Tests and Projects
60% Minor Assignments – Daily Grades, Quizzes, Worksheets

HOMEWORK POLICY

* Should be done by all students every night except Friday.
* Should be done independently by the student.
* Is to reinforce learning.
* Is to encourage good study habits.
* Should take no more than ten minutes times the child’s grade in school for the faster workers and not more than one to one and half hours for any upper grade students.
* If your child is spending too much time on homework, or is unable to complete it
independently, please contact your child’s teacher immediately to determine the cause
of the problem.

MISSED WORK/MAKE-UP POLICY

All students are given the opportunity to make-up missed assignments. Each student is allowed two days for each missed day to make-up work. Tests are given to the student the day he/she returns if they were at school for the review or received the study sheet. If the student was not present for the review or did not receive the study guide, then the student and teacher will decide on a fair date for the make-up.

ATTENDANCE AND TARDY POLICY

Attendance, Tardiness, Early Dismissals

Perfect attendance is awarded only to those students who have not been absent for any reason. Please do not send children who are sick to school even though they will not have perfect attendance if they miss. No early dismissals are allowed after 2:00 p.m. Please be sure to send a note to the teacher if you plan to get your student out before 2:00p.m.

ATTENDANCE

Accrued student absences, either lawful, unlawful, or a combination thereof, may not exceed ten days during the school year. Any absence in excess of ten days may cause the student to lose credit for the year. All absences beginning with the eleventh day must be lawful and will be excused if they fall within the following guidelines:

Personal illness (including doctor’s appointments) of a child verified by a statement from a physician within two days of the students return to school. Absences for CHRONIC or EXTENDED illness will be approved only when verified by a physician’s statement.
Serious illness or death of an immediate family member verified from the parent within two days of the student’s return to school.
Religious holidays. Request should be made in writing to the principal in advance.
Extreme hardships approved by the principal. Such approval should be prearranged if possible.

Be sure to send written excuses for all absences within two days of the student’s return to school.

TARDINESS

Children should be seated in the classroom ready to begin the day at 8:00 a.m. each morning. Children who arrive after 8:00 a.m. must stop by the office in order to be recorded present and receive a pass to class.

RULES FOR BEHAVIOR

Classroom Rules and School Rules

S – Show Respect
T – Take Responsibility
A – Always Follow Directions
R – Ready to Learn

PRESENTATION OF RULES AND PROCEDURES

Bathroom: Students are to take care of restroom needs during morning activities and are allowed to go once before lunch and once after lunch. A restroom break for the entire class is allowed after lunch. Students are allowed to go more with teacher permission.

Water Fountain: Students are given an opportunity to get water during morning activities. Students are also allowed a water break after recess and after PE. Students are allowed to get water as needed with teacher permission.

Book Bag Rack: Each morning students are to go to their desk and remove all books and needed materials from their book bags. Then they are to hang them on the hook under their name. Students are not allowed to go to book bags any more until lunchtime. At lunchtime they may go and get lunch money. No other time is allowed unless given permission by the teacher. Teams are called to get their book bags at the end of the day.

Morning Duties: Students are expected to come into the classroom each morning and complete the routine tasks. The tasks consist of emptying book bags at their desk, hanging the book bag on their assigned hook, getting their homework checked by me, taking care of restroom or water needs, and self-selected reading. They may also take an AR test if needed or go to the library to get a book

Lunchroom: Students are allowed to talk in a whisper voice while they eat their lunch. Students are allowed to purchase special sale items, however; they can only purchase a drink and one other item. If a student has silent lunch, no special items will be allowed that day.

Birthdays: Parents are welcomed to bring special birthday treats for the class to celebrate their child’s birthday. These treats will be enjoyed during lunch time, so please have them to school by your child’s class lunch time. We will also be glad to allow birthday party invitations to be passed out as long as an invitation is sent to every girl and boy in the classroom. If each child is not invited, then you may not send party invitations to school.

On the first day of school, each family receives a copy of the District/School Handbook and a copy of the Individual Classroom Rules. The parents and student are to review the policies and rules together. Afterwards they are both to sign the sheet in their respected places and return the sheet to the teacher. The teacher will then file the sign sheets in the student information notebook.
The teacher will have a copy of the Class Rules in the classroom.

COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS

Parents will be contacted throughout the school year and are encouraged to call the school or send a note if a concern arises. Each family will receive:
• An invitation to the “Meet the Teacher Night” for students and parents to meet the teacher;
• A grade level school supply list;
• A copy of the Parent/Student handbook, playground rules, classroom rules and school rules, consequences, and rewards;
• A copy of the yearly School District calendar;
• A copy of the grade level learning expectations;
• A copy of the Fifth Grade Syllabus
• A notice about Open House and PTA meetings;
• A mid-nine week progress report;
• A nine week report card;
• A Weekly Evaluation Folder of the student’s work for the previous week sent home each Tuesday
• Telephone calls concerning student behavior or work which is outstanding or which needs improvement;
• Notes regarding homework and/or behavior as needed;
• Need 2 Know News describing class and school activities, units of study, and important dates;
• School and Individual Web Sites;
• Notification of scheduled parent/teacher conferences to be held at least twice a year.

Homework Responsibilities

Students:

• Write down all the day’s assignments in a specific place.
• Be sure all assignments are clear; don’t be afraid to ask questions before you leave class.
• Organize and take home all materials necessary to complete assignments.
• Set aside a regular time to study each evening.
• Have a quiet, well-lit place to study.
• Complete assignments carefully and thoughtfully with attention to detail and quality of work.
• Complete assignments on your own and to the best of your ability.
• Complete and turn in assignments by the specific due date.
• Talk to your teacher about problems with understanding of assignments, skills, content, volume of homework, or other circumstances that the teacher needs to know.
• Read nightly for pleasure.

Parents:

• Set aside a regular study time that is not interrupted by family plans, school activities, television or computer time, and with a definite beginning and ending time.
• Establish a study area, away from household distractions, with good light and space for studying.
• Make sure your children have the materials they need to do assignments and a safe place to store them.
• Help your children organize school materials and keep their book bags cleaned out.
• Be supportive when students get frustrated or discouraged with particularly difficult assignments, but do not complete assignments for them. Provide encouragement and reinforce the importance of doing the work.
• Emphasize the importance of reading by encouraging your children to read independently and read aloud to them.
• Be supportive of teachers and contact them whenever necessary to clear up any misunderstandings, troubleshoot problems, and be better informed about the teacher’s expectations.
• Impress the importance of turning in assignments by the specific due date.
• Provide educational activities that broaden your child’s interests, such as visits to museums, the zoo, the library, and places of historical significance.
•  Request assignments for students when short term absences are necessary.​