Classroom Policies and Procedures 2011/2012
Independent Reading, Book Reports/Projects, and Reading Logs
The 5th grade reading curriculum consists of the Hirsch Core adopted
literature, studies of other selected novels, and independent reading.
Students are expected to read independently at home to help further
their reading skills and habits as lifelong readers and learners.
For independent reading, students are required to read at least one
book per quarter. For the 1st quarter, students may choose their genre(s). For 2nd
quarter, the assigned genre is biography or autobiography, 3rd quarter, a non-fiction
book (excluding biography/autobiography), and for the 4th quarter, the assigned
genre is historical fiction. Book reports or projects will be assigned by the teacher
per quarter depending on the required genre of the book that quarter, with
materials provided to the student 2 weeks prior to the due date (near end-ofquarter). One book per quarter for the assigned genre is required; other books read
by the student for independent reading may be of the genre(s) of the student's
choosing.
Students will keep a Reading Log each quarter to track the books, authors, genres,
and number of pages read. A parent’s signature is required for each book entry.
Students earn a grade based on the number of pages read and is applied toward the
student’s reading grade for the quarter. The page scale/grade is posted in the
classroom and on the classroom website ( http://staffweb.psdschools.org/pwick )
Friday Folders
On the last day of each week, students will bring home their “Friday Folder”. These
folders have been prepared by the teacher to hold finished assignments, a
newsletter from the teacher, information from the TCKS office, etc. There is a place
each week for the parent to sign that he/she has seen, read, and reviewed the
contents of the Friday folders. It is highly recommended that parents view this
folder on Friday (rather than Sunday) in case of timely information, etc.
Students are to bring the folder back to class the first day of the following
week. Parental help with this would be greatly appreciated. Missing or
unsigned folders count as a missing assignment. It is ultimately the student’s
responsibility to make sure the folder is signed and returned on time.
Birthdays
Students may bring birthday treats for the class if they choose. As per PSD
policy, treats (for 25 students) must be store bought. Treats are shared
during our regular snack time at 10:30. However, if a student brings a candy
treat, it will instead be passed out shortly before dismissal at the end of the
day . If a student has a summer birthday, he/she is welcome to celebrate
a “half birthday” during the school year. Please let me know ahead of time.
Students may not pass out birthday (or other party) invitations at school
as this invariably leads to hurt feelings on the parts of those not invited.
Homework
The TCKS homework policy provides 10-15 minutes of homework for each year of a
student’s schooling. For 5th grade, that works out to be about 60-75 minutes of on
task time of homework each night Monday through Friday. Most homework
assignments are work that was started in class. Those students who use their class
time efficiently will find they have less homework than those who are not as
focused. Homework includes time spent on independent reading (and fact drill if
needed) as well as class assignments. Homework assignments are
posted on the board daily, and ALL students are required to fill out
their assignment notebooks at the end of each day.
Missing/Incomplete Assignment Procedures
For any missing or incomplete assignment(s), student fills out the clipboard and a
“pink slip”; the clipboard is used by the teacher to track the missing/incomplete
assignment, the pink slip is reviewed and signed by the parent and returned with
student’s work the next day. Late work receives a 10% lower grade.
If the student does not bring the signed pink slip and the completed assignment the
next day, the student will miss recess the next day to complete the work. The
student will phone the parent to keep his/her parent informed.
Do not “save” your child by bringing homework to school. Your student is better
served by having a chance to experience a natural consequence and learn student
responsibility.
When a student has 2 or more missing or incomplete assignments in a week, that
student will be assigned to Study Hall. Parents will be notified prior to Study Hall
attendance. Your support is crucial and appreciated (see below).
Study Hall
As stated above, students who fall behind in their assignments or frequently
have late assignments will be assigned Study Hall. A Study Hall Assignment
sheet is sent home at least 24 hours in advance of attendance. It is our
desire to work with you to instill good study habits and responsibility for
learning in our students. Study Hall is held in our classroom during lunch period.
Please have your student bring a sack lunch that day so he/she can utilize the entire
period. Students must work on their assignment(s) and attend the entire period.
Grading Policy
Students are graded on the following percentages: A=90-100%, B=80-89%, C=7079%, D=60-69%, F=below 60%. Percentage calculation can be achieved by
calculating points missed (20/25=80%). Some assignments may be graded
using a rubric assessing different aspects of the assignment. Rubrics will
vary as assignments vary. Points earned on the rubric are calculated at the
same percentages/grades as stated above. Late assignments earn a drop of
10% in the grade.
Illness Absences
For each day a student is absent, he/she gets an extra day to work on
missed assignments before turning the assignment in. A form (“While You
Were Absent”) will be completed by the teacher and left on the student’s
desk on the day(s) absent to list all work missed. It’s best if a parent or
friend can take the work home to the student on the day(s) missed. It is the
student’s responsibility to work diligently on the missed assignments and turn them
in by the end of the extra days allowed.
Planned absences: PLEASE, if at all possible, avoid missing school on
school days. Ample holidays are provided and I encourage you to use them. No
amount of work sent with a student can make up for what is missed in
class. If a student must be absent, a work packet can be prepared and sent with
the student if I have advance notice. The longer the duration of the absence, the
more notice I need; at least 1 day per day being missed. Please do not ask to “work
ahead”. Lessons spiral and build on one another in all subjects and therefore
students do not learn best taking them out of sequence.
If a student chooses to take work along, the student does NOT have extra time
upon his/her return to complete the work. Preparing a work packet takes time away
from the teacher for lesson planning, preparation, and grading. Therefore, the
expectation is that, if a packet has been prepared for the student, the work will be
completed during the elected absence. It is also understood that the parent is the
teacher during that time, making sure the child understands the work and that it is
completed. If tests are missed during the student’s absence, he/she is prepared to
take them upon his/her return. Therefore, studying for the missed test would be
part of the work packet.
If a student does not choose to take work along, the student’s work will be
saved for him/her in the same way as in an illness absence. As in an illness absence,
for each day a student is absent, he/she gets an extra day to work on assignments
before turning the assignments in. Again, it is also understood that the parent is the
teacher during that time, making sure the child understands the work and that it is
completed. If tests are missed during the student’s absence, he/she is prepared to
take them at the end of these extra days. Also remember that this make-up work is
in addition to the regular nightly homework a student will have upon returning to
school.
Always remember that paper work that can be sent or made up is only a
small portion of what teachers do to present a lesson; it does not include
the enrichment provided with lessons. Your student’s understanding and
enjoyment of the lesson is therefore greatly and adversely effected by
missing school.
To Reach Mrs. Wick
Email: pwick@psdschools.org This is the fastest way to reach me.
However, if you email after 12:30, I may not get your email until after
school as I am engaged with students either on the playground or in the
classroom from 12:30 – 3:15.
Classroom phone: 488-7553 The phone is most often on voice mail to avoid
interruptions to our lessons; please leave a message. Please know the phone
message light does not always blink immediately upon leaving a message. If your call
is time sensitive (for example, you need to let your child know to go home
with so and so), please let the office know and they will either ring through
to the room or bring a message to the room. Please do not ring through if
the message is not time sensitive.
Website: http://staffweb.psdschools.org/pwick Our class website has links
to important documents, including calendars, reading logs, an archive of
classroom newsletters, etc. It also has a homework page for daily
assignments as well as a photos page. Feel free to save it to your Favorites
on your computer for easy referral. The homework page is updated daily. There are
circumstances, though rare (for example, when I am absent), that the page cannot
be updated. If that happens, remind your student to either 1) check their assignment
notebook, or 2) phone a reliable friend.