Ms. Drennon’s Class 2013-2014

1. Ms. Drennon’s Class 2013-2014

2. Class Mission Statement and Rules At the beginning of the year, the students created a class mission statement for the year. Our mission statement says, “It is our mission to discover as much as we possibly can in the fourth grade while being great leaders in this school. We also created a set of rules that we then put into three categories: Be respectful, be responsible, and be ready to learn. The mission statement and rules are posted on the wall. The consequences of not following the rules can be found in each student’s binder along with a behavior block sheet.

3. Classroom Environment Students can work around the room in a variety of areas. There are pillows for students to use when reading or working on the floor. Some students choose to sit in the rocking chair during the Self Selected Reading Station. There are high tables and chairs for special projects and writing time. Students are also capable of rocking in their chairs as a form of stimulation. Each student has a boomerang desk and rocking chair.

4. Student Work Students are provided with constant feedback throughout the year from peers as well as the teacher. For this assignment, there are classroom journals for free writers and early finishers. The students can write about a variety of different prompts. Other students read the responses and add feedback on a sticky note. The teacher also provides feedback about the writing mechanics as well as personal comments.

5. Class Procedures Students always know what they should be doing during class. The EQ’s and homework are posted on the board daily for students to copy first thing each morning. A Must Do sign and a Can Do sign are always posted. Students know what they must do and what they can do if they finish. Classroom supplies are located in the back corner of the classroom for students to use as needed without interruptions. Reading group colors are marked by the dragonfly magnets. The stations are listed on the board daily and the magnet tells you which station you are at during balanced literacy time.

6. Management Students are constantly rewarded with positive reinforcement. If the students have a good day in their Related Arts class, they can earn up to three marbles for the jar. They can also get marbles for good behavior throughout the day. When the jar is filled the class earns a reward such as a frozen yogurt party. The desks in the room are set up into three groups. These groups compete for Super Table. They get tallies for transitioning quickly and quietly and for good behavior. Students are awarded individual Drennon Dollars that can be spent at a store four times a year for good behavior and leadership. Students also receive Drennon Dollars for extra homework. The Twitter Box is a way for students and teachers to write encouraging tweets to other students who do something positive during the day. The job wheel allows each student to have a job or responsibility in the classroom. The wheel moves each Monday. This allows students to take ownership with their room.

7. Interactive Notebooks Students have notebooks for Math, Science, Social Studies, Reading and Language. The Science and Social Studies notebooks are interactive. The students work on a Review and Preview section prior to the lesson. They complete the WOW section during the lesson and the WIO after the lesson. For the Language and Reading notes as well as Math notes, the students glue in different activities and write in notes. The students also get to decorate the fronts of their notebook during the first week of school with different pictures and clippings.

8. Brain Breaks We do a lot of dancing in room 405!