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Saint Joan of Arc. Welcome Fifth Grade Parents!. Introduction. Attended Boston College for both my BA in Economics and M.Ed. In Elementary Education Worked in Corporate Banking for 3 years Entering my 6 th year of teaching, 3 rd year at SJA
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Saint Joan of Arc Welcome Fifth Grade Parents!
Introduction Attended Boston College for both my BA in Economics and M.Ed. In Elementary Education • Worked in Corporate Banking for 3 years • Entering my 6th year of teaching, 3rd year at SJA • Experience in 2-5 grade, Special Education / English at the high school level, Career Perspectives Instructor at the Undergraduate Kelley School of Business at Indiana University
Classroom Management Behavior Expectations • Based around 3 SJA Notions • 1) Be Truthful • 2) Be Responsible • 3) Be Respectful • Classroom Rules Contract • Saints Bucks • Three Strike Policy
Saints Bucks • Reward based-behavior model within the classroom where students can earn and lose “money” based on their behavior • Over-arching objective of Saints Bucks is to create a positive, academic environment while also simulating some real world skills • Students are asked to keep a ledger simulating a check ledger to keep track of their “finances” that they reconcile monthly • At the end of each month, an auction will be held for items students can bid on. • Auction items include: • Homework passes • A chance to sit with a friend for the day • Small toys, etc
Saints Bucks • Ways to Earn Saint Bucks: • Classroom Job $5 / day • Completed Homework $20 / day • Good Behavior $25 • Each student will pay $175 for rent and $25 for utilities at the beginning of each month
Saints Bucks • Ways to Lose Saints Bucks: • Incomplete Classroom Job - $ 5 / day • Late Homework - $ 20 / day • Breaking Class rule - $25 each offense
Three Strike Policy • If a repetitive, disruptive behavior occurs, a three strike policy will be followed: • 1st Strike – Warning • 2nd Strike – Note Written Home By Student To be Signed by Parent • 3rd Strike – Demerit • Behavior log is kept and discussed during conferences
Homework Policy Students will have roughly 40 minutes of homework a night. In addition to that, they are required to independently read for 30 minutes a night. They are to write down their assignments in their planner every night. Homework assignments that aren’t turned in within a reasonable amount of time will receive a 0.
Homework Rubric • 5 Possible Points • 1 point for turning in an assignment • 1 point for putting his or her name on the assignment / complete heading • 1 point for effort (neatness and cursive) • 1 point for completeness (all directions read and followed) • 1 point for written in pencil (math) and complete sentences (Complete sentences are not necessary on vocabulary fill in and most math questions)
Grade Scale • SJA Grading Scale • A = 93-100 • B = 85-92 • C= 78-84 • D = 70-77 • F = 69 and below
Tests Social Studies, Math, and Science tests will occur on a fairly regular basis, but may not be weekly. If a student receives a 79% or lower on a test, we require that they take it home to be signed by a parent and returned the next day.
Birthdays • Students may bring in a small treat for their birthday. • Needs to be an item that can be distributed on an individual basis such as cupcakes, donuts, or cookies. • Email me roughly a week prior to coordinate a date / time if you want to bring in a treat. • If feasible, birthday celebrations should take place towards the end of the day. • Summer birthdays will be celebrated in the month of June.
Technology • Technology used in the classroom includes… • Smart Board / Mimio • Document Camera • Word / Excel • Students Individual Netbook Computers • Publishing Writing • Interactive Teaching Websites • Research for Reports • Discovery Education • Class Clickers (Eventually Incorporated)
PowerSchool • http://archchicago.powerschool.com • All grades will be posted via PowerSchool on the first of each month
Parent Volunteers / Field Trips • We Need Help With… • Field Trips ~ • We need 2 fathers to volunteer for the camping trip in April • Class Parties • Two Field Trips… • 1) “Rock the Presidents” Performance at North Shore Center for Performing Arts in the Fall ~ Oct 12 • 2) 5th Grade Overnight Camping Trip in Spring ~ April 18th-19th • More information will be handed out as the time of the field trips become closer • Special thanks to Mary Ginley, Patti Sheahan, and Kate Delaney, this year’s Room Parents
Curriculum Overview English Reading Spelling/Vocabulary Math Social Studies Religion Social Studies
English • Curriculum: Scott Foresman’s series • Ties spelling, grammar, writing, and reading topics into one in order to enhance student comprehension • The writing curriculum focuses on Writer’s Workshop and the 6-Trait Writing Program, which consists of conventions, word choice, sentence fluency, organization / paragraphs, voice, and ideas • Daily DOL (Daily Oral Language) will be administered • English Grade Breakdown • Homework / Classwork – 20% • Projects / Writing – 40% • Tests /Quizzes – 20% • Daily Oral Language (DOL)- 10% • Participation – 10%
Reading • Curriculum: Scott Foresman’s Reading Street • Consists of various literature, including historical fictions, realistic fictions, fantasy, mystery, play, poetry, adventure stories, and expository texts • Reading curriculum provides guided reading so students can move at their own pace • Weekly tests on short stories unless we are reading a class novel • Conduct literature circles where students have a particular job: • Discussion Director • Vocabulary Enricher • Connector • Summarizer • Reading Grade Breakdown • Novels / Projects – 30% • Classroom / Homework – 20% • Tests /Quizzes – 40% • Participation – 10%
Spelling / Vocabulary • Curriculum: Scott Foresman’s series • Monday - Pretest will be administered • Friday - Test will be conducted on all 25 words • Spelling City and personal word wall will be used to increase comprehension • Spelling / Vocabulary Grade Breakdown • Classroom / Homework – 20% • Tests /Quizzes – 80%
Math • Curriculum: Harcourt Math • Minute Math (3 mins) • Conducted once regularly • Students can’t move forward a page until they get 100% • Students will have a chance to correct mistakes for ½ credit each week • Notes are taken to reinforce topics in math spiral notebooks. Effort put forth in notes will be graded. • Math Grade Breakdown: • Homework / Classwork- 30% • Tests – 50% • Minute Math / Quizzes – 15% • Notes / Classwork – 5%
Social Studies • Curriculum: Scott Foresman’s The United States • Focuses on an overview of American History from pre-Revolutionary War period through the early part of the twentieth century • Notes in the Cornell style will be taken to reinforce important topics. Students will be graded on their notes. • Fun projects include becoming an entrepreneur, painting like Michelangelo, and the Colonial Wax Museum • Social Studies Grade Breakdown • Homework / Classwork – 15% • Test / Quizzes - 50% • Projects – 25% • Notes – 10%
Religion • Curriculum: Blest Are We • Focuses on the sacraments, the feasts and seasons, and our Catholic heritage • Grades based on projects, written work, homework, and class participation • Behavior / work ethic in class • Prayer Service • Mass • Leading Prayer over the PA • Religion Grade Breakdown • Projects / Reflections – 25% • Tests / Quizzes – 30% • Homework / Classwork – 25% • Participation – 20%
Science • Curriculum: Macmillan McGraw-Hill • Teaches the topics of life science, Earth science, and physical science • Lab experiments and notes will be conducted to reinforce key concepts • Science Grade Breakdown • Homework / Projects / Notes – 15% • Tests – 45% • Quizzes – 10% • Labs – 20% • Participation – 10%
Reports / Special Projects • Human Wax Museum – Colonial America • Winter • Painting Like Michelangelo • Fall
Class Service Projects • Lent • Collection of Items for YWCA Women’s Shelter • Soup Kitchen
Classroom Parties/ Events of Interest • Classroom Parties • Halloween • Christmas • Penny Drop – Proceeds Go to Scholarship Fund • Book Mobile - Every other Friday • Gym – Tuesdays / Thursdays • Battle of the Books
Important Attachments Report Card Copy Parent-Volunteer Sign-Up Emergency Closing Phone Tree
Contact Information • Call me at school • Email: kthorpe@saintjoanofarc.net • I am available to meet before and after school with prior notice. • Questions?