Contact Information

1. Contact Information E-mail address: sbennett@nusd.org School Phone: 897-5104 Website:www.pvbennett.weebly.com Phone: 883-1571* * For emergencies or for occasional help with a homework assignment.

3. Your child's progress towards mastery of the California standards will be evaluated using four measures. Standards/ Student Evaluation/Expectations • The STAR Test (Standards-based) • The MAPS Assessment • Teacher observations • Participation • Performance on Tests and Classwork • Each of the measurements gives a specific type of information about your child.

4. STARTest This test, given in the spring, is a measure of how well students have learned state mandated curriculum that they have been taught. • Standards-based • Multiple choice • Criterion-referenced - Students are not compared to other students (no curve). • Not used for grading students. • Provides information about instructional needs.

5. MAP Assessments • Computerized multiple choice assessment given two or three times each year. • Norm- referenced, giving information about how your child does compared to other students who also take the test. • Includes concepts that have not actually been taught. • Identifies general areas of strength and weakness. • NOT used for grading, although it can alert teachers to discrepancies between MAP performance and classroom performance.

6. Classwork/Participation • The quality of all completed assignments, including tests and daily work, is used to determine whether a child is meeting the standards. • Work assigned during the initial teaching and learning of a concept will not be graded, but it will guide my instruction. • Participation in discussions reveals depth of or lack of understanding and is a factor in grading.

7. There is an effort mark for each curriculum area.A child’s effort is evaluated by his or her: Effort • participation in class discussions and small groups • attempts to work well independently • completion of assignments according to set criteria • initiative in asking for clarification, additional help, reteaching, etc.

8. Formal Marks • 4means a child consistently exceeds 4th grade standards. • 3 means a child consistently meets 4th grade standards. • 2 means a child is approaching, but has not yet met 4th grade standards. • 1 means a child is not meeting, and not likely to meet 4th grade standards based on current performance.

9. Informal Marks Following directions, neatness, and organization are included in informal marks. • Plus- Meets expectations for the assignment with excellence. • Check– Assignments is acceptable. • Dash - Not meeting standards for the assignment either because student needs intervention or hasn’t put enough effort into the assignment. • Numbers - Often, especially on math papers, the number correct is shown over the total number of problems.

10. Homework Policy • About 45 minutes each day, Monday-Thursday • 20-30 minutes of reading daily • Some Differentiation • Parent signature after 45 minutes of focused effort (Brief note appreciated) • Students expected to use Homework Organizer, and bring all textbooks and workbooks back to school each day.

11. Homework • Corrected and discussed first thing each day. • Students who have homework are engaged and learning. • Students without homework mentally check out. • Procedure for correction • Students correct their own papers. • Selected student reads answers. • Students put question mark next to disagreements. • We review problems where there are disagreements and problems that were especially difficult for students. • Students demonstrate strategies and solutions, or explain reasoning.

12. Homework Help in the Home • Ask guiding questions: Lead but don’t do. • Teach shortcuts only after conceptual understanding is solid. • Sample the waters…Find out which section of homework is most difficult and focus on that. • Check the Homework Organizer for organization, neatness, completeness, directions, and conventions. • Train your child to pack up materials immediately after finishing work.

13. Illness & Absences • Students should make sure they speak to me about missed work at recess, lunch, or after school on the day they return. • They should clip all make-up assignments together and attach a note indicating that it is make-up work when they turn it in. • All missed work should be completed unless I personally excuse a child from an assignment (which I often do).

14. Vacations The cost to the school because of children on vacation during the school term is huge. Students miss important instruction – the ‘fog lasts long after the child returns to class. Contracts require extra teacher time, and are really only a ‘prediction’ of what will be covered.

17. Schedule 8:30 – 10:20 Instruction 9:30 – 10:20 4th/5th Grade Rotation 10:20 – 10:35 Bathroom Break & Recess 10:35 – 12:30 Instruction 12:30 – 1:15 Lunch 1:15 – 2:40 Instruction 2:40 Homework Assigned and Explained ............................................................................... Computer:Friday 1:15 - 2:00 PE: Monday8:30 - 9:30 Wednesday 1:15 - 1:45 Library: Monday 2:20 – 2:50 Music: Thursday11:30 – 12:30

18. 4th/5th Rotation9:30-10:20

19. Projects Long-term Projects • Poetry Journal • Biography Timeline • Fairytale/Fable/Folktale • Research California Historical Figure Short-term Projects • Prepositions • Landmarks

20. FieldTrips • Sonoma Mission – November 29 • Audubon Canyon Ranch – TBA • Sacramento – End of Year, TBA • Bale Grist Mill • Historic Ships in SF and the SF Bay Aquarium • Trout Release at Lake Lagunitas

21. Behavior Policies During the first weeks of school, we establish codes of behavior to promote learning and protect students from physical and verbal abuse. For minor disturbances during class, I use some or all of the following strategies: • Verbal reminders • Change of seating • Working in the common room or another classroom. • Moving name sticks through a series of blue and yellow warning cans to a red can. A child whose stick is placed in the red can stays in at recess.

22. Reinforcement • Compliment Chain • Special activities (additional art, P.E., free time, etc.) • Golden Apple Certificate: A special thank-you to a student. • Improvement Note Home • Homework Pass for exceptional effort

23. How You Can Help Me and Your Child • ŸTeach your child how to staple papers together correctly - all sheets facing forward, placing staple in the upper left hand corner. Train your child to staple the pages together if an assignment completed at home has multiple pages . • ŸPractice having your child wash hands, dispose of tissue, etc. when they have a cold so that everyone else in class doesn’t get it. Send a small bottle of hand sanitizer to keep on the sick child’s desk. • Check that homework is recorded completely, neatly in the homework organizer. Require that your child learn to record homework carefully. • Make sure your child returns work on time. Train your child to put all homework and books back into his/her pack immediately after completing the work. • Practice having your child follow directions. • Help your child master the math facts to automaticity. He/she cannot do it without your help.

24. Water/Water Bottles/Bathroom Breaks • Students will need to wait ½ hour after a recess before being excused from class for bathroom or drink. A student may leave class once a day for bathroom purposes. • A single bottle that contains water only is fine in class as long as it doesn’t become a distraction or a nuisance. Please, no disposable bottles. • When water bottles become a distraction, studentsrisk losing the privilege of having them in class. No frozen bottles or ice, please.

25. Birthdays & Parties - We will recognize your child’s birthday and sing “Happy Birthday”. Please don’t send food or gifts to pass out on your child’s birthday. Other class parties will be coordinated by the room parents and will be kept low-key. Teacher Gifts - I appreciate your thoughts, but I ask that there be no personal gifts. Donations to the school or classroom so that children can use them are always appreciated, but certainly not necessary.

26. Work Habits Fourth grade is as much about developing good work and study habits as it is about acquiring skills. Good habits will allow each child to develop to his/her potential and provide a solid foundation for future learning.